Man of La Mancha is a curious beast. Often dubbed as one of the classic “lost” musicals, it was last seen in the West End in the 1960s but is currently being revived at the London Coliseum.
‘The Frasier/Only Fools & Horses mash-up you didn’t know you wanted’: MAN OF LA MANCHA – West End
The novelty of the casting and brightness of the music in Man of La Mancha make a big impression, though be warned that the show is not without its darker elements, some intended and others not.
‘It’s rather a case of a good cast in search of a better show’: MAN OF LA MANCHA – West End ★★★
Despite the best efforts of Kelsey Grammer in the lead role, this leaden and often down right confusing revival of Man of La Mancha at the London Coliseum is unlikely to give the show new impetus on this side of the pond.
‘The desire to mount this epic production is misguided’: MAN OF LA MANCHA – West End
One wonders which came first for the Grade/Linnit company – the misguided desire to mount an epic scale production of Man of La Mancha, a musical which hasn’t been.produced in London since 1968 for very good reasons, or the need to find a project for Kelsey Grammer?
NEWS: Peter Polycarpou will play Sancho Panza opposite Kelsey Grammer’s Don Quixote in ENO’s Man of La Mancha
Renowned stage, film and TV performer Peter Polycarpou will play Don Quixote’s squire, Sancho Panza in Man of the Mancha at the London Coliseum; the first West End production of this multi-Tony Award-winning Broadway musical for 50 years.
NEWS: Oliver Tompsett & Cassidy Janson are among the new cast members for West End musical & Juliet
The new cast announced for new West End musical & Juliet features Cassidy Janson; Oliver Tompsett; Arun Blair-Mangat; Melanie La Barrie; Jordan Luke Gage and Tim Mahendran.
The Show People Podcast: Chromatics, awards & masterclasses…
The Show People Podcast is back! This special ‘Show Peep’ tells you what Andrew Keates has been up to in Ireland, how we’ve become an award-winning podcast and details of Arion’s next masterclasses with Danielle Tarento and Cassidy Janson.
The Show People Podcast: Show Peep – Portfolio Masterclasses 2018
It’s the first ever Show Peep! – an addendum to The Show People Podcast – our host Andrew Keates shares information about how you can work with Julie Atherton, Oliver Savile, Danielle Tarento and Cassidy Janson at Omnibus Theatre as part of Arion Productions’ Portfolio Masterclasses.
REVIEW ROUND UP: Chess at the London Coliseum
Chess is officially back in London, directed by Laurence Connor and starring Alexandra Burke, Michael Ball and Cassidy Janson. Here’s what the critics have been saying about it…
‘Bold & confident production well worth seeing’: CHESS – West End ❤❤❤❤
There’s no denying that the plot in Chess could, despite changes in this version, be better structured. But this is a show best enjoyed by sitting back and letting the music and staging blow you away. Overall, it’s a bold and confident production well worth seeing.
‘Has stood the test of time’: CHESS – West End
Chess is also a musical about love, about honour, about freedom and about hard choices. It is when these come to the fore that the musical really shines.
‘An evening of stunning musical theatre’: CHESS – West End ★★★★★
If you can get (or afford) a ticket, go and see Chess, if only because the score is unlikely to be played quite so sumptuously ever again. The whole production makes for an evening of stunning musical theatre.
‘It’s really the music that steals the show’: CHESS – West End ★★★★
If you’ve never seen Chess before then I think you’ll love it. I urge you to see the show regardless of its faults, it’s got a beautiful score and a moving story that you can’t help but fall in love with.
‘Breathtakingly stunning’: CHESS – West End ★★★★★
The beauty and simplicity of Chess allowed the audience to enjoy the sublime orchestration and performances. It really is a beautiful visual delight which shouldn’t be missed in this short five-week run
‘The saving grace comes with a suite of strong performances’: CHESS – West End
It’s taken over 30 years for Chess to return to the West End (though it was seen at the Union in 2013) and though it has a huge amount of resource thrown at it in Laurence Connor’s production for English National Opera, it doesn’t necessarily feel worth the wait.
NEWS: Full cast announced for revival of Chess at the London Coliseum
The full cast has been announced for the first West End production of Chess since 1986 which stars Michael Ball as Anatoly, Alexandra Burke as Svetlana, Murray Head as The Arbiter, Tim Howar as Freddie, Cassidy Janson as Florence and Philip Browne as Molokov.
Star-studded cast revealed for ENO’s Chess led by Ball, Burke, Head, Howar and Janson
The first West End production of Chess since 1986 is to star Michael Ball, Alexandra Burke, Murray Head, Tim Howar and Cassidy Janson.
There Ought To Be Clowns’ 11 top theatre moments of 2017
As ever, the wait for the end-of-year lists of favourite plays and performances has to continue until I’ve actually stopped seeing theatre in 2017. But in the meantime, here’s a list of 11 of my top moments in a theatre in 2017.
Album Review: Leading Ladies – Songs From The Stage
Across the 14 tracks of the collection, there’s a variety of approaches as they tackle songs from a wide range of musicals. Each singer gets a couple of solo numbers, and they all chip in with backing vocals on some of those, but the highlights come when the trio sing together.
NEWS: Shakespeare’s Globe announces more cast for indoor winter programme
Emma Rice’s tenure at Shakespeare’s Globe is winding to its close – the outdoor season is done but there’s still a winter’s worth of programming in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse to get through.
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