REVIEW: Follies, National Theatre ✭✭✭✭✭

Stephen Sondheim's Follies at National Theatre

Follies National Theatre, 8th September 2017 5 Stars Book Follies Tickets Folly is an interesting concept: it has fascinated the western mind all the way from Erasmus of Rotterdam’s philosphical contemplation, through the artificial landscaping constructions that adorn the estates of Stowe and Stourhead, Ermenonville and Versailles, to the variety entertainments of late 19th century Paris, and into the area which principally concerns this epic musical divertissement based upon the idea: the expensive and spectacular early 20th century Broadway revues of Florenz Ziegfeld. Oddly, a lot of time seems to have been spent worrying about whether this show, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book – or at least ‘scenes’ – by James Goldman, is ‘really’ a musical or just some kind of astonishing hybrid failure: its original producer Harold Prince dubbed it a ‘long-running flop’.  While these practical questions have merit, they detract from the actual … Read more

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie Coming To London

Everyone's Talking About Jamie West End Tickets

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, the new musical that was a hit at Sheffield Crucible, is to transfer to London’s West End in November. The show, about a 16-year-old’s journey to being himself in drag, will run at the Apollo Theatre from November 22, with previews from November 6. It premiered in Sheffield in February this year. John McCrea will reprise the lead role of Jamie alongside most of the Sheffield Crucible cast including Josie Walker, Mina Anwar, Tamsin Carroll, Daniel Anthony, Luke Baker, Courtney Bowman, James Gillian, Harriet Payne, Shiv Rabheru, Lucie Shorthouse and Kirstie Skivington. Inspired by a documentary telling the true story of 16-year-old Jamie Campbell, the musical was developed by composer Dan Gillespie Sells and writer and lyricist Tom MacRae with director Jonathan Butterell. The London transfer is presented by producer and theatre owner Nica Burns of Nimax Theatres. She said: “Everybody seemed to be talking about … Read more

Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella UK Tour and West End

Matthew Bourne's Cinderella West End and UK Tour

Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures returns in 2018 with Cinderella. Following the success of the company’s 2017 sell-out tour of The Red Shoes, Cinderella will form part of the company’s 30th Anniversary celebrations. Set in London during the Second World War, Matthew Bourne’s interpretation of the classic fairy tale, has, at its heart, a true war-time romance. A chance meeting results in a magical night for Cinderella and her dashing young RAF pilot, together just long enough to fall in love before being parted by the horrors of the Blitz. Cinderella features Lez Brotherston’s sumptuous Olivier Award-winning costumes and sets and lighting by Olivier Award-winning Neil Austin. The production will be performed in surround sound designed by Paul Groothius featuring a specially commissioned recording of Prokofiev’s score played by a 60 piece orchestra. MATTHEW BOURNE’S CINDERELLA UK TOUR 8 December 2017- 27 January 2018 Sadler’s Wells London 30 January 2018 – … Read more