The latest in a long line of jukebox musicals to be impeccably performed but dead behind the eyes – Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations opens at the Prince Edward Theatre
‘Looks set to become this season’s sleeper hit’: SHUCKED – Broadway ★★★★
To be honest, if it’s an evening of laugh-yourself-silly fun, catchy tunes, inspired lunacy and bona fide triple threat star turn performances that you’re after, it doesn’t get much better than Shucked at the Nederlander Theatre, New York.
‘Entertaining, charismatic & soulful journey’: AIN’T TOO PROUD – Prince Edward Theatre ★★★★
Ain’t Too Proud is a wonderful addition to the West End that features dazzling production value, and timeless music. A celebration of The Temptations and their impact on Motown, it will leave you humming their hits long after the curtain falls.
‘A hopeful & meaningful night’: THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES – Almeida Theatre
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.
‘Inventive & eye-catching’: EUGENIUS! – Turbine Theatre
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.
New post-show Q&A: Join Terri Paddock to discuss Under the Kundè Tree’s story of colonialism, identity & freedom
After One Who Wants to Cross at the Finborough in February, I’m thrilled to chair the post-show talk for another new play care of Clarisse Makundul Productions, Makundul’s own Under the Kundè Tree at Southwark Playhouse Borough.
‘Sure to bring great joy’: MOG THE FORGETFUL CAT – Touring ★★★★
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
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Betty Blue Eyes at the Union Theatre
Love London Love Culture’s Emma Clarendon takes a look at what critics have had to say about this revival of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe’s musical Betty Blue Eyes at the Union Theatre.
‘All will be reminded of the beauty of the natural world’: THE LOST SPELLS – Touring ★★★★
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.
‘Highly entertaining & all-too-pertinent social satire’: BETTY BLUE EYES – Union Theatre
The Union Theatre reopened some time ago but Betty Blue Eyes is its first in house production since then, a revival of the Stiles and Drewe musical from 2011 about social mobility, the wedding of Princess Elizabeth in 1947 and a pig heist.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Berlusconi – A New Musical at Southwark Playhouse Elephant
Love London Love Culture’s Emma Clarendon looks at what is being said about Berlusconi – A New Musical, based around the politician Silvio Berlusconi. The musical continues to play at the Southwark Playhouse’s Elephant venue until 29 April 2023.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Siegfried in Bendigo
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.
‘There’s gold here, but blink & you might miss it’: BERLUSCONI: A NEW MUSICAL – Southwark Playhouse
“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.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Sweeney Todd at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, New York
Love London Love Culture’s Emma Clarendon take a look at what is being said about the new revival of Stephen Sondheim’s musical starring Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford.
‘Impressive & stirring production’: TITANIC THE MUSICAL – Touring ★★★★★
Titanic The Musical sailed its way into Blackpool and what a show it was. I have to say that the 11 Academy Award-winning worldwide film directed by James Cameron is a huge favourite of mine and I have lost count of the number of times that I have seen it.
‘Shiny, colourful & entertaining’: WINNIE THE POOH: THE MUSICAL – Riverside Studios ★★★★
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.
‘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
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.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Bad Cinderella at the Imperial Theatre, New York
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Bad Cinderella has now officially opened on Broadway, Love London Love Culture’s Emma Clarendon finds out what critics have had to say about it…
‘It’s definitely nostalgic & energetic’: Eugenius! – Turbine Theatre
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.
FROM DOWN UNDER – & Juliet in Melbourne
A breathless, rollicking rush of a feel good musical comedy, & Juliet makes its Australian premiere in killer form, with a peak Australian cast of fantabulous powerhouse artists.