As in the plot of Roddy Doyle’s The Commitments, the cast of the new musical adaptation – opening at the Palace Theatre on 8 October (with previews from 21 September) – will feature a mix of fresh, young talent, alongside established musical theatre performers. Some members of the ensemble make their West End debuts, while […]
West Side Story – Victoria Warehouse, Manchester
West Side Story, a National Youth Music Theatre production, was staged at the Victoria Warehouse, Manchester. It’s new for the National Youth Music Theatre to launch a show outside London, and it’s a triumph that West Side Story has been staged – like Graham Vick’s Birmingham Opera Company stagings or Kenneth Branagh’s riveting Macbeth – in […]
Musical Theatre Network Awards revealed
Musical Theatre Network has announced the winners for its 2013 Edinburgh Awards, highlighting some of the best new musical theatre on the Fringe this year. The winning shows are: BEST MUSIC: The Bloody Ballad from Gagglebabble and Theatr Iolo. Music by Lucy Rivers. BEST LYRICS: The Bridge from Benjamin Scheuer (New York). Lyrics by Benjamin […]
Louise Dearman and Mark Evans seek fans’ help with book
Musical theatre performers Louise Dearman (Wicked, Guys and Dolls, Evita) and Mark Evans (The Book of Mormon, Ghost, Oklahoma!) are asking for their fans’ help to write a new book, The Secrets of Stage Success. The book, a guide for those who want to follow in the footsteps of Louise Dearman and Mark Evans and develop their own […]
Privates On Parade marches into Brighton
Privates On Parade, Peter Nichols and Denis King’s rip-roaring – yet dark – comedy with songs comes to the Theatre Royal, Brighton from 22–31 August. Set in 1948, the play features an entertainment troupe touring South East Asia to bring light relief to, and boost the morale of, the young soldiers still fighting the might of Chinese […]
Karen Mason – Crazy Coqs
Karen Mason performed Right Here/Right Now at the Crazy Coqs, London. More and more regularly they are putting the ‘All Seats Sold’ sign outside the Crazy Coqs at the Brasserie Zedel and this is no small thanks to that doyenne of the cabaret circuit Ruth Leon. Keen to introduce new acts from the US to the […]
Anything Goes – Kilworth House Theatre
Anything Goes continues at the Kilworth House Theatre, Lutterworth until 1 September. If you’ve never seen a musical at Kilworth House Theatre, my advice is to get down there pronto. Based in the grounds of a well-to-do country hotel scarcely five miles from the Lutterworth (south Leicestershire) junction off the M1, Kilworth has everything going […]
Edinburgh Fringe musicals – more reviews 3
Director, performer and radio presenter Tim McArthur gives his view on more of the musicals showcased at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2013. West End at the Fringe continues at theSpace @ Symposium Hall until 24 August. What a lovely sweet revue this is, performed by five young talented performers who glide through an interesting selection of songs […]
Edinburgh Fringe musicals – more reviews 2
Director, performer and radio presenter Tim McArthur gives his view on more of the musicals showcased at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2013. Le Gateau Chocolat – I Heart Chocolat continues at the Underbelly until 26 August. It’s a delight to see Le Gateau Chocolat return to the Fringe this year. His rich, gorgeous singing voice and energetic personality is a delight […]
Kids Week 2013 boasts ‘incredible’ sales
More than 100,000 tickets have been sold in the first weeks of Kids Week 2103, London theatre’s annual initiative for children. Julian Bird, chief executive of the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) said: “The sales for Kids Week are incredible – and we would like to thank the many shows that have once again supported this […]
The Last Ever Musical – White Bear Theatre
The Last Ever Musical continues at the White Bear Theatre, London until 7 September. Simon James Collier’s The Last Ever Musical intends to ‘hold a mirror up’ to the Fringe theatre world in a piece which aims to be satirical and thought-provoking, but is instead let down by a weak plot which, bizarrely, uses a tampon as […]
Edinburgh Fringe musicals – more reviews
Director, performer and radio presenter Tim McArthur gives his view on some of the musicals showcased at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2013. Julie Madly Deeply continues at the Gilded Balloon Teviot until 26 August. If we’re all honest we all have a secret crush on Julie Andrews, she has been a part of our lives […]
