Based on the 1971 Disney movie, with the classic score by the Sherman brothers, Bedknobs and Broomsticks the musical is a captivating story about love and believing in yourself.
‘A bonkers funfest of innuendo, audience interaction & toe-tapping tunes’: ROCKY HORROR SHOW – Touring
Having seen the show a few times beforem I knew exactly what to expect from the affectionate pastiche of old B-Movies, but my husband (and co-blogger) was a newcomer, having never even seen the film adaptation.
‘Coward’s classic fits the quarrelsome exasperated affections of middle age perfectly’: PRIVATE LIVES – Touring ★★★★
May as well tell you, I had the ultimate pensioner experience, and it was a blast. A midweek, senior-price matinee for the new touring production of Private Lives.
‘Learning a new skill in cheerleading was really exciting’: Actor & resident director Samuel Wilson-Freeman on Bring It On
Samuel Wilson-Freeman is currently starring as Steven in Bring It On The Musical, which is at London’s Southbank Centre this month before continuing its UK-wide tour.
Looking back on the last two plague years: Part 2, The Repeat
In the months from May to December 2021, it was, once again, possible to see live shows and review them in London and across the country: for me Birmingham, Sonning, Lowestoft, Ipswich, Norwich, Colchester, Northampton and elsewhere.
Looking back on the last two plague years: Part 1, The Onset
I set out to chronicle and celebrate the return of live theatre since May 2021. And this will follow. But when I totted up the 2021 score – 60 theatre nights, 30 being completely new plays and 19 brand-new productions – it seemed to me only decent to pause, look back at the year before.
‘The routines are without fail breathtakingly good’: BRING IT ON – Queen Elizabeth Hall then Touring
Fabian Aloise’s banging choreography spikes, basket-tosses and split-lifts this cracking production of Bring It On – the Musical.
New work, new voices, hybrid approaches: How theatre changed in 2021
It has been another complicated year for theatres with venues unable to welcome in-person audiences for more than five months of 2021 and the tail end of the year returning to enforced closure and performance cancellations.
Five of my favourite theatre productions of 2021
We all know how we feel about 2021. What we need to do is celebrate what made it fabulous so here is my pick of what the year had to offer.
‘A punchy, punky burst of feminist fun’: Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World – Liverpool
Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World is a punchy, punky burst of feminist fun from the producers of Six and based on the picture book by Kate Pankhurst.
‘Venture into a world of adventure & fantasy’: THE LION, THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE – Salford ★★★★
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the theatre adaptation of the first in the children’s book series, The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis.
‘The right show in the right place at the right time’: OZ – Bristol
Pins and Needles Productions, in league with Bristol’s Tobacco Factory Theatre makes a reliably bold move by taking something familiar and confounding expectations every step of the way.
‘Worth a pilgrimage to the shrines of comedy gods’: THE PLAY WHAT I WROTE – Birmingham & touring ★★★★
Do you need to be of a generation to remember Morecambe & Wise, to which this play is a loving tribute-cum-amiable-ripoff? Probably not. They are stamped on the national memory, probably genetically.
‘A great example of triple-threat theatre’: A CHORUS LINE – Leicester
In recent years, Curve have really hit their stride producing guaranteed Christmas hits. Their latest offering, A Chorus Line, is a solid and technically dazzling addition to the oeuvre.
‘Warm & welcoming, cheerful & sincere’: EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE – Touring
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie bursts onto the stage in an effervescent whirlwind of unabashed vibrancy and fun.
‘A complete sensory experience’: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Touring ★★★★★
This Olivier Award-winning adaptation of Mark Haddon’s novel is getting a deserved revival in London before embarking on a UK tour.
‘Like all good Christmas stories, there’s a happy ending’: THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE – Newcastle ★★★
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is a family Christmas offering from Northern Stage, written by Laura Lindow. The action takes place on a large stage and is set in the streets of Newcastle.
‘Heartwarming storytelling about human survival’: LIFE OF PI – West End
I’ve also had some really wonderful nights in the theatre that I wouldn’t have missed for the world. These included the long-delayed West End transfer of Life of Pi.
PHOTOS: First look at Albany Theatre’s Coventry-set A Christmas Carol
‘God bless us, every one.’ We’ve got a bumper gallery of production shots from Albany Theatre’s stunning new, Coventry-set production of A Christmas Carol. The production runs until 26 December 2021. Time to get booking!
‘Slick, energetic & all-round entertaining’: SCHOOL OF ROCK – Touring ★★★★
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock is based on the hit movie and follows the life of Dewey Finn, an endearing character who is down on his luck.