The Shrek franchise opts for a modern-day spin on the traditional form, undermining expectations and undercutting some of the more winsome aspects with one-liners and witty put-downs.
New work, new voices, hybrid approaches: How theatre changed in 2021
It has been another complicated year for theatres with venues unable to welcome in-person audiences for more than five months of 2021 and the tail end of the year returning to enforced closure and performance cancellations.
‘This is a fun night out with some top moves’: BRING IT ON – Queen Elizabeth Hall then Touring
It’s been ten years since Bring It On was first made into a musical. These days it has an interest as a piece of Lin-Manuel Miranda juvenilia, pre-Hamilton and co-created with others.
‘A theatrical experience that you will never forget’: CABARET – West End ★★★★★
A theatrical experience that you will never forget – Eddie Redmayne revels in the role of the Emcee, but Jessie Buckley steals the show in Cabaret.
‘Each number is sensationally staged’: THE DRIFTERS’ GIRL – West End
The nostalgia musical is back in full force with crowd-pleasing easy listening stories that looks back to the 1950s and 60s for their inspiration.
‘Hopeful & joyful without being sickly sweet’: THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT – Stratford-upon-Avon (RSC) ★★★★
My first time back in Stratford-upon-Avon since February 2019, and roughly three years since I’d last stepped foot in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre – and after seeing some rehearsal footage of this new show, I was excited to see what this had turned into.
‘A perfect reminder of the importance of community’: THE CHOIR OF MAN – Arts Theatre ★★★★
Nine men, a pub, singing, dancing and amazing energy levels, The Choir of Man is an absolute treat of a show.
NEWS: Chichester’s South Pacific transfers to Manchester & London ahead of UK tour
This summer’s Chichester Festival Theatre smash hit production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific will transfer to London’s Sadler’s Wells in the new year.
NEWS: Broadway musical Mrs Doubtfire gets UK premiere in Manchester next September
Broadway musical Mrs Doubtfire will get its UK premiere next year. Producers have confirmed the screen-to-stage hit will have a strictly limited season at the Manchester Opera House from 2 September to 1 October 2022.
‘Unrelenting epic-ness’: BAT OUT OF HELL – Touring
Fans will no doubt revel in recognition of their favourite songs during this rock opera based upon the epic power ballads of Meatloaf and Jim Steinman.
‘Entertaining, ambitious and educational ‘: TOKYO ROSE — Southwark Playhouse (UK Tour) ★★★★
Burnt Lemon Theatre’s Tokyo Rose shows that you don’t need a big budget to stage a compelling musical.
‘Far from the traditional’: SLEEPING BEAUTY ‘DREAM ON’ – Chickenshed Theatre (Online review)
It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed one of the many shows which youth theatre Chickenshed put out during the pandemic. In fact, their last released piece came out in May so apologies to them for getting to this so late on. As with some of their previously released pieces it’s one of their boldly reinvented Christmas shows, this time from 2012.
‘There’s a musical theatre dream team’: CLOSER THAN EVER – Broadway HD (Online review)
As it’s a recorded stream, you’re at liberty to choose your own encore moments and replay any numbers which particularly take your fancy – and there are bound to be several of those.*
‘A magical fever dream that invites you to suspend your disbelief’: BAT OUT OF HELL – Manchester & Touring ★★★★★
Hitting the highway until late 2022, after several staggering runs in Toronto, New York and London, Bat Out Of Hell returned to its proverbial Manchester home this weekend.
‘There are some memorable songs’: PUBLIC DOMAIN – Southwark Playhouse (Online review)
Public Domain is a verbatim musical winner which lifts the lid on life online and joins an august group of productions streamed from Southwark Playhouse. Strongly recommended.
‘Lively, funny show’: Snow White In The Seven Months Of Lockdown – Charles Court Opera (Online review)
The Charles Court Opera team, working at the King’s Head Theatre in Islington, presents Snow White In The Seven Months Of Lockdown.
‘The atmosphere was buzzing’: SHOWSTOPPER! THE IMPROVISED MUSICAL – Garrick Theatre
The Showstopper gang haves had a busy time of it in lockdown (including their Alternative Eurovision and an online musical improv) and now they are back for a residency at the Garrick Theatre on Monday nights.
‘A musical makeover that is far from obvious’: ADDING MACHINE – A MUSICAL – Finborough Theatre (Online review)
Finborough Theatre’s latest online offering is Adding Machine: A Musical, based on the American expressionist classic of the 1920s by Elmer Rice.
‘Simply exquisite musical theatre’: THE LAST FIVE YEARS – Southwark Playhouse ★★★★★
Jonathan O’Boyle’s production of The Last Five Years has to be a definitive production of this complex and unusual work.
‘This production is the real deal’: THE LAST FIVE YEARS – Southwark Playhouse
It may be almost 20 years old, but Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years feels timeless and recognisable and this bold restaging at Southwark Playhouse is a triumph.