Michael Darvell follows the life of Dame Gillian Lynne through her fame as actress, dancer, choreographer and director, with special reference to her work on the musical Cats.
Tag Archives | Leslie Bricusse
Development workshop announced for new production of Jekyll & Hyde – The Musical
Producers Lambert Jackson has unveiled plans for a new production of Leslie Bricusse and Frank Wildhorn’s Jekyll & Hyde – The Musical, beginning with a workshop presentation in April 2022. Auditions will be held from 11-14 January 2022 (with recalls in late January) for the development workshop which will be directed by Jonathan O’Boyle, with […]
Remembering Leslie Bricusse (1931-2021) – A great man of the musical theatre
Michael Darvell looks back at the life of the talented composer, lyricist and playwright who has died at the age of 90. It is difficult to know where to begin with the life of Leslie Bricusse. He contributed so much to the theatre as a composer, lyricist and playwright, creating many musical shows and songs […]
Joan Collins and Andrew Lloyd Webber lead tributes to Leslie Bricusse
Joan Collins and Andrew Lloyd Webber have led the tributes to multi-award-winning songwriter Leslie Bricusse following his death at the age of 90. The actress who was previously married to Bricusse’s most famous writing partner, Anthony Newley, posted a photograph of herself with her long-time friend on Instagram accompanied by the words: “One of the […]
Summer UK Speigel tent tour for Morphic Graffiti’s The Revenge Of Sherlock Holmes!
A troupe of 14 actor-musicians will take audiences on a journey back to the Victorian music hall inside a vintage Speigel tent this summer with a touring production of Leslie Bricusse’s The Revenge of Sherlock Holmes! Innovative company Morphic Graffiti will bring the immersive production to UK audiences from August, launching in Leicester followed by […]
Leslie Bricusse’s Sammy to close season at Lyric Hammersmith
Following on from last year’s successful workshop presentation, Sammy, Leslie Bricusse’s musical celebration of the life of his friend, the legendary Sammy Davis Jr., will debut as a full-scale production at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in the summer. Presented in association with Anthology Theatre Productions and Aria Entertainment, Bricusse’s original work, Sammy, has been re-imagined […]
Workshop presentation of Leslie Bricusse’s Sammy to star Giles Terera
A new version of Leslie Bricusse’s musical celebration of the life of his friend, the legendary Sammy Davis Jr, will be presented in workshop form next week in front of an invited audience of industry experts and investors. Presented by Anthology Theatre Productions and Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment, Bricusse’s original work, SAMMY, has been […]
Touring production of Doctor Dolittle tour closes early
The producers of the new touring production of Leslie Bricusse’s Doctor Dolittle have confirmed the show will close at the end of its run at the New Theatre in Oxford. Disappointing advance ticket sales have been cited as the reason behind the cancellation of the rest of the tour, with the show’s final performance in […]
Gary Williams: A Swingin’ Christmas – Live At Zédel
Gary Williams: A Swingin’ Christmas continues at Live at Zédel, London until 23 December 2018. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ It just would not be Christmas without Gary Williams kicking off the festivities at the Crazy Coqs. The opening number ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’ contains the line “Have a party tonight” and a […]
Actor Mark Williams to play Dr Dolittle
Screen and stage favourite Mark Williams will star in the major new production of Leslie Bricusse’s enduringly popular Doctor Dolittle when it takes to the road in November 2018 as part of the 1960s’ film’s 50th anniversary celebrations. The star of The Fast Show, Father Brown and the Harry Potter films will take on the […]
Jekyll & Hyde – English Theatre Frankfurt
Jekyll & Hyde continues at the English Theatre Frankfurt until 4 March 2018. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Two years after a great production of The Life which made its long overdue European premiere at the English Theatre Frankfurt before the Southwark Playhouse, the venue has again made the right choice by […]
New Dr Dolittle to tour UK and Ireland from November 2018
A major new production of Leslie Bricusse’s enduringly popular Dr Dolittle will take to the road in November 2018 as part of the 1960s film’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Presented by Music & Lyrics Limited in association with Churchill Theatre, Bromley, the version of the classic story of the doctor with the magical ability to talk […]
Scrooge The Musical – Curve Leicester
Scrooge The Musical continues at Curve Leicester until 7 January 2018. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Strange to say, Scrooge is a story about death. And Leslie Bricusse’s musical, beautifully presented here by Made at Curve, creating exciting home-grown shows at the heart of Leicester, vividly makes that point. There’s an […]
Remembering Frank Finlay – one of Britain’s great all-round actors
Frank Finlay was a celebrated actor who in his time worked for all the major UK theatre companies, the English Stage Company at the Royal Court, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre at Chichester and The Old Vic. He died on 30 January 2016. Michael Darvell recalls the working life of a great […]
Book Reviews – A Chorus Line FAQ – Leslie Bricusse – Denis King – and more
Nick Wakeham casts an eye over some of the latest Books with a theatrical theme. A CHORUS LINE FAQ (All That’s Left To Know About Broadway’s Singular Sensation) – Tom Rowan (Applause Books – ISBN: 978-1-4803-6754-8) Right, go on – ask me any question about one of the world’s most iconic musicals and I can now answer it! Go […]
The Roar of the Greasepaint – Interview With Leslie Bricusse – Part Two
Prolific and well-loved British film and musical theatre songwriter LESLIE BRICUSSE has been busy in recent weeks. Not only has the composer, lyricist and librettist revealed that he’s working on a major new musical about the life of his close friend, legendary entertainer, Sammy Davis Jr, but he has been in London celebrating the world premiere of Pure Imagination– The […]
Pure Imagination – The Songs of Leslie Bricusse – St James Theatre
Pure Imagination – The Songs of Leslie Bricusse continues at the St James Theatre, London until 17 October. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ In a relatively short time this theatre has established itself as a home for exhilarating compilation shows. This latest one celebrates the long and prolific career of Leslie Bricusse. Some people […]
Triple threat writer Leslie Bricusse on what inspires his Pure Imagination. Interview – Part One
Prolific and well-loved British film and musical theatre songwriter LESLIE BRICUSSE has been in the news this week. Not only has the composer, lyricist and librettist revealed that he’s working on a major new musical about the life of his close friend, legendary entertainer, Sammy Davis Jr, but he has been in London celebrating the world premiere of Pure Imagination– […]
The Curtain Up Show is back with guests including Kerry Ellis and Louise Dearman
The Curtain Up Show has returned to London’s arts radio station, Resonance 104.4fm, for a brand new series. Tim McArthur and Nathan Matthews will be joined live in the studio at 4pm on Friday 18 September by Cassie Compton and Sarah Ingram from the cast of See What I Wanna See at the Jermyn Street Theatre, and […]
Pure Imagination at St James Theatre – cast includes Dave Willetts and Siobhan McCarthy
Final casting has been announced for the world premiere of Pure Imagination, which celebrates the songs of Leslie Bricusse, one of the most prolific and well-loved film and musical theatre songwriters of our time. Dave Willetts, Siobhan McCarthy, Niall Sheehy, Julie Atherton and Giles Terera will star in Pure Imagination, produced by Danielle Tarento and directed […]
Leslie Bricusse musical revue Pure Imagination opens at St James in September
Pure Imagination – The Songs of Leslie Bricusse celebrates the songs of the most prolific and well-loved film and musical theatre songwriters of our time. Whether writing alone or forming partnerships – including Anthony Newley, Henry Mancini, John Williams and John Barry – double Oscar and Grammy Award winner Leslie Bricusse’s music has touched us […]
Exclusive – Anthony Newley musical begins development with starry cast onboard
EXCLUSIVE! Next week, The Ministry of Entertainment is bringing together a dream cast for the first stage in the development process of its new stage musical biography – Newley! Based on the life and loves of legendary British entertainer/actor/singer/composer/lyricist/director Anthony Newley, Newley! is conceived by Graham Mulvein (producer of the world premiere production of Scrooge – The Musical which starred Newley […]
CD reviews – John-Victor, Amanda Thorpe, Anthony Newley
NICK WAKEHAM casts an eye over some of the latest CD releases. SHOOT…BANG – Studio Cast (PPCD005 – available for Download – www.perfectpitchmusicals.com/shootbang.html) This album contains some excerpts from two new musicals with music by John-Victor, a young British composer writing innovative, contemporary scores for new musicals. This album contains excerpts from four of those shows: War […]
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Drury Lane
Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London. Booking until 31st May, 2014. On many different levels much is expected of Sam Mendes’ production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. On one level, Roald Dahl’s story of the mysterious confectioner and his quest for a successor is a much loved piece of British culture, not […]
