Based on the Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, but probably better known from the 1994 film starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, the stage adaptation of The Shawshank Redemption (written by Owen O’Neill and Dave Johns, directed by David Esbjornson) is currently touring the country. This production stars Ben Onwukwe as Red, and Joe Absolom as Andy Dufresne.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Saturday Night Fever at the Peacock Theatre
Emma Clarendon rounds up the reviews for the revival of screen-to-stage musical Saturday Night Fever, based on the John Travolta film. It’s now running at London’s Peacock Theatre until 26 March 2022.
‘I didn’t feel much like dancing after a couple of hours of this mess’: SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER – Peacock Theatre ★★
“You should be dancing, yeah!” goes the oft-repeated chorus of the Bee Gees hit that loomed large in the original Saturday Night Fever movie soundtrack and closes the first half of this stage version.
‘Succeeds both luridly & absolutely’: Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – London Palladium
The 2019 summer revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat returned to the London Palladium in a joyous, celebratory evening.
‘Ian McKellen scales new heights’: HAMLET – Theatre Royal, Windsor
Ian McKellen has never been an actor to shirk a challenge — or do things by halves. Having first played the title role of Hamlet fully 50 years ago, aged 31 — the age that Hamlet is at the end of the play — he has now returned to it, aged 82.
‘Teenage angst in the bathroom… & classroom’: BE MORE CHILL – Shaftesbury Theatre / HEATHERS – Theatre Royal Haymarket
There comes a point in every lifelong theatre lover’s career when you suddenly wake up and wonder: am I simply too old for this? Ben Brantley, former chief critic of the New York Times, hit this particular critical nail on the head when he ended his review of the 2018 Off-Broadway summer run of the cult musical Be More Chill (before it was propelled to Broadway in turn) by advising: “It may be helpful to think of this bounding, exhaustingly enthusiastic puppy of a show as the theatrical equivalent of one of those high-pitched dog whistles that only those under 25 can hear.”
So another delay to the ‘cautious, irreversible’ roadmap out of lockdown: It’s beginning to feel like Groundhog Day
In what is becoming a wearyingly predictable cycle, Boris Johnson’s latest failure to act fast enough to lockdown the country from the arrival of what is now known as the Delta variant of Covid, which originated in India, has resulted in it becoming the dominant strain of the virus in Britain — with the added problem that it is much more easily transmissible than previous strains.
NEWS: Heathers The Musical announces a return to the West End & new UK tour dates
Producers Bill Kenwright and Paul Taylor-Mills have announced that Heathers the Musical will make its return to the West End’s Theatre Royal Haymarket from 21 June 2021 for a strictly limited until 11 September, while simultaneously launching its new touring production from 28 July, opening at Leeds Grand Theatre for three weeks, before heading off across the UK.
NEWS: Hamlet starring Ian McKellen will open Theatre Royal Windsor’s new season in June 2021
The Theatre Royal Windsor’s summer season will open with Shakespeare’s Hamlet, directed by Sean Mathias and starring Ian McKellen in an age-blind interpretation of the young Prince.
NEWS: ‘Age-blind’ Hamlet starring Ian McKellen begins rehearsals for eventual run
A new production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, directed by Sean Mathias with Ian McKellen in an age-blind interpretation of the young Prince, will go into rehearsals on Monday 29 June 2020.
NEWS: Sheridan Smith will revisit her award-winning TV role in new Cilla The Musical tour
After much speculation, producers have confirmed that Sheridan Smith will revisit her award-wining portrayal of the late Cilla Black to star in Bill Kenwright’s stage production, Cilla The Musical, written by BAFTA award-winning writer Jeff Pope.
NEWS: Sean Mathias named artistic director of Theatre Royal Windsor for new annual season
Sean Mathias has been appointed as the first artistic director of Theatre Royal Windsor where, starting in 2020, he will programme and annual summer season of new stage productions.
‘You won’t be disappointed’: CABARET – Touring
What a pleasure to see Rufus Norris’ award winning production of Kander and Ebb’s Cabaret at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley.
New post-show Q&A: Join Terri for Kander & Ebb’s Cabaret, starring John Partridge
As part of her ongoing post-show Q&A series, on Thursday 29 August 2019, Mates co-founder Terri Paddock heads to Bromley for the start of Cabaret’s new tour, starring John Partridge as the emcee. Got any questions?
‘Straightforward entertainment’: SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER – Touring ★★★
It is difficult not to find yourself tapping your toes along to some classic songs and fabulously fun choreography by Bill Deamer.
NEWS: Paul Taylor-Mills will lead the new Turbine Theatre at Battersea Power Station
Presented by Bill Kenwright and founded and led by artistic director Paul Taylor-Mills, the Turbine Theatre is a brand new theatre on the banks of the Thames next to the iconic Battersea Power Station.
‘One of the best Josephs there has been’: JOSEPH & THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT – Touring ★★★★
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat proves it’s still at the top of its game as it returns to the Playhouse – again – over 50 years since it first launched.
‘Delivers a thoroughly enjoyable & entertaining night out’: GHOST THE MUSICAL – Touring ★★★★
A refreshingly strong turn from Rebekah Lowings ensures that the latest touring production of Ghost The Musical is alive and vibrant at the Festival Theatre, despite the show’s cloying sentimentality.
‘Impossible not to get caught up in the excitement’: SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER – Touring
Saturday Night Fever does have its flaws, and it might not be the most memorable start to the theatre-going year, but that doesn’t mean you won’t head home with a skip in your step, all the same.
‘Watchable & well-produced’: CILLA THE MUSICAL – Touring
Overall, Cilla the Musical is a watchable and well-produced show. On the other hand, I think there’s possibly a more interesting story in there.