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.
‘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.
‘Light laughter for a light comedy’: PRESENT LAUGHTER – Chichester Festival Theatre ★★★★
The entire cast of Present Laughter executed every scene with a fabulous, animated, flamboyant energy yet there seemed to be an awful lot of unnecessary shouting throughout this production.
‘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.
‘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.
‘Fun & imaginative touches’: Matthew Bourne’s CINDERELLA – Sadler’s Wells & touring ★★★★
This production twists the Cinderella story a little too far for younger audiences who would be more suited to the traditional fairy tale version by Sir Frederick Ashton. As expected this is an incredibly innovative show with a nostalgic tribute to the war years and the silver screen. There are fun and imaginative touches from start to finish.
PROJECT POLUNIN’S SATORI – London Coliseum ★★★
Satori is a Buddhist term, meaning enlightenment. Polunin begins in First Solo and then the rest of the evening he is joined by a stellar international line up including the Royal Ballet principal Natalia Osipova.
NUTCRACKER (English National Ballet) – Touring & London
Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker is a truly spectacular score. There are three ballet versions this season in London alone. ENB have brought their production to the Mayflower, before heading home to the vast London Coliseum stage.
HETTY FEATHER – Touring
Olivier Award-nominated West End sensation Hetty Feather has hit Southampton for the Christmas period in its 2nd UK tour. It’s author Jacqueline Wilson is well-known for creating Tracy Beaker and her Hetty Feather books are hugely popular.
CRAZY FOR YOU – Touring ★★★★
Perfectly cast as Bobby, Tom Chambers is a charming leading man and plays this giddy, amusing character with enthusiasm
THE LITTLE MERMAID – Touring ★★★★
I have eagerly anticipated this production since its announcement last year and after the glimpse of the livestream rehearsal The Little Mermaid, Beneath the Surface (still available on YouTube).
WILLEMIJN VERKAIK LIVE IN CONCERT – West End
Throughout the evening Verkaik had a wonderful rapport with the audience. From Sondheim to Schwartz and from Dolly Parton to a foot tapping tribute to her idol George Michael she shone. Verkaik presented some of her own numbers which I particularly enjoyed.
WILLEMIJN VERKAIK LIVE IN CONCERT – West End
Throughout the evening Verkaik had a wonderful rapport with the audience. From Sondheim to Schwartz and from Dolly Parton to a foot tapping tribute to her idol George Michael she shone. Verkaik presented some of her own numbers which I particularly enjoyed.
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF – Chichester
Omid Djalili is truly sensational as Tevye. His witty ‘If I were a Rich Man’ is worth the ticket price and five stars alone. Djalili’s meticulous gesticulation, facial expressions and voice gave meaning to every syllable.
VOICES OF THE AMAZON – Sadler’s Wells
Following their Grammy Award nominated production Inala, Sisters Grimm return to Sadler’s Wells this week with their new dance musical Voices of the Amazon. Inspired by indigenous myth, it tells the tale of a mermaid whose search to find a cure for her sister takes her on a journey deep into the heart of the Amazon rainforest.
SISTER ACT – Touring
I keenly took up my seat half an hour before curtain-up, which is where my confusion began. Recorded music is usually welcome pre-show however Carols filled the auditorium. It’s June! Though beautifully sung I can’t help wondering how many hearts sank thinking how many shopping days there are until Christmas.
THE RED SHOES – Touring
This exhilarating adaptation by Sir Matthew Bourne OBE is based on the Academy Award winning 1948 Powell and Pressburger film The Red Shoes, which is renowned for its Technicolour cinematography.
HONEYMOON IN VEGAS – West End
Honeymoon in Vegas ★★★★★ Review by Soraya Scrivener Freddie Tapner, London Musical Theatre Orchestra’s founder and principal conductor introduced the evening to rapturous applause. I was delighted to hear we would hear the script of this comedy musical, Honeymoon In Vegas, as well as the musical numbers in this one-off UK premier concert. LMTO’s first […]
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CINDERELLA (Birmingham Royal Ballet) – Touring
Closely following the traditional Cinderella story and split into 3 short acts this would delight audiences, young and old.
BEAUTY & THE BEAST – Touring
A Prince obsessed with his looks cursed by an evil Fairy, transformed into a Beast, will need to learn to love another and earn her love in return to break the spell. With not a dancing candlestick in sight, I would recommend reading the story beforehand.