Firstly, there’s been another big birthday in Theatreland. Congratulations to War Horse, which celebrated its fifth anniversary on the London stage this week. The show’s been seen on stage by more than 1.6 million people in London, including the Queen, and remains one of London’s most popular productions.

From National Theatre long-runners to transfers: I’ve learnt that the National’s critically acclaimed production of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time will transfer to the West End next year following its sell-out season at the Southbank venue. Adapted from Mark Haddon’s novel by acclaimed playwright Simon Stephens, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time plays at the Apollo Theatre from 1 March with Luke Treadaway reprising his role as the 15-year-old autistic maths genius Christopher Boone.

And there’s news of another new West End show opening next year: From Here to Eternity features lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Stuart Brayson and is based on James Jones’ award-winning 1951 novel, rather than the classic film. I’ve no cast news yet, but the show will be directed by Tamara Harvey, and starts previews at the Shaftesbury Theatre in September next year

Finally, looking ahead to next summer, the Open Air Theatre has announced a new stage adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice and a re-imagining of The Winter’s Tale for children aged six and older for its 2013 season. These two shows join the previously announced productions of To Kill A Mockingbird and the first-ever Rodgers and Hammerstein production at the venue, The Sound Of Music. It sounds like we can look forward to another great summer at this ever-brilliant venue.

London Theatre Cast News:

• Zoë Wanamaker returns to the West End next year to star in David Leveaux’s production of Peter Nichols’ black comedy Passion Play at the Duke of York’s Theatre
• Jonathan Bonnici, Denton Chikura, Tunji Falana, Sandy Grierson, Éva Magyar, Itxaso Moreno, Adura Onashile, Tahirah Sharif, Harmage Singh Kalirai, Ony Uhiara and Hemi Yeroham will appear in Mary Zimmerman’s new play, The Arabian Nights at the Tricycle Theatre from 30 November to 12 January
• Nadia Clifford, Geoffrey Freshwater, Eve Pearce and Timothy Watson will join Maureen Lipman and Tracy-Ann Oberman in Terry Johnson’s production of Old Money at the Hampstead Theatre from 29 November to 12 January
• Joining Oliver Ford Davies in Goodnight Mister Tom are Louise Collins, Joanne Howarth, Aoife McMahon, Freya Parker, Georgina Sutton, Alan Vicary, Jonathan Warde and Emma Drysdale, as well as Elisa de Grey, Bradley Hall and Osmund Bullock
• Gina McKee and Anna Maxwell Martin join Tamzin Outhwaite in the transfer of Hampstead Downstairs’ sell-out production Di And Viv And Rose to the venue’s main space from 17 January to 23 February

Joey, the puppet star of London theatre hit War Horse, galloped along the roof of the National Theatre and reared in salute to The Queen as she passed on the Royal Barge.

The Queen is well-known for her love of horses, and she seemed very pleased by Joey’s salute. Well done team National Theatre!

Second, a note for any Shakespeare fans out there. Theatre company Antic Disposition is planning to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the first performance of The Tempest in London this August. And they’re staging it at London’s Middle Temple Hall, an Elizabethan venue where Shakespeare’s own company once performed. What a treat.

The Royal Court has announced two extensions this week. Both current hit Chicken Soup With Barley, and forthcoming black comedy The Village Bike, have added dates to their runs.

Now to this week’s casting news:

• Robert Sheehan from E4′s Misfits will make his stage debut at the Old Vic in September, playing the lead in JM Synge’s The Playboy Of The Western World. He’ll be performing opposite Ruth Negga and Old Vic regular Niamh Cusack.
• Hustle star Marc Warren returns to the London stage at the Aldwych Theatre in October, playing iconic prisoner Cool Hand Luke in a stage adaptation of Donn Pearce’s classic novel.
• West End stars Oliver Tompsett (previously Fiyero in Wicked), Amy Pemberton (formerly in Footloose and Jersey Boys) and Simon Lipkin (best known as Nicky and Trekkie Monster in Avenue Q) are all signed up to play in new London rock musical, Rock of Ages at the Shaftesbury Theatre.
• Ellen Greene from Pushing Daisies is to play identical triplets (the Enchantress, the Princess and the Nymph Queen) in fantasy musical Betwixt! at the Trafalgar Studios in July.

See you at West End Live!

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.

Adding to the Bard mix is news that Simon Callow (best known as the guy who dies in Four Weddings and A Funeral) is bringing Being Shakespeare to the Trafalgar Studios in June. So if you feel like you’ve seen too many Hamlets and had enough Much Ado’s for one year, take a look at this one-man show. Being Shakespeare brings the Bard’s most memorable characters to life as it explores the man behind the world’s most famous plays. It runs from 15 June to 23 July.

From Shakespeare to Spice Girls! Yes, there’s going to be a Spice Girls musical. Viva Forever will be directed by War Horse co-director Marianne Elliot, and produced by Mamma Mia! producer Judy Craymer.

Judy said, “I am delighted that Marianne has agreed to direct Viva Forever. With her theatrical aptitude for exploring strong women and their relationships and her meticulousness to detail she is absolutely the right person to direct this new musical which is all about female friendship, celebrity and fame. I’m so happy to have her on board, together with Jennifer Saunders, who has written the musical.” Jennifer Saunders too! There’s enough Girl Power in that team to make the show a success, I reckon!

Finally, this week’s cast news. The National Theatre welcomes two returning actresses for A Woman Killed With Kindness in June. Sandy McDade last appeared in The Seagull, directed by Katie Mitchell. McDade is probably best-known as Lark Rise To Candleford’s Miss Ellison. Mitchell also directs the National’s revival of the 1603 domestic thriller A Woman Killed With Kindness. Liz White (from the BBC adaptation of The Crimson Petal And The White and Life On Mars) stars alongside McDade. White was last at the National in the double bill of Spring Storm and Beyond The Horizon last year.

If you’re not able to catch Ruby Wax at the Menier Chocolate Factory, where she’s currently performing Losing It (until 19 March), you’ll be pleased to hear she’s coming back in the summer.

You can now catch her show, which deals with the darkest moments of depression through poignant prose and funny songs for five weeks from 17 May.

Second up: great news about a return London journey for The Railway Children. The hit London show is back at its unique venue inside the former Eurostar terminal at Waterloo Station from 18 June until 4 September. If the you know anyone who’s a fan of E Nesbit’s book, trains, or just fantastic family entertainment, I’d thoroughly recommend taking them along to this show…

Finally, another fantastic family hit gets a cast refresh. Nicola Stephenson and Patrick Robinson join the cast of War Horse next week. The actors are best known for inhabiting the hallways of Holby General; they’ll now be playing in Michael Morpurgo’s Second World War drama at the New London Theatre.

Stephenson will play the protagonist’s mother, left worrying for her son’s life when he runs away to worn-torn France in search of his beloved horse, Joey. The actress’s numerous TV credits include Clocking Off, Law And Order and Larkrise To Candleford. Robinson plays German soldier Friedrich Muller. In addition to Casualty, Robinson is well known for his work on ITV drama The Bill. The pair joins War Horse as it enters its fifth year; the show’s recently celebrated its one millionth customer.

Finally, have you voted for your favourite show in the BBC Radio 2 Olivier Audience Award? The shortlist makes decisions difficult, with 4 fantastic musicals fighting it out for this year’s prize:

• Billy Elliot
• Les Miserables
• Jersey Boys
• We Will Rock You

Have your say now at www.olivierawards.com/vote. The winner will be announced at the Olivier Awards on 13 March.

The exhibition is split into five sections – one for each of the books it explores: War Horse by Michael Morpurgo, Carrie’s War by Nina Bawden, The Silver Sword by Ian Serraeillier, The Machine Gunners by Robert Westall and Little Soldier by Bernard Ashley.

Like the books, the exhibition is very emotive, showing conflict through a child’s eyes. There are sad aspects – telling how 250,000 horses died in the First World War, displays of weapons used by child soldiers and tales of displaced families across Europe. But there are also happier moments - a photograph of author Nina Bawden feeding a lamb during her own evacuation and how Robert Westall was inspired to write The Machine Gunners in order to be closer to his son.

Any budding novelists will be interested to see how the authors wrote the books. There’s lots of information about how they developed the stories and there are first drafts, notebooks and even an old typewriter on display.

There are life-sized models of important parts of some of the books –  you can look through the cupboards in Hepzibah’s kitchen from Carries War and go inside the secret fortress from The Machine Gunners.

As well as the exhibition, the museum is running a series of events, including a children’s war literature festival in August.

If you’re a fan of any of the books featured in the exhibition or even fancy writing a children’s book yourself, it’s definitely worth a trip to the museum.

Once Upon A Wartime at the Imperial War Museum. 11 Feb-30 Oct 2011.

Yesterday was Billy Elliot’s birthday! The Stephen Daldry / Elton John musical celebrated five successful years in the West End last night with a big birthday bash. Friends, fans, families and celebrities including David Walliams were treated to a 19-strong Billy “megamix, a mash-up of all the Billys.”

Stephen Daldry played tribute to the fine actors that have made the show a success. According to the Official London Theatre Guide, “When we first started with our three first Billys, it was so magical we never thought we would be able to recreate that magic ever again. The fact that we have consistently found these fantastic Billys is a wonder to behold.” I couldn’t agree more. It’s a fantastic show.

From long-runners to new spring arrivals: the cast for Nick Grosso’s new comedy about addiction, Ingredient X, at the Royal Court from 20 May has been announced. The lovely Lesley Sharp, who’s been busy in the West End lately (in The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice at the Vaudeville, Harper Regan at the National, and Ghosts at the Duchess Theatre) plays X Factor addict Rosanna. And James Lance (who you’ll know from Teachers, Boy Meets Girl and Moving Wallpaper) and Indira Varma (from Hustle, Torchwood or Rome) are also going to star.

And I’ve learnt about the casting for this summer’s Open Air Theatre season. Into The Woods will be led by the wonderful Hannah Waddingham and Jenna Russell. Both actresses have been in Sondheim shows before: Hannah in the recent London production of A Little Night Music, and Jenna won an Olivier Award for Sunday In The Park With George in 2007.

Also at the Open Air Theatre this summer is Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, starring Patrick O’Kane (who’s currently in War Horse), Emma Cunniffe (in Dumb Show at the mo), Emily Taaffe (who you might know from Nation at the National) and RSC regular Oliver Ford Davies (who I last saw in that amazing Shakespeare marathon, The Histories).

Finally, the National Theatre’s 2010 Travelex Season now includes Welcome To Thebes, starring David Harewood, due to open in June. As Theseus, Harewood returns to theatre where he made history as the first black actor to play Othello. More recently he has played Martin Luther King in The Mountaintop and Nelson Mandela in TV drama Mrs Mandela. Another of the fantastic ensemble from The Histories, Chuk Iwuji joins David in the cast.

Book now for all the above to avoid disappointment!

On 21 March at the Grosvenor House Hotel, the Laurence Olivier Awards 2010 will be announced.

The annual award ceremony is the most prestigious in London theatre, and the highlight of the theatrical year in London.

You can read a full list of the runners and riders on the Official London Theatre website. The judging panel consists of dedicated theatregoers and experts.

But there’s an exciting new award for 2010 where YOU can vote for the winner. The Audience Award goes to the long-running London show with the most votes from the following shortlist:

• Wicked
• The Phantom Of The Opera
• We Will Rock You
• War Horse
• Billy Elliot The Musical

Vote for your favourite, and you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win four tickets to the winning show. You’ve got until 5pm on 17 March to have your say.

Puppets aren’t just for kids: there are companies all over the world producing puppet shows with grown-up themes.

Now some of the world’s top puppeteers are coming to London to perform at the adults-only Suspense London Puppetry Festival.

The programme encompasses everything from a raunchy puppet cabaret to a show about the life of Albert Einstein.

Don’t miss the brilliant Rust by Green Ginger, about two rival pirate radio stations.

The festival is organised by the Little Angel Theatre in Islington.

Creative Director Peter Glanville says, “People are engaging with puppetry in a way which is really quite exciting. War Horse, Avenue Q and Madame Butterfly are all part of that movement.”

The organisers hope the festival will introduce puppetry to new grown-up audiences. If you haven’t seen an adult puppet show before, book your tickets now!

Suspense is at venues across London from 30 October to 8 November.