These Theatre Thoughts

Orange Tree Theatre (OT) today announces the full cast for the first major London revival of Polly Stenham ’s That Face . Josh Seymour directs the previously announced Niamh Cusack alongside Kasper Hilton-Hille , Dominic Mafham , Sarita Gabony and Bridgerton’s Ruby Stokes in this powerful and darkly comic exploration of what happens when children become parents to their parents. That Face is Stenham’s debut play and won the Evening Standard Charles Wintour Award, the TMA Best New Play Award, and the Critics’ Circle Award. The production opens on 13 September with previews from 9 September and runs until 7 October.   Artistic Director Tom Littler said today: “We cannot wait to launch our autumn season with Polly Stenham’s remarkable first play. Niamh Cusack brings her unique talent to the role of Martha, and she is joined by two stage debutants in Ruby Stokes and Kasper Hilton-Hille, playing her children. Dominic Mafham and Sarita Gabony complete a very exciting cast. For those

                                                           CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR UK AND IRELAND TOUR OF SUSAN HILL’S THE WOMAN IN BLACK MALCOLM JAMES AS ‘ARTHUR KIPPS’ MARK HAWKINS AS ‘THE ACTOR’ OPENING WEDNESDAY 6 SEPTEMBER 2023 AT THE WOLVERHAMPTON GRAND THEATRE Photo Tristram Kenton PW Productions is delighted to announce casting for the UK And Ireland tour of Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black. The production will star Malcolm James as Arthur Kipps and Mark Hawkins as The Actor , opening at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre on Wednesday 6 September 2023 . Following Wolverhampton, the tour will visit Cardiff, Billingham, Buxton, Aylesbury, Southend, Blackpool, Malvern, Richmond, Poole, Nottingham, Liverpool, Swindon, Norwich, Truro, York, Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton, Ipswich, Bath, Glasgow, Milton Keynes, Dartford, High Wycombe , Crewe, Coventry, Belfast, Derry, and Dublin .   Malcolm James returns to The Woman in Black having first played Arthur Kipps

  (c) Hugo Glendinning Tickets: Gifted Date: 28th July 2023 Seat: J15 (Stalls) Rating: 4 Stars Trailer:  https://youtu.be/k8bWWsoSXYg There’s a lot to be said for theatre that entertains. Really entertains. And The Crown Jewels , written by Simon Nye, is exactly that kind of theatre. It’s silly, funny, a little bit rude, there’s audience participation, there are jokes, there’s standup, there’s singing (thank you, Carrie Hope Fletcher – always a treat), there’s (attempted) murder and mayhem, and it’s all based on a true story. What more could you ask for?   The story of The Crown Jewels concerns the attempted theft of said baubles by Colonel Thomas Blood in 1671. Along with his son and another accomplice, Captain Perrot, they bluffed their way into viewing the crown jewels, attacked the guard, and tried to make off with them. It did not go well. But Blood’s ‘punishment’ might not be quite as deadly as you imagine… I won’t spoil the story, but it’s not something most kings would have ag

Tickets: Gifted Date: 24th July 2023 Seat: H16 Star Rating: 5 Trailer:  https://youtu.be/LvmFQZXCQcE  My review video:  https://youtu.be/J5lf0o0hwFo In a world filled with familiar shows that pedal out the same old story time and again, Ride shines as a beacon of originality, artfully weaving the little-known history of Annie Londonderry into the most extraordinary and exciting musical experience. Freya Catrin Smith and Jack Williams have skillfully crafted a captivating narrative that transcends time and place, touching on subtle feminist themes, the power of storytelling, and the complex relationship between reality and self-perception. But don’t worry; it’s done in a fun, fascinating, and fabulously fantastic way that makes the story even more compelling than it already is.  That story is that of Annie Londonderry, who, on the back of a wager that may or may not have actually happened (she is the most unreliable of narrators, as we come to find out), carries out the astonishing f

The King’s Head Theatre charity has announced they will be closing their home of 53 years on 13 August 2023, and moving into a custom-built new theatre immediately behind the existing venue in Islington Square, with an opening date and programme to be announced.   The final season in the pub theatre will be Guest Artistic Director David Cumming ’s season, following Arts Council England funded Takeover seasons from Isabel Adomakoh Young , Tom Ratcliffe and Tania Azevedo . The new venue features a 200-seat auditorium and a 50-seat cabaret space, with contractors already on site. The charity has simultaneously launched a dedicated production fund, the Angels of Angel , which will support the theatre in commissioning and producing new work, inviting donors not only to support innovative work to be produced at the King’s Head Theatre, but to join a community of like-minded theatregoers and supporters through ongoing networking events. Inaugural donors will be offered the opportunity t

                            TONY AWARD-WINNING BROADWAY MUSICAL     WILL PLAY ITS FINAL PERFORMANCE AT THE PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE ON SUNDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2023   The producers of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical AIN’T TOO PROUD announced today that the show will play its final performance at the Prince Edward Theatre on Sunday 17 September 2023 , ending its limited run earlier than originally planned. ainttooproudmusical.co.uk AIN’T TOO PROUD stars Cameron Bernard Jones as Melvin Franklin, Kyle Cox as Paul Williams, Sifiso Mazibuko as Otis Williams, Tosh Wanogho-Maud as David Ruffin and Mitchell Zhangazha as Eddie Kendricks. The company is completed by Evonnee Bentley-Holder , Natalia Brown , Ryan Carter , Hannah Fairclough , Christopher Gopaul , Daniel Haswell , Naomi Katiyo , Akmed Junior Khemalai , Holly Liburd , Darnell Mathew-James , Simeon Montague , Posi Morakinyo , Sadie-Jean Shirley , Michael James Stewart , Toyan Thomas-Browne , Dylan Turner and Kevi

David Kristopher-Brown is soon to star as Piangi in the new West End company of The Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty’s Theatre.  David has played a wide range of characters in shows, including The Play That Goes Wrong at the Duchess Theatre and The Blues Brothers. David returns to The Phantom of the Opera, having previously been part of the company around 2008 and having performed in a concert production in the Channel Islands.  David spoke to These Theatre Thoughts about his role in Phantom, past mishaps, and why he thinks musical theatre is so important.  How did you get into musical theatre, and what sparked your interest in it? I think it came from the fact I was lucky enough to grow up going to see shows and pantomimes etc, with my parents and with school. We would always listen to musicals in the car (Les Mis was a firm favourite)... I remember always enjoying singing, even from a young age, though I was kicked out of my primary school choir for being enthusiastically loud b

STOCK AITKEN WATERMAN ANNOUNCE FULL CASTING FOR I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY: THE STOCK AITKEN WATERMAN MUSICAL   KYLIE MINOGUE ANNOUNCED TO DIGITALLY APPEAR IN THE SHOW   WORLD PREMIERE TOUR COMMENCES AT MANCHESTER OPERA HOUSE ON 2 NOVEMBER 2023 Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, Pete Waterman , show creator Debbie Isitt and Ambassador Theatre Group Productions are delighted to announce full casting for I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY: THE STOCK AITKEN WATERMAN MUSICAL . The team also announced today that Kylie Minogue will digitally appear throughout the show as a specially created character unique to the musical. The World Premiere of the official Stock Aitken Waterman musical will open at the Manchester Opera House on Thursday 2 November 2023 before embarking on a UK tour. www.soluckymusical.com , @SoLuckyMusical   Stock Aitken Waterman said today "Stock Aitken Waterman are thrilled to be part of this wonderful new adventure. To see our songs take on a new life in the world

  My review of   Twelfth Night  at Wilton's Music Hall, London, on behalf of West End Best Friend:  Twelfth Night at Wilton's Music Hall, presented by Duke's Theatre Company, offers an evening of absurd Shakespearean shenanigans that raises laughs and cheers and, perhaps surprisingly, some audience participation that gives the entire production the fun feeling of being at a panto. In fact, the story of Twelfth Night , with its themes of mistaken identity, love triangles, and general comedic chaos, is the kind of thing a good panto should definitely be made of.   Read more at:  https://www.westendbestfriend.co.uk/news/review-twelfth-night-wiltons-music-hall-dukes-theatre-company

  Tickets: Gifted Date: 7th July 2023  Seat: L21 Star Rating: 3 Prepare to be transported to a world of magic and imagination with The Tempest Re-Imaged for Everyone Ages Six and Over at Regents Park Open Air Theatre. This captivating production, tailor-made for young children, weaves together the traditional words of Shakespeare along with modern songs and references that will help children really understand the story and appreciate the original play at the same time – it’s a clever idea that works well, creating a charming, fun, funny play.  Before the play even begins, the audience is greeted with the soothing sounds of waves crashing on the shore as they enter the performance area of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. This immersive beginning sets the tone for the enchanting journey about to unfold, immediately transporting us to the island where the story takes place. In fact, this immersive storytelling is a feature of The Tempest Re-Imagined , with both Ariel (Juliet Agnes) and Ca

  My review of   Crazy for You  at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, on behalf of West End Best Friend:  Crazy for You has burst onto the stage in an all-singing, all-dancing, irresistibly charming musical revival at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London, and if this isn’t what musical theatre is meant to be, we don’t know what is! Glitzy dance numbers, feathery costumes, hats, tap shoes, a farcical comedy of errors, dancers rising up through the stage, jokes, slapstick comedy… who could ask for anything more?   Read more at:  https://www.westendbestfriend.co.uk/news/review-crazy-for-you-gillian-lynne-theatre