This one will get you into the Christmas spirit, guaranteed. I’m gearing up for the holidays with the hilarious duo of Dan & Jeff and their festive favourite Potted Panto, another in my series of post-show talks for producer James Seabright.
NEWS: Janine Duvitski, Sophie Isaacs & Lauren Stroud join Goldilocks & the Three Bears at London Palladium
Final casting has been announced for the 2019 London Palladium Pantomime, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, which runs for a limited five-week season from 7 December 2019 to 12 January 2020.
‘A rich tapestry of music brings the story to life’: ISLANDER – Southwark Playhouse
Finn Anderson’s stunning score for Islander at Southwark Playhouse is performed beautifully by Bethany Tennick and Kirsty Findlay who pull off Amy Draper’s ingenious concept & direction seamlessly.
‘Delightful performance’: THE BOY WHO CRIED WOLF – Touring ★★★★
The Boy Who Cried Wolf, written by Mike Kenny with stage manager Kirsty Smith, sees York Theatre Royal working with Tutti Frutti once again, and they manage to put together a delight of storytelling, music, dance and acting to re-tell this well known classic tale.
NEWS: First casting announced for the RSC’s production of The Boy In The Dress
Rufus Hound, Irvine Iqbal, Natasha Lewis and Forbes Masson have been cast in The Boy in the Dress, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s new musical which runs in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from 8 November 2019 to 8 March 2020 (press night is 27 November).
‘If you like the film, you will most likely enjoy the stage show’: SCHOOL OF ROCK – West End ★★★★
For anyone unfamiliar with the show, it is based on the 2003 film starring Jack Black as a wannabe rock-star who masquerades as a private school teacher and ends up taking his class to Battle of the Bands. If you like the film, you will most likely enjoy the stage show. On the flip side, don’t go in expecting big surprises.
‘Iris Theatre has managed to create almost an entirely new genre’: The Hunchback of Notre Dame – St Paul’s Church ★★★★
The concept of the piece was fascinating, with the production beginning with an introduction of the actors in a travelling performance group tasked with telling the story of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
‘An imaginative take on a classic story’: The Hunchback of Notre Dame – St Paul’s Church ★★★
Iris Theatre’s adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic novel is certainly an ambitious and refreshing take on the story – but can’t always make up its mind whether it wants to be taken seriously or not.
‘Michael Morpurgo’s story spoke to me about music’s power to save lives’: Olivia Wormald on making her debut in The Mozart Question
Recent Mountview graduate Olivia Wormald makes her professional debut this month in a regendered stage adaptation of The Mozart Question, Michael Morpurgo’s 2007 children’s book which she herself read as a child. We talked to her about inspiration and how music can save lives. Time to get booking!
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Mr Gum & the Dancing Bear at the National Theatre
Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews for Mr Gum & the Dancing Bear, Andy Stanton and Jim Fortune’s musical based on the children’s books. It continues in rep at the National Theatre until 31 August 2019.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Peter Pan at Troubadour White City Theatre
Sally Cookson’s National Theatre and Bristol Old Vic production of JM Barrie’s classic story Peter Pan officially opens the Troubadour White City Theatre, where it’s booking until 27 October 2019. Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews.
Best of the Blogs: The Mates give their verdicts on Peter Pan, The Worst Witch, Crystal Clear & more
Best of the Blogs: The Mates give their verdicts on Peter Pan, The Worst Witch, Shackleton’s Carpenter & more
‘There’s always a good fart to make them giggle’: Horrible Histories is back in the West End and so is actor Ben Martin
Actor Ben Martin chatted to Emma Clarendon about bringing Horrible Histories back to London.
CAMDEN FRINGE NEWS: Michael Morpurgo’s The Mozart Question is re-gendered at Upstairs at the Gatehouse
The Mozart Question, a virtuosic monologue based on former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo’s 2007 children’s book, comes to Camden Fringe in a regendered production, running from 13 to 18 August 2019 at Highgate’s Upstairs at the Gatehouse. Time to get booking!
FEATURED SHOW: ★★★★ reviews are in for Anthony Horowitz page-to-stager The Falcon’s Malteser
Husband and wife Feargus Woods Dunlop and Heather Westwell co-founded New Old Friends and have discovered a knack – and award-winning success – bringing detective stories to family audiences. We caught up with them as their adaptation of Anthony Horowitz’s The Falcon’s Malteser prepares for London premiere at The Vaults next month. Time to get booking!
It’s all relative: 4 shows giving new meaning to family-friendly at Camden Fringe
Want to bond with your kids? Make theatre with them! That’s a lesson these families performing at Camden Fringe have taken to heart. Now in its 14th year, London’s alternative to Edinburgh Fringe runs from 29 July and 25 August 2019 with over 300 shows across 30 different venues, including these four.
‘Like most parents/carers, I’m bombarded by big questions’: Miranda Duffy on how Rox, Paper & The Scissors helps teach kids about Trump & Brexit
How should adults answer kids when they ask about big world problems: Donald Trump, Brexit, Hong Kong, Iran? Gone to the Dogs Productions founder Miranda Duffy had an idea while watching her children play a heated round of rock-paper-scissors. Time to get booking for this Camden Fringe show!
Camden Fringe News: Rox Paper & The Scissors teaches children about democracy
If you want to laugh or cry at the state of our politics, imagine how confusing it must be for children. Gone to the Dogs Productions’ mission is to help educate the younger generation about democracy and it’s bringing its new stage show to Camden Fringe.
‘Last year was the experiment and this year we’ve grown’: Liza Vallance on creating Barking & Dagenham fringe festival, Clout! 2019
“To be completely honest – it was a total gamble!” Studio 3 Arts Artistic Director Liza Vallance is completely honest about launching East London fringe festival Clout! last year. But it was a gamble that paid off, as Clout returns this July for another season of extraordinary theatre. Read what she told us, then get booking!
NEWS: Barking fringe festival Clout! returns with packed 2019 season
Following a successful inaugural season in 2018, Barking-based fringe festival Clout! returns next month for a bigger 2019 season including 18 shows over 11 days at two venues. Book your tickets now!