REVIEW: Looking for Lansbury (St. James Studio)
The St. James Studio is a very special venue and dear to my heart. Walking down the steps one is greeted by black and white photographs featuring classic Hollywood stars from Hitchcock to the Rat Pack to James Dean. The auditorium has the atmosphere of a jazz club and does indeed often serve […]
REVIEW: CLOSE TO YOU – Bacharach Reimagined (Criterion Theatre)
When a show begins fifteen minutes after its supposed start time, audiences starts to get a little fidgety. But when you see Burt Bacharach walk in to the auditorium you can suddenly excuse his tardiness. The eighty seven year old American composer is somewhat of a legend having written pop songs for decades. Alfie, I […]
REVIEW: In The Heights (Kings Cross Theatre)
Many, including myself, who saw the Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegria Hudes Tony-winning musical about the hopes and dreams of people living in the Washington Heights district of New York, during its short but sensational run at the Southwark Playhouse in 2014 have been hotly anticipating its return. But could the magic be repeated? Well, […]
REVIEW: Frances Ruffelle (Crazy Coqs)
Frances Ruffelle’s well timed new album I Say Yeh-Yeh has just been released around the 30th anniversary of Les Misersbles (in which she originated the role of Eponine). The album features an original French song ‘L’un Vers L’autre’ that was written for Les Mis but cut from the English production. It also includes […]
REVIEW: Master Of The Macabre (The Vaults, Waterloo)
Well… as the saying goes: “From the sublime to the ridiculous”. After witnessing a charming revival of a neglected musical at the Landor last night, I had the unfortunate experience of sitting through one of the silliest and, quite frankly, insulting evenings of “magic theatre” I have ever endured. The only thing that was remotely […]
REVIEW: The Play That Goes Wrong (Duchess Theatre)
The Play That Goes Wrong debuted at the Duchess Theatre in London’s West End in September 2014 and has been cracking up audiences ever since. The winner of Best New Comedy in the 2015 Laurence Olivier Awards, it’s the brain child Mark Bell, with the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society’s very physical attempt at a 1920s murder mystery. Just imagine how many things […]
REVIEW: Romance, Romance (Landor Theatre)
In the world of revivals, sometimes it’s very clear as to why certain musicals (or plays for that matter) are not revived – they’re usually dated, irrelevant, uninteresting, unmarketable or just not very good. But sometimes, something will be revived that makes you wonder why it isn’t reproduced more often. The last time “Romance, Romance” […]
REVIEW: Stomp (Ambassadors Theatre)
As a Londoner, Stomp feels like one of those shows that are like The Tower of London or Buck House; it’s been around for years, you’ll maybe get around to seeing it one day; perhaps the kind of thing to take out of town relatives to. Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner (and I’ve […]
REVIEW: Sam Bailey (Lyric Theatre)
Sam Bailey is one of the most down to earth people you could meet. Despite winning the 2013 series of X Factor, having a Christmas number one and supporting Beyoncé on her UK tour, she doesn’t seem phased by any of it. After being dropped by her record label earlier this year, Sam has decided […]
REVIEW: Roaring Trade (Park Theatre)
In Roaring Trade, Steve Thompson shines a light on the murky world of bond trading in the shiny towers of Canary Wharf where everyone claims to be living the dream. Written in 2009 just as this world came tumbling down, Thompson’s play scratches the surface to show us flawed characters making decisions they […]