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’An easy informality that elevates this concert to the best kind of cabaret’: TOGETHER AGAIN – Thespie

In Concerts, London theatre, Musicals, Online shows, Opinion, Reviews by Ian Foster9th January 2021Leave a Comment

Featuring the marvellous Sophie Isaacs, Jodie Steele and T’Shan Williams, Together Again might be Thespie’s best Reunited gig yet.

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‘Fierce & fresh’: LIVING NEWSPAPER – Royal Court Theatre (Online review)

In London theatre, Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Ian Foster4th January 2021Leave a Comment

Sneaking in in the nick of time, I catch the delights of the second edition of the Royal Court’s Living Newspaper.

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‘Streaming feels like the show’s ideal home’: The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Special – Soho Theatre (Online review)

In Cabaret, London theatre, Musicals, Online shows, Opinion, Reviews by Ian Foster30th December 2020Leave a Comment

Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme tackle Christmas the only way they know how in the highly entertainting The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Special.

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‘A theatrical enterprise growing from strength to strength’: The Theatre Channel – Episode 4 Holiday Special (Online review)

In London theatre, Musicals, Online shows, Opinion, Reviews by Ian Foster28th December 2020Leave a Comment

Nipping in just before Santa arrives, The Theatre Channel’s fourth episode delivers festive treats aplenty in The Holiday Special.

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Album Reviews: A Hadestown Holiday Album / Leslie Odom Jr / Michael Ball & Alfie Boe

In Albums, London theatre, Musicals, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Ian Foster23rd December 2020Leave a Comment

A trio of festive album reviews with If The Fates Allow: A Hadestown Holiday Album, Leslie Odom Jr – The Christmas Album and Michael Ball and Alfie Boe – Together at Christmas.

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‘Just the kind of inclusive comedic treat we need’: THE COMEBACK – Noël Coward Theatre

In Comedy, London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Ian Foster15th December 2020Leave a Comment

The Comeback proves to be a piece of warmly inclusive comedy at the Noël Coward Theatre, it’s perfect festive fare.

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‘Wonderful delights galore’: THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE – Palace Theatre

In London theatre, Musicals, Opera, Opinion, Reviews by Ian Foster14th December 2020Leave a Comment

Sasha Regan’s All Male The Pirates of Penzance proves a feast for ears and the eyes in a glorious but short run at the Palace Theatre.

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‘Treat after treat’: UNLIMITED: The SONGS OF STEPHEN SCHWARTZ (Online review)

In Concerts, London theatre, Musicals, Online shows, Opinion, Reviews by Ian Foster10th December 2020Leave a Comment

Check out Wicked alumni Nikki Bentley, Sophie Evans, Alice Fearn, Alexia Khadime, Liam Tamne and more in Unlimited: The Songs of Stephen Schwartz.

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‘I was happy to give it a whirl’: The Theatre Channel – Episode Three (Online review)

In London theatre, Musicals, Online shows, Opinion, Reviews by Ian Foster4th December 2020Leave a Comment

Exploring the world of rock musicals, Episode 3 of The Theatre Channel features Alex Gaumond, Shan Ako, John Owen-Jones, Francesca Jackson, Aisha Jawando and Rob Houchen.

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’An unalloyed pleasure’: MARRY ME A LITTLE – Barn Theatre, Cirencester (Online review)

In Musicals, Online shows, Opinion, Regional theatre, Reviews by Ian Foster20th November 2020Leave a Comment

Rob Houchen and Celinde Schoenmaker star in a beautifully sung, beautifully filmed digital version of Sondheim’s revue Marry Me A Little for the Barn Theatre.

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‘There’s quite the digital treasure trove in store’: HOARD: REDISCOVERED – New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme (Online review)

In Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Regional theatre, Reviews by Ian Foster19th November 2020Leave a Comment

Theatrical archaeology meets real archaeology in Hoard – Rediscovered as the New Vic Theatre revisits their Staffordshire Hoard Festival for the streaming age.

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CD Review: Mazz Murray – Midnight Mazz – Here We Go Again / Mascherato the Musical / Howard Goodall’s Songs from the Musicals Vol 1

In Albums, Audio, London theatre, Musicals, Opinion, Reviews by Ian Foster11th November 2020Leave a Comment

This set of album reviews covers Mazz Murray – Midnight Mazz – Here We Go Again, Mascherato the Musical (Original Studio Cast Recording) and Howard Goodall’s Songs from the Musicals Vol. 1.

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‘Offers startlingly fresh perspective on these tales’: 15 HEROINES – Jermyn Street Theatre & Digital Theatre (Online review)

In London theatre, Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Ian Foster9th November 2020Leave a Comment

Reinterpreting the women of Greek mythology for today, the theatrical enterprise of 15 Heroines is a major achievement and a highlight of the year, digital or otherwise.

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‘The show’s coup comes with a spine-tingling performance from Linzi Hateley’: The Theatre Channel – Episode Two (Online review)

In Cabaret, London theatre, Musicals, Online shows, Opinion, Reviews by Ian Foster5th November 2020Leave a Comment

Episode Two of The Theatre Channel takes its Halloween theme and has a ball with it, with brilliant performances from the likes of Linzi Hateley, Jordan Shaw, Bradley Jaden and Sophie Isaacs.

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‘Touches on subjects that feel so powerfully resonant today’: SHIFT+ALT+RIGHT – ALP Musicals (Online review)

In Musicals, Online shows, Opinion, Reviews by Ian Foster31st October 2020Leave a Comment

This innovative production by ALP Musicals of Hilmi Jaidin’s new digital musical Shift+Alt+Right points towards the future of new musical theatre.

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‘I kinda thought, huh, this is a modern classic?’ – BETRAYAL – Theatre Royal Bath

In Opinion, Plays, Regional theatre, Reviews by Ian Foster26th October 2020Leave a Comment

An hour plus of a straight white man justifying his affair or a modern classic? I go in for more Betrayal at the Theatre Royal Bath.

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‘Moments of piercing emotion’: NOW. HERE. THIS – Golden Goose Theatre

In London theatre, Musicals, Opinion, Reviews by Ian Foster23rd October 2020Leave a Comment

The newly opened Golden Goose Theatre brings some interesting musical theatre to Camberwell with Now. Here. This.

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Album Review: Lucie Jones Live at the Adelphi

In Albums, Audio, London theatre, Musicals, Opinion, Reviews by Ian Foster20th October 2020Leave a Comment

Covid-19 may have cut her time in Waitress short but Lucie Jones Live at the Adelphi is a great reminder of the leading lady she is and will surely continue to be.

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‘Deftly experienced hands are shaping this new kind of experience’: MACBETH – Big Telly Theatre Company (Online review)

In Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Ian Foster18th October 2020Leave a Comment

Not quite ‘when shall we three Zoom again’, Big Telly Theatre’s imaginative online version of Macbeth has some impressive moments.

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‘You have to admire a creative response to this Coronavirus bullsh*t’: SEEDS / At YOUR PERIL (Online review)

In Audio, Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Ian Foster14th October 2020Leave a Comment

A rare foray into the world of podcasts sees Ian Foster listening to the Nina Sosanya-starring Seeds and getting properly freaked out by horror anthology At Your Peril.