Remember it’s not just the West End where excellent shows can be found. Here’s a guide to some of the shows we can’t wait to catch on tour.
‘Laced with subtle morals, themes & messages’: NOW IS GOOD – Chester ★★★
Directed by Joyce Branagh, Chester Storyhouse Theatre hosts the word premiere of Tim Firth’s brand new musical Now Is Good. In all, this play is something very different. It is laced with subtle morals, themes and messages. Celebrating life, tackling loneliness, being afraid to move on but yet offering hope and a sense of community over a fig roll and a sing song.
Put another dime in the jukebox baby: Mark Shenton picks out his Top Ten jukebox musicals
Jukebox musicals have become a staple of Broadway and the West End for a while now; familiarity, you could say, breeds contented audiences. As Mamma Mia! used to tag the show in their advertising: “You already know you’ve going to love it!”
‘The show retains its heart wherever it goes’: Calendar Girls The Musical – Touring ★★★★
Calendar Girls The Musical is a totally British feel-good show which warms the heart, uplifts and entertains. It has something for everyone and is a beautiful portrayal of women supporting women.
‘Captivating, funny & exuberant’: THIS IS MY FAMILY – Chichester ★★★★
Tim Firth’s charming and warm-hearted musical This Is My Family has opened Festival 2019 at Chichester Festival Theatre and it’s impossible not to leave the show with a cheesy grin on your face.
‘Blindsided me with its warmth and sense of fun’: THIS IS MY FAMILY – Chichester ★★★★
This Is My Family is a little gem from Calendar Girls/Neville’s Island writer Tim Firth which blindsided me with its warmth and sense of fun, even when dealing with painful situations.
‘Funny, truthful, wise & bravely original in form’: THIS IS MY FAMILY – Chichester ★★★★★
This is gorgeous. Funny, truthful, wise, and bravely original in form. Anyone with a a family – past, present, remembered, or merely observed in cautious auntly incredulity – should see Tim Firth’s musical This Is My Family.
‘A heart-warming, totally British feel-good show’: CALENDAR GIRLS – Touring ★★★★★
For a really positive feel good evening at the theatre, suitable for all ages, I urge everyone to go and see this wonderful production of Calendar Girls The Musical.
‘Genuinely touching & a whole lot of fun’: CALENDAR GIRLS – Touring ★★★★
While initially slow to start, Gary Barlow and Tim Firth’s musical Calendar Girls beautifully draws the audience into the story and the lives of the calendar girls.
‘Great to see a British musical flourishing’: CALENDAR GIRLS – Touring
All in all, Calendar Girls is a really enjoyable evening’s entertainment and it’s great to see a British musical flourishing.
NEWS: John Simm, Dervla Kirwan Hugh Bonneville, James Nesbitt & Sheila Hancock all feature in Chichester Festival Theatre’s new season
Chichester Festival Theatre’s Festival 2019 has been announced by artistic director Daniel Evans. It includes John Simm & Dervla Kirwan in Macbeth, Hugh Bonneville in Shadowlands & Tim Firth’s first solo musical starring James Nesbitt.
‘An emotional rollercoaster with troubles that we can all relate to’: THE BAND – Touring ★★★★
Surprisingly The Band – the new musical by Tim Firth interwoven with a plethora of Take That hits – is not a story of how The Band rose to fame, and their ups and downs. Instead the tale is from their fans’ perspective and shows how, despite what life throws at them, they stay lifelong loyal fans.
‘Inoffensive crowd-pleasing merriment’: THE BAND – West End & Touring
A slender scenario in search of a storyline, new musical The Band at least has a solid gold score, utilising the extensive pop catalogue of superstar 1990s boy band Take That.
‘It’s a musical, a gig & an incredibly beautiful play’: Emily Joyce stars in The Band in the West End & on tour
Actress Emily Joyce spoke to Love London Love Culture about starring in The Band, now playing a limited season at the Theatre Royal Haymarket before heading back off on its UK tour.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: The Band at the Theatre Royal Haymarket
Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews for Tim Firth’s Take That-inspired musical The Band which has arrived in the West End for a limited season.
‘Engaging, endearing & entertaining’: THE BAND – Touring ★★★★
Superbly directed by Kim Gavin and Jack Ryder, aided by a strong team of equally imaginative creatives, there is so much more to the success of the intriguing musical The Band than one would imagine.
‘Full of friendship, laughs, emotion & nostalgia’: THE BAND – Touring & West End ★★★★
Whether you’re an avid fan of Take That, or you just know a few of the hit songs, get yourself along to The Band for a show full of friendship, laughs, emotion and nostalgia.
‘Crowd-pleasing, rousing & fun evening’: CALENDAR GIRLS THE MUSICAL – Touring
To say Calendar Girls The Musical is celebratory seems cliché, yet there’s no better description; Calendar Girls is an unashamed celebration of love, life, and community (and cake!).
‘Heart-warming, emotional, funny & feelgood’: THE BAND – Touring ★★★★★
I loved every wonderful, heart-stopping, minute of this terrific show. Could It Be Magic? You betcha.
‘People wanted to go in & watch it all again’: The Band – Touring ★★★★
In essence you don’t have to be a massive Take That fan (but knowing their popular songs is an obvious bonus) and you don’t have to have been a teenage girl during the 90s to enjoy The Band at all, as the show has a solid storyline, a strong mixture of characters for a modern musical theatre show and you will come out happy.