Bartlett Sher’s new production of Les Miserables may not have the cosy familiarity of the original Trevor Nunn (I still miss the revolve) but it makes up for that with a relentless energy.
‘A rambunctious, riotous, rebellious bundle of joy’: MATILDA THE MUSICAL – Touring ★★★★
If, like me, you still love to stick your head in a book and long to remember the days you could read for hours unencumbered by the worries of the world then get along and see Matilda The Musical, a kindred spirit’s story writ large across the Southampton stage.
‘Perfect reimagination’: SWAN LAKE – Touring ★★★★
The most famous aspect of Matthew Bourne’s production of Swan Lake is the replacement of lithe ballerinas with muscular male dancers but this is a much reimagined story and as with all of New Adventures’ productions the mix of recognisable settings, dark imagery and moments of high comedy makes for a thoroughly entertaining evening.
‘Some new twists to a familiar tale’: BEAUTY & THE BEAST – Touring ★★★
David Bintley, artistic director since 1995, who is sadly retiring from the Birmingham Royal Ballet this summer choreographed this production of Beauty & the Beast, first staged in 2003.
‘As brash, raucous & punchy as you might expect’: AMERICAN IDIOT – Touring ★★★
This new production of American Idiot from Selladoor is as brash, raucous and punchy as you might expect and opens with all guns blazing into the title song. T
‘Crazy, cheesy, raucous comedy at its best’: BENIDORM LIVE – Touring ★★★★★
Award-winning ITV comedy show’s series creator and writer Derren Litten is bringing Benidorm’s signature sunshine and shenanigans to theatres across the UK and Ireland.
INTERVIEW: Spotlight On… Full Monty star Gary Lucy & director Rupert Hill
The Full Monty heads to Southampton from 11 to 16 February next year. Recently I caught up with the cast, including star Gary Lucy, and director Rupert Hill and we had a chat.
INTERVIEW: Meet the cast of the Mayflower Southampton pantomime Dick Whittington
It’s pantomime time at the Mayflower Southampton and some of the best-seasoned pantomime performers in the UK are within the stellar cast of Dick Whittington including Joe McElderry, Bobby Davro, Sheila Ferguson, Steve McFadden and Suzanne Shaw.
INTERVIEW: Spotlight On… Jersey Boys’ Simon Bailey
The second national tour of Jersey Boys is fully underway and it concludes at the Mayflower in March 2019. First up in my series of interviews is Tommy Devito played by Simon Bailey.
‘Vision & passion for Macbeth’: In discussion with the National Theatre’s Rufus Norris
Artistic Director of the National Theatre Rufus Norris met with invited guests this week at the Theatre Royal Bath to talk about the touring production of Macbeth and his vision and passion. I was present and captured both his talk and an interview with Norris.
‘Dignified production’: TITANIC THE MUSICAL – Touring ★★★★
This dignified production has a glorious and moving score with a story full of aspirations, hope, love, ambition and ultimately tragedy. A fantastic performance which deserved the standing ovation.
‘You should do everything in your power to see it’: TITANIC THE MUSICAL – Touring ★★★★★
It’s not often you see a touring production greeted with a standing ovation but as one of the many on their feet I can say it was thoroughly deserved for Titanic the Musical. Shows like this simply don’t come around often enough.
‘A mighty sprawling Italian opera’: Verdi’s La Forza del Destino (Welsh National Opera) – Touring ★★★★
If you are a seasoned opera fan, I urge you to force your destiny to align with Welsh National Opera and watch this production – the music is to die for.
‘Maybe it has taken a female director to finally tell the story how Mozart intended’: DON GIOVANNI (Welsh National Opera) – Touring ★★★★
A solid four stars for Welsh National Opera’s production of Don Giovanni which finds the perfect balance between comedy and tragedy. An absolute must see.
‘A whirlwind production’: TOSCA (Welsh National Opera) – Touring ★★★★
Tosca is a great introduction to opera. It has an incredible score, an excellent cast and an airtight story. Filled with love, murder and tragedy, it’s a whirlwind production sure to keep you on the edge of your seats. The audience was gripped from the very beginning.
‘The cast exudes class & gives performances of a lifetime’: MISS SAIGON – Touring ★★★★★
This production of Miss Saigon is like watching a fast-paced amazing Technicolor visual spectacle for the whole two hours and 40 minutes. The chemistry, the power and intensity is palpable in this touring show, the heat is most definitely on.
‘No sleeping through this beauty of a production’: THE SLEEPING BEAUTY (Birmingham Royal Ballet) – Touring ★★★★
Sleeping Beauty follows the well-loved fairytale of good triumphing over evil, Princess Aurora is cursed by the evil fairy Carabosse then saved by the good Lilac Fairy and a Prince. Peter Wright’s luxurious production adds to the original choreography by Marius Petipa.
‘One of the most astounding performances I’ve ever seen’: SUNSET BOULEVARD – Touring ★★★★★
This Curve staging of Sunset Boulevard successfully manages to keep the glamour and scale required of a show documenting the golden age of Hollywood whilst making it suitable for a touring company.
‘Ria Jones gives a powerhouse performance’: SUNSET BOULEVARD – Touring ★★★★
Ria Jones, so resplendent when she stepped into Norma’s shoes at the Coliseum in 2016 (we were lucky enough to be at one of those shows is once again in the title role and she gives a powerhouse performance.
Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs (with Craig Revel Horwood) – Southampton
The Chuckle Brothers were the perfect foil for Craig Revel-Horwood’s evil Queen Lucretia who was sexy, sultry, evil and really rather beautiful with a powerful singing voice.