Plays Cast: Humbley leads Dickens Abridged, more for RSC Peter and Wendy

Damian Humbley, recently seen in Maria Friedman's acclaimed revival of Merrily We Roll Along, will play Charles Dickens in Dickens Abridged at the West End's Arts Theatre this Christmas.

Humbley will be joined in the cast by Spamalot's Jon Robyns and Kit Orton, as well as Gerard Carey and Matthew Hendrickson.

Dickens Abridged is a fast-paced musical comedy from Adam Long, the co-creator of The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged).

It runs at the Arts from 2 December 2013 to 5 January 2014 (previews from 27 November).

Characters played by the multi-tasking cast include Fagin, Scrooge, Miss Havisham, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist and Mr Micawber.

Full casting has been announced for the Royal Shakespeare Company's world premiere of Ella Hickson’s Wendy and Peter Pan, billed as a "fresh new adaptation of the much loved children’s classic by JM Barrie".

Directed by Jonathan Munby, the festive family show will open for previews in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre on 10 December 2013, ahead of press night on 18 December.

As previously announced Fiona Button will play Wendy with Sam Swann as Peter Pan, Charlotte Mills as Tink and Guy Henry, who returns to the RSC after ten years to play Captain Hook.

Andrew Woodall and Emma Cunniffe will play Mr and Mrs Darling and the Darling children will be played by Jolyon Coy (John), Brodie Ross (Michael) and Colin Ryan (Tom).

They will be joined by Michelle Asante (Tiger Lily), Simon Carroll-Jones (Shadow), Richard Clews (Knock Bone Jones), Matt Costain (Peter’s Shadow), Gregory Gudgeon (Smee), Susan Hingley (Shadow), Emily Holt (Shadow), Jack Horner (Shadow), Arthur Kyeyune (Doc Giles/Crocodile/Shadow), Will Merrick (Slightly), Jack Monaghan (Nibs), Dodger Phillips (Murt the Bat), Guy Rhys (Doc Swain), Dafyyd Llyr Thomas (Curly), Jamie Wilkes (Martin) and Josh Williams (Tootles).