This summer’s London 2012 Festival will feature acrobats on London landmarks, an inflatable Stonehenge and an appearance by Wallace and Gromit at The Proms. The full programme for the 12-week festival was unveiled this morning. Highlights include:

• A full-scale bouncy Stonehenge by artist Jeremy Deller, which will pop up at various locations
• Sports-themed plays, conversations and comedy with Stephen Fry and guests
• A comedy barge setting off from London and travelling through the UK to the Edinburgh Festival
• A collection of BMW Art Cars with bodywork designed by artists including Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons
• Streb Extreme Action, awe-inspiring acrobatics in and around London landmarks
• A special appearance at The Proms by Wallace and Gromit, who will star in a new Proms adventure

London 2012 Festival, 21 June to 9 September 2012 www.london2012.com/festival

RSC veterans Oliver Ford Davies and Stephen Boxer will star in the drama, which marks the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible. Edgar’s play tells the story of two men translating the word of God into English: for one, it means death at the stake, for the other, it could bring an archbishop’s mitre.

Another exciting piece of transfer news this week: Mark Rylance’s Shakespeare’s Globe productions Richard III and Twelfth Night (the latter starring Stephen Fry) are moving to the Apollo Theatre in the West End from 2 November. It’s a long time to wait, but I think tickets are going to sell fast, so be quick if you want to see these shows!

An earlier play for your calendars is What The Butler Saw, also announced this week. Comic Omid Djalili, who you might’ve seen in Oliver at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane a couple of years’ ago, will lead the cast of this new production. What The Butler Saw is a comedy of twists, coincidences and sharp one-liners, by Joe Orton, and will play at the Vaudeville Theatre from 4 May to 25 August.

Fans of The Inbetweeners should look out for Blake Harrison (Neil from the show) making his West End debut in Rob Hayes’s Step 9 (Of 12) at the Trafalgar Studios, also in May. Step 9 (Of 12) sees Harrison playing Keith, a drug and alcohol addict, apologising for his past. But as his earlier actions are assessed, it becomes clear they have shocking repercussions for the present.

Finally, Shrek The Musical has announced a new “school night” performance schedule: starting Wednesday night shows at the more kid-friendly time of 7pm. The team have also introduced a new family ticket package for Wednesday and Thursday evening performances with prices starting at £99, making it more affordable for families to see the hit show.

And on 16 May, Shrek will play a special, relaxed performance for children with special needs: tickets are free for the kids, and just £5 for adults. This one-off show is presented by theatre educational charity, Mousetrap Theatre Projects. For more info on the work they do, check out their website.

Fry is perhaps better known as a TV presenter than an actor today, but I still remember him from Blackadder, Gosford Park and Wilde. And I’m thrilled he’s going to be performing alongside Mark Rylance and Samuel Barnett in Twelfth Night from September. It’s been rather a struggle to secure tickets online today, but if, like me, you were lucky enough to bag some, I think his Malvolio will be a real treat.

Details of other exciting casting comes from Les Mis this week. Three leading men will take the part of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables in 2012. Ramin Karimloo will continue to play the powerful lead until 31 March, when he’ll be replaced by a returning star: David Shannon (3 April to 16 June). The role will then be taken by West End newcomer Geronimo Rauch. Rauch may be new to the London production, but he’s played Valjean in Barcelona and previously played Marius in his native Argentina. He starts a year-long contract from 18 June.

My final piece of casting news for this week is Christopher Eccleston and Jodie Whittaker appearing at the National. Eccleston is one of my favourite actors, so I’m really excited to hear he’ll be playing Creon in Antigone from May this year. Whittaker plays the young niece, Antigone, doomed to be buried alive. It’s just one in a long list of exciting appearances at the National Theatre this summer: look out for Adrian Lester, Julie Walters, Cillian Murphy and Rory Kinnear take leading roles at the venue in coming months.

Elsewhere, the Young Vic has announced details of its upcoming season. From June, the theatre will offer Simon Stephens’ new updated version of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, directed by Carrie Cracknell. A Doll’s House will be followed by another updated classic, Three Sisters (from September), directed by Australian director Benedict Andrews. For more details of the venue’s forthcoming season, head to their website.

Stephen Fry has given his support to the Pride House for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Pride House will be the first LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered) house at a summer Games, and one of the largest hospitality houses in London next summer.

More than 250,000 visitors are expected to enjoy a programme of live music, art exhibitions, sports, special appearances by athletes, and big screens showing the Olympic action.

“All eyes will be on London for the 2012 Games,” said Fry, ”and Pride House is an idea that brings together so many of the elements that make London one of the very greatest cities in the world and a beacon of tolerance, diversity and pride.”

More details about Pride House – including the venue – will be announced soon. Visit www.pridehouselondon.co.uk for more information.

I was invited to the launch of the much anticipated The British Military Tournament 2010 at London’s Wellington Barracks this morning, and as you would expect it was all performed with military precision!

In a country famed for its pomp and circumstance, it’s surprising there hasn’t been a large-scale military tattoo since the much-loved Royal Tournament was scrapped in 1999.

After being serenaded by the resident military band, I was told this new tournament will bridge that gap.

But it will also go further, taking some of the best acts from the Royal Tournament and incorporating them in an entertaining and insightful story of the British Army’s history. During the two-hour performances at Earls Court, 500 soldiers will perform in the original military uniform of each period including the English Civil War and the Boer War.

There’ll be a live cavalry charge guaranteed to thrill kids and their parents. The show also includes a revival of the most famous act in the Royal Tournament, the field gun run, using exact copies of the original guns.

Celebrities Joanna Lumley, Stephen Fry and Dame Judi Dench will also make a contribution to the two performances each day during the weekend of 4 and 5 December 2010.

All funds will go to the ABF Soldier’s Charity (formerly The Army Benevolent Fund).

Tickets go on sale on Wednesday, so… Attention… Quick… March…!