Peter Morgan’s new play Patriots at the Almeida Theatre is a history lesson, filling in the gaps in our understanding of how we ended up where we are now. Specifically, it connects events in Russia after the fall of Communism with the high profile deaths in the UK of Russians who had fallen out with Vladimir Putin and, more implicitly, with the invasion of Ukraine and the state of Russia today.
‘Confrontational, shocking, classic in its focus’: PATRIOTS – Almeida Theatre
Patriots at the Almeida Theatre is a fresh history play: confrontational, shocking, classic in its focus on vast flawed characters and pretty close to documented – and very recent – reality. It has all the elements: a kingmaker whose creation turns on him, acolytes and shifting alliances, self-serving arrogance, passionate romantic patriotism, politics and big money and tragedy and defeat.
Mark Shenton looks to the future with his pick of the next generation of rising stars
In four previous episodes of my weekly #ShenTens podcast, and their accompanying columns here, I’ve chosen my top ten favourite leading ladies and leading men respectively in both Broadway and West End musicals. Now I turn to rising stars — the next generation of performers who are already making their mark in London. (I’ll get to Broadway when it returns to business itself).
NEWS: The Old Vic announces The Lorax as next in the In Camera live-stream series
The latest addition to the Old Vic’s In Camera series will Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax from 14–17 April 2021 with Jamael Westman (Hamilton, West End) as the Once-ler and Audrey Brisson, David Ricardo-Pearce and Ben Thompson as The Lorax. Other cast includes: Richard Katz, Melanie La Barrie and Silas Wyatt-Barke.
NEWS: Big wins for Company, Hamilton & the National Theatre’s Antony & Cleopatra at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2018
The winners of the 64th Evening Standard Theatre Awards have been announced, with double wins for the National Theatre’s Antony & Cleopatra and the West End productions of Company and Hamilton.
NEWS: National Theatre leads the Evening Standard Theatre Awards with 14 nominations
The shortlist for the 64th Evening Standard Theatre Awards has been unveiled. The winners will be announced on Sunday 18 November at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
NEWS: Ten new cast members join the London cast of Hamilton as the show enters its second year
Ten new cast members will be joining the London company of Hamilton which is going into its second year at the Victoria Palace Theatre. The production is booking to 30 March 2019.
Debbie Gilpin on Olivier Awards: Disappointment for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie & Hamlet
So, that just happened! Despite some small disappointments in the nominations (nothing too much, just some things felt unnecessarily overlooked), I was rather looking forward to this year’s Oliviers.
‘An important part of American history is made accessible for all’: HAMILTON – West End ❤❤❤❤❤
It is difficult to know what else to say about this musical that has already had so much praise and enthusiasm thrown at it.
‘A watershed moment not only in musical history but in cultural history’: HAMILTON – West End
Has there ever been a more hotly anticipated new musical? A rhapsodic biography of America’s ‘forgotten’ founding father, Hamilton has whipped up a hurricane (pardon the pun) of frenzy, speculation, and, nay-sayers would argue, hyperbole which has swept the world to become a truly global phenomenon.
‘Gloriously current & utterly timeless’: HAMILTON – West End ★★★★★
Hamilton is everything you might hope for. Lin-Manuel Miranda has written a piece that is at once gloriously current and utterly timeless. The cast at the Victoria Palace Theatre gleans every last drop of emotion from each note.
NEWS: Hamilton extends booking to December 2018, New tickets on sale 29 January
A new booking period for the London production of Hamilton will go on sale on Monday 29 January 2018 at 12 noon GMT.
‘The very definition of must-see theatre’: HAMILTON – West End
The world’s hottest musical arrives in London in a pristine production that is matched by a gleaming, newly renovated West End theatre that is far superior to the show’s Broadway home.
FosterIAN Awards for Best Actor
It is great news indeed that this Orange Tree production will be gaining further life in 2018 with a transfer to the National Theatre in the summer. I really hope that as much of the original cast comes with it, especially Nwosu.
WATCH: An American ex-pat’s view on HAMILTON in London
For all its considerable entertainment value, there are some vitally important messages here, about politics, society and the fragility of our institutions – messages that, 246 years after the birth of the world’s greatest modern democracy, are perhaps never more urgent than now. History has its eyes on us all, as one of Miranda’s lyrics reminds us.
‘One of the best nights of theatre you can have’: HAMILTON – West End
There are too many joys in the show to list them all. Be sure to look out for the arrival of Jefferson after the interval. Just try to get a ticket to the room where it happens and be ready for one of the best nights of theatre you can have. Welcome to London, Hamilton.
How many ★★★★★ reviews?! > REVIEW ROUND-UP: Hamilton at the Victoria Palace
The smash-hit Broadway musical has made its West End premiere in the newly refurbished Victoria Palace Theatre. Just how many five-star raves can one show receive? Is this unprecedented? Love London Love Culture rounds up all of the first-night reviews…
‘Don’t miss your shot to be in the room where it happens’: HAMILTON – West End ★★★★★
My verdict? A top-class transfer of an all-American musical, spreading Alexander Hamilton’s story ever further – you won’t want to miss your shot to be in the room where it happens!
‘An extraordinary cast get the chance to shine in extraordinary ways’: HAMILTON – West End
Change doesn’t just happen, it has to be ushered in by visionaries determined to shake up the status quo to allow the rest of us to shuffle in in their wake.
‘A tsunami of politics & rhythm… astounding’: HAMILTON – WestEnd
I am no Hamilton aficionado. I knew remarkably little about the show before I sat down in my seat in the Grand Circle. I didn’t even know a single song, let alone have the cast recording on repeat.
- Page 1 of 2
- 1
- 2