The throbbing, majestic and luminous heart of this production comes from Katie Brayben’s faultless, radiant and absolutely triumphant turn as Carole King. Brayben recreates the feel, the sound, the look of Carole King in a completely authentic and resonant way – she feels like the natural woman.
2014 – a very good year. It’s often hard at this time of year, when the days are short, the errands before Christmas are many, the things to get done before the holiday season starts in earnest seem unending, and the prospect of another New Year looms dangerously close, to take the time to think about the theatrical highlights of the year that is about to end. But not this year. No. This year there have been so many theatrical highs in London it is difficult to not think about them. And when one is asked to list the “ten best” of the year, it is very hard indeed. So, I won’t do that. Well, not just that. Rather, I am going to mention the plays or musicals or theatrical events or performances which left the most lasting impression, the ones I think about often, the ones which have left … Read more
Our chief reviewer Stephen Collins gives his thoughts on the Evening Standards Awards shortlist. The shortlist for the 2014 Evening Standard Awards has been announced: Best Actor Tom Hiddleston for Coriolanus (Donmar Warehouse) Ben Miles for Wolf Hall & Bring Up the Bodies (RSC Swan & Aldwych) Mark Strong for A View from the Bridge (Young Vic) Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress Gillian Anderson for A Streetcar Named Desire (Young Vic) Helen McCrory for Medea (National Theatre’s Olivier) Tanya Moodie for Intimate Apparel (Ustinov Bath & Park Theatre) Billie Piper for Great Britain (National Theatre’s Lyttelton) Kristin Scott Thomas for Electra (Old Vic) Nook Award for Best Play Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage (Ustinov Bath & Park Theatre) The James Plays by Rona Munro (Edinburgh Festival Theatre & National Theatre’s Olivier) King Charles III by Mike Bartlett (Almeida & Wyndham’s) The Nether by Jennifer Haley (Royal Court) Ned Sherrin … Read more
It was announced today that award winning comedian Jason Manford will star in a brand new UK tour of Mel Brooks’ The Producers. The award-winning musical comedy will begin touring in March 2015. Jason Manford will play down-trodden accountant leo Bloom in what will be his first ever UK theatre tour. Manford’s wealth of experience spans from a critically acclaimed West End role in Sweeney Todd, alongside Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton, to award-winning stand-up comedy shows across the country. He shot to stardom in 2007 as team captain on C4’s 8 Out of 10 Cats, since then he has hosted prime time television shows including Sunday Night at the Palladium, BBC1’s A Question of Sport: Super Saturday and The Royal Variety Performance. Jason was the winner of ITV1’s Born to Shine and will star in BBC TV’s forthcoming drama Ordinary Lies. Jason said; “I’m so thrilled to be starring … Read more
I would see it again and again if I could. It’s an amazing achievement on a tiny budget; with proper support it could run for ages. It’s better than many West End productions of musicals which do.
A great play, well directed and perfectly played. Unmissable.
What Musical should you see first in London? Here is out list of London’s Top 10 New Musicals. We have compiled this list to save you the trouble of working it out! It’s just our view – and everyone has one – based on our Reviewers’ thoughts. We will update the list regularly so new productions get on your radar and when original casts change that is factored in. Musicals which have been running for more than three years are not included – this is a list for new or relatively new productions running in London. So go see them! 1. Gypsy – CLOSING SOON – DON’T MISS IT! Everyone in this company is superb in their part, everyone can really sing, really dance and really deliver the goods in terms of dramatic and comic acting. This is that rare beast: an exquisitely cast musical where the requirements of the … Read more
What Musical should you see first in London? We have compiled this list to save you the trouble of working it out! It’s just our view – and everyone has one – based on our Reviewers’ thoughts. We will update the list regularly so new productions get on your radar and when original casts change that is factored in. Musicals which have been running for more than three years are not included – this is a list for new or relatively new productions running in London. So go see them! 1. Gypsy Everyone in this company is superb in their part, everyone can really sing, really dance and really deliver the goods in terms of dramatic and comic acting. This is that rare beast: an exquisitely cast musical where the requirements of the parts have more importance in the casting process than potential box office draw or Twitter popularity. It … Read more
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