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.
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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.
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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 spinning back Around to las vegas
KYLIE MINOGUE wrapped the final night of her debut Las Vegas residency on Saturday – and the sold-out shows were so successful she is already planning a return.
The Spinning Around singer has negotiated a longer-term deal to perform at new venue Voltaire after originally deciding to end the run.
Speaking on stage, she said: “I am excited to be here. We were reminiscing that this is our last show, 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 has become a must-see act in Vegas.
“With a new album on its way, she 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, Kylie will perform at London’s BST Hyde Park on July 13. It will be great to have her back, for a while at least.
Win gig tickets
IN celebration of Live Nation’s Concert Week, their amazing team has handed me pairs of tickets to some very special shows to give away 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 London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
There is also the chance to win tickets for the Eagles at Manchester’s Co-op Live and a pair of tickets to watch Moby at London’s O2 Arena.
Live Nation has also given us a pair of tickets to see Doja Cat at either Glasgow’s OVO Hydro, Birmingham Resorts World Arena, London’s O2 Arena or Newcastle’s Utilita Arena.
Nicki Minaj fans are in with a chance of picking up seats at one of her UK shows, too, including dates at Manchester Co-op Live, Birmingham Resorts World Arena, London’s O2 Arena and Glasgow’s OVO Hydro.
For a chance to win, simply visit .
Click which act you’d like to see to be in the running.
The competition runs every day this week and the winner will be selected at random – and contacted to pick which location suits you.
If you aren’t one of our lucky winners, Live Nation’s Concert Week is offering fans more than 40,000 tickets from £25 to some of 2024’s biggest shows, from pop superstars to legendary rockers.
Keep an eye out for promotions.
FerraRiRi
RIHANNA revved up the glamour as she got behind the wheel at a Formula One party.
Showing off her newly dyed pink hair, RiRi posed with her rapper partner A$AP Rocky, who wore a racing helmet-style balaclava ahead of yesterday’s Miami Grand Prix and chatted with rapper Flavor Flav.
Fellow guests included Camila Cabello.
The I Luv It hitmaker used the occasion to make a TikTok video where she declared her support for F1 Ferrari driver Charles LeClerc.
LeClerc and model Irina Shayk joined in the big race fun by posing for the latest Formula One-themed issue of Vogue Italia magazine.
What's diss rap, Kendrick?
has intensified in new diss tracks.
Kendrick alleges in the latest song that his rival had interactions with younger women. In Not Like Us, he raps: “Say, Drake – I hear you like ’em young.”
Mocking Drake’s 2021 album Certified Lover Boy, he sings: “Certified paedophiles.”
On Saturday Drake put out Family Matters, in which he accused Kendrick of domestic violence.
And in Meet The Grahams, Kendrick claims Drake has a secret daughter and addictions to sex, gambling and alcohol, which the Canadian rejected.
How do this pair find the time to come up with silly ways to insult each other?
With Kendrick’s Euphoria at No9 in the mid-week charts, the sceptic in me wonders if it’s for attention.
BUCKS FIZZ have lost some of their sparkle as Mike Nolan is quitting.
Mike, Jay Aston and Cheryl Baker – three of the four original members – perform as The Fizz.
But after an interview on Radio 2 yesterday, the 1981 Eurovision winners tweeted: “We can confirm, following the Michael Ball show, that Mike will be leaving the group at the end of the year.”
Jools is given the Elbow
JOOLS HOLLAND is back this month with a brand new series of Later.
The ivory tinkler, below, will welcome back Elbow and Idles, who will treat fans to performances of songs from their recent No1 album.
Bafta-winning actress Samantha Morton will make her debut on the BBC Two show and prove her mettle as a musician.
Rising country star Lainey Wilson and up-and-coming British singer Myles Smith will also appear.
Old friends of Jools – and some of my favourites – returning to perform at North London’s Alexandra Palace Theatre include 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.
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BABY Reindeer’s Richard Gadd took a break from the madness surrounding his Netflix drama to watch a gig celebrating The Pogues.
Thankfully, he wasn’t as obsessed as Martha, the stalker in his show, when he went backstage at the Hackney Empire in East London to meet the band and a member of support act The Deadlians.
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.