Over the past forty years, the Olivier Awards has marked the cream of London’s artistic talent. This anniversary concert brought together some showstopping stars, past and present, to provide a fitting tribute to the capital’s musical theatre.
They took firm hold of Larson’s lyrics and crescendoing rock melodies – every word, every beat, brimming with anger and exigency; his lyrics carry imperative messages that couldn’t be swallowed passively by Larson’s audiences, and capture a sense of urgency characteristic of a life lost too soon.
Anton Stephans and Noel Sullivan are to join the previously announced Debbie Kurup, Krysten Cummings and Damien Flood – all previous cast members of Larson’s hit rock musical Rent.
The Christmas, The Imperial Ice Stars return for their third triumphant season at the Royal Albert Hall performing the Nutcracker on Ice for 12 performances only from 28th December 2015. As midnight strikes on a magical Christmas Eve, a toy Nutcracker comes to life, sweeping young Marie to a world of enchantment where she meets the Mouse King, the Nutcracker Prince and, of course, the Sugar Plum Fairy. Set against a backdrop of colourful projections, opulent costumes, magic tricks and special effects, the cast of World, European and National Championship skaters dance to Tchaikovsky’s glorious score performed by a live orchestra. 4000 square feet of ice will be laid in the Royal Albert Hall for this special family event. Don’t miss out. BritishTheatre.com has a special offer on tickets for the Nutcracker On Ice. Save 33% across major price categories. BOOK NOW FOR THE NUTCRACKER ON ICE
Glenn Close was photographed on the stage of the London Coliseum this week ahead of her appearance as faded screen star Norma Desmond in a semi-staged production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard. Based on Billy Wilder’s classic film, Sunset Boulevard originally premiered in London at the Adelphi Theatre in 1993, where it ran for almost four years and played to nearly two million people. It went on to open on Broadway in 1994 to what was then, the biggest advance in Broadway history, $37.5million. Sunset Boulevard will run at the London Coliseum from 1 April – & May 2016 for 43 performances. BOOK NOW FOR SUNSET BOULEVARD Photos: Richard Hubert Smith
There was a charming mix of reverence and irreverence as well, making the audience feel specially entertained and complicit with the in-jokes. The warm up prelude, People Who Like Sondheim (performed with zing by Kit and McConnel) was good fun and the duo appeared throughout as a kind of Sondheim Statler and Waldorf with witty and barbed repartee. In the second Act though, one of the unarguable surprise sensations of the evening was a five minute romp through 33 Sondheim compositions, “Ladies and gentlemen may we have your attention please…” presented with real style and panache by Martin Milnes and Dominic Ferris. These cabaret contributions provided some much needed innovative content.
Peter Pan, the legendary tale of the boy who wouldn’t grow up comes to life at the Adelphi Theatre in London for two special concert performances on October 25, 2015 with an all star cast. Bookings are now open. The musical with music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe (Honk!, Mary Poppins, Betty Blue Eyes, and Soho Cinders) and book by the late Willis Hall. Heading the cast is Sheila Hancock as The Storyteller, Bradley Walsh as Captain Hook, Ray Quinn as Peter Pan and Jenna Russell as Mrs Darling. Join Peter and the Darling children as they travel to a land full of imagination and possibility featuring the mischievous Lost Boys and, of course, the villainous Captain Hook. Stiles and Drewe’s “timeless and tuneful score” (Independent) combines adventure, comedy and a real emotional punch. With further cast names to be announced shortly, the show will be sprinkled … Read more
West End Heroes wisely avoided making the concert a remembrance festival; instead it was a celebration of the brilliant talent within both the military and the UK theatre scene. Director Tim Marshall said he wanted to offer a ‘great night out’; by that standard the production passed with flying (military) colours.
