On LoveLondonLoveCulture, Emma Clarendon rounds up the reviews for the premiere of Get Up, Stand Up!, the new musical based on the life and music of reggae legend Bob Marley. It’s running at the West End’s Lyric Theatre.
‘This jukebox show earns its place in the West End’: GET UP! STAND UP!
Get Up! Stand Up! follows the standard tropes of the bio-musical, folding scenes from his life and work around some of Bob Marley’s most famous songs
‘Arinzé Kene is all Bob, wonderfully in the spirit & musically perfect’: GET UP, STAND UP! – West End ★★★★
Everything Bob Marley sings lifts the heart. This musical is a huge affirmation of that heart and humanity, and it’ll be hard to stop me buying another ticket.
As more West End shows have to cancel shows, industry figures respond to ‘inadequate’ Government insurance scheme
Though theatres are now operating at full capacity (if they choose to) — and audiences are wearing masks only if they choose to, as well — there is a great deal of uncertainty, as performances are being routinely suspended at the very last minute if a cast member proves positive or has come into contact with someone who has.
NEWS: Full cast is announced for Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical at London’s Lyric Theatre
The full cast for Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, joining Arinzé Kene in the title role, has been announced. The world premiere musical begins performances at London’s Lyric Theatre on 1 October 2021 with an opening night on 20 October.
‘Has an extra poignance & resonance’: J’OUVERT – Harold Pinter Theatre
A slice of explosive, gritty, witty, youthful urban life, J’Ouvert is a play set in the streets of Notting Hill during its annual August bank holiday celebration of African-Caribbean culture.
Mark Shenton’s weekly chart of forthcoming theatrical comings & goings has some new entries
This weekly column keeps track of the shows that are coming back, or are newly being announced, as theatres prepare to re-open from next month onwards. It will be updated weekly until such time as it becomes a reality, and from then on will provide a weekly update to that week’s openings and future ones.
Returning & new productions heading for the West End & beyond post-lockdown: Are you up to date?
Meanwhile, I want to start keeping track of the shows that are coming back, or are newly being announced, in a new feature here that will be updated weekly until such time as it becomes a reality, and from then on will provide a weekly update to that week’s openings and future ones.
NEWS: Birthday Honours for Maureen Lipman, David Suchet, Adrian Lester, Arinzé Kene, Tommy Steele & Judy Craymer
Recipients of this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours from the performing arts world include actors Maureen Lipman, David Suchet, Adrian Lester and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, writer and actor Arinzé Kene, entertainer Tommy Steele, choreographer Siobhan Davies and Mamma Mia! creator Judy Craymer.
NEWS: The Black British Theatre Awards reveal 2020 nominees & announce the ceremony will be broadcast on Sky Arts
The BBTAs have revealed the 2020 Black British Theatre Awards nominee list, voted almost entirely by the public and representing some of the finest work by Black performers and creatives in UK theatre. The 2020 awards ceremony will air on Sky Arts this autumn, as part of the channel’s free to air line-up.
NEWS: Arinzé Kene will star in new West End musical Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Story
Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Story, a new musical featuring Bob Marley’s iconic hits played live on stage, will begin previews at the newly refurbished Lyric Theatre on 6 February 2021 starring Arinzé Kene.
NEWS: Bush Theatre celebrates the transfer of Baby Reindeer to the West End & New York
The award-winning Edinburgh Festival Fringe hit Baby Reindeer follows a sold-out season at the Bush last year by transferring to the West End’s Ambassadors Theatre from 2 April 2020 (press night is 6 April). The production then moves to BAM’s Fishman Space in New York from 21 May.
Text of the Day: Little Baby Jesus
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
‘Mindglowingly magnificent’: LITTLE BABY JESUS – Orange Tree Theatre
A terrific revival of Arinzé Kene’s 2011 coming-of-age drama Little Baby Jesus is mind-glowingly lyrical, energetic and wise.
‘Sometimes the best stories are messy & unresolved, & real’: LITTLE BABY JESUS – Orange Tree Theatre
Wunderkind actor-writer Arinzé Kene (how can one man be so talented?) knocks it out of the park with the revival of his 2011 play Little Baby Jesus.
‘Minimalist & thoughtful’: EQUUS – West End ★★★★
Ned Bennett’s minimalist and thoughtful production of Equus is by turns thrilling and dull, sensationally staging the sexual and violent aspects of the story while confining the psychiatrist’s self-doubting soliloquy within drapes of blank white sheeting.
NEWS: Six stars & Matthew Broderick amongst The Stage Debut Awards nominations
The Stage today (8 August 2019) announces the shortlist for The Stage Debut Awards 2019. The awards, now in their third year and presented in association with Access Entertainment, celebrate the best breakthrough talent in theatre, from actors and directors to designers, writers, composers and lyricists, all of whom have made their professional debuts in the past year.
‘Best Arthur Miller production I’ve ever seen’: DEATH OF A SALESMAN – Young Vic
Directed by Marianne (actual genius) Elliott and Miranda Cromwell and featuring an African American Loman family, this Death of a Salesman is the clearest, most moving and profound vision of this play I’ve ever seen.
‘Once more shaking the bones of theatreland’: DEATH OF A SALESMAN – Young Vic
This production of Death of a Salesman will become the stuff of legend, hopefully setting a precedent for future ‘classic’ revivals.