Black Diamonds and the Blue Brazil continues at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh until 23 May 2026. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ Dawn Steele gives an outstanding performance as Sally, a girl returning home to Fife following her father’s death, in Gary McNair’s new stage adaptation of Ron Ferguson’s beloved book.
Tag Archives | James Brining
My Fair Lady – Leeds Playhouse
My Fair Lady continues at Leeds Playhouse until 29 June 2024. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Eliza herself (Katie Bird) has one of those thrilling soprano voices that sets the spine tingling. At the same time, she can bring out the pathos in ‘Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?’.
Oliver! – Leeds Playhouse
Oliver! continues at the Quarry Theatre, Leeds Playhouse until 27 January 2023. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ Unlike A Christmas Carol, Oliver! is not strictly one of the regular seasonal signposts hoisted at this time to celebrate the durability of human goodness. But Lionel Bart took Dickens’ exposé of child labour and cruelty and turned it into a jaunty East End romp which, musically at least, at Leeds fits the bill for a Yuletide pick me up.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical – Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh and Touring
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was reviewed at the Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh (playing until 15 April 2023). The tour continues until 17 January 2024. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical – Milton Keynes Theatre and Touring
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical continues at Milton Keynes Theatre until 5 March 2023 and then tours until 26 November 2023. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Musical – Leeds Playhouse
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory continues at the Leeds Playhouse until 28 January 2023 ahead of a UK and Ireland tour. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
Full company confirmed for Leeds Playhouse’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Leeds Playhouse has announced the full company for the venue’s new production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical. As previously announced, the touring production will star Gareth Snook (The Phantom of the Opera, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Les Misérables, Palace Theatre, Sunset Boulevard /Made in Dagenham, Adelphi Theatre) as the charismatic confectioner, Willy […]
Leeds Playhouse announces its four Charlie Buckets
Leeds Playhouse has unveiled the four young northern actors chosen to share the role of Charlie Bucket in the eagerly anticipated new production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical when it makes its debut at Leeds Playhouse this Christmas ahead of a UK and Ireland tour in 2023. Already hard at work […]
Gareth Snook cast as Willy Wonka in Leeds Playhouse’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
West End star Gareth Snook will play Willy Wonka in the new production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical when it makes its debut at Leeds Playhouse this Christmas ahead of a UK and Ireland tour in 2023. Snook (The Phantom of the Opera, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Les Misérables, Palace Theatre, Sunset […]
A Little Night Music – Leeds Playhouse
A Little Night Music continues at Leeds Playhouse until 16 July 2022. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ What an extraordinarily generous composer Stephen Sondheim was. A little Night Music gives substantial singing roles to the young and the old, the aristocrat and the servant, the dolt and the susceptible. As the evening […]
More dates added to UK and Ireland tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Further venues have been announced for the UK and Ireland tour of the eagerly-anticipated Leeds Playhouse of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical. As previously announced the new production will follow its Christmas season debut in Leeds from 18 November 2022 until 28 January 2023, by embarking on a tour, launching at Milton […]
Leeds return for Playhouse and Opera North hit co-production of A Little Night Music
Leeds Playhouse and Opera North’s acclaimed production of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s evocative A Little Night Music will play an encore run in Leeds this summer. Directed by the Playhouse’s artistic director James Brining, the director of Leeds Playhouse and Opera North’s celebrated 2016 production of Sondheim’s Into the Woods, A Little Night Music […]
Leeds Playhouse’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tour announced
The eagerly-anticipated Leeds Playhouse production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical will embark on a UK and Ireland tour in early 2023. Following its Christmas season debut in Leeds which will run from 18 November 2022 to 28 January 2023, the new production will open at Milton Keynes Theatre on 9 February […]
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is Leeds Playhouse’s Christmas 2022 production
An exciting new production of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical based on the much-loved book is to premiere at Leeds Playhouse from 18 November 2022 to 28 January 2023 (press night is 25 November). Directed by Leeds Playhouse’s James Brining and adapted from Dahl’s novel by David Greig, with music […]
Drag artist Divina De Campo to star in Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Leeds Playhouse
Divina De Campo will take centre stage in a major new production of the Tony Award-winning Hedwig and the Angry Inch as part of the Leeds Playhouse’s spring/summer 2022 season. The star of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK who made her musical theatre debut as Mary Sunshine in the current UK touring production of Chicago, will […]
A Little Night Music – Leeds Playhouse
A Little Night Music continues at Leeds Playhouse until 17 July 2021. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ For my first visit to Leeds Playhouse in many months I knew I was in safe hands with a joint production from the venue and Opera North, the ever reliable James Brining in the director’s chair. […]
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to go up for sale
The car that took centre stage in the successful 2015-2017 UK and Ireland tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will go under the hammer in Staffordshire on Father’s Day (21 June 2020). With a guide price set at £6,000 to £9,000, the car that cost £175, 000 to build will be auctioned off alongside over […]
The Wizard of Oz – Leeds Playhouse
The Wizard of Oz continues at the Leeds Playhouse until 25 January 2020. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ A suggested new title for this production could be Wizard of Oz: Full Throttle. This is a breathless production that is not afraid to innovate, but pays its respect to the 1939 MGM original. For […]
Sunshine on Leith – West Yorkshire Playhouse and Touring
Sunshine on Leith continues at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds until 19 May 2018, and then tours until 30 June 2018. Star rating: five stars ★★★★★ Musical theatre audiences do not often encounter lines like: “What do you do when democracy fails you? What do you do when ‘minority’ means you?” This is not to suggest […]
Full cast for WYP production of Sunshine On Leith
Full casting has been announced for the West Yorkshire Playhouse’s production of Sunshine On Leith which will debut at the Playhouse’s Quarry Theatre ahead of a UK tour. Directed by the venue’s artistic director James Brining, the feel-good musical which features the music of The Proclaimers will launch in Leeds from 20 April until 19 […]
West Yorkshire Playhouse plans new version of Proclaimers musical
A major new production of Sunshine On Leith will be the final show to play the West Yorkshire Playhouse’s Quarry Theatre before it closes for redevelopment next year. Directed by the venue’s artistic director James Brining, the feel-good musical which features the music of The Proclaimers will launch in Leeds from 20 April until 19 […]
Harry Blake takes up post as Cameron Mackintosh resident composer at West Yorkshire Playhouse
London-based composer Harry Blake has been confirmed as The Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. The award-winning composer, lyricist and sound designer who is half of the cabaret act House of Blakewell, is the second of five placements between 2015 and 2018 by Mercury Musical Developments and Musical Theatre Network through the […]
Charlotte Wakefield and Jos Vantyler join cast of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Charlotte Wakefield and Jos Vantyler will join the the UK and Ireland touring production of classic Sherman Brothers musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang this October. Wakefield, who previously starred as Laurey in last year’s tour of Oklahoma!, will take over the role of Truly Scrumptious in the Music & Lyrics and West Yorkshire Playhouse production […]
Strictly Ballroom premiere is finale of packed West Yorkshire Playhouse autumn season
An eclectic autumn/winter season culminating in the much-anticipated UK premiere of Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom The Musical has been unveiled by the West Yorkshire Playhouse. Revealing a line-up, which also includes the premieres of musical-in-development Wasted and a re-imagination of Charlotte Brontë’s Villette, artistic director James Brining promises a diverse season celebrating both Yorkshire’s cultural […]
Into the Woods – West Yorkshire Playhouse
Into the Woods continues at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds until 25 June. Rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ West Yorkshire Playhouse and Opera North have chosen the perfect vehicle for a co-production in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s fairytale mash-up. Casting entirely from within the Chorus of Opera North gives artistic director James […]
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang tour – Claire Sweeney replaces Michelle Collins
Claire Sweeney will play the role of Baroness Bomburst in Music & Lyrics and West Yorkshire Playhouse’s production of the Sherman Brothers musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, from Wednesday 3 August 2016. The production is touring across the UK and Ireland until February 2017. Michelle Collins, who currently plays Baroness Bomburst, leaves the production on 30 […]
Into the Woods – West Yorkshire Playhouse and Opera North collaborate
A major artistic collaboration between West Yorkshire Playhouse and Opera North comes to fruition this June as Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods opens in Leeds. Bringing together two of Leeds’ key arts organisations for their first ever large scale co-production, it is directed by West Yorkshire Playhouse artistic director James Brining and performed […]
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang tour – Carrie Hope Fletcher and Shaun Williamson cast
West End star Carrie Hope Fletcher and ex EastEnder Shaun Williamson are to join the cast of the UK and Ireland touring production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Hope Fletcher (The War of the Worlds, Les Misérables) will take over the role of Truly Scrumptious from 4 May until 2 October. The actress appeared in the original cast of […]
Strictly Ballroom the Musical premieres at West Yorkshire Playhouse – Drew McOnie directs
The first UK staging of Strictly Ballroom the Musical – based on the much-loved film that inspired the world to dance – is to premiere at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds on Wednesday 30 November 2016, playing a season through until Saturday 21 January 2017 (press night is 6 December). Drew McOnie (In The Heights, Hairspray) will direct and choreograph the production, which […]
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang UK and Ireland tour – first look at rehearsal images
Here’s a first look at rehearsal photos of the UK and Ireland tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, starring Jason Manford (Caractacus Potts), Martin Kemp (the Childcatcher), Michelle Collins (Baroness Bomburst) and Phill Jupitus (Baron Bomburst). The Music & Lyrics Limited and West Yorkshire Playhouse production of the much-loved Sherman Brothers musical starts its 2016-17 […]
Interview – West Yorkshire Playhouse artistic director James Brining on flying cars and telling stories
Since returning to his hometown of Leeds and becoming artistic director of the West Yorkshire Playhouse, James Brining has directed The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, The Crucible, Enjoy, Talking Heads and Sweeney Todd – The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. He recently re-created Sweeney Todd for Welsh National Opera at the Wales Millennium […]
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds and Touring
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang continues at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds until 30 January 2016, prior to a new cast starting the UK and Ireland tour. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ It has to be live. Driving along, listening to a soundtrack recording, there are always tracks you fast forward. They are are the […]
Sweeney Todd – WNO – Mayflower Theatre, Southampton and Touring
Sweeney Todd continues at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton until 17 October and on tour until 29 November. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ Welsh National Opera’s first-ever musical, the bloody tale of revenge that many regard as Stephen Sondheim’s masterpiece, is part of their Madness trilogy that’s currently on tour with Bellini’s I Puritani and […]
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang tour – Jason Manford and Lee Mead share lead role
Casting has been announced for the Music & Lyrics Limited and West Yorkshire Playhouse production of the much-loved Sherman Brothers musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The 2016-17 UK and Ireland tour begins at Mayflower Theatre, Southampton on 10 February 2016. Caractacus Potts will be played by Jason Manford (The Producers, Sweeney Todd) from 10 February […]
WNO takes reimagined production of Sweeney Todd on short UK tour
The Welsh National Opera’s inventive re-working of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s Sweeney Todd begins a short UK tour at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre this week. The production, which breaks with the traditional Victorian era setting to place the Demon Barber’s grisly antics at the heart of Thatcherite Britain in the late 1970s and early 1980s, […]
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at West Yorkshire Playhouse – Jon Robyns and Amy Griffiths head up cast
Casting has been announced for the West Yorkshire Playhouse and Music & Lyrics Limited production of the much-loved Sherman Brothers musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, opening at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds on 2 December, with a national press night on Thursday 10 December, for a nine-week season finishing on 30 January 2016. Jon Robyns (Memphis, […]
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang kicks off UK and Ireland tour at West Yorkshire Playhouse
West Yorkshire Playhouse and Music & Lyrics Limited will present a new production of the much-loved Sherman Brothers musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, opening at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds on 2 December, with a national press night on Thursday 10 December, for a nine-week season finishing on 30 January 2016. The UK and Ireland tour will then […]
Sweeney Todd – West Yorkshire Playhouse
Sweeney Todd – The Demon Barber of Fleet Street continues at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds until 26 October, then transfers to the Royal Exchange, Manchester, 1–30 November. The high camp Victorian spectres of Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter in Tim Burton’s film version of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s Sweeney Todd are firmly […]
Sweeney Todd opens Brining season at WYP
Headlining his first full season, artistic director James Brining makes his directorial debut for West Yorkshire Playhouse with a ‘bold, contemporary production’ of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s Sweeney Todd (adapted from the play by Christopher Bond). The musical features David Birrell in the title role, a part for which he won Best Actor in […]
