Editorial Staff

Preview Tracks From Women On The Verge Released

News, West End
Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdwon opens in December at the Playhouse Theatre

Ahead of its opening in December, the producers of the new musical Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown have released these great preview tracks. Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown stars Olivier Award-winning actress Tamsin Greig (Episodes, Green Wing, Jumpy, God of Carnage), the smart new musical comedy Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown also stars Haydn Gwynne (The Audience, Billy Elliot), Jérôme Pradon (Les Miserables, Pacific Overtures), and Anna Skellern (BBC’s The Interceptor, Lip Service). Powered by a live band onstage, music by David Yazbek and a laugh-out-loud book by Jeffrey Lane (writers of the current West End hit musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), the colour and chaos of Pepa’s Madrid will light up London this winter. On the streets of Madrid, a city pulsing with art, industry, and passion, Pepa’s world is unravelling. Her lover leaves her. And then she meets his wife. … Read more

Tommy Steele To Star In Glenn Miller Story

Touring
Tommy Steele to star in The Glenn Miller Story

Music legend turns master storyteller as Tommy Steele takes to the stage to narrate the extraordinary tale of the world’s most famous big band leader, accompanied by a live 16-piece Glenn Miller orchestra and a full supporting company of singers, dancers and actors. Tommy Steele was Britain’s first rock ‘n’ roll star. Dubbed the UK’s answer to Elvis Presley, he landed his first UK No.1 with Singing the Blues in January 1957, reaching the top spot before Elvis, who didn’t land his until the June that year. The big screen soon beckoned for Tommy, and that same year he filmed The Tommy Steele Story, which dramatised his rise to fame and was one of the first British rock ‘n’ roll movies. A soundtrack of the same name was released to coincide with the film’s opening and became the first album by a UK-based act to reach No.1. His legendary career … Read more

Meet the 39th Billy

News, West End
Brodie Donougher as Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre

Today, 19 November 2014, eleven year-old Brodie Donougher from Blackpool, gives his first performance in the title role of the internationally award winning Billy Elliot the Musical. Brodie joins a cast lead by Ruthie Henshall who plays Mrs Wilkinson, Billy’s dance teacher and Deka Walmsley who plays Billy’s dad, and becomes the thirty-ninth boy to perform the iconic role at the Victoria Palace Theatre and the seventy-sixth boy to perform the role worldwide, including Jamie Bell who played Billy Elliot in the award-winning film. Also joining the cast today will be 10 year old Connie Fisher from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, who will play Mrs Wilkinson’s daughter Debbie. In addition 19 girls from London and surrounding counties aged 9 – 14 join the cast as Ballet Girls. Brodie Donougher said: “My name is Brodie and I’m eleven years old. I have three sisters, Derrian and Jessica and Arroia, and one brother, … Read more

REVIEW: Cans, Theatre 503 ✭✭✭

Off West End, Reviews
Cans at Theatre 503

In five snapshots, we see Jen, as masterfully portrayed by Jennifer Clement, slowly come of age through this discovery and Uncle Len, perfectly embodied by Graham O’Mara, as he fumbles to reboot his own life, now that his protective big brother has killed himself amid sex abuse charges and his estate dries up.

Godspell In Concert To Tour In 2015

News
Godspell in Concert to tour in 2015

Godspell, the legendary rock musical from Stephen Schwartz, the Grammy® and Academy Award®- winning composer of Wicked, is back. Following the enormous success of 2014’s gala performance at Shaftesbury Avenue’s Lyric Theatre, in support of the charity Make-A-Wish-Foundation®UK, Godspell In Concert is set to tour the UK in 2015, opening at the Hackney Empire on the 4th April. The UK tour will feature a brand new, modern-day rock score packed to the heavens with favourites such as Light of the World, All Good Gifts and Day by Day. This timeless tale of friendship, loyalty and love has touched the hearts of countless theatregoers all over the world – and now UK theatre fans can join in the celebration as a spectacular ensemble is set to stir souls and raise spirits, aided by a full live band. Prior to the gala, the show last played the West End in 1972 at … Read more

Philip Quast Joins Sweeney Todd Cast

Events, News, West End
Judge Turpin (Philip Quast) and Beadle Bamford (Jeff Blumenkrantz in the New York Philharmonic Sweeney Todd. Photo: David Gordon

It was announced today that Philip Quast will join Bryn Terfel and Emma Thompson in the upcoming production of Sweeney Todd for English National Opera playing the role of Judge Turpin. Multi Olivier-award winning Philip Quast will play Judge Turpin. His many UK musical theatre credits include Grahame Chandler in The Fix at the Donmar Warehouse, Georges Seurat in Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in The Park with George and Emile de Becque in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific both for the National Theatre, Juan Peron in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita at the Adelphi Theatre and Georges in La Cage Aux Folles for the Menier Chocolate Factory. Quast played Javert in the original Australian cast of Les Misérables as well as in the West End and can be heard as part of Les Misérables Complete Symphonic Recording and on Les Misérables: The Dream Cast in Concert, recorded during the show’s tenth anniversary … Read more

Made In Dagenham New Trailer Released

Video, West End
Made In Dagenham the musical

A new trailer has just been released for Made In Dagenham the musical. The show which is based on the hit movie of the same name opened last night in London at the Adelphi Theatre starring Gemma Arterton. The musical tells the story of the 1968 strike by the female employees of the Ford Motor Company who campaigned for equal pay for women. Made In Dagenham is directed by Rupert Goold, with a book by Richard Bean (one Man, Two Guvnors), music by David Arnold and lyrics by Richard Thomas Thomas (Jerry Springer – The Opera).

Jason Donovan To Star In King’s Speech 2015 Tour

Touring
Jason Donovan to star in The Kings Speech

CLICK FOR THE KINGS SPEECH TOUR DATES BELOW The King’s Speech – the play from which the Oscar-winning movie that starred Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush was adapted – will set out on its first national tour in 2015. Starring Raymond Coulthard as King George VI and Jason Donovan as his Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue, the production will be directed by Birmingham Rep’s Artistic Director Roxana Silbert. The production opens at Chichester Festival Theatre on Thursday 5 February 2015. Following the success of Priscilla – Queen Of The Desert, Jason Donovan said: ‘I am really looking forward to starting rehearsals for The King’s Speech and getting into the character of Logue. He was such an interesting and remarkable Australian, who achieved so much in a very challenging situation and I think he will be fascinating to play.’ The play tells the iconic story of King George VI’s relationship with … Read more