The theatre has announced a new season offering a view of humanity at its best, looking at a different vision of humankind: both human and kind. Artistic Directors Steve Marmion and Max Roberts are commissioning writers to create new short plays challenging the vision of our future. More details will be announced in March. For now, just think of it as something nice to look forward to in gloomy January.

If, like me, you’re missing TV talent shows like Strictly Come Dancing and Over the Rainbow, you’ll be pleased to hear Andrew Lloyd Webber is back, looking for a new star. Superstar will be screened on ITV, and is looking for a new British actor to play the lead in Jesus Christ Superstar for a new arena tour of the rock opera. Can’t wait.

Just two pieces of cast news this week:

• Olivier-award winning actress, Samantha Spiro, is to play at the Almeida Theatre in the title role of Eduardo De Filippo’s Filumena from 15 March
• Simon Rouse, best-known as Jack Meadows in The Bill, leads the cast in the Tricycle Theatre’s The Bomb – A Partial History from 9 February.

I’m off to the National Theatre now to see Travelling Light with Antony Sher. Have you seen any exciting theatre in London this week? Let us know in the comments below.

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”!