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.

Matt Cardle Joins The Cast Of Memphis

News, West End
Matt Cardle joins Beverley Knight in Memphis The Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre

Multi-Platinum selling recording artist and songwriter Matt Cardle will join the cast of Memphis from 6th July 2015. Cardle was the winner of the seventh series of ITV’s The X Factor and replaces Killian Donnelly who is set to star in Kinky Boots. Cardle will join Beverley Knight who continues as club singer Felicia Farrell in Memphis through to October 2015. Matt Cardle says: “I’m thrilled to be making my acting and West End debut in Memphis. From the first time I saw the show I felt I had a real connection with the character of Huey. It’s no secret that I worked for many years before my breakthrough as a musician. I started my first band when I was 12 years old and spent at least 15 years recording albums and sending demos to record companies before finally having my voice heard. It was the united love from family … Read more

Curious Incident – New Cast Announced

News, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, West End
Curious Incident

A new cast has been announced for the award-winning play The Curious Incident Of the Dog In the Night Time which is being produced by the National Theatre at the Gielgud Theatre. The new cast will begin performances on 22nd June 2015 and comprises Sion Daniel Young as Christopher, Rebecca Lacey as Siobhan with Nicholas Tennant continuing as Ed, Mary Stockley as Judy, Jacqueline Clarke as Mrs Alexander, Indra Ove as Mrs Shears, Stephen Beckett as Roger Shears, Matthew Trevannion as Mr Thompson, Pearl Mackie as No. 40/Punk Girl, Sean Mckenzie as Reverend Peters and Kaffe Keating will play alternate Christopher. They are joined by Mark Rawlings and Penelope McGhie who continue with the company and Naomi Said and Simon Victor. The production has now been seen by over one million people in the UK and in New York and is the recipient of seven Olivier Awards including best New … Read more

James Freedman: Man Of Steal Transfers to West End

News, West End
James Freeman: Man Of Steal transfers to the West End following a sell-out run at the Menier Chocolate Factory

James Freedman: Man Of Steal will transfer to Trafalgar Studio One for a strictly limited season following its sell-out success at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Funny and fast-fingered, Freedman exposes how the bad guys really work, the show reflecting a life-time spent studying hustlers, street criminals and con-men. Fuelled at an early age after falling victim to muggers and further inspired by watching child pickpockets on the streets of Paris, he began a lifelong study of stealth crime and the psychology of thieves. In his words, “It was then I decided to become a pickpocket myself – only an honest one. I want to educate people to help them avoid becoming victims.” Hailed a genius in his field by Derren Brown, Freedman is the only man to have picked the pockets of The Mayor of London, The Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Governor of the Bank of England. With … Read more

Briefs Return To London Wonderground This Summer

LGBT, News, Off West End
Aussie burlesque troupe Briefs return to the London Wonderground in August and Sptember 2015.

Big top Bravado meets boyish burlesque, comic campery meets contemporary circus, shameless splendour meets sensational spectacle.  After a critically acclaimed debut in London, Briefs is back with their heart-stopping belnd of Australian machismo, cabaret burlesque and punkish swagger. In the run up to their season at London Wonderground in Ausgust and September they are performing at major events all over the UK including West End Live, The Glastonbury Festival and Pride. The six Aussie and one New Yorker are powered by a fierce energy as they mix up a potent blend of drag, glamour and athleticism, infused with dancing, tumbling, juggling, acro-balancing, trapeze, hula hooping, lip syncing, sequins feathers and frocks. Incorporating whole portions of new material into some of the Briefs’ favourite fare, the show combines an eye-popping blend of dog show satire, intimate yo-yo tricks, wind machines, Busby-Berkeley spectacle, pure burlesque and an array of serious circus skills. … Read more

Inigo Transfers to Pleasance Theatre

News, Off West End
Inigo at the White Bear Theatre

Following a sell-out season at the White Bear Theatre, and with the play about to be published, Inigo transfers to the main house at the Pleasance Theatre for a limited three-week run. It’s 16th Century Europe – Christianity is at war, counter-reformation follows reformation and the founder of the Jesuits, Ignatius of Loyola, enters Rome as a radical reformer. The play follows the life of the Christian Revolutionary and Basque-born nobleman from ambitious, hotheaded hedonist to his conversion and adherence to the values of poverty, chastity and obedience. It charts the founding of the Jesuit movement, which set him on a collision course with the church and the establishment which lasts through to the present day. Ignatious’ ideas had influence on Shakespeare, modern psychotherapy, meditation and the Twelve Step programme and the Jesuit movement educated people as diverse as Descartes, Voltaire, Castro, Peter O’Toole, James Joyce, Conan Doyle, Freddie Mercury, … Read more

INTERVIEW: Lorna Luft Talks about The Judy Garland Songbook On Tour

Interviews, News, Touring
Lorna Luft In The Judy Garland Songbook Uk Tour

BritishTheatre.com caught up with Lorna Luft recently to talk about her current tour with The Judy Garland Songbook asking what audiences might expect from the tour. The Judy Garland Songbook has given Lorna Luft, Garland’s daughter the opportunity to revisit her mother’s legacy through her songs and what a catalogue of songs it is. “It’s all of her songbook, these are songs that nearly every person knows and they are going to have the experience of being able to remember where they were and what there doing when they first heard these songs.” Lorna said. Judy Garland’s career spanned some 40 years as a film actress, vaudevillian, recording artist and concert performer. During that time she appeared in over two dozen films with the likes of Frank Sinatra and Mikey Rooney, some of which would go on to become beloved favourites including The Wizard Of Oz. “Audiences will hear everything … Read more

REVIEW: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Birmingham (On Tour) ✭✭✭✭

Touring Reviews
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels the musical on tour in the UK

Key to the success of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is the onstage relationship between Jameson played by Michael Praed and Benson played by Noel Sullivan. There is an immediate chemistry between these two, you get the feeling that they are having far more fun than we as the audience are and it’s infectious. It’s a chemistry that was missing in the West End, but this touring production has it in spades and then some.