These Theatre Thoughts

  Photo credit: Mark Senior  Date: 22nd March 2024 Seat: H21 (Stalls) Tickets: Gifted Rating: 2 Stars Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry … that’s what we had to tell ourselves by the time we got to the end of Wild About You , a new musical by Chilina Kennedy with a book by Eric Holmes that took place on 25 th  and 26th March at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane as a staged concert.  That’s because the final scene is one that stirs up all kinds of emotions about grief, loss, regret, and, luckily, some hope thrown in too. The problem is, however, that it takes so long to get to that pretty good ending that you might not really care anymore. And that’s not because it’s a long musical (it clocks in at about two and a half hours including the interval), it’s just that it has a tendency to drag. There’s so much chatting and fluff and filler that seems completely unnecessary (why do we keep hearing about Michael’s religion when it comes to nothing?) that no matter how rousing the songs themselves m

                                                              EDDIE IZZARD: HAMLET  FOLLOWING HER CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED, TRIPLE-EXTENDED NEW YORK RUN, EDDIE IZZARD BRINGS HER SOLO PERFORMANCE OF SHAKESPEARE’S ‘HAMLET’ TO LONDON’S RIVERSIDE STUDIOS   MAY 23RD - JUNE 30TH 6 WEEKS ONLY   TIX ON SALE NOW!   Photo credit: Amanda Searle  All the World’s A Stage   Following her triumphant triple-extended New York run Eddie Izzard performs her solo performance of Shakespeare’s ‘HAMLET’ in London for a strictly-limited six-week run.   ‘HAMLET’ marks Eddie’s second solo show following last year’s sold-out run of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, which played to rave reviews in NY and at The Garrick Theatre in London’s West End. Eddie’s performance of Shakespeare’s ‘HAMLET’ will see her take on 23 characters in a very unique re-telling of the iconic play.   The King of Denmark is dead and Prince Hamlet is determined to take revenge, initiating a cascade of events t

On Thursday 14 March, TINA - THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL held one of its bi-annual educational workshops and performances which are designed to teach young people about how TINA operates, on stage and behind the scenes, in the hopes it will inspire them to want to work in the theatre industry. Some of the roles explored on the day were Company Management, Wigs, Hair & Makeup, Wardrobe, Sound, Automation, Lighting and Stage Management. These workshops are offered to boroughs across London and the South where the majority of students have little access to the arts and have, predominantly, never been to the theatre. The schools pay £10 per ticket, which includes a digital programme. The workshop on 14 March was attended by 22 school groups and 8 other schools sent along their Careers leads making 30 schools in total.  The next workshop will take place on 3 October 2024.   Photo credit: Matt Crockett TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL  is directed by Phyllida Lloyd and written by Pulit

  ADDITIONAL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR COOL RIDER: 10 TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT STARRING   AARON SIDWELL AS MICHAEL CARRINGTON ASHLEIGH GRAY AS STEPHANIE ZINONE KITTY SCOTT-CLAUS AS THE FRENCH ONE AND GREASE 2 STAR MAXWELL CAULFIELD JOINS THE FACULTY AS MR STUART   TuckShop , in association with Christopher D. Clegg and James DP Drury , has today announced additional casting of their reunion concert of Cool Rider at The London Palladium on Sunday 14 April at 7pm, which marks the tenth anniversary of the cult-concert. The cult musical sequel, which is a loving, unofficial parody and tribute to everyone’s favourite follow-up movie, played at the Lyric Theatre for two sold out shows, followed by a smash hit run at Duchess Theatre in April 2014 and was immortalised in May 2015 with the Original Studio Cast Recording, which was funded by fans through a Kickstarter. West End stars Aaron Sidwell ( Lord of the Rings , Wicked ) and Ashleigh Gray ( Wicked, Only Fools and

 REGENT’S PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE ANNOUNCE FULL CAST FOR  TWELFTH NIGHT or What You Will   Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre today announce full cast for Twelfth Night or What You Will, Shakespeare’s comedy of mistaken identities directed by Owen Horsley and set against the heat of the Mediterranean sun. The production runs 3 May – 8 June 2024 (press performance Thursday 9 May at 7.30pm).  Horsley will direct Raphael Bushay (Orsino), Richard Cant (Malvolio), Sally Cheng (Querelle), Andro Cowperthwaite (Sebastian), Anna Francolini (Olivia), Nicholas Karami (Antonio/Captain), Julie Legrand (Feste), Michael Matus (Toby Belch), Evelyn Miller (Viola), Anita Reynolds (Maria), Matthew Spencer (Andrew Aguecheek), Katherine Toy (Valentine/Priest), Jon Trenchard (Fabian/Musical Director), and Harry Waller (Curio/Officer).   The production marks the first production of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s summer season, and features new original songs in addition to the numerous songs in the text of Twelf

  JAMES GRAHAM’S ACCLAIMED ADAPTATION OF ALAN BLEASDALE’S BOYS FROM THE BLACKSTUFF TO PLAY LIMITED EIGHT-WEEK SEASON AT THE GARRICK THEATRE IN LONDON’S WEST END PERFORMANCES BEGIN 13 JUNE   Photo credit: Jason Roberts James Graham’s powerful new adaptation of Alan Bleasdale’s seminal TV drama, Boys from the Blackstuff is directed by Kate Wasserberg and the Liverpool’s Royal Court and National Theatre production is presented in the West End by Bill Kenwright Limited.   Graham’s acclaimed adaptation of Alan Bleasdale’s Boys from the Blackstuff will transfer to the West End for a strictly limited eight-week season at the Garrick Theatre, following runs at Liverpool’s Royal Court and the National’s Olivier Theatre.  Performances will begin on Thursday 13 June, with a Gala Night on Tuesday 18 June, and will run until Saturday 3 August 2024.  Tickets on sale from 12 noon on Thursday 28 March.   Graham said of adapting Bleasdale’s drama, "To work with Alan Bleasdale in

  Date: 22nd March 2024 Seat: Unallocated (Front Row) Tickets: Gifted Rating: 3 Stars Dr John D.O.G. Dolittle has written a book all about his exciting exploits, and he wants us to know about it. That’s why we’re there, after all – he’s going to read extracts from that book and regale us all with his amazing adventures.  To be fair, that’s pretty much what Dolittle (played by Aidan Pittman who also wrote the play) does over the course of a hilarious and absolutely bonkers hour in Dr Dolittle Kills A Man (and reads extracts from his new book) , and I am absolutely here for it. If you’re a fan of The Mighty Boosh or The League of Gentlemen , this is exactly the show for you.  The titular book is massive, and Dolittle can only choose one story to read to his audience, so he picks one about a f*cking huge ruby, which includes Nazi birds, bodybuilding puffins, a “small little man” called Dog, references to Indiana Jones galore, a brain-eating worm, Charles Darwin, Curious George, Eddie Mur

  Date: 20th March 2024 Seat: Unallocated - Studio Floor Tickets: Gifted Rating: 4 Stars A woman enjoying a Calippo stands on a stage. It sounds like the beginning of a long-winded joke, but it’s actually the start of Karen, a one-woman play by Sarah Cameron-West (who also stars), and she doesn’t enjoy that Calippo for long because her boyfriend, Joe, dumps her. On a day out at Alton Towers. On her 30 th birthday. Not quite the surprise she was hoping for, especially as she had her nails done in I Do Pink because she thought she was going to be getting a ring.  Of course, this is all Karen’s doing. Or so the protagonist (she’s so angry at everyone that she never actually gives us her name) thinks. After all, Karen is her ultimate nemesis at work, and since the three of them work in the same office, why wouldn’t it be Karen that Joe is having an affair with? And the thing is, our protagonist hits the nail right on the head.  Over the next hour or so, Sarah Cameron-West, beautiful

  WEST END TRANSFER ANNOUNCED FOR   THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON THE AWARD-WINNING, UNORDINARY MUSICAL BY JETHRO COMPTON & DARREN CLARK AT THE AMBASSADORS THEATRE FROM 10 OCTOBER 2024 SIGN UP AT BENJAMINBUTTONMUSICAL.COM FOR PRIORITY TICKET ACCESS   It was all just a matter of time. And finally, the wait is over. The foot-stomping new musical, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON will transfer to the West End’s Ambassadors Theatre from Thursday 10 October 2024 . The production captured hearts last year with its sold-out Southwark Playhouse run - winning Best Musical Theatre Production at the 2024 Off West End Awards. Full cast and creative team will be announced soon.   Sign up at www.benjaminbuttonmusical.com for priority ticket access and exclusive benefits.   An electrifying journey through the timeless tale of a love that defies all odds, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON is an enchantingly beautiful and truly unordinary musical

Date: 18th March 2024 Seat: R17 (Stalls) Tickets: Gifted Rating: 5 Stars Jesus Christ Superstar has been around for such a long time (okay, since 1971, or 1973 if you’re thinking of the original movie) that it’s just one of those shows that’s there , burned into the subconscious so that even if you don’t find yourself humming the tunes on a daily basis, once you’re reminded of them, you remember just how incredible they are – and you can probably sing most of them all the way through.  Just me? Perhaps. Although I think that with this new, absolutely stunning and brilliantly energetic version, a whole new crowd of fans are going to be created. This is not your traditional Jesus Christ Superstar , but that’s not a bad thing – it’s a modern retelling of the oldest story and those songs still rock.  Written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, Jesus Christ Superstar tells the story of the last week of Jesus’s life, a story that everyone (probably) knows to some extent, and all the maj

  Original Theatre present the London premiere of Being Mr Wickham Performed and written by Adrian Lukis; Directed by Guy Unsworth Playing Jermyn Street Theatre from 5 to 22 June 2024   Adrian Lukis who starred in the renowned BBC TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice , returns to the role of Mr Wickham in the London premiere of Being Mr Wickham, presented by Original Theatre at Jermyn Street Theatre from Wednesday 5 June to Saturday 22 June 2024. Tickets are now on sale:  https://www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk/show/being-mr-wickham/ .   Coming to London direct from a hit run in New York in 2023, this one-man play written and performed by Adrian Lukis, and directed by Guy Unsworth, explores one of Jane Austen’s most charmingly roguish gentleman characters.   Join Pride and Prejudice ’s George Wickham on the eve of his sixtieth birthday to lift the sheets on what exactly happened thirty years on from where we left him, and discover his own version of some very famous litera

  UK TOUR ANNOUNCED OF J B PRIESTLEY’S CLASSIC THRILLER AN INSPECTOR CALLS OPENING FRIDAY 30 AUGUST 2024 AT ALEXANDRA PALACE, LONDON   BEFORE VISITING 26 VENUES ACROSS THE UK PW Productions is delighted to announce that following a sell-out tour in 2022, Stephen Daldry’s multi award-winning National Theatre production of JB Priestley’s AN INSPECTOR CALLS will embark on a UK Tour for 2024-25.   Opening at Alexandra Palace , where it will play for 3 weeks, the tour will then visit Stoke, Darlington, Bristol, Belfast, Leicester, Eastbourne, Liverpool, Aylesbury, Salford, Norwich, Southampton, Shrewsbury, Hull, Cardiff, Blackpool, Wolverhampton, Truro, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Sunderland, Sheffield, Bradford, Birmingham, Llandudno, Milton Keynes and Wimbledon . Casting to be announced.   When Inspector Goole arrives unexpectedly at the prosperous Birling family home, their peaceful dinner party is shattered by his investigations into the death of a young woman. His startling re