Fame The Musical continues at the Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury until 1 December 2018 and then on tour. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ In the early stages of watching this revival of Fame The Musical, I began to wonder how much it would connect with teenagers today nearly 40 years after the period […]
Archive | Onstage RSS feed for this section
How to Catch a Krampus! – Pleasance Theatre
How to Catch a Krampus! continues at the Pleasance Theatre, London until 23 December 2018. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ A bit like pulling a Christmas cracker and finding an Easter egg inside, this Sink The Pink/Pleasance production is so not what you expect. The schlock Gothic horror publicity more than hints, […]
‘We’ve really been part of the creative process’: Bronté Barbé stars in the brand new UK production of Striking 12 at the Union Theatre
After her role in the UK tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, as the legendary singer-songwriter, BRONTÉ BARBÉ is starring in the UK production of GrooveLily’s hit Off-Broadway musical Striking 12. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Match Girl, Striking 12 tells the story of Brendan (played by Declan Bennett, recently praised for […]
New musical Mythic – London run extended
The world premiere run of new Greek myth-inspired rock musical Mythic at London’s Charing Cross Theatre has been extended by three weeks. Directed and choreographed by Sarah O’Gleby, the musical which began its debut season in October will now play the central London venue until 15 December 2018. Written by Marcus Stevens (book and lyrics) […]
CBBC regular Jade Johnson wins a leading role in Hope Mill’s immersive musical Club Mex
CBBC regular Jade Johnson has won a leading role in the world premiere of Mexican-flavoured musical Club Mex at Manchester’s award-winning Hope Mill Theatre after initially auditioning via Instagram. The World’s End star will play bride to be Mel alongside Alison Arnopp (Eugenius! The Other Palace, Dusty, Charing Cross Theatre) and Emma Louise Hoey (Wizard […]
The Musical of Musicals (The Musical) – Above the Stag
The Musical of Musicals (the Musical) continues at Above the Stag, London until 22 December 2018. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Musical theatre composers have their certain foibles and tropes, those thematic elements which crop up from show to show. No more effectively is that illustrated than in Joanne Bogart and Eric Rockwell’s The […]
INTERVIEW: Eliza Jackson on Lambert Jackson’s show West End Women and how to win a place in the cast
When ELIZA JACKSON and Jamie Lambert met six years ago, it was a catalystic moment. “We were both a long way from home when we arrived at Associated Studios in London to do a postgrad course so we had a lot in common,” says Jackson who had trained in musical theatre at the National Institute […]
New production of Evita to close Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre 2019 season
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre will return to the works of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber for the prestigious venue’s 2019 season with a major new production of Evita. Directed by Jamie Lloyd, Evita’s summer run will overlap with the eagerly-anticipated Barbican Theatre transfer season of Regent’s Park’s multi-award-winning production of Rice and Lloyd […]
Madalena Alberto and Eleanor Jackson join cast of Aspects of Love London run
Madalena Alberto and Eleanor Jackson will complete the cast for the London transfer of Hope Mill Theatre’s hit version of Aspects of Love early next year. One of the Southwark Playhouse’s final productions at its current Newington Causeway site, the London run of Aspects of Love will star most of those who appeared in the […]
New British musical The Dreamers to debut at Abbey Road Studios
The world famous Abbey Road Studios will be the setting for four premiere performances of new British musical The Dreamers next month. Marking the first time the iconic recording studios have hosted a musical, the performances on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 December will be co-produced by Stars Foundation for Cerebral Palsy, with all profits […]
Motown The Musical – Edinburgh Playhouse and Touring
Motown the Musical runs at the Edinburgh Playhouse until 8 December 2018 and then continues touring. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The term ‘jukebox musical’ is often hurled around as a sideways insult when the music in a show is already known. When the show adds insight, context and sheer joy in each in every […]
Star of Smash Katharine McPhee will play the lead role in West End’s Waitress
Former American Idol finalist Katharine McPhee will make her West End debut in the eagerly-anticipated UK premiere of hit Broadway show Waitress at London’s Adelphi Theatre next February. The successful singer, who first found fame on the popular American talent search before winning acclaim as an actress for her performance in the Steven Spielberg-produced musical […]
INTERVIEW: Is former Strictly pro Robin Windsor really hanging up his dancing shoes?
After a successful and varied career, Strictly Come Dancing ex-pro ROBIN WINDSOR will bring his farewell tour to a close with a one-night-only performance at the Novello Theatre on Sunday 25 November 2018 with all proceeds go to the Make a Difference Trust. Robin will be joined by some special guests from his career both […]
Hadestown – Olivier Theatre
Hadestown continues at the Olivier at the National Theatre, London until 26 January 2019. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ It’s been over an eight-year wait since Anais Mitchell’s extraordinary universe Hadestown was born to our minds and our music players, but today the Olivier Theatre thunders with the fruits of its development. Our […]
Dirty Dancing – New Wimbledon Theatre & Touring
Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage continues at the New Wimbledon Theatre, London until 24 November 2018, then on tour until 17 August 2019. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ The matrons of Wimbledon squealed with delight when Michael O’Reilly in the role made famous by Patrick Swayze in the 1987 […]
‘Arguably the best production the show has ever had’: The King and I – cinema release
The Lincoln Center production of The King and I, seen this year at the London Palladium, is to be streamed to cinemas on 29 November 2018. If you missed it in the theatre, catch it while you can, as it’s arguably the best production the show has ever had. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ […]
‘It’s all very emotional’ – We revisit our interview with Heathers The Musical stars Carrie Hope Fletcher & Jamie Muscato
The record-breaking Heathers – The Musical is coming to the end of its strictly limited run at the Theatre Royal Haymarket this week, so we thought it was a good time to revisit Tal Fox’s interview with the show’s stars CARRIE HOPE FLETCHER (Veronica Sawyer) and JAMIE MUSCATO (Jason JD Dean). Based on the cult classic 1980s film Heathers which […]
Sweet Charity – Pimlico Opera – HMP Bronzefield
Sweet Charity by Pimlico Opera and the inmates of HMP Bronzefield at Ashford, Surrey. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Put an Olivier-nominated actress alongside inmates of HMP Bronzefield, stir in a 12-piece orchestra, a stage in a prison and the expertise of Pimlico Opera and what you got was a terrific Sweet Charity. […]
King Kong – The Broadway Theatre, New York
King Kong continues at The Broadway Theatre, New York. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The common critical wisdom regarding the deep, deep pocket musical spectacle King Kong – which after years of revamping its original 2013 try in Melbourne, Australia has finally arrived on Broadway – is almost a knee-jerk response of loving […]
Ghost – The Musical to return in 2019 for UK tour
Rebekah Lowings and Niall Sheehy will co-star in the 2019 UK tour of Bill Kenwright’s critically-acclaimed production of the hit Ghost – The Musical. Billed as ‘Unchained and Reimagined’, the new version of the show debuted in the UK in 2016 and will arrive back in the country in January following a successful international tour […]
Star-studded final dance for Strictly’s Robin Windsor
Former Strictly Come Dancing star Robin Windsor will give his last ever performance in London’s West End in a star-studded charity fundraiser later this month. With all proceeds going to the Make A Difference Trust, Robin Windsor – The Last Dance will feature the star dancer and famous friends in a special song and dance […]
High street-inspired Timpson The Musical is heading for London
Edinburgh Festival hit Timpson The Musical will debut in London at the King’s Head Theatre in early 2019. Presented by innovative company Gigglemug Theatre, the show which was named by The Guardian as one of the newspaper’s ‘Best Shows to see at the Edinburgh Fringe 2018’ will play the Islington venue from 18 February until […]
New Christmas family musical The Lost Toys’ Big Christmas Adventure takes centre stage
Tony Award-winning British composer Sarah Travis has provided the music for a new multi-sensory musical for children launching in Eastbourne this Christmas season. Written and directed by actress Kali Peacock (The Inbetweeners, My Family), The Lost Toys’ Big Christmas Adventure will play Eastbourne’s Towner Art Gallery from 13-31 December. The story of a group of toys […]
LMTO’s A Christmas Carol – full cast confirmed
Full casting has been revealed for this year’s London Musical Theatre Orchestra’s concert staging of Alan Menken, Lynn Ahrens and Mike Ockrent’s A Christmas Carol. Now firmly established as one of the highlights of the festive season following sold-out performances in 2016 and 2017, LMTO’s version of the 1994 Broadway musical reworking of Charles Dickens’ […]
Performance Preparation Academy – Made in Dagenham
Made in Dagenham was performed by Performance Preparation Academy at Eve Lyons Theatre, Guildford. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ In a week of total political chaos in Britain, the story of the strike by 187 female Ford Dagenham machinists 50 years ago that paved the way for the Equal Pay Act […]
Nativity! The Musical – Milton Keynes & Touring
Nativity! The Musical continues at the Milton Keynes Theatre until 18 November 2018 before the tour continues. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Nativity! The Musical definitely brought Christmas cheer to Milton Keynes, even if it was a little early! Based on the 2009 Christmas comedy film directed by Debbie Isitt, the […]
Kelsey Grammer and Danielle de Neise to star in Man of La Mancha at the London Coliseum
Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor Kelsey Grammer will return to London next year to star in a new production of the multi-award-winning Broadway musical Man of La Mancha. Grammer will make his West End debut playing Miguel de Cervantes and Don Quixote alongside international opera star Danielle de Neise as Aldonza and Dulcinea for a […]
Killian Donnelly and Matt Henry will return for London Kinky Boots film version
Killian Donnelly and Matt Henry will march back into the multi-award-winning Kinky Boots later this month to star in a filmed version of the hit show. The original stars of the show will be back playing Charlie and Lola at London’s Adelphi Theatre from Monday 26 to Wednesday 28 November 2018 as filming takes place […]
Fanatical: A Sci-Fi Convention Musical – Playground Theatre
Fanatical continues at the Playground Theatre, London – until 9 December 2018. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ In a 2006 episode of Doctor Who, Marc Warren plays a character who finds a group of people who, like him, are fans of the Doctor. After repeated meetings together, their mutual friendship becomes […]
Long Joan Silver – Hope Street Theatre, Liverpool
Long Joan Silver played at Hope Street Theatre, Liverpool. Billed as the first musical to take place at the Hope Street Theatre, Long Joan Silver could probably be better described as a comedy with songs, but that may be stretching a point. The show, written by Adam Ward, tells the tale of Joan, the daughter of Captain O’Malley. […]
Beauty and the Beast: A Musical Parody – King’s Head Theatre
Beauty and the Beast: A Musical Parody continues at the King’s Head Theatre, London until 17 November 2018. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ Fat Rascal’s production of Beauty and the Beast is billed as a musical parody, and parody it certainly does. With a vengeance. It might be more accurate to bill it […]
Lambert Jackson launches new search for musical theatre star
New musical theatre production company Lambert Jackson has announced a second competition to find a future female musical star to feature in their next show, West End Women – A Celebration of Women in Musicals. Open to women of all ages, the prize for the winning entrant will be a co-starring role alongside a trio […]
Leading theatre producers Selladoor launch new production platform
Two new musicals marking the centenary of the Armistice will be the launch productions for leading theatre producers Selladoor Worldwide’s new scheme to support and develop new work. The first showcase of work developed by Selladoor Creation will take place today (Monday 12 November 2018) at London’s Fortune Theatre, with a special concert showcase of […]
Ordinary Days – Theatre Row’s Clurman Theatre, New York
Ordinary Days continues at Theatre Row’s Clurman Theatre, New York until 17 November 2018. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ Ordinary Days, virtually a sung-through musical with music and lyrics by Adam Gwon, has been attracting an international array of productions since it was first spotlighted in an annual New York festival showcasing samplings […]
UK premiere for Jeanine Tesori’s award-winning musical Violet at the Charing Cross Theatre
Violet, a multi-award-winning musical with music by Jeanine Tesori (Tony Award winner for Best Original Score with Lisa Kron for Fun Home, and Tony-nominated for Caroline, Or Change and Shrek the Musical), and book and lyrics by Brian Crawley (The Little Princess), is to get its UK premiere in an international co-production at London’s Charing Cross Theatre, followed […]
Benoît Maréchal joins the cast of The Bodyguard tour
Benoît Maréchal will take on the title role in the second UK and Ireland tour of hit musical The Bodyguard which is due to launch at Glasgow Theatre Royal on Monday 3 December 2019. The French star who previously played Frank Farmer in his home country will star alongside the previously announced Alexandra Burke who […]
Royal Ballet star Matthew Ball to debut in Matthew Bourne’s festive Swan Lake
The Royal Ballet’s newest principal dancer Matthew Ball will join New Adventures for the entire London season of Matthew Bourne’s new production of his innovative Swan Lake this Christmas. After making his debut as Prince Siegfried in the Royal Ballet’s traditional Swan Lake, Ball will star in Bourne’s famously all-male version of the classic ballet, […]
Bronté Barbé and Declan Bennett head cast of Striking 12
Casting has been announced for the Off-Broadway musical Striking 12 at London’s Union Theatre this Christmas. Bronté Barbé (The Wild Party, The Other Palace) and Declan Bennett (Jesus Christ Superstar, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) will lead a cast that also includes Danielle Kassaraté (Dusty, Charing Cross Theatre), Kate Robson-Stuart (Once, New Wolsey Theatre/Queen’s Theatre) […]
Idris Elba and Young Vic’s Kwame Kwei-Armah create new musical Tree for the Young Vic in 2019
Screen star Idris Elba will join forces with award-winning director and playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah to create a major new musical which will premiere at the Young Vic next summer. Already tipped as one of the highlights of Kwei-Armah’s second year as artistic director of the Young Vic, Tree is inspired by Elba’s album ‘Mi Mandela’ […]
Todrick Hall to play Billy Flynn in West End Chicago
American Idol star Todrick Hall will follow his recent run as Billy Flynn on Broadway by reprising his performance on this side of the Atlantic in the hit revival of Chicago at London’s Phoenix Theatre. A judge and choreographer on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Hall who has also appeared on Broadway as Lola in Kinky Boots, […]
Barbican transfer run for Regent’s Park Open Air’s hit Jesus Christ Superstar
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre multi-award-winning production of Jesus Christ Superstar will transfer to the Barbican Theatre for just 60 performances next summer. Following on from two sell-out runs at the Open Air Theatre and a successful season at the Lyric Opera of Chicago this year, the hit production will play the Barbican from 4 […]
Strictly stars’ sixties song and dance show Rip It Up to play West End season
Strictly Dancing champions Harry Judd, Jay McGuiness, Louis Smith and recent celebrity contestant Aston Merrygold will take to the stage in London’s West End in dance and music show Rip It Up – The 60s in early 2019. Following a successful 2018 UK tour, McFly’s Judd, JLS’ Merrygold and former Olympic gymnast Smith will be […]
West Side Story will Be Curve’s Christmas 2019 production
Classic Broadway musical West Side Story will be Leicester Curve’s Made at Curve Christmas production next year. Just a few weeks before the debut of this year’s eagerly-anticipated production of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, the team at Leicester have announced plans for a major new production of the Romeo and Juliet-inspired musical which will run […]
Renée Fleming and Dove Cameron head cast of London premiere of The Light in the Piazza
Opera superstar Renée Fleming and Disney TV star Dove Cameron will make their London theatre debuts next summer in a special production of Tony Award-winning The Light in the Piazza. The first production from Scenario Two, the new company founded by John Berry and Anthony Lilley, The Light in the Piazza will make its London […]
Billy Cullum joins Tyrone Huntley in the world premiere of Leave to Remain at the Lyric Hammersmith
Billy Cullum will star opposite award winner Tyrone Huntley in the world premiere of Leave to Remain at the Lyric Hammersmith early next year. Cullum (Rent, UK tour; Matilda, West End), one of the stars of the recent Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s production of Little Shop of Horrors, will join Huntley, who attracted acclaim for […]
Brass – Union Theatre
Brass continues at the Union Theatre, London until 24 November 2018. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Benjamin Till’s ambitious musical charting the fortunes of a Leeds brass band that enlists for the Great War enjoys an intimate retelling at London’s Union Theatre. Commissioned by the National Youth Music Theatre to commemorate […]
Monstersongs – The Other Palace
Monstersongs was performed at The Other Palace, London. Billing any show as an ‘immersive experience’ will either get potential audiences running for the hills or intrigued by the added promise that this interactive work in progress is ‘unlike anything you’ve experienced before’. What was unique perhaps was the earnest, honest and interesting preamble from creator and lyricist […]
Bad Girls back behind bars in London in 2019
Nicole Faraday will return to the role of cell block bully Shell Dockley when a new production of Bad Girls The Musical opens at London’s Upstairs at the Gatehouse in February 2019. Faraday, who won a TMA award for her performance in the original production of the show, will be joined by Lucyelle Cliffe (Les Misérables, […]
INTERVIEW: Kerry Ellis records ‘A Million Dreams’ with West End Stage students in aid of NSPCC Childline
West End and Broadway leading lady KERRY ELLIS has joined forces with one thousand West End Stage students for a special charity recording of The Greatest Showman’s ‘A Million Dreams’. With all proceeds going to the NSPCC’s Childline service (0800 1111 , the recording of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s inspirational song from the hit film […]
Billy Bishop Goes to War – Jermyn Street Theatre
Billy Bishop Goes to War continues at the Jermyn Street Theatre, London until 24 November 2018. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ It’s a pleasure to see two actors working together as sensitively as Oliver Beamish, who also plays piano, and Charles Aitken. Between them they tell a graphic, poignant, horrifying, wryly […]
