Passenger reworks songs from his hit musical while Tanika Gupta gives Ibsen a Hollywood makeover and TikTok becomes a stage for young playwrights
When Rachel Joyce’s bestseller about a retiree’s road trip was turned into a 2023 film, it had a couple of lovely numbers by Sam Lee. Earlier this year, fellow folkie Passenger (AKA Michael David Rosenberg) provided the music and lyrics for Chichester Festival theatre’s production, which transfers to the West End in January. Passenger’s album of renditions of the songs, One for the Road – with a few tracks that didn’t make the musical and an appearance from Jack Wolfe, who played the show’s Balladeer – is available to stream now.
ZooNation are giving A Christmas Carol a hip-hop spin this winter, with Ebony Scrooge at Sadler’s Wells. Rewind a decade and Kate Prince’s company upturned Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland with this Royal Ballet commission. Available from Digital Theatre.
Tanika Gupta transfers Ibsen’s play from late 19th-century Kristiania (Oslo) to 1948 London and turns Hedda into a former Hollywood star, in a rewrite inspired by the life of Oscar-nominated actor Merle Oberon. Hettie Macdonald directs Pearl Chanda in the world premiere at the Orange Tree in Richmond. Available 25-28 November.
