So what’s coming up in this melting pot of money, success and creativity? Well, this week I’ve learnt the Hampstead Theatre is getting in on the mania for all things Olympic by staging a theatrical adaptation of the Oscar-winning film, Chariots of Fire. The play will run from 9 May to 16 June. Mike Bartlett (who wrote Cock and Earthquakes in London) is writing the script, and Hampstead Theatre’s Artistic Director, Edward Hall will direct. More details on the casting of the two runners (Scottish Christian Eric Liddell and English Jew Harold Abrahams) in due course.

Two chaps who won’t be donning the running shorts(!) are Danny DeVito and Richard Griffiths, because they’re to appear in Neil Simon’s The Sunshine Boys at the Savoy Theatre.

The play is a classic comedy of showbiz and friendship from the 1970s; or you might know it from the Oscar-winning film starring George Burns and Walter Matthau; or the high-profile TV version with Woody Allen and Peter Falk. This will be DeVito’s West End debut; he’s better known for his film acting, including Terms of Endearment, Batman Returns, Junior and Twins. In contrast, his co-star Richard Griffiths is a regular on the London stage, including The History Boys, The Habit of Art, Rules of the Game, and The White Guard. It’ll make an interesting pairing: I can’t wait.

This Week’s London Cast News

• Andy Nyman, Natalie Casey, Joe Absolom and Susannah Harker join the already-announced Jill Halfpenny in Abigail’s Party at the Menier Chocolate Factory from March. This is shaping up to be a very exciting cast list!
• Noel Sullivan, who you’ll remember from Hear’Say joins the cast of We Will Rock You next month, replacing Alex Gaumond in the role of Galileo
• Natalie Dormer, Kieran Bew and Polly Frame will star in the Young Vic’s revival of Patrick Marber’s play After Miss Julie from March
• Finally, Claire Sweeney (Chicago, Guys and Dolls, Legally Blonde) and Matthew Kelly (best-known as the host of TV’s Stars in Their Eyes) are appearing in a revival of Educating Rita at the Menier Chocolate Factory from April

More next week.

And I have news of another TV star returning to London’s theatre this week: Denise Van Outen is joining the cast of Legally Blonde from 25 October. New mum Denise is replacing Jill Halfpenny in the role of Paulette. She’s starting alongside former Hollyoaks star Carley Stenson and talent show graduate Siobhan Dillon who are also newcomers to the girly musical; Sheridan Smith has recently announced she’s continuing in the role of Elle Woods until at least 9 January. I couldn’t be happier!

Finally for cast news this week, Olivier Award-winning actress Ruthie Henshall is going to be starring in Blithe Spirit at the Apollo theatre next spring. She joins an already star-studded cast including Alison Steadman, Hermione Norris and Robert Bathurst.

And looking even further ahead, I’ve got long-range news from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Get your 2011 diaries ready for these dates: the RSC is premiering three new plays at the Hampstead Theatre from April to June next year, as part of A Season of World Premieres:

• Playwright Rona Munro opens the season on 16 April with Little Eagles, directed by Roxana Silbert
• Followed by former Lyric Hammersmith Artistic Director David Farr’s piece Silence from 12 May
• Finally, American playwright Tarrell Alvin McCraney, (who wrote In The Red And Brown Water and The Brothers Size), presents his new play American Trade from 2 June

Edward Hall, Hampstead theatre’s Artistic Director, said, “I am delighted to be creating A Season Of World Premieres with the RSC and to be working so closely with Roxana Silbert on what will be a very exciting programme of new work at Hampstead theatre. Six pieces of major new work over a 10-week period… cause for celebration indeed.” I certainly think so.