Kipps – The New Half A Sixpence Musical is “new” in the sense that it’s an updated version of a musical first performed in the early 1960s to showcase the singing, dancing and banjo playing talents of Tommy Steele.
NEWS: Tommy Steele returns to London Coliseum with his big band salute to Glenn Miller
Sixty years after Tommy Steele made his theatre debut in 1958 starring in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella at the London Coliseum, he will return there to salute his idol Glenn Miller in a new musical celebration, running for seven weeks from 6 July to August 2018.
MInd the Blog’s most popular 2017 reviews
I get rather drawn to the stats page of the blog at times. But it’s always interesting to see the search terms that bring people here – and which posts get the most hits!
Looking back: Caroline’s top 10 shows of 2017 > #theatre2017 #YearinReview
As another year passes it’s time to reflect on this years theatre trips. There have been some massive openings this year, a few well-deserved West End transfers and as always a few little gems Off-West End.
Letting your ‘children’ go: The final Flash, Bang, Wallop!
When a show comes to an end – as Half A Sixpence did this weekend in the West End – it is often a challenging time.
Meeting your idols (confession: mine is Cheryl Baker)
Whilst sipping my free coffee (thank you Waitrose), I got to thinking about my idols and how they inspired and motivated me and just what it feels like to actually meet one of them – though in my case not in a supermarket!
NEWS: Half a Sixpence posts West End closing notices for 2 September
First presented at Chichester’s Festival Theatre last summer, the Olivier Award-nominated revival of HALF A SIXPENCE will play its final performance at the West End’s Noel Coward Theatre on Saturday 2 September 2017.
Five shows to watch on International Dance Day
If you love dance in either a musical or more traditional dance based show, here’s a few shows you need to either book for or visit today
Behind The Scenes at Half a Sixpence
A group of London’s keenest bloggers and theatre writers were invited by RAW PR to a pre-show exclusive event for Half A Sixpence. I was fortunate enough to attend and get a flavour of how much effort and magic goes into this show night after night.
HALF A SIXPENCE – West End
Arthur Kipps (Charlie Stemp), is an orphan and over-worked draper’s assistant at the turn of the last century. Kipps unexpectedly inherits a fortune that propels him into high society.
HALF A SIXPENCE – West End
Rachel Kavanaugh has created a delightfully light footed production that leaves the audience beaming for joy. This wonderfully perky musical is a classic rags to riches story that shows that money really doesn’t buy happiness, wonderfully told through the story of Arthur Kipps an orphan who works as a drapers assistant until he unexpectedly comes into the money.
My answers to that musical meme on Facebook
Musical I Love: Guys and Dolls – much of this choice is down to the fact that it is set in the era that I would have most liked to have lived in. But it also has some absolutely classic songs that I find myself singing (when alone of course!)
HALF A SIXPENCE – West End
It’s rare to watch a West End musical that is so wonderfully British – and Half a Sixpence really is just that, in so many ways. The direction, choreography and music of the piece frame the energy wonderfully.
NEWS: Winners announced in 2017 #AlsoRecognised Awards
Several shows in the running for this year’s Olivier Awards, announced next Sunday 9 April, are also recognised this week in the third-annual Also Recognised Awards – in some notably different categories.
NEWS: Mates Mark Shenton & Terri Paddock join Curtain Up Oliviers broadcast
Mates co-founders Mark Shenton and Terri Paddock join the guest line-up for The Curtain Up Show Olivier Awards 2017 Special on Friday 7 April.
Is Julian Fellowes right? Are period dramas & BME performers incompatible?
Julian Fellowes has defended the all-white casting on Half a Sixpence by stating “It is in keeping with period”. Whilst Fellowes justification may make sense to him, it sounds ridiculous to everyone else
INTERVIEW: Spotlight On… Half a Sixpence’s Devon-Elise Johnson
Who would Devon-Elise Johnson love to work with? “Imelda Staunton, she is absolutely incredible, I saw her in Sweeney Todd and Gypsy and oh my god she is just amazing.”
NEWS: Half a Sixpence extends West End booking to 2 September, adds midweek matinee
Booking for HALF A SIXPENCE at the West End’s Noël Coward Theatre has been extended for a second time to 2 September 2017. From 20 March, there will be an additional midweek matinee performance on Thursdays at 2.30pm.
14+ shows most likely to make critics’ #theatre2016 list of lists
I rounded up my personal choices in a recent blog and have enjoyed reading and publishing the scores of Year in Review blogs (nearly 30!) from My Theatre Mates colleagues in recent weeks. As an addendum, I’ve now rounded up critics’ round-ups in other publications.
HALF A SIXPENCE – West End
Brimming with lively energy and infectious charm, classic musical Half A Sixpence benefits mightily from the Cameron Mackintosh reinvention treatment.