REVIEW: HORRIBLE HISTORIES – BARMY BRITAIN PART 4 ★★★★
Horrible Histories hosts a plethora of children’s matinees in the West End this summer, offering a cool escape from the heat and tourist sites. This show has developed from Terry Dreary’s original books, into a TV show and stage shows. Most recently it ventured into a truly horrible full-length movie. This version is called Barmy Britain […]
REVIEW: FRISKY AND MANNISH’S POPLAB (Assembly George Square Gardens) ★★★★★
I first fell in love with Frisky and Mannish seven years ago and they were one of the first acts I ever reviewed on this blog. Back then I said “if you don’t fall in love with Frisky and Mannish, then you can’t have much of a sense of humour” and I stand by that […]
REVIEW: FLO & JOAN: BEFORE THE SCREAMING STARTS (Assembly George Square Gardens) ★★★★★
Musical comedy stars Flo & Joan hit the big time in late 2016 with their virtual YouTube video ‘The 2016 Song” in which they poked fun at all the things that had happened in the news that year. In 2018, Flo & Joan graced our screens in a TV advert for Nationwide Building Society, with […]
REVIEW: Friendsical: A Parody Musical About Friends (Assembly Rooms) ★
Friendsical (a musical based on the 90s sitcom Friends) is the latest nostalgic trip-down-memory-lane show, which is currently so on trend in the world right now. Assuming everyone is familiar with the TV show, the premise for the show is that Ross wants to put on a musical spectacular to celebrate the story of the […]
REVIEW: MISFIT WARRIOR (The Space) ★★★★
Electrifying synths, beats and casual choreography generate Stuart Saint’s resplendent testimonial gig, where Misfit and Warrior collide. His autobiographical story of HIV and Cancer manifest a domino effect of destruction, leaving survivor-in-crisis Stuart rescuing his mortality. On world Aids Day 2017, Stuart Saint posted a video declaring his HIV positive status, which quickly went viral. […]
REVIEW: BRAINIAC LIVE! (Garrick Theatre) ★★★
The Brainiac TV show ran for six series from 2002 to 2008 and since that date Incidental Coleman has produced a touring version for theatres. The idea is the same: to make science interesting for young children. This August the latest version “Brainiac Live” performs at the Garrick Theatre in the heart of the West […]
REVIEW: Grease The Musical (Sunderland Empire) ★★★★★
Step back in time, this version of Grease is more real life grit than the saccharin polish of the 1978 movie and is all the better for it. Director Nikolai Foster has gone back to the original stage production and reset Rydell High. Using Warren Casey and Jim Jacobs’ initial story, this production delves into […]
REVIEW: Southern Belles (Kings Head Theatre) ★★★★★
Prickly, tense and brewing with malcontent, Tennessee Williams’ is as relevant now as in his 40’s and 50’s heyday when his cataloguing of petty enmities and bitter cruelties captivated audiences in ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ and ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’. Tennessee Williams work was ahead of his time, channelling some uncomfortable truths of […]
REVIEW: The View Upstairs (Soho Theatre) ★★★★
If there is a better cast assembled in any theatre in London at the moment, I am not aware of it. This is a stellar group of performers, featuring some of my personal favourites. The View Upstairs is a new musical written by Max Vernon inspired by the tragic story of the UpStairs Lounge, a […]
The Worst Witch Rating (Vaudeville Theatre) ★★★★★
A bubbling brew of witchy wonderment swirls about the Vaudeville Theatre this summer as a new adaptation of Jill Murphy’s beloved The Worst Witch descends on the West End. A high-energy musical production with plenty of comedy, a smattering of physical theatre and a sprinkling of original songs, this show is a real delight for […]