Ben Richards, musical star and former copper on the soon to be axed police series The Bill, will be soon be hitting the stage in a far more flamboyant style when he replaces Jason Donovan in Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical on June 1st.

Adapted from the 1994 film, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical by the original writer Stephan Elliot, this musical follows two transvestites and a transsexual who jump on an old battered bus to take their Sydney cabaret show to the Australian outback.

First premiering at the Palace theatre in March 2009 with a cast made up of Jason Donovan, Tony Sheldon and Oliver Thornton, the new cast will see Thornton continue as Adam with Don Gallagher as Bernadette and John Bowe as Bob.

Winning Best Costume Design Laurence Olivier award for the musical, Lizzy Gardiner and Tim Chappel have ensured that none of the spectacular of the film, for which they won an Oscar has been lost.

Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical tickets are available from LondonTheatreDirect and Theatre Tickets Direct.

Gay musical and television star John Barrrowman has been awarded the number one spot on the readers’ version of The Stage 100. Published every year, the official “The Stage 100″ is a list of who The Stage believes has been most influential in UK theatre over the last year, with the readers version being decided via an online voting system.

Whilst the general public felt that John Barrowman had been most influential concerning his appearance in La Cage aux Folles, and presumably how his higher television profile has drawn people back to the theatre, The Stage itself placed Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire in the top spot. Awarded the position for their roles as joint chief executives of the Ambassador Theatre Group, the duo only reached position 22 in the reader top 20, indicating for readers it is those who are seen on the stage that have the most influence.

Joining John Barrowman, who has released his new album “John Barrowman” in the Readers’ Top 20 were amongst others Ian McKellen, Matthew Bourne, Alan Bennett, Jude Law, Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber, with only six out of their list appearing on the official top 20.

The Stage Readers’ and Official Top 20 were as follows:

READERS’ TOP 20:

1. John Barrowman, entertainer
2. Matthew Bourne, choreographer/director
3. Arlene Phillips, choreographer/director
4. Michael Ball, actor
5. Ian McKellen, actor
6. Tania Harrison, Latitude festival
7. Rachel Tackley, English Touring Theatre
8= Alan Bennett, writer
8= Daniel Kramer, director
10= Antonio Pappano and Monica Mason, Royal Opera/Royal Ballet
10= Alistair Spalding, Sadler’s Wells
12. Carlos Acosta, dancer
13. Kerry Michael, Theatre Royal Stratford East
14= Andrew Lloyd Webber, composer/producer/theatre owner
14= Jude Law, actor
16= Alan Ayckbourn, writer
16= Nicholas Hytner, National Theatre
16= Cameron Mackintosh, producer/theatre owner
19. Michael Grandage, Donmar Warehouse
20= Sonia Friedman, producer
20= Rachel Weisz, actor

THE STAGE OFFICIAL TOP 20
1. Howard Panter/Rosemary Squire, Ambassador Theatre Group
2. Cameron Mackintosh
3. Andrew Lloyd Webber
4. Michael Grandage
5. Nicholas Hytner
6. Nica Burns/Max Weitzenhoffer, Nimax Theatres
7. Dominic Cooke, Royal Court Theatre
8. Bill Kenwright, producer
9. Michael Boyd, Royal Shakespeare Company
10. Kevin Spacey/Sally Greene, Old Vic Theatre
11. Nick Thomas/Jon Conway, Qdos Entertainment
12= Sonia Friedman
12= David Pugh/Dafydd Rogers, producers
14. David Babani, producer
15. Jonathan Church, Chichester Festival Theatre
16. Bill Taylor, Stage Entertainment
17. Rupert Goold, director
18. Alex Poots, Manchester International Festival
19. John Barrowman
20. Mark Rylance, actor

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Written by Douglas Carter Beane, The Little Dog Laughed was a huge success when it appeared on Broadway and has now made it’s way over to the UK shores with a cast including Tamsin Greig, Rupert Friend and Harry Lloyd

Following the career of rising movie star Mitchell Green, a man who is soon to hit the big time and become every woman’s fantasy, the play sees how much of his success can be attributed to the one thing that every good actor needs – his agent.

Played by Tasmin Greig, Diane is a woman who seems to have Mitchell’s future all mapped out. However there’s one slight problem. Diane is struggling to keep Mitchell where she wants him – in the closet, especially with the arrival of Mitchell’s new “friend” Alex on the scene with his beautiful girlfriend Ellen, who herself isn’t short of a drama or two.

Nominated for a Tony Award, The Little Dog Laughed does a brilliant job of satirizing just how superficial the world of show business, and the games that are played in the movie industry to keep it just how they like it.

Directed by Donmar Associate Jamie Lloyd, The Little Dog Laughed is on at the Garrick Theatre until the 10 April 2010 with tickets available from Theatre Tickets Direct.

The Royal Shakespeare Company production of Twelfth Night featuring Richard Wilson will begin a limited 10 week run at the Duke of York’s Theatre in St Martin’s Lane in London after a successful run in Stratford upon Avon.

Produced by Gregory Doran, this production sees Richard Wilson make his RSC debut, at 72, playing Malvolio alongside James Fleet who is adopting the role of Sir Andrew Aguecheek. Also featuring a host of  familar RSC actors including Sam Alexander (Sebastian), Nancy Carroll (Viola), Alexandra Gilbreath (Olivia), Jo Stone-Fewings (Orsino), Miltos Yerolemou (Feste) and Associate Artist Richard McCabe (Sir Toby Belch, this version of Twelfth Knight has been widely praised not just for it’s comic timing and stunning character performances, but also for the attention to detail concerning the costumes that speak as much about the characters as Shakespeare’s writing does.

Running from  the 19th December 2009 to 27th February 2010, LondonTheatreDirect is offering £10 off seats if you book by the 23rd December 2009, giving you the opportunity to get top seats for just £32.50*.

Starring John Barrowman and Simon Burke, the Menier Chocolate Factory production of La Cage Aux Folles is currently playing at the Playhouse Theatre.

Telling the story of gay couple, Georges and Ablin, this funny tale of family values and love sees their idyllic lives threatened when Georges son announces that he is engaged to the daughter of a right wing politician who has plans to close down the colourful local nightlife which is central to their lives. Terrified by what the prospective in-laws are going to think when they visit, La Cage Aux Folles sees them all take drastic, and rather farcical action in an attempt to hide their far from sedate lifestyle, but can they keep it up?

Hugely funny and with an incredible score including “I Am What I Am”, “The Best Of Times” and “Song on the Sand”, La Cage Aux Folles is a musical guaranteed to have you leaving the theatre in fits of giggles, with the songs stuck in your head for at least a week.

A Look Behind The Scenes At La Cage Aux Folles

John Barrowman and Simon Burke appear in La Cage Aux Folles until the 28th November, and will be replaced by Douglas hodge and Denis Lawson from the 30th November until the 2nd January 2010. Tickets can be ordered online from London Theatre Direct.

Protests were held outside of a Glasgow theatre by Christian groups last night after it chose to put on a play which portays Jesus as a transgender woman.

Showing as part of the Glasgay! arts festival the play, written by Jo Clifford and entitled Jesus,  Queen of Heaven, sees Jesus Christ transition from a man to a woman, and has seen the playwright defend the work as one that does not, like the protestors, condemn anyone for who they are, whether gay, straight or transgender.

Whilst the Christian Institute and Roman Catholic Church have criticised it for being a provocative piece of work and a waste of money,  the organisers of Glasgay!, which is funded by the Scottish Arts Council, Event Scotland, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and the Glasgow City Council, have been quick to support Clifford and the production releasing a statement saying:

“Jesus, Queen of Heaven is a literary work of fiction exploring the artist’s own personal journey of faith as a transgendered person.

Glasgay! supports the right to freedom of expression and offers audiences a diverse view of LGBT life. This work is not intended to incite or offend anyone of any belief system however we respect your right to disagree with that opinion. We welcome genuinely interested audience members who wish to understand the artistic intention behind this work.”

Jesus, Queen of Heaven began it’s run at the Tron Theatre, Glasgow last night (3rd November) and will run until Saturday (7th November).