Matthew Cole

Little Shop Of Horrors UK Tour Casting Announced

News, Touring
Casting announced for Little Shop Of Horrors UK Tour.

Producers have today announced the full cast for the upcoming UK tour of Little Shop Of Horrors. As previously announced X Factor star Rhydian will play musical theatre’s infamous dentist Orin Scrivello DDS. Rhydian will be joined by Sam Lupton (Boq in Wicked, West End, Avenue Q, UK Tour) as Seymour, Stephanie Clift (Mamma Mia!, West End) as Audrey, Paul Kissaun (Calamity Jane, Fiddler on the Roof, UK Tours) as Mushnik, Sasha Latoya (Rent, Greenwich Theatre, Britain’s Got Talent) as Crystal, Vanessa Fisher (Hairspray, UK Tour) as Chiffon, Cassie Clare (Cats, West End) as Ronnette and Josh Wilmott (Spamalot, We Will Rock You, UK Tours) as Audrey II. The cast also includes Phil Adele, Stephanie McConville and Neil Nicholas. A charming, kooky and hilarious 1950s musical comedy, Little Shop of Horrors tells the story of Seymour, the assistant at Mushnik’s Flower Shop in downtrodden Skid Row, who becomes an overnight … Read more

Maureen Nolan and Gareth Gates Headline Footloose UK Tour

News, Touring
Maureen Nolan joins the cast of Footloose on Tour n the Uk in 2016

It was announced this morning that Maureen Nolan will join the 2016 UK tour cast of Footloose playing Vi Moore. She will be joining Gareth Gates as Willard and Luke Baker who will play Ren McCormack. Gareth Gates will play Willard from 29 January until 16 April, returning to the show from 20 June 201 Based on the 1984 screen sensation starring Kevin Bacon, Footloose: The Musical tells the story of city boy Ren, who has to move to a rural backwater in America where dancing is banned. All hell breaks out as Ren breaks loose and soon has the whole town up on its feet. Featuring classic 80s hits including Holding Out for a Hero, Almost Paradise, Let’s Hear it for the Boy and the unforgettable title track, Footloose: The Musical is set to take the world by storm once again in this brand new production, bursting with youthful … Read more

Gareth Gates Plays Willard In Footloose Tour 2016

News, Touring
Gareth Gates will play Willard in Footloose on tour.

17 years to the day since it first opened on Broadway, it is announced that worldwide smash hit musical Footloose: The Musical will burst back onto the stage in 2016, touring the UK from January. Gareth Gates will play Willard from 29 January until 16 April, returning to the show from 20 June 2016. Gareth rose to fame through the inaugural series of Pop Idol in 2001, going on to sell over 5 million records worldwide and have hits across the globe. His version of Unchained Melody sold over a million copies in the UK and is the 3rd best-selling single of the Noughties. Gareth is also the youngest ever-male solo artist to debut at number 1. More recently Gareth has enjoyed a successful career on stage, with credits including Les Misérables, Legally Blonde and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. In 2014 Gareth appeared in the final series of … Read more

REVIEW: Pure Imagination, St James Theatre ✭✭✭

Off West End, Reviews
Giles Terera Interview

Bricusse’s output is so prodigious and so tuneful that only the tone deaf would not find lots of numbers here satisfying and delicious. Many will find something to enjoy in every song, and certainly Musical Director, Michael England, does a terrific job accompanying the singers with a six piece band (including England on piano) that does real justice to England’s arrangements. As ever, there could have been more strings to swell the underscoring, but that is a small quibble.

REVIEW: Amour, Royal Academy Of Music ✭✭✭✭

News, Reviews
Amour at the Royal Academy Of Music

If tonight’s performance represents the future of British theatre then we are in very safe hands indeed. OK, so the story is about as substantial as the walls that kept toppling throughout the production. However, a beautiful score and some first-class performances showed that Amour really can be a labour of love. Now, where can I find a cast recording?

REVIEW: Jerry’s Girls, Jermyn Street Theatre ✭✭✭✭✭

Off West End, Reviews
Jerry's Girls at Jermyn Street Theatre

This is a genuinely terrific night in the musical theatre. Gypsy aside, there is nothing to touch it currently playing in London in terms of value for money and sheer, unrelenting happiness. Emma Barton has heart in spades and performs with a lustrous, warm allure which is both seductive and motherly. Ria Jones is a gifted performer, a delicious singer, and she brings a wealth of experience, and a warm, luscious tone to her carefully delivered renditions of Herman’s standards. Sarah-Louise Young’s comic work in Take It All Off and La Cage Aux Folles is gloriously amusing.

Jerry’s Girls Transfers to Jermyn St Theatre

News, Off West End
Jerry's Girls at the St James Theatre Studio

It was announced today Jerry’s Girls will transfer to the Jermyn Street Theatre for a limited three week run from 12 to 31 May 2015. The show was a sell-out smash at the St James Studio ealrier this year. Jerry’s Girl features songs from musicals written by Jerry Herman, the Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist of shows including Hello Dolly!, Mame, Dear World, La Cage Aux Folles and Milk And Honey. The cast of Jerry’s Girls will feature Emma Barton (EastEnders, One Man Two Guvnors, Chicago), Ria Jones ( Cats, Les Miserables, Chess), and Sarah-Louise Young (voted one of Time Out’s Top Cabaret Acts). Originally presented as a small cabaret in New York, Jerry’s Girls was created by Herman and collaborator Larry Alford in 1981. Jerry’s Girls is directed by Kate Golledge and choreographed by Matthew Cole with musical direction by Edward Court. For more information visit www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk Read our … Read more