Ancient Myth clashes with modern Myth in a powerful rock musical about fame and mental health.
‘Prescient time for a revival’: THE ENTERTAINER – Touring
The Entertainer is an interesting state-of-the-nation play, and although a period piece, it’s undeniably a prescient time to revive it.
‘A highly enjoyable evening’: I WISH MY LIFE WERE LIKE A MUSICAL – Live at Zedel ★★★
From the opening number which promises so much, through to the second half that might feel as though it is dragging on just a bit too long, the audience’s plight is fully acknowledged in this spirited production.
‘Worth a watch for those wanting to break into musical theatre’: I WISH MY LIFE WERE LIKE A MUSICAL – Live at Zedel ❤❤❤
This perceptive and entertaining show celebrates the highs and lows of being a musical theatre performer through the songs of Alexander S Bermange.
‘Entertaining & somewhat insightful into the musical theatre world’: WISH MY LIFE WERE LIKE A MUSICAL – Live at Zedel ★★★
For something fun and light-hearted, especially for those wanting to break into the theatre world, I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical is worth a view.
SON OF A PREACHER MAN – Touring ★★★
The undoubted star was Diana Vickers, as Kat from the mobile phone generation, who brought a nice balance of humour and great vocals to the show.
SON OF A PREACHER MAN – Touring ★★★
Dusty Springfield fans will love Son of a Preacher Man as the 60s return with Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood on both direction and choreographic duties. Just don’t hold your breath for a thrilling script because a good storyline is something that’s, unfortunately, lacking in this new jukebox musical.
SON OF A PREACHER MAN – Touring
love a good actor-musician production but here, the integration of musicianship and drama just hasn’t been thought-through, even down to instruments getting in the way of scenes – it feels a token gesture. Similarly, the incorporation of the many classic Dusty songs is cursorily done.
SON OF A PREACHER MAN – Touring ★★★★★
‘Son of a Preacher Man’- we all know the Dusty Springfield classic, but in an age of social media communication and online dating it’s easy to forget the sentiment and soul of the swinging sixties.
Watch & listen: Son of a Preacher Man & Jane Eyre trailers, plus new Madaleno Alberto track
Here’s a round-up of interesting titbits on upcoming productions Son of a Preacher Man and Jane Eyre, plus a new release from West End diva Madalena Alberto.
Album Review: Big the Musical (2016 Original UK Cast Recording)
A 1990s musical of an 80s film – nostalgia has a lot to answer for but it was to Maltby Jr and Shires’ 1996 adaptation of the Tom Hanks-starring film that producers turned for their big Christmas musical at Bord Gais Energy Theatre in Dublin.
NEWS: Bad Girl Debra Stephenson joins Diana Vickers in Son of a Preacher Man
Son of a Preacher Man today announces that Bad Girls and Coronation Street star Debra Stephenson will create the role of Alison in this heart-warming new musical, joining Diana Vickers in the 2017 tour.
NEWS: Diana Vickers stars in Craig Revel Horwood’s premiere of Son of a Preacher Man
Former X Factor finalist Diana Vickers will create the role of Katy in Son of a Preacher Man, the new musical directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood and based on the music of Dusty Springfield.
THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW – Touring
It’s just a jump to the left… we all know The Time Warp, many of us knew the hit tune before we knew where it originated from. Last night in Malvern Theatres, a packed house full of many individuals dressed as their favourite characters from The Rocky Horror Show, Time warped in unison. The atmosphere was electric as the show again proved that it stands the test of time and still appeals to its fans and new audience members alike.
HATCHED ‘N’ DISPATCHED – Park Theatre
‘Write what you know’ remains the best advice to any author and the story of how Michael Kirk picked up the plot of Hatched ‘n Dispatched from his 9-year-old observations of sexual shenanigans round the back of the Railway Institute in Derby is priceless. But years of exposure to sitcoms and pantomime mean his script, particularly in the larkier first half, can sound derived: the moment when Wendi Peters as grotesque matriarch Dorothy sends her daughters into the kitchen to cut sandwiches for a funeral with “you slice, I’ll butter” is lifted directly from an early Victoria Wood standup routine.
HATCHED ‘N’ DISPATCHED – Park Theatre
It is 1959, Arthur is dead and as his family gather for the wake, there are drunken giggles to be had and secrets to be spilled. They don’t write ‘em like this any more and more’s the bloody pity, for in his debut full length play Michael Kirk together with Gemma Page has captured a slice of British social history, hinting at the incisiveness that once hallmarked the BBC’s Play For Today and which latterly Mike Leigh can occasionally capture on screen.