Joss Ackland News

As we exclusively reported on Friday, Russell Grant is to take over as The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium after Michael Crawford's departure next month.

The Wizard of Oz's latest newsletter tells us that Michael Crawford's replacement will be announced shortly but until that time the casting is 'strictly confidential' - so does that mean the Strictly Come Dancing star is in the frame to take over?

Russell will appear alongside Gareth Gates, Kerry Ellis, Oliver Thornton and Brenda Edwards in the Biblical-inspired musical Children of Eden, by Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz and John?Caird, which is being revived in the West End for one night only in a spectacular star-studded charity gala at the Prince of Wales?Theatre on Sunday 29 January.

As previously reported, the original play of The King's Speech by David Seidler will be brought to the stage next year in a production directed by Adrian Noble. According to The Daily Mail, Joss Ackland, Ian McNeice and Emma Fielding have joined the production as George V, Winston Churchill and the Queen Mother.

Our UK editor takes you through the evening live!

Today we are taking a look at the extended streak of genius exhibited by Stephen Sondheim, along with director/producer Hal Prince, following the resounding success of COMPANY in 1970. Throughout the rest of the 70s they would continue to change the form of theatre itself with four momentous musicals tackling every topic from aging showgirls singing one last tune to Ingmar Bergman sunsets and a topic for a concept musical no less epic than the westernization of Japan in the wake of Commodore Perry - plus, who could forget the remorseful Barber and his knife (or should that be “wife“?). Without question, these are four richly-encrusted crowning achievements of a legendary career and these musical jewels are still sparkling and shining, as glistening and beautiful as ever dazzling us and enticing us to inspect them closer...