A-list Marvel actor to perform on roof of London theatre for the West End’s most ambitious stage show
HE was well used to scaling buildings while playing movie superhero Spider-Man.
But I doubt that Tom Holland ever expected to be doing something similar when he was cast in a West End production of Romeo and Juliet.
I have learned that the Brit heartthrob is set to perform on the, er, roof of The Duke of York’s Theatre as part of the Shakespearean show when it kicks off on Saturday and runs until August 3.
The production team wants Tom to open the show there, with his performance filmed by drones each night and beamed into the theatre before he makes his way inside and on to the stage.
But the bold idea, to make the play the most talked about show in town, has unsurprisingly fallen foul of health and safety bores at Westminster Council who have strict rules for drone use.
The production’s bosses hope to persuade them to make an exception but it’s now up in the air — no pun intended — whether the stunt will go ahead.
A source said: “The play is being staged by The Jamie Lloyd Company which also produced Nicole Scherzinger’s Olivier-winning West End show Sunset Boulevard last year.
“That had a scene which was filmed on the street each night and, for Romeo and Juliet, producers now want to push the envelope even further.
“They have hired at least two camera operators so the scenes can be captured. Everything is being worked on as we speak but they are really trying to make it happen.”
There’s not long to wait now until the opening night and punters will rightly be expecting big things, given that tickets for the show cost up to £275.
I know I’d want to see something pretty spectacular to justify spending that kind of cash.
Tom’s star power has already given the production a huge boost, as the entire run is sold out.
He will be taking to the stage alongside newcomer Francesca Amewudah-Rivers.
But whether he will be able to start the show as they intended is all down to the council.
I just hope they can lighten up and let Tom get on with it.
KYLIE MINOGUE wrapped the final night of her debut Las Vegas residency on Saturday – and it was so successful she is already planning a return.
The star has been performing a sold-out run at new venue Voltaire in Sin City and has now negotiated a longer term deal, meaning she will be Spinning Around on her decision to end it there.
Speaking on stage, she said: “I am excited to be here and we were reminiscing that this is our last show of this run. So we have all been a little emotional today. Let me just say it has exceeded all my expectations.
“This is the end . . . For this moment. I love you so much, I cannot wait to see you again.”
I’m told Kylie will return to Voltaire in the next 18 months as she juggles a world tour to celebrate her recent chart hits.
A music insider confirmed: “Kylie loves the venue and adores what she and the team have created and how quickly she has become a must-see act in Vegas. She is coming back in the next 18 months and is working out dates around her planned world tour.
“With a new album on its way, Kylie will be in so much more demand. But Voltaire and the committed audiences have won her heart over, and she will be a mainstay there.”
Before that though, the Padam Padam singer will perform at London’s BST Hyde Park on July 13. It will be nice to have her back.
Win gig tickets
IN celebration of Live Nation’s Concert Week, their amazing team has handed me a pair of tickets to some very special shows that I can give away to you for FREE.
Up for grabs are two pairs of tickets to see Pearl Jam at Manchester Co-op Live — yes, I’ve been assured it will be open in time — or at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
There is also the chance to win a pair of tickets to see the incredible Eagles at Manchester’s Co-op Live and a pair of tickets to watch MOBY at London’s O2 arena.
Live Nation have also given us a pair of tickets to give away to see Doja Cat – at either Glasgow’s Ovo Arena, Birmingham Resorts World Arena, London’s O2 Arena or Newcastle’s Utilita Arena.
Nicki Minaj fans are in with a chance of picking up a pair of tickets to one of her shows in the UK, including dates at Manchester Co-op Live, Birmingham Resorts World Arena, London’s O2 Arena and Glasgow’s Ovo Arena.
To be in with a chance to win, visit www.thesun.co.uk/concertweek.
Click which act you’d like to see to be in with a chance to win.
The competition will run every day this week and the winner will be selected at random – and contacted to pick which location suits you best.
If you aren’t one of the lucky ones, Live Nation’s Concert Week is offering fans over 40,000+ tickets from £25 to some of the biggest shows this year, from pop superstars to legendary rock bands so keep an eye out for promotions.
Good luck and enjoy on us.
FerraRiRi steals the show at grand prix
RIHANNA has the need for speed as she gets behind the wheel at a Formula One party in Miami.
She showed off newly dyed pink hair as she posed with her rapper partner A$AP Rocky, who wore a fake helmet in the build up to last night’s big race.
Also there for the occasion was Camila Cabello who wore a matching top and mini-skirt and was snapped heading to watch the race.
The I Luv It singer even used the trip there to make a video for her TikTok where she declared her support for Ferrari driver Charles LeClerc.
Model Irina Shayk got into the spirit of things too, posing by a racing car in a shoot for the latest issue of Vogue Italia.
DRAKE and Kendrick Lamar’s rap feud has descended into mayhem, with each lashing out in a series of new diss tracks.
In the latest song, Kendrick appears to refer to his rival as a “certified paedophile” and alleges that he has had interactions with younger women.
In the track Not Like Us, he raps: “Say, Drake, I hear you like ‘em young,” and urges women to “make sure you hide your lil’ sister from him.”
Mocking Drake’s 2021 album Certified Lover Boy, he sings: “Certified Lover Boy? Certified paedophiles.”
On Saturday, Drake released a song called Family Matters where he accused Kendrick of domestic violence.
Then in another song, Meet The Grahams, Kendrick claimed Drake is hiding a secret daughter and has a string of addictions including sex, gambling and alcohol, which the Canadian rejected as a “shambles.”
It seems to me like these two don’t have enough going on in their own lives if they can spend all of their time coming up with silly ways to insult each other online.
But Kendrick’s first diss track Euphoria, released last week, is at No9 in the mid-week charts, so the sceptic in me wonders whether it’s all just an attention-seeking activity for them both.
BUCKS FIZZ have lost some of their sparkle as band member Mike Nolan is quitting.
The group, now known just as The Fizz, have been performing with three of the original four members: Cheryl Baker, Jay Aston and Mike.
But in a tweet yesterday after an interview on Radio 2, the 1981 Eurovision winners said: “We can confirm, following the Michael Ball show, that Mike will be leaving the group at the end of the year.
“Cheryl & Jay will be continuing as ‘The Fizz’ & a statement from Mike, will follow in the coming days. Thank you for your understanding.”
THE brilliant Jools Holland is back for a brand new six part series of live music from the Alexandra Palace Theatre later this month.
He will welcome back Elbow and Idles, with frontman Joe Talbot treating fans to performances of songs from their recent No1 album Tangk.
Bafta winning actress Samantha Morton will also make her debut on the show and prove her mettle as a musician after she teamed up with producer Richard Russell to kick off her career with upcoming album Daffodils and Dirt.
Rising country star Lainey Wilson will also take a star turn alongside Myles Smith – who will perform on the Introducing stage at BBC 1’s Big Weekend on May 25.
Old friends of Jools – and some of my favourites – returning too are Noel Gallagher, Fontaines DC, The Black Keys and Ghetts.
It’s going to be a killer series.
SOME things just get better with age, and the McFLY boys are definitely one of them.
Dougie Poynter, Danny Jones, Tom Fletcher and Harry Judd shared this photo of themselves posing topless on the beach in Rio de Janeiro and it got me hot under the collar.
The band – in Brazil for two headline concerts – looked in great shape and it seems they have found plenty of time to kick back in the sun.
They have a busy summer ahead of festivals and shows back home in the UK, kicking off on Perranporth Beach in Cornwall on May 17.
RICHARD GADD’s life has been turned upside down after Netflix show Baby Reindeer became the programme all of us want to talk about.
But he managed to get a break from the madness to get into a gig at the Hackney Empire celebrating The Pogues’’ 40th anniversary of their debut album Red Roses For Me.
Following the gig Rich also got invited backstage to meet the group.
Seems he’s a bit of a super-fan…but, thankfully, he’s no Martha.
The week in bizness
TODAY: The biggest night in the fashion calendar, the Met Gala, will attract bucketloads of A-listers to New York, with this year’s dress code being The Garden Of Time.
Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez and Chris Hemsworth are among the co-chairs, while Rihanna and Kim Kardashian are also on the guest list.
TOMORROW: Phoebe Waller-Bridge and John Krasinski will be among the stars on the red carpet in Leicester Square for the UK premiere of If.
The live-action and part-animated movie, not out until May 17, follows a girl and her neighbour who can see imaginary friends.
THURSDAY: Fresh from the success of album The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour arrives in Europe for its first night in Paris.
The tour – her first here in six years – hits the UK next month for a string of sold-out shows.
SUNDAY: Telly stars will get their glad rags on for the Bafta TV Awards, hosted by Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan.
The Crown, Happy Valley and Black Mirror are among major contenders for top gongs at this year’s bash.