REVIEW: ANNIE (Milton Keynes Theatre) ★★★★
“Why any kid would wanna be an orphan is beyond me…” and yet, a part of you does because Annie always manages to raise your spirits. The film and the character are full of energy, optimism and heart-warming pluck. Based on Little Orphan Annie, the stage adaptation of Annie is no less energetic, but it […]
REVIEW: The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ – The Musical (Ambassadors Theatre) ★★★★★
Sue Townsend’s The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ was originally published by Methuen in 1982. Selling over 20 million copies worldwide, it is now published by Penguin Books, has been translated into 30 languages and spawned seven sequel Adrian Mole novels. The novels have been adapted for the stage, radio and television and […]
REVIEW: BARE A POP OPERA (The Vaults) ★★★
BARE A POP OPERA tells the story of a gay teenage boy, Peter, and his life at a Catholic boarding school. The show follows the struggle he feels about wanting to come out to his mother and friends, while his roommate, who he is involved with, wants to keep their relationship a secret. The story itself […]
REVIEW: EUROPE (Donmar Warehouse) ★★★★
David Greig’s play, Europe, gets its 25th anniversary revival at the Donmar Warehouse, directed by its new Artistic Director, Michael Longhurst. The play was written when Yugoslavia was at war and freedom of movement in Europe was not yet in place. The play is set in an anonymous border town in the train station where […]
REVIEW: Fiddler On The Roof (Playhouse Theatre) ★★★★★
Musical theatre masterpiece Fiddler On The Roof first premiered on Broadway in 1964 and was the first musical theatre production in history to reach 3,000 performances. The original production was highly acclaimed and won nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, Score, Book, Direction and Choreography and is currently the seventeenth longest-running show in Broadway history. […]
REVIEW: Little Miss Sunshine (New Victoria Theatre) ★★★★
Based on the Academy Award-winning film, Little Miss Sunshine is an outrageously funny and surprisingly touching musical. The Hoover family has seen better days. Richard, the father, is a less than successful motivational speaker, Grandpa’s been kicked out of his retirement home and Sheryl’s suicidal brother Frank has been dumped by his lover. Moody teenager, […]
REVIEW: Kinky Boots (Sunderland Empire) ★★★★★
Shoes really are ‘the most beautiful thing in the world’ as Kinky Boots sashays in to Sunderland as part of the UK tour The true story of W. J. Brookes, who was featured in a BBC documentary, inspired the film Kinky Boots which inspired this fabulous musical. With a book by Harvey Fierstein and music […]
REVIEW: HAMLET by Sh*tfaced Shakespeare (Leicester Square Theatre) ★★★
Before I begin, I’d like to reflect that I have seen several criticisms that this company lacks refinement but to that I would say that if you go to a kebab van, you wouldn’t expect Gordon Ramsay’s finest beef wellington, would you? You’d expect a greasy donner, so why change your standards when coming to […]
REVIEW: The Light in the Piazza (Royal Festival Hall) ★★★★★
The Light in the Piazza is a musical written by Craig Lucas, with music and lyrics by Adam Guettel. Based on a novella by Elizabeth Spencer, the musical was developed at the Intiman Playhouse in Seattle in 2003 and then at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago in 2004 before opening on Broadway at the Vivian […]
REVIEW: WAITRESS (Adelphi Theatre) ★★★★
This week, the new cast of the West End transfer of smash hit Broadway musical Waitress started performances at London’s Adelphi Theatre. The show is now starring Lucie Jones as Jenna, Ashley Roberts as Dawn and Blake Harrison as Ogie. Continuing in their roles are Marisha Wallace as Becky, Peter Hannah as Earl, David Hunter […]