Douglas Mayo

Douglas Mayo has had a life long love affair with musical theatre. He has authored several books on publicity and marketing for amateur theatre groups. He is in the process of developing a musical based on his original story concept.

New version of Blondel The Musical comes to Union Theatre

News, Off West End
Blondel the musical is to be staged at the Union Theatre in June 2017.

Musical theatre fans spread the word throughout the kingdom that a brand new version of the musical comedy by Tim Rice and Stephen Oliver is to be staged at the Union Theatre from 21 June – 15 July 2017. Heralds have been trumpeting the news this afternoon that the musical has been re-worked with book is by Tim Rice and Tom Williams, and additional music by Mathew Pritchard. Blondel is the tale of an ambitious minstrel in the court of King Richard the Lionheart and follows his trials and tribulations as he seeks to save his King and write the perfect love song to dedicate to his beloved Fiona. Tim Rice said today: “I’m delighted Blondel is returning to the stage. It was one of the most enjoyable projects of my career, and I’ve always felt Stephen Oliver’s wonderful music deserved a larger audience than it reached back in 1983 … Read more

Colm Meaney joins Cat On A Hot Tin Roof cast.

News, West End
Colm Meaney Joins the cast of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof in the West End

Producers have announced today that Colm Meaney will join Sienna Miller and Jack O’Connell in the upcoming West End production of Tennessee Williams’ Cat On A Hot Tin Roof at the Apollo Theatre presented by The Young Vic. Colm Meaney’s stage, film and television credits are extensive. he was last seen on stage in London and on Broadway opposite Kevin Spacey in Moon For The Misbegotten at the Old Vic. Film credits include Die Hard 2, Far and Away, The Last of The Mohicans, and The Commitments. Television credits include Star Trek – The Next Generation and Star Trek – Deep Space Nine. Tennessee Williams’ Cat On A Hot Tin Roof premiered on Broadway in 1955 starring barbara Bel Geddes and Ben Gazzara. Peter Hall directed the UK Premiere in 1958 with Kim Stanley and Paul Massie playing Maggie and Brick. Cat On A Hot Tin Roof is directed by … Read more

Top 100 Greatest Musicals Poll – Number 7 – Billy Elliot

Features, Touring
Top 100 Musicals - Number 7 - Billy Elliot

It’s not often that a British film captures the imagination of the world but Billy Elliot did just that. Released in 2000 the film was a sensation worldwide thanks to its honesty, sincerity and humour.  The story of a boy who favoured ballet shoes over boxing gloves, it was set against the background of the UK Miner’s strike. Billy Elliot features music by Elton John with book and lyrics by Lee Hall who had also written the film’s screenplay. The production was directed by Stephen Daldry and choreographed by Peter Darling. Billy Elliot premiered at London’s Victoria Palace Theatre in May 2005, having abandoned plans to open in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Billy Elliot played 4600 performances in London and is now undergoing its first UK national tour. Further productions opened in Australia in 2007 and on Broadway in 2008. In Australia, the show won seven Helpmann Awards including Best Musical … Read more

Top 100 Greatest Musicals Poll – Number 8 – The Sound Of Music

Features
The Sound Of Music is voted Number 8 in our poll The 100 Greatest Musicals

Perhaps one of the most beloved musicals of all time thanks in main part to its movie adaptation, The Sound Of Music was the last collaboration of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. These two incredible musical writers would not only pick up where Showboat! left off and change the face of musicals forever, they would write musicals on a range of subjects that would be as timeless as the incredible music that accompanied them. The Sound of Music was no exception. With a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, The Sound Of Music is based on The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Von Trapp. The music is set in Austria in 1938, on the eve of the Anschluss. Maria is a novice who takes a job as a governess at the behest of her Mother Superior. I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t know the plot … Read more

A New Cast Rocks In The Quentin Dentin Show

News, Off West End
The Quentin Dentin Show at Tristan Bates Theatre

Having developed a cult following on its journey from London to Edinburgh and back again,  The Quentin Dentin Show will return to The Tristan Bates Theatre from 19th June to 29 July 2017. With a brilliant original soundtrack, live rock band and dazzling choreography, The Quentin Dentin Show, a satire on the extremes to which we’ll go to get ahead, is guaranteed to make you happy or kill you trying. The cast for the show includes Luke Lane (The Quentin Dentin Show, Above The Arts; King John, Shakespeare’s Globe; A Midsummer Night’s Dream/Henry V, Cambridge Shakespeare Festival), Shauna Riley (The Quentin Dentin Show, Above The Arts/Edinburgh Fringe; Bas, Prague Fringe; Sasha, Seventh Dream Ventures), Max Panks (Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Park Theatre; Lost Boy The Musical, Charing Cross Theatre and Finborough Theatre; Loserville, Union Theatre), Freya Tilly (You Won’t Succeed On Broadway If You Don’t Have Any Jews, Garrick Theatre; … Read more

FIRST LOOK: Soho at Peacock Theatre

Features, Gallery, West End
Stufish presents Soho at Peacock Theatre

Soho is a thrill ride of circus, street and theatre performance, re-creating the edgy, exciting and voyeuristic world of London’s Soho. Soho is created by rock’n’roll global powerhouse Stufish is now playing at London’s Peacock Theatre playing until 20 May 2017. Soho‘s seriously crazy amulti-talentedted international cast tell the fast-paced story of a young man’s walk on the wild side, as the colourful characters he meets reveal an unexpected and darkly fantastical world, where glamour and sleaze rub shoulders. Soaring aerial acrobatics on moving trapezes take the energetic world class performers on a rollercoaster ride. With the pulsating sound of the underground, and the music scene that is Soho’s heartbeat = 21st century indie, buskers, the burlesque of the 50s, the 60s love and peace Carnaby Street generation, disco and punk of the 70s, Cool Britannia pop of the 80s and rave of the 90s – Soho has the iconic … Read more

New Musical Holy Crap Comes To The King’s Head

News, Off West End
Holy Crap at the King's Head Theatre

Composers of A Slice Of Saturday Night, The Heather Brothers are back with a brand new musical comedy called Holy Crap which is to have its premiere from 7 June – 8th July at the King’s Head Theatre, directed by Benj Sperring. Holy Crap follows the launch of Britain’s first pay-to-view religious channel as American evangelist preacher, Reverend Bobby Del La Ray persuades legendary British rock star and devout Christian, Rex Bedderman, to co-host the channel. But with the charismatic leader up to his neck in debt, being forced to launder money for the Mafia and risking his own mother’s life if the viewing figures don’t increase, he does what any sane, normal person would do: he starts broadcasting hardcore porn. After all, how do you save someone from sin if they don’t know what it looks like? Brimming with sin, salvation and sacrilege, Holy Crap will star John Addison … Read more