Merrily We Roll Along – Harold Pinter Theatre, 16 May 2013
It’s a hit, it’s a hit, it’s a palpable hit! The critically acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory production has transferred to an even greater reception, breaking records for more five star … Continue reading
The Play That Goes Wrong – Trafalgar Studios, 10 May 2013
Comedy company Mischief Theatre originally performed this piece as The Murder Before Christmas at The Old Red Lion Theatre, where it proved so popular it extended beyond Christmas with this … Continue reading
Untold Stories – Duchess Theatre, 1 May 2013
Whenever I’m watching or reading anything by Alan Bennett, it reinforces my long-held belief that he’s the cultural father of both Morrissey and Victoria Wood. His humour in the humdrum … Continue reading
The Billie Holiday Story – Charing Cross Theatre, 30 April 2013
The Charing Cross Theatre is the perfect venue for this show, a dark and intimate recluse hidden under the arches of the railway station. The band take the stage and … Continue reading
Passion Play – Richmond Theatre, 17 April 2013
This revival of Peter Nichols’ 1981 Passion Play is a fascinating insight into how adultery and betrayal affect our relationships with others and with ourselves. The story is simple enough … Continue reading
Beautiful Thing – Arts Theatre, 16 April 2013
It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since Beautiful Thing was first staged, but this anniversary production shows it’s still as fresh and heartwarming as ever. Teenagers Jamie and … Continue reading
One Man, Two Guvnors – Theatre Royal Haymarket, 10 April 2013
Following hugely successful runs with James Cordon (National Theatre and Adelphi) and his promoted first cover Owain Arthur (Theatre Royal Haymarket), comedian Rufus Hound now takes over the lead role … Continue reading
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Apollo Theatre, 27 March 2013
I missed out on tickets when this was originally playing at the National Theatre last year, but thanks to NT Live I was able to see a filmed performance; not … Continue reading
Once – Phoenix Theatre, 18 March 2013
Once began as in 2006 as a musical film which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song; a stage adaptation followed on Broadway in 2011 winning eight Tony awards. … Continue reading
Liza Minnelli – Royal Festival Hall, 1 March 2013
The first lady of show business returned to Festival Hall where she last appeared 40 years ago, shortly after the film Cabaret and TV concert Liza With a ‘Z’ were … Continue reading
The Bodyguard – Adelphi Theatre, 23 February 2013
It would be easy to dismiss The Bodyguard as just another film adaptation, or even as a jukebox musical given songs from Whitney Houston’s back catalogue have been included in … Continue reading
A Chorus Line – London Palladium, 19 February 2013
It’s surprising to learn that the success of A Chorus Line on Broadway has never been mirrored in the UK. The original production opened in 1975 and kept kicking for … Continue reading
The Turn of the Screw – Almeida Theatre, 12 February 2013
Henry James’s ghost story has long been a favourite for fans of both literature and of the macabre. There have been countless adaptations for television, film (most famously The Innocents … Continue reading
LIFT – Soho Theatre, 6 February 2013
This new musical is a curious piece. The action centres around a group of strangers over the course of a morning rush hour lift journey. Before long we begin to … Continue reading
The Rocky Horror Show – New Wimbledon Theatre, 26 January 2013
As an ardent fan of Rocky Horror, I was delighted to learn that the 40th birthday tour would be a new production – the previous tour was excellent, but an … Continue reading
In A Bit of a Flap – St James’s Church Hall, 25 January 2013
We attended the Christmas production from New Malden amateur dramatic group St James’s Players to see my colleague Baerbel Weiss in her first speaking role. Director Judith West devised the … Continue reading
Scrooge – London Palladium, 11 January 2013
I confess this wasn’t high on my “to see” list, but the prospect of some Christmas cheer to beat away the January blues (and free tickets from our cousin-in-the-orchestra Laura … Continue reading
Vote! Your Favourite Theatre of 2012
Firstly, apologies for the lack of recent posts due to Marriage, Honeymoon and Christmas! What an eventful year it’s been – I hope you’ve all had a happy 2012 too. … Continue reading
A Clockwork Orange – Soho Theatre, 12 December 2012
From ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ yesterday, to Merrily We Stick the Boot In today, as Action to the Word present their critically acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe hit in its well-deserved London … Continue reading
Merrily We Roll Along – Menier Chocolate Factory, 11 December 2012
Stephen Sondheim’s “biggest flop” returns to London at the Menier, a theatre with great Sondheim credentials as their hugely successful productions of ‘A Little Night Music’ and ‘Sunday in the … Continue reading
A Christmas Carol – Arts Theatre, 4 December 2012
We were excited: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. Simon Callow has a voice that draws his listeners deep into the drama of any situation, to … Continue reading
Kiss Me, Kate! – The Old Vic, 21 November 2012
Another op’nin’, Another Chichester Festival Theatre transfer! Being unfamiliar with this show, it was Hannah Waddingham that drew us in and it’s a great show for her fans, as she … Continue reading
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Greenwich Picturehouse, 27 September 2012
Mathematics and theatre… how could I possibly resist? The buzz surrounding this National Theatre production reached me too late, so getting tickets was as difficult as proving Fermat’s last theorem. … Continue reading
Rock of Ages – Shaftesbury Theatre, 4 September 2012
Up until West End Live I had no interest in going to see Rock of Ages, and I have to confess this was mainly due to me being a bit … Continue reading
