As much as it is visually spectacular, Frozen the Musical also has added depth to the story that makes it feel more poignant than the film.
’It’s a decent enough Christmas show’: FROZEN THE MUSICAL – Theatre Royal Drury Lane ★★★★
Phew. The Broadway-rooted, Disneylicious, long-awaited red-carpet premiere night of Frozen featured (of course) an ice-blue carpet. And the throng bursting out to meet the paps afterwards was met by actual snow-blowers, so that our soggy heatwave outfits blended nicely into the evening’s actual rain as we skittered out of range.
‘There’s something for everyone in this show’: Oliver Ormson relishes his role as Prince Hans in Frozen the Musical
Actor Olivier Ormson chatted to Love London Love Culture about bringing Frozen the Musical to the West End and playing Prince Hans.
‘An uplifting & enjoyable production’: PETER PAN LIVE! – The Shows Must Go On ★★★★ (Online review)
Confession time: I have found it difficult in the past to really enjoy or appreciate Peter Pan. This isn’t so much down to JM Barrie’s classic story but in the way it has been staged or filmed.
THE ENTERTAINER – West End
Kenneth Branagh’s final show in his West End season is a revival that is slick, but a bit passionless.
NEWS: Gawn Grainger replaces John Hurt in Branagh’s The Entertainer
Gawn Grainger has joined the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company production of The Entertainer, which began rehearsals this week. Gawn is playing Billy Rice and replaces John Hurt who, on the advice of his doctors, recently had to withdraw from the production.
NEWS: John Hurt withdraws from Branagh’s The Entertainer on doctor’s advice
It is announced today that on the advice of his doctors, John Hurt has had to withdraw from the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company production of John Osborne’s The Entertainer, the final production in the year-long Branagh Theatre season, which runs at the West End’s Garrick Theatre 20 August to 12 November 2016.
My thoughts on Jason Robert Brown’s Parade
As Jason Robert Brown’s Parade opens at Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre this week, I was invited to write the Foreword for the production’s programme.With the producers’ permission, my article is reprinted below.
NEWS: John Hurt confirmed to return to stage in Branagh’s The Entertainer
Further casting has been announced for The Entertainer, the final production in the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company’s Plays at the Garrick season. John Hurt will return to the London stage for the first time in a decade as legendary patriarch Billy Rice opposite Kenneth Branagh, who as previously announced, will play the unforgettable Archie Rice in Rob Ashford’s production.
Diary of a theatre addict: Twitter challenges, skipping Edinburgh, trips to Southampton and Bath
Taking issue with contrary opinions on Twitter, an audience member taking photos at the Union, and visiting Southampton and Bath — and of course seeing Cumberbatch’s Hamlet.
A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS – Chichester Festival Theatre
A Damsel in Distress is a new(ish) musical confection that feels like it’s been around for years. Based on the P.G. Wodehouse story and drawing upon the Gershwin brothers’ songs that were composed for the similarly inspired 1937 movie, Jeremy Sams and Robert Hudson breathe life into a collection of classic concepts.
A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS – Chichester Festival Theatre
SUNNY SUMMER KICKS AND SOARING SONGS Here’s a joyful thing: a confection of butterscotch and sunshine, a tale of turrets and twosomes and tap-breaks, friendship and chivalry and secret passages and great legs, with glorious, soaring Gershwin songs to punt … Continue reading →
A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS – Chichester Festival Theatre
In recent years Chichester Festival Theatre has had a knack of creating hit after hit from fresh takes on classic musicals. I suppose it was inevitable then that they would eventually come to launching a brand new show and with A Damsel In Distress they have. Well, kind of. This is a new show made from well-loved old parts that have been lovingly tidied and stitched together. Theatrical upcycling if you will…
Diary of a theatre addict: Is it all work and no play(s) in South Africa?
“You can take the girl out of the chorus but you can’t take the chorus out of the girl,” Broadway legend Chita Rivera told me when I interviewed her recently. And the same is true of me: you can take the boy away from the theatre, but you can’t take the theatre away from the boy. I’ve been in South Africa (my country of birth) since Tuesday after flying overnight Monday.
Diary of a theatre addict: Is it all work and no play(s) in South Africa?
“You can take the girl out of the chorus but you can’t take the chorus out of the girl,” Broadway legend Chita Rivera told me when I interviewed her recently. And the same is true of me: you can take the boy away from the theatre, but you can’t take the theatre away from the boy. I’ve been in South Africa (my country of birth) since Tuesday after flying overnight Monday.
Press pass: All the news, interviews, opinions (and booking) for Kenneth Branagh season
Just days after Kevin Spacey gave his (literal) swansong when accepting his Special Award at the Oliviers, our own homegrown Hollywood star has announced his plans to take over a West End theatre as actor-manager. As you will have noticed from the avalanche of coverage and quickening social media frenzy, Kenneth Branagh is back. Though […]