This past weekend saw the return of the much-loved West End Live in Trafalgar Square. A free festival for theatre lovers, the event has increased in popularity each year (I still remember the early years when everyone was crammed into Leicester Square and only a handful of shows took part!), and eventually it will outgrow its current home too (where next? Hyde Park?).
‘I’m damned glad we have something as good as this’: EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE – Prime Video
This cinematic adaptation of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is fabulously enjoyable, led by a fine performance by Max Harwood.
‘Acceptance is the name of the game’: EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE – Salford & Touring ★★★★★
All-in-all, everybody SHOULD be talking about Jamie, and everyone – no matter colour gender, sexuality or anything else is welcome here – acceptance is the name of the game in this touring production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
West End shows have a fight on their hands post ’Freedom Day’
Social distancing restrictions may be about to be lifted, but can the West End survive the mass self-isolation that the current virus surge will require?
As London’s Theatreland opens up to new producers, are we seeing a new dawn for the West End?
No theatre owner or producer has done more to re-ignite the West End, both then in December and especially now in May, than the forever-tenacious, ever-energetic and resilient Nica Burns.
As restrictions lift, Mark Shenton offers a comprehensive update on opening nights in London & across the UK
This weekly column keeps track of the shows that are coming back, or are newly being announced, as theatres start reopening from tonight (17 May) in London and at other theatres in the UK.
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.
Mark Shenton picks out his favourite regional theatres for the latest ShenTens podcast
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The post ShenTens: My Top 10 Favourite Regional Theatre Venues first appeared on Shenton Stage.
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.
‘Felt like a true celebration’: MUSICALS: THE GREATEST SHOW – BBC One ★★★★★
Dazzling from start to finish, the high quality of the performances, music and of course the venue featured in Musicals: The Greatest Show reminded us why exactly we are missing the theatre.
As commercial producers yearn for a return to normal, will subsidised theatre play it safe or break the mould?
Some commercial producers, it appears, wanted the old order to be restored and business to proceed as normal, hence the rush to re-open as quickly as it was legally possible to do so back in November after we emerged from the second lockdown.
‘I wouldn’t count on us being safe until the summer at the earliest’: Mark Shenton shares his thoughts with a new daily blog for 2021
One of my new year resolutions — and one I intend to keep — is to revitalise this personal website ShentonStage as my primary editorial home this year.
NEWS: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie returns to the West End
Award-winning musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie will return with social distancing to London’s Apollo Theatre from 28 November 2020, celebrating its third birthday in the West End. The show will be the first full-book musical to reopen in the West End this autumn.
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: Nimax Theatres will open all 6 West End theatres in sequence from October 2020 with social distancing
Nimax Theatres will open all six West End theatres in sequence from 22 October 2020 with social distancing under Covid-19 secure government guidelines. The special season will beginning at the Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue with This is Going to Hurt, written and performed by ex-NHS doctor Adam Kay.
The return of the movie musical: 9 upcoming ones to look forward to
During the Golden Age of Hollywood, movie musicals were abundant and arguably the most popular genre. However, with the move towards pop culture in the 1960s, their popularity dwindled and gave way to a more rebellious style and tone.
‘Funny, heart-warming & joyous show’: EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE – Touring ★★★★
A real joy to watch from start to finish. the story behind Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is one of courage against adversity, but one that is full of humour and love too.
NEWS: Rufus Hound & Katy Brand will join the West End cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
Actor, comedian and presenter Rufus Hound and actor, writer and comedian Katy Brand will be joining the cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie in March 2020 to play Hugo/Loco Chanelle and Miss Hedge at the Apollo Theatre in London’s West End.
Best of the Blogs: Uncle Vanya, The Welkin, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie & more
In our continuing series, our editor Lisa Martland picks out some of her Top Picks from the last week of theatre including Maryam Philpott’s thoughts about Conor McPherson’s emphasis on comedy scenarios and personalities in his adaptation of Chekhov’s timeless play Uncle Vanya at the Harold Pinter Theatre
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at the Apollo Theatre
There’s a new cast for the British musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and the reviews are in! Find out what critics thought with our review round up….