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‘A hopeful & meaningful night’: THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES – Almeida Theatre

In London theatre, Musicals, Opinion, Other Recent Articles, Reviews by Maryam PhilpottLeave a Comment

The source material for The Secret Life of Bees may have a perhaps overly simplistic plot and limited character development but Lynn Nottage, Duncan Sheikh and Susan Birkenhead have done much to bring this story to life through the much more grounded civil rights frame and ongoing challenges faced by working communities, while the music brings a real soulful and impassioned perspective that builds audience engagement.

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‘Inventive & eye-catching’: EUGENIUS! – Turbine Theatre

In London theatre, Musicals, Opinion, Other Recent Articles, Reviews by Alun HoodLeave a Comment

Get your leg warmers out and prepare for blast off, Ben Adams and Chris Wilkins’ adorable pop musical Eugenius! is back. This ridiculous, feel good sweetheart of a show marries together comic strip capers, sci-fi, 1980s nostalgia, earworm songs, obvious but irresistible comedy, and high camp in a caffeinated confection that is about as subtle as being beaten about the head with a rolled up copy of Smash Hits, but a lot more fun. Even when presented in a less-than-ideal space.

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‘Sure to bring great joy’: MOG THE FORGETFUL CAT – Touring ★★★★

In Musicals, Opinion, Other Recent Articles, Plays, Regional theatre, Reviews, Touring by Kris HallettLeave a Comment

Celebrating over 50 years since its initial publication, Judith Kerr’s Mog the Forgetful Cat is now an institution for families all across the UK, as they settle down to a bedtime story together. As the nation’s favourite feline, it’s perhaps surprising that it has taken a golden anniversary to see Mog hit our stages

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‘All will be reminded of the beauty of the natural world’: THE LOST SPELLS – Touring ★★★★

In Musicals, Opinion, Other Recent Articles, Regional theatre, Reviews, Touring by Fairy Powered ProductionsLeave a Comment

Children will be spellbound by the magic of the set and the catchy tunes in The Lost Spells, and adults will be reminded of the innocence of their childhoods. All will be reminded of the beauty of the natural world, and hopefully inspired to protect it. A delight.

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FROM DOWN UNDER: Siegfried in Bendigo

In Australia, Concerts, International, Musicals, Opera, Opinion, Other Recent Articles, Plays, Reviews by Simon ParrisLeave a Comment

The abundant musical and artistic quality impresses again as Melbourne Opera presents Siegfried, third instalment in their mighty Bendigo Ring Cycle. Seen last September in concert, Siegfried comes to rich dramatic life in its fully staged production. Led by sturdy heldentenor Bradley Daley in the title role, the opera begins gradually with domestic drama before surging on to dragon slaying, a helpful singing bird, and the romantic rescue of Brünnhilde.

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‘There’s gold here, but blink & you might miss it’: BERLUSCONI: A NEW MUSICAL – Southwark Playhouse

In London theatre, Musicals, Opinion, Other Recent Articles, Reviews by Louise PennLeave a Comment

“It’s not a f***ing musical. it’s an opera you c**t!” This statement, from the lips of Silvio Berlusconi as imagined in this uneven but technically inventive show packed with pulsating rock rhythms, gives you a feel for this world premiere Berlusconi – A New Musical, by Ricky Simmonds and Simon Vaughan.

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‘Shiny, colourful & entertaining’: WINNIE THE POOH: THE MUSICAL – Riverside Studios ★★★★

In London theatre, Musicals, Opinion, Other Recent Articles, Reviews by Louise PennLeave a Comment

Deep in the Hundred Acre Wood, just off the Hammersmith Bridge, Pooh Bear goes on search of some ‘hunny’ and has a host of adventures with his friends in Winnie the Pooh: The Musical at Riverside Studios. Heading across the pond for a musical extravaganza created by Jonathan Rockefeller, we follow Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit and Owl in a technically-slick show for little ones.

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‘It was crying out to be turned into a big, silly, glittery musical’: Felix Hagan & Zoë Roberts on the West End transfer of Operation Mincemeat

In Features, Interviews, London theatre, Musicals, Other Recent Articles by DebbieLeave a Comment

Recently crowned winners of the Best Musical Production at the Off West End Awards, SpitLip is set to move their hit show Operation Mincemeat to the West End for a limited run this spring; they take over at the Fortune Theatre, following The Woman In Black‘s haunting 33-year run.

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‘It’s definitely nostalgic & energetic’: Eugenius! – Turbine Theatre

In London theatre, Musicals, Opinion, Other Recent Articles, Reviews by Olivia MitchellLeave a Comment

After a London Palladium concert and subsequent runs at The Other Palace, the comic book tale of Eugenius! has been on the radar of many theatre lovers, and fans were thrilled to hear of the show’s reworked return at the Turbine Theatre. The sweet characters and over the top tale are back like before, but somewhere along the way, the musical has lost some of the sparkle and infectious joy that previously made it such a charming production.