Barnum is performed at Theatre in the Park, Oaklands Park, Chichester until 31 August. With the Chichester Festival Theatre out of action while redevelopment work is in progress, the need for a temporary auditorium has been solved by the erection of a huge tented structure in the park behind the theatre. And in what more appropriate structure […]
Whistle Down the WInd – NYMT
Whistle Down the Wind, a National Youth Music Theatre production, is performed at the Rose Theatre, Kingston, from 24–28 July. If the 80-plus National Youth Music Theatre cast of Whistle Down the Wind felt added pressure from the presence of their president, the Earl of Wessex, in the packed Rose Theatre audience, you would never have […]
Lost Musicals – Noel Coward’s Words and Music
Lost Musicals – Noel Coward’s Words and Music was performed at the Lilian Baylis Theatre at Sadler’s Wells, with further dates on 28 July and 4 August. The reason why Coward’s revues such as London Calling!, On With the Dance, This Year of Grace, Sigh No More and Words and Music are never seen is […]
Wag! The Musical – Charing Cross Theatre
Wag! The Musical continues at the Charing Cross Theatre, London until August 24. When you witness a show as repulsive as Wag! The Musical, you can’t primarily blame the actors, who are clearly doing their best – no matter how varied their attempts may be – with the material they have. The first culprit of creating […]
Mark Carroll – Going Supernova
In addition to his career as an actor in West End musicals, straight plays and movies (his latest show has been Jersey Boys at the Prince Edward Theatre), Mark Carroll has written five musicals, the latest of which is entitled Supernova. Cameron Smith talks to him about what it takes to get a new musical produced […]
Passport to Pimlico – South West Fest
Passport to Pimlico was performed as part of this year’s South West Fest, held in south west London. There’s a moment in the classic Ealing comedy Passport to Pimlico when it looks as though the feisty Pimlico Burgundians might have to surrender their claim to interdependence. The reason? A freak heatwave, which leaves them powerless and […]
Momentous Musicals – New Wimbledon Theatre
Momentous Musicals was performed at the New Wimbledon Theatre, London and continues to tour until 25 July. This being a sweltering night at the New Wimbledon Theatre, minimalist attire was definitely the order of the evening. If it was very hot in the auditorium, goodness knows what the temperature was on stage. At one point, […]
They’re Playing Our Song – Broadway Catford
They’re Playing Our Song runs at the Broadway Studio Theatre, Catford, London until 21 July. Platform Theatre Company, founded by Robert Rawles, creates a production of Marvin Hamlisch, Caroline Bayer Sager and Neil Simon’s musical They’re Playing our Song which shows great promise in Act I but suffers from a lack of momentum and purpose towards the end. […]
The Color Purple – Menier Chocolate Factory
Playing at the Menier Chocolate Factory, London, until September 14. “Wives is like children,” we are told at the start of The Color Purple, the Menier’s latest musical offering. “Ain’t nothing for them but a big sound beating.” Alice Walker’s classic novel, adapted first into an acclaimed film and then a musical, makes its London […]
Dirty Dancing – Piccadilly Theatre
Dirty Dancing is booking at the Piccadilly Theatre, London until 22 February, 2014. There have been plenty of opportunities already to see the musical Dirty Dancing, which first opened in the West End in 2006 and has since been on a UK tour. But it must be proving so popular, its producers are optimistic it […]
Ivor Novello and the Great British Musical – St James Studio
Ivor Novello and the Great British Musical was performed at the St James Theatre Studio, London. Initially planned as a one-off performance, this second performance of Ivor Novello and the Great British Musical at the swish, perfect-for-the-occasion studio space at the St James Theatre, was a worthy case of ‘back by popular demand.’ That the show […]
Blues in the Night – Hackney Empire
Blues in the Night was performed at the Hackney Empire, London. This splendid revue first appeared off-Broadway in 1980 but only for around 50 performances. Two years later it moved to Broadway and ran for less than 70 shows. It fared better in London in 1987 with Maria Friedman, Carol Woods, Debby Bishop and Clarke […]
