The London Coliseum was packed to the rafters and buzzing to see the long-awaited West End transfer of Lerner and Loewe’s My Fair Lady. Bartlett Sher’s joyous production had a highly acclaimed run on Broadway and has now opened here, with the glorious Amara Okereke in the leading role. A role that seems made for her.
‘The only person who transforms Eliza is Eliza herself’: MY FAIR LADY – London Coliseum
If you want to see a My Fair Lady that feels like a scene for scene remake of the film, then this production at the London Coliseum will not disappoint, but equally for anyone looking for a more contemporary resonance beneath the surface, then that is certainly here as well.
NEWS: Multi-award-winning New York revival of My Fair Lady transfers to Coliseum in May
New York’s Lincoln Center Theater’s multi-award-winning production of Lerner & Loewe’s MY FAIR LADY will transfer to the London Coliseum for a limited summer run.
NEWS: Step 4 of the Government roadmap is still on track for 19 July, announces PM Boris Johnson
Next Monday prime minister Boris Johnson will announce his decision on whether legal restrictions – including those related to social distancing and wearing of face masks – will be lifted in England on 19 July when Step 4 of the Government roadmap is due to be reached.
‘There are numerous scene-stealing turns’: HAIRSPRAY – London Coliseum
After the last 15 months in which theatre has been mostly a wasteland, it is wonderful to be back in one of the grandest theatres of all (the London Coliseum) and watching one of the most delightful of shows (Hairspray).
‘Completely irresistible’: HAIRSPRAY – London Coliseum
Fourteen months and four attempts later, Hairspray is finally back in the West End – the energy, sentiment and exhilaration of the show is completely irresistible.
For work or pleasure? Respecting the etiquette of being a critic
Audiences go to the theatre for pleasure, not work; critics need to remember that their work is someone else’s pleasure.
Mark Shenton offers a bittersweet celebration of his Top Ten Favourite West End Theatres
My latest ShenTens is particularly bittersweet, as we can’t actually go to any at the moment: my favourite West End theatres.
‘Some scenes are all-out hilarious’: I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE – Lambert Jackson Productions (Online review)
The latest digital show from Lambert Jackson Productions and the London Coliseum is the Off-Broadway hit, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.
‘A delight to watch from start to finish’: NUTCRACKER DELIGHTS – English National Ballet (Online review) ★★★★★
Having had its run of live performances cut short, thank goodness the English National Ballet recorded Nutcracker Delights, this gorgeous scaled back treat for audiences to enjoy at home.
NEWS: Hairspray postpones for a second time, now runs for 19 weeks from April 2021
The return of Hairspray the Musical has been postponed again. It will now return next April, a full year after originally scheduled, but now for a longer, 19-week season, rather than ten weeks.
NEWS: Hairspray reschedules its London Coliseum season for this autumn
Producers have announced new dates for the return of Hairspray the Musical which, prior to the coronavirus crisis, had been due to run from 23 April to 30 August 2020 at the London Coliseum. The production will now run for a ten-week season from 1 September to 8 November 2020, with a press night on 8 September.
‘It almost feels more relevant now than it was when it first was first conceived’: Rachel Tucker stars in The Pirate Queen
Rachel Tucker is taking on the role of Grace O’Malley in the one night only London premiere of the musical Pirate Queen. Rachel told us all about the show, her favourite moments and what it’s like to bring real life characters to life on stage.
NEWS: Paul Merton will make his West End musical debut in Hairspray at the London Coliseum
Paul Merton, the popular comedian and star of BBC’s renowned programme Have I Got News For You – is to join the new production of Hairspray the Musical at the London Coliseum, making his West End musical debut as Wilbur Turnblad.
‘Still the best fun you’ll have at the opera’: THE MIKADO – London Coliseum ★★★★
Time and again, this production of The Mikado comes up fresh as paint and is the perfect antidote to dark days every bit as much now as in 1986 or when Gilbert and Sullivan wrote it in 1885.
‘Watch out, because the rhythm will get you!’: ON YOUR FEET! – London Coliseum ★★★★
One test of biography jukebox musicals is how much an uninitiated audience member ends up learning about the artist through the course of the show.
‘The rhythm is gonna get you’: ON YOUR FEET! – West End ★★★
On Your Feet! isn’t perfect and isn’t up there with band bios like Jersey Boys or Sunny Afternoon but ultimately resistance is futile because the rhythm is gonna get you.
‘Deserves as wide an audience as possible’: ON YOUR FEET! – West End ★★★★★
If you love Gloria Estefan you will adore On Your Feet and if you’re not familiar with her or not necessarily a fan, go and see this and you son will be.
‘Sums up perfectly the age in which we are currently living’: MAN OF LA MANCHA – West End ★★★
Man of La Mancha is a curious beast. Often dubbed as one of the classic “lost” musicals, it was last seen in the West End in the 1960s but is currently being revived at the London Coliseum.
‘The Frasier/Only Fools & Horses mash-up you didn’t know you wanted’: MAN OF LA MANCHA – West End
The novelty of the casting and brightness of the music in Man of La Mancha make a big impression, though be warned that the show is not without its darker elements, some intended and others not.