These Theatre Thoughts

  Photo credit: Manuel Harlan  Date: 22nd November 2023 Seat: L20 Tickets: Gifted Rating: 5 Stars  A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic isn’t just a Yuletide play, and it’s not just a new tradition (there’s been a version of the same play running at the theatre since 2017); it’s an experience. Arriving at the theatre, the front is lit up in green with ‘A Christmas Carol’ shining in red above the door in big, bright lights; it couldn’t get more festive. Except it does – get seated, and you’ll find Victorian merchants wandering around with satsumas and, joy of joys, warm mince pies, which are given away to the hungry hordes in a way that Ebeneezer Scrooge would certainly not approve of.  Then there’s the play itself. Written by Jack Thorne and directed by Matthew Warchus, this is a traditional re-telling of Dickens’ famous Christmas story with some lovely modern elements thrown in that make for perfect comic counterpoints when they appear – having the Ghost of Christmas Present (played by G

Date: 13th November 2023  Seat: R12 Tickets: Gifted Rating: 4 Stars It might be a hard-knock life for the orphans at the New York Municipal Orphanage, but it’s certainly no hardship for the audience to enjoy this magnificent version of the all-time classic, Annie .  So, what is it about this particular production of Annie that works so well? One thing is the same thing that works for every production of Annie – the score. These songs are so familiar that hearing them sung (and sung so impressively) on a stage in front of you makes you feel happy. That’s it. There’s a nostalgic edge to everything you see and hear, and whether it’s the iconic “Tomorrow”, the fantastic “Hard-Knock Life”, or perhaps Miss Hannigan’s desperate refrain (and my personal favourite), “Little Girls”, these are songs we’ve all grown up with. That’s special, and it means Annie holds a unique place in many people’s hearts.  Then there are the dance numbers. With Craig Revel-Horwood playing Miss Hannigan, you k

  ROYAL EXCHANGE THEATRE Presents BRIEF ENCOUNTER By Noël Coward. Adapted for stage by Emma Rice   2 DECEMBER  2023 – 13 JANAUARY 2024   A new musical production with live Jazz on stage Directed by Sarah Frankcom   Press night – Royal Exchange Theatre, 7 December 7.30pm In a busy railway station, where everyone is simply passing through, Laura and Alec find each other. Falling passionately and wildly in love in a few stolen moments they live and breathe a lifetime of epic emotions, reawakening everything they buried deep inside. Together they find themselves in a bittersweet, hopelessly romantic, elegantly awkward love affair.   This December, Royal Exchange Theatre presents Brief Encounter , a huge beating heart of a musical for incurable romantics. This unique and timely version of Emma Rice’s smash hit stage adaptation of Noël Coward’s iconic original, marks the 50 th anniversary since the playwright’s death and showcases his remarkable talent as a writer, co

  Photo credit: Johan Persson  Date: 8th November 2023  Seat: E6 Tickets: Gifted Rating: 4 Stars Backstairs Billy , written by Marcelo dos Santos and directed by Michael Grandage, is the story of William ‘Billy’ Tallon who was the Queen Mother’s servant from the age of 15 until her death in 2002 – a span of 50 years or so. The play is set in 1979 when Billy has already been at work at Clarence House for 27 years and has just been promoted to Page of the Backstairs.  This odd couple, him from Coventry and she as the former queen consort, shouldn’t work – they shouldn’t really have anything to do with one another – and yet a loving and deep friendship was formed over the years, and Backstairs Billy would do anything to protect his beloved queen. It’s this love and the joy Billy takes in it that sells the character; he has no ulterior motives; he simply adores his Queen.  Backstairs Billy is, first and foremost a comedy, and it’s certainly amusing, with distinct elements of farce about i

  GRACE MOUAT AND JACOB FOWLER STAR IN UK STAGE PREMIÈRE OF NEW BRITISH MUSICAL BEFORE AFTER   The Grey Area today announce casting for the UK stage première of new British musical Before After by Stuart Matthew Price and Timothy Knapman , following a record-breaking live stream from Southwark Playhouse in 2020. Grey Area’s Artistic Director, Georgie Rankcom , will direct Grace Mouat ( Six ) and Jacob Fowler ( Heathers ) in this musical love story about a couple given a second shot at happiness.  The production opens at Southwark Playhouse Borough (Little) on 9 February, with previews from 7 February, and runs until 2 March 2024.  Before After received a UK workshop in the studio space at The Other Palace (previously known as the St. James Theatre), and has had successful productions in Japan and on tour around the Netherlands. This will be the UK première of the show.   Artistic Director of The Grey Area, Georgie Rankcom , said , “Before After has a strong cult fo

  FURTHER CASTING RELEASED FOR THIS YEAR’S PANTO AT NEWLY ANNOUNCED ORCHARD WEST Today, Mon 6 November, the team behind the annual pantomime at the Orchard Theatre, Dartford, unveiled further casting for this year’s spellbinding family pantomime, Beauty and the Beast .   Earlier this year, it was revealed that EastEnders favourite Shona McGarty will lead the line-up of Dartford’s annual panto playing the title role of Belle. She will be joined by Britain's Got Talent semi-finalist John Archer as Belle’s Father, fellow EastEnders actor Harry Reid as Silly Billy, and Musical Theatre performers Emma Jay Thomas as the Enchantress and Tom Senior as Flash Harry. The casting announcement follows the news that Dartford Borough Council (DBC) and Trafalgar Theatres   are set to construct and open a state-of-the art temporary theatre venue in Dartford, following concerns over RAAC concrete in The Orchard Theatre’s roof which forced venue to close in September.  Orchard West is sche

  STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW ANNOUNCES FULL CAST FOR WEST END WORLD PREMIERE   The original stage play production opens on 14 December at the Phoenix Theatre in London's West End, with previews from 17 November With rehearsals now underway, Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions today announce the full cast for the world premiere of Stranger Things: The First Shadow by Kate Trefry, that brings the world of Stranger Things to life in a completely new way - live on stage. Stranger Things: The First Shadow opens at the Phoenix Theatre on 14 December, with previews beginning in 8 weeks on 17 November. Directed by Stephen Daldry , with co-direction by Justin Martin , leading the world class award-winning creative team, the cast is Shane Attwooll ( Chief Hopper ), Kemi Awoderu ( Sue Anderson ), Chase Brown ( Lonnie Byers ), Christopher Buckley ( Bob Newby ), Ammar Duffus ( Charles Sinclair ), Gilles Geary (Ted Wheeler), Florence Guy (Karen Childress), Max Harwood

Date: 3rd November 2023  Seat: Unallocated Tickets: Gifted Rating: 3 Stars Just A Regular House theatre company has recently celebrated its first anniversary, and with a double bill of spooky stories – We Are Monsters , written by Joseph Ryan-Hughes, and Glass , written by Connor McCrory – they’re celebrating in style.  Both tales are directed by Zach Wyatt, and both have a distinct style that gives the audience pause for thought while never letting the action lag. There is a mood created here, and that mood is dark. It’s uncomfortable. It gives the audience the feeling that they’re the ones on the back foot, never quite sure what’s around the corner – or in the reflection in front of them.  We Are Monsters is a story about two siblings, Caitlyn (Laura Mugford) and Kyle (Joseph Ryan-Hughes), who take great delight in dressing up as ‘the drowned children’ (a legend about the nearby lake) and scaring campers. They take great delight in this game, that is, until Wesley (Moses Alexander)

  Cross the bridge to Jacksons Lane this Christmas to see The Three Billy Goats Gruff Jacksons Lane, 269a Archway Road, London N6 5AA Thursday 14 th December 2023 – Sunday 7 th January 2024 Press night: Friday 15 th December 2023, 7.30pm   Created by Kaveh Rahnama, writer and director of last year’s brilliant adaptation of  Jack and the Beanstalk  and 2021’s fantastic  A Christmas Circus Fairytale , The Three Billy Goats Gruff will bring us much festive bleating this December .  Get in the mood for Christmas with wonderful storytelling, laughter and acrobatics, as the three goats venture to cross the rickety bridge.   It’s been a long year. The goats have empty bellies, and there is nothing left on their side of the valley. The only solution is to cross the bridge to the lush green grass on the other side. But hiding beneath the bridge lurks a troll just waiting for the trip trap of tiny hooves… will the goats ever make it?  A fable that holds more poignance in today’s

  POTTED PANTO Seven classic pantomimes in 80 hilarious minutes Written by and starring Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner Directed and co-written by Richard Hurst   Venue:        Wilton’s Music Hall , London E1 8JB Dates:         Wed 29 November - Sat 30 December 2023 Box Office:    020 7702 2789 Online:         www.wiltons.org.uk     photo credit: Josh McLure “A BLAST OF EXUBERANT FESTIVE NONSENSE.” «««« Financial Times The West End’s longest running pantomime comes to the East End this Christmas, as Wilton’s Music Hall welcomes Olivier Award nominated festive celebration  Potted Panto for its ninth London season. “DAN AND JEFF ARE MASTERS OF THE ART OF COMEDIC BREVITY.” «««« The Stage Potted Panto , by double Olivier Award nominees Daniel Clarkson, Jefferson Turner and Richard Hurst, is a madcap ride through the biggest stories and best-loved characters from the wonderful world of pantomime. “DAN & JEFF HAVE BEEN DOING POTTED SHOWS FOR OVER A