During the Golden Age of Hollywood, movie musicals were abundant and arguably the most popular genre. However, with the move towards pop culture in the 1960s, their popularity dwindled and gave way to a more rebellious style and tone.
How’s your stagey lockdown? 7 ways to be theatrical during a pandemic
I hope no one minds these more chatty style posts, but with all that’s going on, I wanted to switch it up a little bit and bring some more relaxed posts about how we can keep ourselves sane, and of course stagey, in these trying times.
‘Spectacularly well performed musical’: THE PRINCE OF EGYPT – West End ★★★
For spectacle and energy, The Prince of Egypt is worth a visit. It’s not going to change your life but it’ll provide a fun few hours of superfluous theatricality that looks and sounds very pretty.
‘An uplifting piece of theatre’: ON YOUR FEET! – Touring ★★★★
For a celebration of music, life and heritage, get On Your Feet! and conga your way to see this tour.
‘The performances are outstanding’: THE PIRATE QUEEN – West End ★★★★
While audiences may find The Pirate Queen too repetitive to work as a fully realised production, it provides an evening of outstanding vocal talent and swashbuckling storytelling.
Rewrite This Story presents five reasons why you should see Once the Musical on its current tour
A beautiful, heartfelt story of an unlikely friendship between a Dublin busker and a Czech musician, we present five reasons why you should see Once on its current UK tour.
‘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.
What life is like on tour by Once The Musical’s Emma Lucia
‘Once isn’t hugely romanticised and I think that’s what people love about it’: What life is like on tour by Once The Musical’s Emma Lucia.
‘Loud, fast, energetic & spirited journey’: POET IN DA CORNER – Royal Court Theatre & Touring ★★★★
The entire seventy minute show feels like a pan on the boil, continuously moving and flowing and engaging. Poet in da Corner is funny, truthful, inventive and really worth seeing.
‘Beautifully enchanting’: Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes – Touring ★★★★
The entire New Adventures company prove once again in The Red Shoes why they’re so revered in this glorious looking and exceptionally assured production.
Best of the Blogs: Uncle Vanya, The Welkin, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie & more
In our continuing series, our editor Lisa Martland picks out some of her Top Picks from the last week of theatre including Maryam Philpott’s thoughts about Conor McPherson’s emphasis on comedy scenarios and personalities in his adaptation of Chekhov’s timeless play Uncle Vanya at the Harold Pinter Theatre
‘Delights & inspires in equal measure’: EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE – West End ★★★★
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is a show which delights and inspires in equal measure and is sure to retain its spot in theatre lovers’ hearts for the foreseeable future.
Best of the Blogs: Les Misérables, Rags, Lullabies for the Lost & more
In our continuing series, our editor Lisa Martland picks out some of her Top Picks from the last week of theatre (to 19 January 2020), including Aleks Sierz’s view that the new production of Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre is marching on to victory.
‘Gut-wrenchingly funny’: PETER PAN GOES WRONG – Touring ★★★★★
The masters of laughter, Mischief Theatre are back at it again with a gut wrenchingly funny touring version of Peter Pan Goes Wrong, which takes everything theatrical and jumbles it into a mess of impassioned, choreographed mayhem.
‘It’s a life-affirming show’: RAGS – Park Theatre ★★★★
Bronagh Lagan’s production of Rags has heart in spades and provides a real impact through the thoughtful way its themes are tackled.
‘A complete delight of a musical’: ONCE – Touring ★★★★★
The audience can’t hep but be attentive throughout as Once has the magical ability to completely wrap them up and take them on a journey that is pure and delicate.
‘Exudes sweetness & glitter’: SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS – Richmond Theatre ★★★★
At Snow White at Richmond Theatre the stars are big and – evident from the multitude of advertising and glitzy theatrical splendour – so is the budget.
‘Completely charismatic’: WHITE CHRISTMAS – West End ★★★★
The embodiment of glamour from start to finish, White Christmas whisks you away and takes you to a wintery wonderland where lullabies and tap dances reign supreme.
Best of the Blogs: Dear Evan Hansen, & Juliet, Land Without Dreams & more
In our continuing series, our editor Lisa Martland picks out some of her Top Picks from the last week of theatre including Ben Dowell (for theatreCat) giving his verdict on the much-anticipated arrival of Dear Evan Hansen at the Noel Coward Theatre.
‘A wild, sparkling, energetic piece of musical theatre’: & JULIET – West End ★★★★
If you want an explicitly queer, feminist musical that’s funny, entertaining and scored by songs that you grew up listening to then go see & Juliet.