Knights of the Rose continues at the Arts Theatre, London until 26 August 2018. Star rating: two stars ★ ★ ✩ ✩ ✩ Described as an epic tale of love, betrayal and sacrifice this new musical created by Jennifer Marsden opened at the intimate Arts Theatre amid great hype and a buzz of exciting expectation. Sadly, […]
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Miss Littlewood – Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Miss Littlewood continues at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon until 4 August 2018. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ It’s thrilling to find any new musical celebrating the life of a revolutionary theatre-maker, and more wonderful to find a complex and fascinating woman at the heart of it. Sam Kenyon’s tribute to Joan Littlewood is […]
Songs for a New World – Encores! Off-Center – New York City Center
Songs for a New World, an Encores! Off-Center production, played New York City Center. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Call it a song cycle. Call it a revue. Whatever you call it, Jason Robert Brown’s Songs for a New World contains some of the brainiest dramatic monologues ever set to music. They’re the […]
Guildhall School of Music & Drama – Fiddler On the Roof
Fiddler On the Roof, presented by students from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, continues at the Silk Street Theatre, London, until 11 July 2018. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The high quality of student productions continues to amaze and Guildhall final-year graduates do full justice to Fiddler On the […]
West End transfer for The Other Palace hit Heathers – The Musical
The record-breaking European premiere of Heathers – The Musical looks set to keep hitting the high notes with a West End transfer to the Theatre Royal Haymarket in September. Now the highest grossing show in history at both Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Other Palace and the venue’s previous incarnation the St. James Theatre, Heathers – […]
Competition: Win tickets to Send in the Clowns: Sondheim’s Extraordinary Women at the Lichfield Festival & drinks with the cast!
What a competition we have for fans of Sondheim! Two tickets to the concert Send in the Clowns: Sondheim’s Extraordinary Women at the Lichfield Festival on Saturday 14 July at 2.30pm An invite to a drink with the cast afterwards AND free membership to the Sondheim Society for a year! As part of the 2018 Lichfield […]
The King and I – London Palladium
The King and I continues at the London Palladium until 29 September 2018. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ The King and I has had a makeover. In its two previous incarnations at this same theatre (1979 and 2000) it has been shackled to a degree by the copyright held by its creator Jerome Robbins […]
Nadim Naaman leads cast of Broken Wings West End run – new pictures released
Nadim Naaman will head the cast of the West End debut of Broken Wings, the musical created by the West End star and Qatar-based composer Dana Al Fardan. Following on from a series of London workshops and the recording of a concept album, a semi-staged production of the show is due to play the Theatre […]
Bush Theatre’s Misty to transfer to Trafalgar Studios
Playwright and actor Arinzé Kene will bring his critically acclaimed Misty to London’s Trafalgar Studios for a six-week run in September. Following on from its sold-out run at the Bush Theatre in West London, the powerful piece which blends theatre, music and poetry will move into the Westminster venue from 8 September until 20 October […]
Casting For UK and Ireland tour of Rock of Ages
A former Coronation Street favourite and a TV talent show contestant turned stage star will take on key roles in the eagerly-anticipated UK and Ireland tour of the glam rock jukebox musical Rock of Ages which is due to open at the Bromley’s Churchill Theatre in September. Best known for playing Curly Watts in the […]
Stars line up to record The Clockmaker’s Daughter studio album
Five leading West End stars will lend their voices to a new studio recording of Webborn and Finn’s The Clockmaker’s Daughter. Currently starring as Peggy Schuyler in Hamilton, Christine Allado (In The Heights) will record the role of Constance alongside Ramin Karimloo (The Phantom of the Opera and Love Never Dies) as Abraham, Fra Fee […]
Barn Theatre’s first season to close with The Rise and Fall of Little Voice
The Barn Theatre’s critically-acclaimed and audience pleasing inaugural season will conclude with a new production of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice. Following on from the Cirencester venue’s hit launch production of the Tony Award-winning musical The Secret Garden, director Michael Strassen will take the helm of The Barn’s version of Jim Cartwright’s much-loved […]
Peter Groom’s Dietrich show Natural Duty to play Wilton’s Music Hall
Actor, dancer and choreographer Peter Groom’s hit theatrical cabaret tribute to Hollywood legend Marlene Dietrich is heading back to London this November with a transfer run at Wilton’s Music Hall. Created and performed by Groom, Dietrich – Natural Duty will follow its sold-out run at the Vault Festival 2018 in January, arriving back in the […]
Casting for Spamilton at the Menier Chocolate Factory
Casting has been announced for the Menier Chocolate Factory’s production of Gerard Alessandrini’s Hamilton-inspired spoof Spamilton which will make its UK debut this month. Running from 12 July until 8 September 2018 with an opening night on 24 July, the UK premiere of Spamilton marks a return to the Menier for Forbidden Broadway creator Alessandrini. Alessandrini will […]
Did you see who has been cast in the new production of SIX?
Casting has been announced for the new production of musical SIX which is due to arrive in London in August following a short tour and a return visit to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Following a well-received four-date run which ended in January, the rock-flavoured show in which the wives of Henry VIII take centre stage […]
‘Fortunately, the offers are still coming in’: First lady of British jazz Elaine Delmar chats about her forthcoming London gigs
ELAINE DELMAR, the first lady of British jazz, is about to return to The Pheasantry on the King’s Road, Chelsea and at Burgh House in Hampstead in July, as well as the EFG London Jazz Festival on the Southbank in November. A veteran of shows such as Finian’s Rainbow, No Strings, Cowardy Custard and Bubbling […]
‘It’s a story that should be heard’ – Clare Burt makes her RSC debut in Miss Littlewood
Actress CLARE BURT is making her RSC debut in the title role in Miss Littlewood, a new musical about one of the biggest names in British theatre, Joan Littlewood. The Flowers For Mrs Harris and Big Fish star will take on the central role of the outspoken and visionary ‘Grand Dame’ who inspired a generation […]
Theatretrain – Special Measures – Sadler’s Wells Theatre
Special Measures was performed by members of Theatretrain at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London (also Royal Concert Hall Nottingham). Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ Styling itself “the company that loves to perform”, Theatretrain is a part-time children’s training organisation with branches all over the country. It makes a specialism of bringing together groups […]
Sirens of the Silver Screen – Tabard Theatre
Sirens of the Silver Screen continues at the Tabard Theatre, London until 14 July 2018. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ Sirens of the Silver Screen is interesting. I’m not sure I can top that with any other flattery. Yes Beth Burrows has a liquid chocolate voice. Her talking voice is rather melodious and easy […]
More gender-blind casting for the West End cast of Company
Richard Fleesham, George Blagden and Matthew Seadon-Young will take on key roles in Marianne Elliott’s eagerly anticipated gender-swapped version of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s Company. The trio will play the re-gendered and re-named by Sondheim roles of the three boyfriends of central character Bobbie (Rosalie Craig) in the production which will begin previewing at […]
Tributes pour in for legendary choreographer and director Gillian Lynne
Andrew Lloyd Webber has led the tributes to the much-loved choreographer and director Gillian Lynne who has died at the age of 92. Writing on Twitter, the composer and impresario marked the passing of his long-time colleague and friend, writing: “Farewell dearest Gillie, three generations of the British musical owe so much to you. With Love, Andrew.” […]
King: The Musical in Concert – Hackney Empire
King: The Musical in Concert, Hackney Empire, London Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ In this, the 50th anniversary year of the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King Jr, it feels appropriate to revive this musical based on his life. Although maybe “revive” isn’t the right word. King, performed in concert this […]
Royal Academy of Music – The Sweet Smell of Success
The Sweet Smell of Success is performed by the Royal Academy of Music’s Musical Theatre Company at the Susie Sainsbury Theatre, London. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ The musical The Sweet Smell of Success is based on a story by Ernest Lehman who wrote the screenplay with Clifford Odets for the film of the […]
Thanks for the lovely memories Liliane Montevecchi – you were one of a kind
She wasn’t the best singer in the world but she was a force of nature, this gamine Parisienne with the wicked laugh, but Liliane Montevecchi, who has died in New York at 85, was a very special entertainer who brought glamour to the stage and absolutely knew how to work an audience, writes Jeremy Chapman. […]
Carmen Jones – Classic Stage Company, New York
Carmen Jones continues at Classic Stage Company, New York until 29 July 2018. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Georges Bizet, Oscar Hammerstein II and John Doyle prove to be amazing collaborators. True, Bizet and Hammerstein have long left this earth, but the John Doyle-directed revival of Carmen Jones, which has just opened Off-Broadway at Classic […]
Infinite Joy – Southwark Playhouse
Infinite Joy continues at the Southwark Playhouse, London until 14 July 2018. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ Now in its fourth year, the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Bridge Company premieres two original musicals, Sticky and Infinite Joy, in rep for its Southwark Playhouse residency. The initiative, formed of recent BRIT school graduates, claims to offer […]
Fun Home – Young Vic
Fun Home continues at the Young Vic, London until 1 September 2018. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Arriving through the pearly gates of Broadway in 2015, and going on to win five Tony Awards, plus a Grammy for its original cast recording, the UK finally gets to share in the Fun Home fever at the […]
West Side Story – Bishopsgate Institute
West Side Story continues at the Bishopsgate Institute, London until 1 July 2018. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Since West Side Story opened on Broadway in 1957, there’sbeen a tendency to curb some of the excitement and drama of this groundbreaking show. This was apparent early on in Robert Wise’s film from 1961 that offered […]
Acclaimed musical Come From Away to debut in Dublin and London
Tony Award-winning new musical Come From Away is due to land on this side of the Atlantic in December with a premiere run in Ireland ahead of its West End debut in January 2019. Inspired by the remarkable true story of the 7,000 stranded air passengers who found refuge in a small Canadian town in […]
New Mama Morton Mazz Murray is announced for Chicago
Mazz Murray will take over from Ruthie Henshall in the role of Mama Morton in the hit revival of Chicago at London’s Phoenix Theatre from Monday (2 July). Murray, whose West End credits include Mamma Mia!, Fame and nine years as Killer Queen in We Will Rock You, joins fellow newcomer Martin Kemp who will […]
Book Review – Keeping My Balls in the Air – Paul Elliott
KEEPING MY BALLS IN THE AIR (The random memoirs of a theatre producer) – Paul Elliott Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Paul Elliott is well-known in theatrical circles especially for his amazing track record with pantomimes – although there is much more to the man than that. He has produced/co-produced some amazing hits […]
CD Review – Broken Wings – The Original Concept Album
BROKEN WINGS: The Original Concept Album – Studio Recording (Auburn Jam Records –AJR2638 and downloads) Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ An autobiographical tale of tragic love based on Lebanese-born poet Kahill Gibran’s 1912 masterpiece The Prophet. Doesn’t sound like the sort of thing you would go running to watch or listen […]
Wicked Young Writer Awards – winners announced
A seven-year old’s moving poem about homelessness and a teenager’s poignant account of an old man’s past recollections at the moment of his death were among the winning works in the eighth annual Wicked Young Writer Awards. The winners were revealed at a special ceremony last week at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, the West End […]
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance – Crazy for You
Crazy For You was performed by Trinity Laban Musical Theatre students at Stratford Circus, London. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Director Sarah Redmond certainly knows how to get the best out of her young cast. The 24 graduating students in this highly enjoyable production of Crazy for You are fizzing with energy and there’s plenty of talent […]
Hamilton (Lewis) musical to debut at King’s Head
The other record-breaking Hamilton, world champion racing driver Lewis is the subject of a new musical parody which will debut at London’s King’s Head Theatre in September. Directed Benji Sperring, whose previous work includes hit productions of The Toxic Avenger and Shock Treatment, Hamilton (Lewis) will tell the story of the boy from Stevenage who […]
Mother and daughter team to take on leading roles in Park’s Little Voice
Rafaella Hutchinson and Sally George will become the first real-life mother and daughter to take on the central roles in a new production of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice at the Park Theatre this summer. Singer-songwriter and actress Hutchinson (The Merry Wives of Windsor, Royal Shakespeare Company) will take on the title role […]
Prom Queen to play London Workshop before Broadway run
London audiences will get their first glimpse of new musical Prom Queen when the show is performed in workshop form at The Other Palace next month ahead of a planned Broadway run. Announcing the workshop presentation on Monday 2 July, The Other Palace’s artistic director Paul Taylor-Mills said: “I came across Prom Queen at The […]
Daisy Pulls It Off – Charing Cross Theatre
Daisy Pulls It Off continues at the Charing Cross Theatre, London until 30 June 2018. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ A huge round of applause for the Charing Cross Theatre for hosting Guildford School of Acting’s (GSA) polished production of Denise Deegan’s Daisy Pulls It Off. The show is performed by the graduating students […]
Michele Brourman – The Pheasantry
Michele Brourman at The Pheasantry, London. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Forty years after playing fierce piano on tour in Bob Dylan’s band, Michele Brourman was in the less frenetic surroundings of The Pheasantry singing her own compositions and making wonderful music on the Chelsea cabaret room’s Steinway. At 4ft 11in, this dainty lady […]
Lonesome Blues – The York Theatre Company – Saint Peter’s, New York
Lonesome Blues continues at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter’s, New York until 1 July 2018. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ A seminal treasure of African-American music gets vibrantly – sometimes thrillingly – aired in Lonesome Blues, a one-person evocation of the 1920s singer Blind Lemon Jefferson. In his brief career, Blind […]
Margo: Half Woman Half Beast – JW3 and Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Margo: Half Woman Half Beast was reviewed at JW3, London. The show will play the Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh from 2-18 August 2018. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ With the 100-year anniversary of the Weimar Republic being created only months away, Margo: Half Woman Half Beast brings to life the famous cabaret songs of the […]
Nicholas Hytner wins the 2018 Theatre Book Prize for Balancing Acts
Nicholas Hytner has won the 2018 Theatre Book Prize from the Society for Theatre Research for Balancing Acts (Jonathan Cape) about his 12 years as director of the National Theatre. Accepting the prize, he quipped as he thanked all the people who helped to make it possible: “I wish I could say I enjoyed writing this […]
Legally Blonde The Musical – New Wimbledon Theatre and Touring
Legally Blonde the Musical was reviewed at the New Wimbledon Theatre, London. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ The current touring production of Legally Blonde The Musical, based on the ever-popular 2001 chick flick, has all the pink, purses and pooches one could hope for, so it’s easy to get swept up […]
Kiss Me, Kate – London Coliseum
Kiss Me, Kate continues at the London Coliseum until 30 June 2018, then on international tour until January 2019. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ It’s just one musical treasure after another as the Cole Porter 70-year-old classic, joyfully revived by Opera North, comes to London on a short run before going on to Edinburgh, Japan […]
Berlin to Broadway With Kurt Weill – City Varieties, Leeds
Berlin to Broadway With Kurt Weill at the City Varieties, Leeds. Star rating: five stars ★★★★★ As a rule, I am not a fan of shows that harvest the ripest plums from a musical or opera. ‘O mio babbino caro’, taken out of context, too often becomes a sickly hymn of praise, when in fact it’s a […]
Amanda McBroom: My Favourite Things – Pizza Express Holborn
Amanda McBroom: My Favourite Things at Pizza Express Holborn, London. Star rating: five stars ★★★★★ It is always good news when singer-songwriter-actress Amanda McBroom is back in London. She had been appearing with fellow songstress Ann Hampton Callaway at The Pheasantry in Chelsea and ended her London season with a solo show at Pizza Express Holborn, a fairly […]
Nadim Naaman and guests – Live at Zédel
Nadim Naaman and guests performed at Live at Zédel, London. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Nadim Naaman has managed to acquire an impressive set of credits at a young age, and his selection of songs for this evening at Live at Zédel was ably served by an impressive voice. Opening with […]
GUY: A New Musical – Bunker Theatre
GUY: A New Musical continues at the Bunker Theatre on 20, 23, 27 and 30 June and 4 and 7 July 2018. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ GUY is being presented as part of the Bunker Theatre’s Breaking Out season. It is staged simply on a black multi-purpose set (there are different shows […]
Desperate Measures – New World Stages, New York
Desperate Measures continues at New World Stages, New York. Star rating: four stars ★★★★✩ In Measure for Measure, one of Shakespeare’s so-called problem plays, the stern and moralistic Angelo, who’s been put in charge of ruling Vienna, has sentenced Claudio to death for adultery, for carrying on with, of all people, his own fiancée. When Claudio’s sister Isabella […]
Ann Hampton Callaway and Amanda McBroom – The Pheasantry
Ann Hampton Callaway and Amanda McBroom at The Pheasantry, London. Star rating: five stars ★★★★★ There’s good, then very good, then great, then perfect. This was perfection. Ann Hampton Callaway and Amanda McBroom, with their friend and collaborator Michele Brourman much more than a mere accompanist on the piano, are singer-songwriters from the very top drawer and to have […]
