Firstly, news that the classic Ealing comedy, The Ladykillers has been adapted for the stage by the writer behind hit TV comedies Father Ted and The IT Crowd, Graham Linehan, and will be coming to the Gielgud Theatre in November. The cast sounds fantastic: Peter Capaldi from the Thick of It will play Professor Marcus (the Alec Guinness role from the film). And he’ll be backed up by a gang played by James Fleet (Hugo from the Vicar of Dibley), comic Ben Miller, Stephen Wight and everyone’s favourite pantomime dame, Clive Rowe. The quintet is joined by multi-Olivier Award-winner Marcia Warren as Mrs Wilberforce.

Next, I’m thrilled to hear both War Horse and Billy Elliot: The Musical are extending: War Horse to October 2012, and Billy to December 2012. Congratulations to both these incredible shows.

And so to casting news:

• Another member of the Rock of Ages line-up was announced this week: Shane Ward from The X-Factor is to play the disillusioned rock bad boy Stacee Jaxx when Rock Of Ages opens at the Shaftesbury theatre in September
• Supermodel Christie Brinkley is going to be the latest star to take on the role of Roxy Hart in Chicago. She’ll be donning the fishnets from 11 July to 6 August.
• Carley Stenson, who’s currently playing Margot in Legally Blonde will step up later this summer and play the lead role of college sweetheart Elle Woods. Carley starts on 11 July; Any Dream Will Do-winner Lee Mead will be Stenson’s leading man as he’s joining the cast from 20 June.

Finally, the Bush Theatre has announced the show that will welcome audiences to its new home. Sixty Six Books is an epic celebration of the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. Sixty-six playwrights, poets, songwriters and novelists from 12 different countries will create a response to each of the 66 books in the Kings James Bible. The impressive list of contributors includes Jeanette Winterson, Carol Ann Duffy, Billy Bragg, Neil LaBute and even the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. Artistic Director Josie Rourke is working with a team of directors to present three hour, six hour and two 24 hour epic performances, with every room, corner and cupboard(!) of the new venue put to use.

You can read more about the Bush’s future plans here on the Official London Theatre website.

We’ve been lucky enough to see the Hackney Empire pantomime a couple of times. And it’s always completely brilliant.

Here’s your chance to win VIP tickets to see Jack and the Beanstalk at the Hackney Empire this Christmas. You get a whole theatre box to yourself (for you and three friends) plus a gorgeous surprise-filled goodie bag on the night.

This year’s show stars Clive Rowe, one of London’s favourite panto dames. He’s joined by Jack, a singing harp, the golden hen, the giant of all giants and Buttercup, the breakdancing cow!

So, get your best audience participation voices ready to shout “He’s behind you!” and join in with all the fun in Hackney this Christmas.

Enter the Day 14: Hackney Empire Panto Tickets competition here

Hurrah! Panto season is here! (Oh no, it isn’t! etc)

From Brian Blessed to Pamela Anderson, Lesley Joseph to Jane Asher, various celebrities are stepping into their sparkly costumes over the coming weeks to entertain London in the traditional Christmas show.

You’ll find there are plenty of Aladdins (Epsom Playhouse, Hackney Empire, Millfield Arts Centre, New Wimbledon Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East) and Cinderellas (Broadway Theatre, Beck Theatre, Harrow Arts Centre, Jacksons Lane Theatre, Orchard Theatre, Unicorn Theatre and Watford Palace Theatre) to chose from.

But there’s also a couple of Dick Whittingtons, and a handful of Snow Whites too.

London also offers some fantastic alternative Christmas entertainment, taking the traditional panto and spicing it up for the adults. If this is more your scene, you can choose from Robin Hood at Brick Lane Music Hall, and Sinderfella at Leicester Square Theatre…

Where will you be getting your dose of fairy dust, improbable plot twists and throat-hoarsening audience participation this Christmas?

London’s West End stars were out in force at yesterday’s opening performance of Hello, Dolly! at the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park.

The light drizzle failed to dampen any spirits, or keep any of the capital’s theatrical elite away. We saw Natalie Casey from Two Pints of Larger and a Packet of Crisps enjoying a drink in the bar. Once we’d taken our slightly soggy seats, we spotted Desmond Barrit not being the wicked Wizard of Oz; Nigel Cooke, who we last saw stressed out as Kent in Rupert Goold’s King Lear; and everyone’s favourite pantomime dame, Clive Rowe. Who we are sorry to say, was not in costume.

Rumours that Una Stubbs was also there can’t be confirmed from this quarter…

It seems this is a London theatre the stars enjoy attending!

We wondered if they enjoyed this fantastic show as much as we did. If you’re a fan of big, brash musical theatre with big song-and-dance scenes, and big-hearted love songs, you’ll love Hello, Dolly!. It’s sparky, silly, sentimental and showy; the lead, Samatha Spiro, is sensational. With colourful costumes, fantastic choreography, lots of laughs and wonderful showtunes, you’re sure to enjoy this “taste of the highlife”!