Tonight’s performance (7 January 2010) of A Christmas Carol playing at the Arts Theatre, has been cancelled due to the illness of cast members Gareth Hale and also Brian Herring.

Last night’s performance was also cancelled, though a representative of the show did reveal to Whatsonstage.com that people who had tickets for that show had already been contacted and they were offered refunds or exchanges for another performance. The run is due to finish on Sunday (10 January 2010).

Details of the illnesses weren’t immediately disclosed, though it is certainly hoped that both Hale and Herring will be much better and able to return for tomorrow’s performance. Hale gives an excellent performance in the role of Scrooge in the show, which opened on 25 November 2009 (previews from 11 November).

A Christmas Carol is adapted and directed by Susie McKenna, best known for her critically acclaimed pantomimes at the Hackney Empire. The cast also features Simon Lipkin, Rebecca Thornhill and Michael Matus, as well as the voices of Matthew White as Charlie the Theatre Mouse and Sharon D Clarke as Bentolina the Theatre Cat (See News, 12 Aug 2009).

Disney’s The Lion King ended 2009 by breaking two more box office records at the Lyceurn Theatre.
The Lion King broke its previous record from 2008 by over £1.8 million, grossing over £32 million at the box office in 2009. It was the highest grossing year in the show’s 10-year history, despite no increase in ticket prices last year.
During the week from 28 December to 3 January, The Lion King also broke its own box office record as well ast he Lyceurn Theatre’s house record, grossing over £880,000 for the week. It was seen by 18,757 people across 9 performances, with an average attendance of 101.2%, including standing room.
The Lion King celebrated its 10th Anniversary in October and welcomed its 8 millionth guest at the Lyceurn Theatre. In mid-December it became the 9th longest running musical in West End history.
THE LION KING has now been seen by over 50 million people worldwide and in addition to productions in London and New York, the show can currently be seen in Paris, Tokyo, Hamburg, Las Vegas, and on tour in North America. A new production is due to open in Singapore later this year.
Disney’s award-winning Broadway musical roared into the West End with over 40 actors, singers and dancers in September 1999. It received good notices from the popular press: THE FINANCIAL TIMES said, “As blockbuster musicals go, this is one with beauty and brains.” THE DAILY TELEGRAPH” said, “For once a mega musical lives up to the hype. This is a dazzling show with the heart of a lion.” THE EVENING STANDARD said, “A beautiful dazzle of invention and imagination.”
The show has book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, songs by Elton John and Tim Rice, with additional songs by Lebo M, Julie Taymor, Mark Mancina and Hans Zimmer. It is directed by Julie Taymor, designed by Richard Hudson, lighting by Donald Holder with choreography by Garth Fagan.
When the young lion prince Simba is born his evil uncle Scar is pushed back to second in line to the throne. Scar plots to kill both Simba and his father, King Mufasa, and proclaim himself king. Simba survives but is led to believe that his father died because of him and he decides to flee the kingdom.

Now in its 25th year, LES MISERABLES played its 10,000th performance in the West End on Tuesday, 5 Jan 2010.
This production originally opened at the Barbican Theatre in October 1985, but the Cameron Mackintosh/Royal Shakespeare Company production transferred to the Palace Theatre in December 1985 and moved to its current home at the Queen’s Theatre in April of 2004.
LES MISERABLES, written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, based on the novel by Victor Hugo, is about love and bravery in 19th century France during the revolutionary struggles. The lyrics are by Herbert Kretzmer and music by Claude-Michel Schonbert, with original text by Alain Boublil and additional material by James Fenton. It is adapted and directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird.
LES MISERABLES has been seen by over 55 million people worldwide in 40 countries and in 21 languages. There have been 34 cast recordings of it, including the multiplatinum London cast recording and the Grammy Award-winning Broadway cast and complete symphonic albums. The video of the 10th Anniversary Royal Albert Hall Gala Concert has sold well over one million copies worldwide, making it one of the best selling musical videos in the UK.

WICKED had its highest grossing year to date in 2009, grossing £27,333,991 at the Box Office at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre. This is up almost £100,000 from 2008. Since its London premiere in September 2006, WICKED has taken in over £90 million at the UK Box Office.
The production celebrated its 1000th performance on February 14, 2009 and welcomed its 2 millionth theatergoer on May 11, 2009.
Michael McCabe, UK Executive Producer, said, “The public’s incredible enthusiasm and support for WICKED has swept us along on a huge wave of success since we opened in 2006. To see our business continuing to climb year-on-year is really incredible and we are enormously grateful to the millions of people who have bought tickets to date and especially to those who made 2009 our best year yet.”
Based on a novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Winnie Holzman.
The director is Joe Mantello, scenic design by Eugene Lee, costumes by Susan Hilferty, lighting by Kenneth Posner, sound by Tony Meola, orchestrations by William David Brohn, musical staging by Wayne Cilento.
The setting is in the Land of Oz, where two girls meet – one born with emerald green skin. This one is smart, feisty and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very, very popular. WICKED is the story of these two unlikely friends and how they end up as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.

This week the major openings in London, in the West End and further are:
Tuesday, January 5th 2010 – a capella comedy Barbershopera II. This was a hit at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe.
Also opening on Tuesday, January 5, 2010, Cirque du Soleil’s Varekai. They are returning to the Royal Albert Hall as part of an international tour, continuing until February 13, 2010. The show pays tribute to “the nomadic soul, to the spirit and art of the circus tradition, and to the infinite passion of those whose quest takes them along the path that leads to Varekai.”

Wednesday, January 6, 2010, Dreamboats and Petticoats. This is a musical inspired by the rock ‘n’ roll compilation albums of the same name. It is reopening at Playhouse Theatre.

Thursday, January 7, 2010, Generous, by Michael Healey, the Canadian playwright. Generous is returning to the Finborough Theatre for a month-long run.

Friday, January 8, 2010, Innocence, by German playwright Dea Loher. This is billed as a “lyrical and darkly comic passion play for our times” and opens at the Arcola Theatre, continuing until January 30, 2010.

Also opening on Friday is the full version of the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe hit Jihad! The Musical, “a satirical romp about the war on terror.” It premieres at the Jermyn Street Theatre and continues until February 6, 2010.

Theatrical honours on the Queen’s New Year Honour List includes director Nicholas Hytner and actor Patrick Stewart, who were knighted. Director Phyllida Lloyd and Margaret Tyzack were honoured with a CBE.

Director Nicholas Hytner has been the artistic director of London’s National Theatre since 2003.

Patrick Stewart’s recent London stage credits include Waiting for Godot at the Haymarket in 2009; Claudius in “Hamlet” for the RSC at the Novello in 2008; “Macbeth” at the Gielgud in 2007. His television and film credits include Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek The Next Generation and the X-Men films.

Actress Margaret Tyzack’s recent London stage credits include “Phedre” at the Lyttelton, NT 2009; “Chalk Garden” at the Donmar Warehouse in 2008; “Southwark Fair” at the Cottesloe, NT in 2006; “As You Desire Me” at the Playhouse in 2005; “His Girl Friday” at the Olivier, Nt in 2003; “Auntie & Me” at the Wyndham’s in 2003; “Tartuffe” at the Lyttelton, NT in 2002; “The Family Reunion” at the Barbican Pit in 2000

Director Phyllida Lloyd’s recent London director credits include “Mama Mia” at the Prince Edward & Prince of Wales Theatre; “Mary Stuart” at the Donmar Warehouse & Apollo in 2005; “Wild West” at the Royal Court in 2005; “The Duchess of Malfi” at the Lyttleton in 2003 and at the New Ambassadors in 2001.