The staging and orchestration of the Palladium’s new version of Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat looks to the future, as a whole new set of children fall in love with this perennial musical.
‘Exciting, vibrant & thrilling’: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR – Barbican Theatre ★★★★
Back for its third triumphant year, the Regent’s Park Open Air production of Jesus Christ Superstar is exciting, vibrant fresh and thrilling.
‘Full of heart & energy’: The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ The Musical – West End ★★★★
The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ The Musical is an expressive and animated production, full of heart and energy.
‘The audience loved this show’: LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE – Touring ★★★★
I can’t help but wholly recommend Little Miss Sunshine, a feel good road trip with an unconventional, dysfunctional family that brings a smile to your face.
‘Excellence continues to abound throughout’: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF – West End ★★★★★
With its first major cast change since opening – as well as a shift across the Thames – Trevor Nunn’s Fiddler On The Roof remains one of London’s musical theatre jewels.
‘A story the world still needs to hear’: BARE: A POP OPERA – The Vaults
There’s nothing historic about the issues Bare: A Pop Opera tackles, as is emotionally demonstrated in the powerful finale of this new London production at The Vaults.
‘A rare & wonderful evening’: THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA – Royal Festival Hall ★★★★
Only on until 4 July before an international tour, The Light In The Piazza is a must see for all who appreciate modern writing and quality musical theatre.
‘I get to pretend to be a pop star’: Vicki Manser on bringing herstory to life in Six The Musical
Vicki Manser told us about Six the Musical, who she’d like to play her in her own pop concert musical and what she’d say to Henry VIII if she got the chance…
‘It certainly has the heart to inspire’: ANNIE – Touring ★★★
Although the sun might not be coming out in Surrey tomorrow, there’s no doubt that this production of Annie will bring light and joy to many children.
‘Captures the whimsy & delight of the film wonderfully’: AMELIE THE MUSICAL – Touring ★★★★
The cult French film Amélie has been on a long journey to get to the UK and it’s finally set down here for a shortbread-box-sweet tour which captures the whimsy and delight of the film wonderfully.
‘One saving grace is the vocals’: ELEGIES FOR ANGELS, PUNKS & RAGING QUEENS – Union Theatre
Elegies For Angels, Punks & Raging Queens has all the potential to be fantastic, but the material is, in my opinion, interpreted wrongly and overall missed the mark.
‘Highlights the importance & power of music’: SCHOOL OF ROCK – West End ★★★
School of Rock is one of those cult films that is genuinely wonderful. Funny, sweet and a crowd pleaser, the 2003 Jack Black hit transfers well to the stage and provides an entertaining night out for all ages.
‘Nostalgic & unashamedly ridiculous comedy musical’: SUMMER STREET – Waterloo East Theatre
Summer Street never pretends to be anything other than what it is: a spoof comedy musical that takes an already over-the-top TV format and takes it up another notch or three.
‘A whole lot of fun, mountains of sparkle & enough magic to enthral’: ALADDIN – West End ★★★★
The mix of comedy, romance, fantastic performances and magic in Aladdin mean something is provided for everyone and you can’t help but feel whisked up in the wonder of it all.
‘Intriguing & mystical’: AMOUR – Charing Cross Theatre
Amour is a sweet and bittersweet story which is delicately handled by director Hannah Chissick. The concept of is intriguing and mystical, and the style of the music is chocolate box sweet.
‘Insufficiently developed’: MAN OF LA MANCHA – West End
Man of La Mancha is considered a ‘rare’ revival and from this production it’s pretty clear why. The story is highly dated and it’s evidently a very hard piece to stage.
‘The desire to mount this epic production is misguided’: MAN OF LA MANCHA – West End
One wonders which came first for the Grade/Linnit company – the misguided desire to mount an epic scale production of Man of La Mancha, a musical which hasn’t been.produced in London since 1968 for very good reasons, or the need to find a project for Kelsey Grammer?
‘Sure to bring a bounce to your step’: CLUB TROPICANA – Touring ★★★★
A whirlwind of big hair, 80s hits, innuendos and humour, Nick Winston’s Club Tropicana isn’t a musical masterpiece but it is a whole lot of fun and a harmless piece of entertainment.
‘Gloriously revived’: AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ – Southwark Playhouse ★★★★
Not seen on a London stage for 40 years, Ain’t Misbehavin’ is gloriously revived at Southwark Playhouse in a co-production with Colchester’s Mercury Theatre.
‘Outstanding vocals which you can’t fail to be impressed by’: ROCK OF AGES – Touring ★★★
Rock of Ages is a jukebox music which lacks any storyline but makes up for it through the use of humour and performance.