News

Sci Fi Space Travel Musical Comes To The Vault

News, Off West End
Book tickets for Summer Nights In Space at the Vault Festival

The Vaults are to play host to a brand new science fiction musical odyssey this February when Summer Nights In Space opens as part of this year’s Vault Festival. Presented by Hannah Elsy Productions, Summer Nights In Space is from the creators of the critically acclaimed The Quentin Dentin Show. The show which is billed as a glam space rock musical uses the bizarre setting of musical theatre to combine the song and dance of entertainment with the really big questions. Astronaut John Spartan has finally made it into space – only to discover that it is not all he had hoped. Marooned in space with a ferocious alien and a moody computer, the reluctant crew of Auxiliary Transport Shuttle 4 must stave off Space Madness and work together to survive in the void. But when Spartan receives a distress signal from an attractive Astro-nette, his newfound mission to find … Read more

Cardboard Citizens’ Cathy Tour

News, Touring
Cardboard Citizens present Cathy on Tour

The phenomenal success of its 2016 tour, Cardboard Citizens has announced extra dates for its critically acclaimed play Cathy. The play will play in traditional venues but also in hostels, prisons and a library. It will also be streamed from Cast in Doncaster. First broadcast in 1966 on the BBC, Cathy Come Home depicts a young family’s slide into homelessness. The first screening of the film led to public outrage at the state of housing in Britain and became a defining cultural landmark, demonstrating the power of art to effect social and political change. Cathy features Alex Jones, Amy Loughton, Cathy Owen and Hayley Wareham. Since the tour began in October this year, Cathy has been seen by more than 2,200 people, 170 of whom saw it in a hostel. In theatres, the hugely successful £1 ticket initiative has offered vulnerable and homeless people an accessible way to experience this … Read more

Mary Poppins – International Touring Cast Announced

Mary Poppins the musical, News, Touring
Mary Poppins

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh have announced casting for their award-winning production of Mary Poppins which is to be presented in Zurich and Dubai in 2017 after the conclusion of its season at the Wales Millenium Centre. Leading the cast in the role of ‘Mary Poppins’ will be Lisa O’Hare for the Zurich season and Zizi Strallen for the Dubai season. They are joined in both Zurich and Dubai by current cast members Matt Lee as ‘Bert’, Neil Roberts as ‘George Banks’; Penelope Woodman as ‘Miss Andrew’; Wendy Ferguson as ‘Mrs Brill’; Grainne Renihan as ‘Bird Woman’ and Blair Anderson as ‘Robertson Ay’. Joining the company will be Kara Lane as ‘Winifred Banks’. They are joined by Yves Adang; Ryan Anderson; Jeremy Batt; Abby Bebbington; Jabari Braham; Emily Bull; Sophie Caton; Danielle Delys; Glen Facey; Bradley Gibbins-Klein; Hannah Grace; Lucy Harrison; Graham Hoadly; James Hume; Jason Kajdi; Charlie Kendall; Sam Lathwood; … Read more

Abigail To Close Bunker’s Innaugural Season

News, Off West End
Abigail at The Bunker

Award-winning playwright Fiona Doyle’s play Abigail has been chosen to close The Bunker’s inaugural season. Abigail will play from 10 January – 4 February 2017. Originally written in 2013, Abigal was long-listed for the Bruntwood Prize, this production will be directed by Joshua McTaggart. This production will star Tia Bannon (The Winter’s Tale and Pericles at The Globe) and Mark Rose (King Lear at The Old Vic, Hangmen at Royal Court). In a snow-covered Berlin, a young woman meets a middle-aged man and they fall in love. As the year progresses, they fall apart. Told across a fractured timeline where the past and present collide, Abigail explores the fragility of love and the desperate measures we all go to in order to keep control in an unpredictable world. How far would you go to take control? Would you lie? Would you fight? Would you scream and shout or shut down … Read more

Top 5 Epic Musical Theatre Performances of 2016

Broadway, Features, News, West End
Tickets for Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard are available through Britishtheatre.com

Musical theatre has been well served in 2016 on both sides of the Atlantic with revivals of amazing musicals and the unveiling of some new works which are fast becoming favourites. Looking back through my browser history and playlists I’d like to put forward this list of epic musical theatre performances by some of the world’s great musical theatre performers and the cast of one particular musical which blew my mind this year. This list is by no means definitive and certainly bears the hallmark of my own taste, so I’d invite you to add your own thoughts below. Share and through sharing make the world aware of the depth of talent out there entertaining us. TOP 5 EPIC MUSICAL THEATRE PERFORMANCES IN 2016 Number 1 GLENN CLOSE – SUNSET BOULEVARD AT THE ENO She came and she conquered with an almighty performance that would have taxed the greatest of … Read more

CRITIC’S CHOICE 2016: Matthew Lunn

Features, News, Reviews, West End
Book Now for The Comedy About A Bank Robbery at the Criterion Theatre

We asked our reviewers to take a look at 2016 and to nominate some stand out productions for 2016. Matthew Lunn replied with the following:- 1. Hangmen This pitch-black comedy centred on the life of a celebrated hangman (David Morrissey), and the discovery that one of his victims may have been innocent. Morrissey’s caustic performance, coupled with Johnny Flynn’s extraordinary turn as his enigmatic antagonist, defined this witty and gripping piece. Read Matthew’s Hangmen review. 2. The Dresser A superb revival, which truly does justice to Sir Ronald Harwood’s perceptive and poignant script. Set in a provincial theatre during World War 2, the play captures the strained, but intimate relationship between a fading actor and his loyal dresser. Reece Shearsmith is on terrific form as the eponymous Norman, whilst Ken Stott delivers a career-defining performance as ‘Sir’. Read Matthew’s review of The Dresser. 3. The Comedy About A Bank Robbery … Read more

CRITIC’S CHOICE 2016: Julian Eaves

Critic Round Ups, Features, News, Off West End, Reviews
Book tickets for Adding Machine Musical at Finborough Theatre

We asked our reviewers to take a look at 2016 and to nominate some stand out productions for 2016. Julian Eaves replied with the following:- The stand-out moments of 2016 for me are all new works, or at least new to the UK. ‘Can’t Stop It’, is a trans-Atlantic collaboration between two new British book writers, Adam Button and Lemon Otter; Lemon has also done the ingenious musical arrangements of the songs, which are by US indie group, Suburban Legends – most of the numbers come from their back catalogue, but some have been composed especially for the show. In the hands of dramaturg-director Max Reynolds, this show is taking very promising shape. Following two sets of workshops – at Canterbury and at the Performance Preparation Academy, Guildford – the team is currently exploring different options to develop the show further. Read Julian’s original article. ‘Adding Machine’, the US composer … Read more

Oliver Reed -Wild Thing Returns To Kings Head By Popular Demand

News, Off West End
Oliver Reed - Wild Thing at the King's Head Theatre

Oliver Reed: Wild Thing, a play by Mike Davis and Rob Crouch returns to the Kings Head Theatre from 10 – 28 January 2017. This one-man homage to renowned actor Oliver Reed returns following runs at the Edinburgh Festival, a UK Tour and a critically acclaimed London run. Join legendary hell-raiser Oliver Reed as he shares his incredible life story whilst knocking back a drink or four. Reed’s was a life well lived, hear about the success of Oliver!, boozy adventures with Keith Moon, his boyhood excitement of learning he was a descendant of Peter The Great and those disastrous chat show appearances. Reed is portrayed by Rob Crouch. Writer and performer Crouch appeared as the notorious hellraiser in BBC’s Rack Pack, other recent TV includes Lovesick, Wasted and Galavant. Theatre acting credits include Gonzo in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Pa Ubu in Ubu Disco, and Burke in … Read more