THE VICTORIA WOOD THEATRE Prepares to Remember VICTORIA WOOD on the 10th anniversary of her death on Monday 20 April 2026
Leading ladies Ria Jones and Sally Ann Triplett will be going into the recording studio during rehearsals for the brand-new musical FOURTEEN AGAIN, to record and film a special rendition of the song Fourteen Again, music and lyrics by Victoria Wood, as a moving tribute to remember Victoria** on the 10th anniversary of her death on Monday 20 April 2026. The recording will be ready to share in advance (15/04 under embargo) for all to play out with joy on Monday 20 April – Fourteen Again includes Victoria**’s legendary lyrics “Illya Kuryakin’s photograph” for all those that swooned and remember him!
Ria Jones and Sally Ann Triplett play best friends, in the world premiere of the brand-new musical FOURTEEN AGAIN with music and lyrics by Victoria Wood and book by Tom MacRae (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), opening at THE VICTORIA WOOD THEATRE, Bowness-on-Windermere, Friday 1 May - Saturday 6 June 2026 (Press Night Thursday 7 May), bringing a whole new generation of fans to Victoria’s genius.
Victoria Wood’s long-standing friendships, love of the Lake District and close connection to The Old Laundry Theatre comes full circle, as the intimate theatre is renamed THE VICTORIA WOOD THEATRE in honour of the much loved and talented star (official renaming 19 May). Her dear friends and the theatre’s owners, husband-and-wife team, Charlotte Scott and Roger Glossop MBE, have brought together an extraordinary cast and production team for FOURTEEN AGAIN (see below), most of whom had worked with Victoria.
The musical FOURTEEN AGAIN begins at the local Slimming Club, where Peggy (Triplett) is reunited with Lou (Jones), her best friend from school who she hasn’t seen since they were teenagers. As kids, no two friends were ever funnier or more fun, but here, now, today they are shadows of their younger selves - and a story unfolds of looking back to the future, full of comedy, love and pain, with Victoria’s amazing songs moving the musical fast forward.
KEY DATES for the Diary Tuesday 7 April: Rehearsals start in London.
Wednesday 15 April: Broadcast quality film and recording of Fourteen Again will be available on request (sent under strict embargo), for use on Monday 20 April.
Monday 20 April: The 10th Anniversary of Victoria Wood’s death. Rehearsals continue in The Lakes at The Victoria Wood Theatre.
Wednesday 6 May: FULL PHOTO/MEDIA CALL 1030hrs for Fourteen Again at The Victoria Wood Theatre.
Thursday 7 May: Press Night Fourteen Again at The Victoria Wood Theatre.
Tuesday 19 May: Gala Night - Official theatre renaming with Sir Alan Ayckbourn (on film) + live brass band – in aid of the Victoria Wood Foundation on what would have been Victoria’s Birthday.
The start of something magical and a legacy so truly deserved for the legend that is Victoria Wood.
For further information ACCREDITATION, embargoed broadcast quality film and recording of Fourteen Again, limited ticket allocation, interviews please contact DGPR, Deborah Goodman: publicity@dgpr.co.uk , +44 (0)208 959 9980 +44 (0)7958 611218
Friday 1 May – Saturday 6 June 2026
Box Office: 015394 40872
www.victoriawoodtheatre.com
Address: Crag Brow, Bowness-on-Windermere LA23 3BX
Performances: 7.30pm - Tuesday - Saturday
Matinees: 2.30pm – Wednesdays (NOT on 27/05) & Saturdays + Thursdays (from 14/05)
Tickets: £25 / £35 / £40
Group discounts available, Hardship & Student tickets £15
For photography and theatre logos please go to: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/rdq9d4ec5xmo64hxg6lp1/AHn_BjUjsOA0jnWQnNG8CN8?rlkey=a5o10f6kemakl9ci7623ln3no&st=d19y0fb3&dl=0
Ria Jones and Sally Ann Triplett – all roads continue to lead back to Victoria. Both actors worked alongside Victoria: Sally Ann created the role of Miss Berta in the West End production of the musical Acorn Antiques, and Ria played Mrs Overall in UK tour of Acorn Antiques. Their extraordinary CVs read like an A-Z of musical theatre with Ria having starred in Evita, Les Misérables, 42nd Street, Sunset Boulevard, Chess, Godspell, Into The Woods, Victor/Victoria, Nine, Witches of Eastwick, Joseph and Sally Ann having starred in Mamma Mia, Cabaret, Chicago, Oklahoma!, Billy Elliott, Guys and Dolls, Jolson, Anything Goes, Grease, Cats, Follies – to name but a few of their individual credits!
They are joined by Michael Chance (Stepping Out, South Pacific) and Jayne Ashley (Sister Act, Calander Girls).
FOURTEEN AGAIN CREATIVE TEAM Victoria Wood: Music and Lyrics.
Tom MacRae - Book: Double BAFTA-nominated screenwriter, producer, Olivier-nominated playwright, author and songwriter, book-writer and lyricist of the global hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie both stage & film, TV includes Doctor Who, The Librarians: The Next Chapter – and wrote TV series Fungus The Bogeyman, Victoria’s final acting role.
Jonathan O’Boyle - Director: Award-winning director The Last Five Years West End, Hair 50th Anniversary, Barnum- Watermill Theatre/UK Tour 2026, Cruel Intentions TOP, Pippin: 50th Anniversary & Hunchback of Notre Dame concerts.
Charlotte Scott - Producer: Charlotte, with her husband, Roger Glossop, created The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction (1991), The Old Laundry Theatre (1992), Trustee Victoria Wood Foundation.
Nigel Lilley - MD & Musical Supervisor: Acorn Antiques West End, TV for Victoria Wood – That Day We Sang, Here We Are, Victoria Christmas Special; Talent OLT, Follies RNT, Next to Normal West End, Trustee Vic Wood Foundation.
Sammy Murray - Choreographer: TV, film & theatre That Day We Sang, Killing Eve, Victoria Wood’s Midlife Christmas.
Roger Glossop - Set Design: Started his career at the Crucible Theatre Sheffield, over 65 productions for Alan Ayckbourn, West End includes: The Nerd, Chicago, Song & Dance, Arturo Ui, Annie Get Your Gun, Funny Turns - Victoria Wood & Geoffrey Durham, By Jeeves - Ayckbourn / Lloyd Webber, + RSC, RNT, The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction, Where is Peter Rabbit?, awarded the MBE, for Services to Theatre & Live Performance in 2025.
Jason Taylor - Lighting Design: Nomination Tony Award Journey’s End, West End RNT + 15 seasons at Regents Park Open Air Theatre, Waitress, Evita, Love Never Dies, Billy Elliot, over 20 productions for Alan Ayckbourn in Scarborough.
Caroline Hughes - Costume Design: By Jeeves, Where is Peter Rabbit? Housewife 49, RSC, West End, Sheffield Crucible.
Sam Glossop - Sound Design: Boy on the Roof, Teechers, Where Is Peter Rabbit?
Caroline Dalton - Associate Designer: Cumbrian artist in residence and puppetry director.
Stuart Burt CDG CSA - Casting Director: Oh Mary! Into The Woods, Cabaret, Standing at the Skies Edge.
Tim Reid - Video Design: Theatre, Dance, Opera including The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction, Quiz, Oresteia.
Mati Dalton - Animator: recent graduate of Vancouver Film School & University of Cumbria, The Peter Rabbit Café.