Norwich Theatre Royal, Norwich – until Saturday 27th April 2024

Reviewed by Boo Wakefield

4****

The Boy At The Back Of The Class is a heartwarming adventure story for children, written by the prize winning author Onjali Q. Rauf and adapted for theatre by Nick Ahad. It follows the journey of 9-year-old Ahmet (Farshid Rokey), a refugee from Syria who only speaks Kurdish, as he starts at his new English school. Ahmet, traumatised by his journey to the UK and deeply anxious about his missing parents, is initially mute. He is taken under the wing of Alexa (Sasha Desouza Willcock) and her gang of friends, geeky Michael (Abdul-Malik Janneh), sporty Josie (Petra Joan Athene) and enthusiastic Tom (Gordon Millar) who try to protect him from the class bully Brendan (Joe McNamara) and the bigoted teacher Mr Irons (Zoe Zak). Alexa and her gang are sad that Ahmet’s parents are missing and set about trying to help find them, eventually journeying to Buckingham Palace to lobby the Queen (the book was written whilst the Queen was still alive).

Adults acting as 9 year-olds is not an easy ask, riven as it is with potential pitfalls – but the cast pull it off brilliantly with Sasha Desouza Willock as Alexa, on stage almost throughout, the stand out performance. Over half the audience on the performance I watched were children; from their enraptured and energised reactions they certainly didn’t feel patronised or undersold.

Overall, the play, by its nature, is a story which is told, rather than shown. On stage there are interludes of compelling theatricality, not least at the start of each half with sheets of billowing silk, and supporting sound and lighting (Giles Thomas and Ryan Day), depicting Ahmet’s sea crossing, and Ahmet’s visceral outburst at the end of the first part; but these stand out in contrast to the more deliberate story-telling of the rest of the performance. Lily Arnold’s set is clever; a stripped back school gymnasium wall allows the cast to clamber and swing like children while also enabling slick, inventive scene transitions.

But, make no mistake, this is a play about the world as seen through the eyes of 9-year-olds and is aimed, principally, at a similarly youthful audience, with a steady drumbeat of age-appropriate educational messaging about morality, inherited prejudice, ethics and compassion permeating almost every scene. As a stepping stone for pre-teens into the magic of theatre, it’s hard to beat.

Theatre Royal Concert Hall Nottingham – until Saturday 27th April 2024

Reviewed by Amarjeet Singh

4****

Drop the Dead Donkey, the smash hit satirical comedy from the 90s has been reawakened for the stage in a new production. Retaining seven of the original cast members, Gus (Robert Duncan), George (Jeff Rawle), Helen (Ingrid Lacey), Sally (Victoria Wicks), Damian (Stephen Tompkinson), Dave (Neil Pearson) and Joy (Susannah Doyle), it was sadly without Henry (David Swift) and Alex (Haydn Gwynne) who are no longer with us. A few new faces padded out the cast and we had a full newsroom.

Thirty years after first airing, original writers Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin’s production verbally fills in the gaps from where The TV series ended and the current day begins. From the combustion of Globe Link News, to the now, when the team are reassembled to start a new news company called ‘Truth News’, which is apparently run by algorithms, for the people by the people. However, we soon see that things are not quite what they seem and like the BAFTA award winning show, the production is full of twists and turns and calamitous capers.

This is a trip down memory lane for those who have fond recollections of the original show. As each cast member appeared on stage, they received a raucous round of applause. The characters have been through quite a few changes to bring them up to date with the modern world, some were more plausible and fleshed out then others. But some were caricatures of their TV personas, very one dimensional which didn’t lend itself too well to the stage.

The scenes where the team were broadcasting were superbly performed and directed, at other times it felt very dialogue heavy with cast members just loitering on stage waiting to be activated. Fake swiping on phones and a distinct lack of action made it feel like an extended episode and not a fully realised play. It’s an entertaining piece of theatre that is well performed. But I feel you need prior knowledge of the show to truly enjoy it. This is not one for newbies.

THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR

GHOSTS AND YONDERLAND CO-CREATOR, WRITER AND PERFORMER MARTHA HOWE-DOUGLAS JOINS FELLOW TV STARS KIELL SMITH-BYNOE AND DAN SKINNER IN A BRAND-NEW PRODUCTION OF GOGOL’S SATIRICAL MASTERPIECE

OPENING AT THE MARYLEBONE THEATRE

3 MAY – 15 JUNE 2024

 TICKETS ON SALE NOW HERE

Martha Howe-Douglas – best known as one of the co-creators, writers and performers of hit BBC Comedy Ghosts and Sky 1’s Yonderland – will join her fellow stars Kiell Smith-Bynoe and Dan Skinner in the brand-new adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s satirical masterpiece, THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR, premiering at the Marylebone Theatre from 3 May – 15 June 2024, with a press night on Wednesday 8 May.

“There’s no money in honesty!”
A comedy about hypocrites, hysterics and hustlers.

Martha will join the company as ‘Mrs Swashprattle’ to replace the previously announced Vicki Pepperdine, who is stepping away from the show for personal reasons.

Howe-Douglas co-wrote and performed the role of ‘Lady Button’ in five series of Ghosts, the critically acclaimed and BAFTA nominated hit TV show that recently went out on a high with a Christmas special in December 2023. She played alongside Kiell Smith-Bynoe as ‘Mike’ who’ll be playing ‘Percy Fopdoodle’ opposite her on stage.

Previous work includes playing various roles in all 5 series of the hit children’s TV show, ‘Horrible Histories’ (BBC). She also appeared in series 1 of the BBC drama ‘Doctor Foster’.

The Government Inspector will be her first stage work since 2003.

As previously announced, Dan Skinner (Shooting Stars, This Time with Alan Partridge, The Kennedys) will play  ‘Governor Swashprattle’ – once again playing a husband and wife pairing with Howe-Douglas; in all 3 series of the fantasy comedy ‘Yonderland’ (Sky 1) he played ‘Peter Maddox’ opposite Martha as ‘Debbie Maddox’, a show she also co-wrote.

Completing the company are Peter Clements (The Incident Room – New Diorama Theatre, Frau Monde: Farewell to the Theatre – Hackney Showroom) as ‘Ivan Brabble’, Chaya Gupta (Hansel and Gretel – Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, We’ll Have Nun Of It – Edinburgh Fringe & The Other Palace) as ‘Miss Swashprattle’, David Hartley (Macbeth & Henry VI – Shakespeare’s Globe, Measure for Measure – Shakespeare’s Globe & US Tour) as ‘Reverand Jargogle’, Nigel Hastings (And Then Come The Night Jars – Theatre503, UK Tours and Film Adaptation, Dmitry – Marylebone Theatre) as ‘Dr Mumpsimus’, Christopher Hunter (Mr Selfridge – ITV, Romeo and Juliet – Royal Shakespeare Company) as ‘Postmaster Cumberworld’, Daniel Millar (The Pillowman & The Play That Goes Wrong – West End, King Lear & Frankenstein – National Theatre) as ‘Fudgel’, Anna Savva (The Durrells – ITV, Henry VIII – Shakespeare’s Globe) as ‘Judge Woofit’, Dan Starkey (Doctor Who – BBC, Class Dismissed & Wizards vs. Aliens – CBBC) as ‘Ivan Grubble’ and Alison Ward (NewsRevue – Canal Café Theatre, Big Field – BBC3) as ‘Cyril/Marigold’.

This hilarious new adaptation sets the action in a small parochial town in late 19^th century Britain, where the corrupt local officials mistake an over-privileged, vainglorious liar, who just happens to be passing through the town, for a high-ranking government inspector. Desperate to cover up their crimes and escape censure, the town’s Governor and his cronies pull out all the stops to try and bribe this dishonest buffoon with money, wine and women.

Martha Howe-Douglas said, “I am delighted to be joining the company of The Government Inspector – my first Theatre role since 2003.”

The Government Inspector has cemented its reputation as one of the greatest comedies in world literature and ensured that wherever a corrupt and hypocritical government is in power, this play finds its way to the stage.

The Government Inspector is adapted and directed by Patrick Myles, with set and costume design by Melanie Jane Brookes, lighting design by Ric Mountjoy, sound design by Jamie Lu, and casting consultancy by Matilda James.

Royal & Derngate Theatre, Northampton – until Saturday 27th April 2024

Review by Amanda Allen

5*****

What a treat! How lucky are we to have this production in Northampton! If I could give it 6* I would. From the opening, projected story book screen right through to the joyous singalong ending, it was spectacular. Taking an animated film and transferring it to a live stage performance is never an easy thing to do. Thanks to some incredible costumes and set design coupled with fabulous performances by ALL the cast it was done amazingly.

Telling the story of the Ogre Shrek played by Antony Lawrence and his journey to find true love with Princess Fiona played by Joanne Clifton, it followed the original screen story with beautiful, imaginative sets and costumes. Antony peeled back all of the Ogre, Shrek’s, onion like layers showing us the many facets of his character

The set and costume design team lead by Philip Witcomb did a terrific job with so many costumes and costume changes to manage. Many of the actors, in fat suits as well as full make-up, excelled themselves, dancing, singing and acting, all in character. The dancing was exceptional, we expect Joanne Clifton to be a great dancer, befitting her status as a world champion, but I didn’t expect her to be such a great actor and singer as well, She expressed the character of Fiona perfectly. Antony as Shrek must have been exhausted at the end of his performance, being on stage for most of the show again singing, dancing, and displaying all the characteristics expected of our favourite Ogre. My favourite part was when they realised, they had a lot in common with a burping and wind passing competition! Hilarious!

The group dance numbers were executed with great energy and accuracy, In particular the company dancing as Rats and the 3 blind mice set pieces, complete with hats and canes, were performed with great style by the company with fabulous feel-good music to accompany them. The Knights dancing complete with arm and leg chains showed us that good use of props can elevate a performance to a different level The actors portraying the young Shrek and the young Fiona were all outstanding, showing the development of the character’s from childhood to adult hood in a beautifully understated way.

The kingdom of Duloc ruled over by Lord Farqaad (James Gillan) was beautifully imagined, the signposting based on the famous Las Vagas sign was a great detail. For me the standout performance was from Brandon Lee Sears as the Donkey, his connection with the audience, execution of his dance moves, songs and dialogue all whilst in a heavy, furry, donkey costume, complete with big ears and an amazing tail, was exceptional. Everyone was in love with Donkey. He managed to portray the nuances of his character brilliantly throughout the show. The puppetry of the dragon was also brilliantly done, and her songs were sung with great feeling by Cherece Richards who also played the wicked witch.

By the end of the performance everyone was on their feet, smiling, laughing and happy. Judging by the audience reaction this show which is suitable for all ages, is not to be missed.

CASTING ANNOUNCED

LEE MEAD

TO STAR AS ‘EDDIE SOUTHER’

ALONGSIDE

ALEXANDRA BURKE

AS ‘DELORIS VAN CARTIER’

RUTH JONES

EXTENDS RUN AS ‘MOTHER SUPERIOR’

LEMAR, ALISON JIEAR

AND CARL MULLANEY

ALSO EXTEND

IN THE

AWARD-WINNING

PRODUCTION OF 

AT THE DOMINION THEATRE

The producers of the award-winning production of SISTER ACT THE MUSICAL are delighted to announce that stage and screen talent Lee Mead will star as Eddie Souther from Monday 10 June 2024. Following her acclaimed return to London’s West End, Ruth Jones will now also extend her run as Mother Superior until Saturday 3 August 2024.

Also extending in their roles will be Lemar as Curtis Jackson, Alison Jiear as Sister Mary Patrick, and Carl Mullaney as Monsignor O’Hara. They join the previously announced Alexandra Burke as Deloris Van Cartier, Lesley Joseph as Sister Mary Lazarus and Lizzie Bea as Sister Mary Robert.

Ruth Jones said, “I’m having a crackin’ time playing Mother Superior and am not ready to hang up my habit just yet! It’s such a pleasure to be part of this uplifting production, and to see the joy it brings our audiences night after night. And I’m looking forward to welcoming Alexandra and Lee to the convent so that they can be part of it too!’

Lee Mead said, “I’m beyond thrilled to be taking over the role of ‘Eddie’ in this wonderful show with such a talented cast! I can remember first seeing the show back in 2009 at the Palladium and thinking how much fun it was. Summer 2024 looks like it’s going to be an exciting one!”

Lesley Joseph will take over the role of Mother Superior from Monday 5 to Saturday 31 August 2024.

The company is completed by Caroline Bateson, Natalia Brown, Damian Buhagiar, Tricia Deighton, Lori Haley Fox, Lauren Hall, Chloe Hopcroft, Tom Hopcroft, Bradley Judge, Claudia Kariuki, Graham MacDuff, Castell Parker, Emma Ralston, Anne Smith, Michael Ward and Jermaine Woods.

The production currently stars Beverley Knight as Deloris Van Cartier and Clive Rowe as Eddie Souther until Saturday 8 June 2024.

Lee Mead won the nations hearts when they voted him their Joseph in BBC1’s Any Dream Will Do. Since then, Lee has gone on to star in the West End in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Adelphi Theatre, Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre, Wicked at the Victoria Apollo and most recently We Will Rock You at the London Coliseum, as well as touring the UK as Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Billy Flynn in Chicago. Lee has also appeared on screen establishing himself as a TV favourite on BBC1’s Casualty and Holby City in the role of Lofty, as well as Motherland and The Dumping Ground.

Based on the iconic movie, this sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, sisterhood and music tells the hilarious story of the disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she won’t be found – a convent! Disguised as a nun and under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. 

SISTER ACT has direction by Bill Buckhurst, choreography by Alistair David, Set and Costume Design by Morgan Large, Lighting Design by Tim Mitchell, Sound Design by Tom Marshall, Wigs, Hair & Make-Up Design by Sam Cox, Musical Supervision by Stephen Brooker and Musical Direction by Neil MacDonald. Casting is by Stuart Burt. 

SISTER ACT features original music by Tony® and 8-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken(Disney’s Aladdin, Enchanted), lyrics by Glenn Slater, book by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner with additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane. SISTER ACT is produced by Jamie Wilson, Kevin McCollum, Gavin Kalin Productions, Evolution Productions, Stephen C Byrd, The Council, Tulchin Bartner Productions, Tilted, Robbie Wilson, Curve and Willette & Manny Klausner.

Hull New Theatre – until 27th April 2024

Reviewed by Dawn Bennett

5*****

The New Adventures cast brought the Hull New Theatre audience to their feet last night with an epic production of Edward Scissorhands.

I’ve seen quite a lot of New Adventure’s shows but hadn’t managed to see this one and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. It was funny, moving, joyful and beautifully danced. Sir Matthew Bourne is a brilliant choreographer and has the knack of being able to fill all of the stage with action so wherever you are sat or wherever you look something is going on. Lez Brotherston’s gorgeous set and costume design brought the production to life, they were colourful and dramatic but didn’t distract you from the fabulous dancing, they just enhanced it. The music score was from Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands film that was composed by Danny Elfman and now with new music and arrangements by Terry Davies, was stunning. The story was adapted for the stage by Caroline Thompson who, along with Tim Burton, wrote the original narrative in the film.

Even with the fantastic pedigree of the people who are involved with and produced this show it wouldn’t come together without the brilliant dancers who are all so talented. Edward Scissorhands played by Hull born Liam Mower and his ability to project feelings of humour, fear and love just through dance and without saying a word is breathtaking … what a talent he is. The Boggs family, who take in Edward, were hilarious and really stood out, from Edwards love interest Kim Boggs (Jade Copas) Bill Boggs (Dominic North) Peg Boggs (Sophia Hurdley) to Kevin Boggs (Xavier Andriambolanoro Sotiya, New Adventures Emerging Artist of 2023).

New Adventures never fails to deliver top quality productions, they are always thought provoking and Edward Scissorhands with its story of friendship, diversity and hope is no exception. It is really one not be missed.

Cast announced for the world premiere of 

Fabulous Creatures

Arcola Theatre
May 22 – June 15

“We used to kill, but now we cabaret!”

The world premiere of
Fabulous Creatures
The untold story of the female monsters of The Odyssey
a play with songs
by Quentin Beroud & Emily Louizou
Directed by Emily Louizou

Welcome to the Monstrous Cabaret Club, a place to drown more than your sorrows, where the acts are unreal and the voices to die for!

Whether you’re strapping in for the Sirens or caught between Scylla and Charybdis, you’re in for a night you’ll never forget!

Once the pre-eminent killers of the mythical age, the Sirens have long given up their licence to kill. Now they run a private club hidden somewhere between Mount Olympus and the Underworld. But the
glamorous routine of their cabaret life is about to be shattered when a desperate and determined woman asks for help in taking down her abusive husband before he returns from a 10-year war. These fabulous creatures are now faced with a deadly dilemma: sacrifice the safety of the shadows or come out into the light and help a stranger in her hour of need?

Collide (“clearly a company to keep an eye on”, The Guardian) invites you to an epic new show about sisterhood and vengeance. An ensemble of three brings you the never-before-told story of the female monsters of The Odyssey, blending humour and darkness, myth and modernity and Collide’s signature dream-like aesthetic.

Cast:

Hannah van der Westhuysen is Charybdis aka “Whirlpool”, hostess of the grotesque.

Hannah are best known for playing the lead role of ’Stella’ in Fate: The Winx Club Saga for Netflix. Most recently, they can be seen playing a recurring role in Sexy Beast (Paramount+) and hit production The Sandman (Netflix).

Kate Newman is SCYLLA, a rock star with outrageous costumes.

Kate is a classically trained actor, neo-burlesque performer, writer, producer and the creator and host of Like A Virgin Cabaret. She trained at The Drama Centre and The Cheek of It School of Burlesque. Her burlesque alter ego Have Your Kate and Eat It has performed at The Barbican, Battersea Arts Centre and The Hippodrome Casino. She is currently working on Dance, then her debut short film, in which she plays the role of Iris. Her TV credits include Alder (ITV) and Smothered (Sky Comedy).

Jazz Jenkins is Siren, the woman-bird with the notorious voice.

Jazz is a native New Yorker and relocated to London to train at LAMDA where she graduated in 2023. Fabulous Creatures marks her UK professional stage debut. Theatre while training includes: The House That Will Not Stand (Agnes), RENT (Joanne), The Caucasian Chalk Circle (The Singer) and The Seagull (Nina).

Creative team:
Written by Quentin Beroud & Emily Louizou
Directed by Emily Louizou
Movement & Choreography by Ioli Filippakopoulou
Music Composition & Sound Design by Irene Skylakaki
Set & Costume Design by Ismini Papaioannou
Lighting Design by David Doyle
Promo images by Mariza Kapsabeli
Executive Producer: Elizabeth Filippouli

Produced by Collide Theatre in partnership with Elizabeth Filippouli and in association with the Arcola Theatre

Composer Irene Skylakaki said: “I am thrilled to be writing music for three mythological monsters, three creatures with voices that blend darkness, sensuality, and power. We are creating a hybrid-play, something between musical theatre, cabaret, and a play with songs! Sonically inspired by PJ Harvey, Bjork and James Blake – expect a lot of quirky punchiness!”

Director Emily Louizou said: “This project is a celebration of female resilience and sisterhood. Scylla, Charybdis, Siren stand for women who were punished, ostracised and vilified for reasons that were quite absurd or short-sighted. I am excited to present these mythological monsters under a new light, seeing beyond their victimhood, beyond their monstrous appearance and their ‘evil’ label.”

Executive Producer Elizabeth Filippouli said: “As figments of the imagination, the awkward, scary female creatures that populate myths have long been used by societies to portray an otherness that goes outside the norms, and to set the boundaries of conformity within which women were expected to operate. Guess what, the monstrous in this play is synonymous with the fabulous, fascinating, fantastic!”

Fabulous Creatures is produced under the auspices of the Hellenic Embassy in the UK, supported by The Hellenic Centre and women’s empowerment initiative Athena40.Irene Skylakaki (Music Composition & Sound Design) Irene Skylakaki is a musician and songwriter, originally from Athens, Greece. To date, she has released five studio albums: Wrong Direction (2012), Before Dawn (2014), Matterless (2018), Souvenir (2020) and Hydra (2022). During the past four years Irene has also written music for TV and theatre, most notably collaborating with director Emily Louizou on Labor (Poreia Theatre, Athens, 2022) and Symptoms of Weightlessness (Little Theatre of Ancient Epidaurus, Greece, 2023).

Quentin Beroud (Writer)
Quentin is a writer and director for stage and screen, with a particular interest in European theatre and the tragic-comic. His translation and adaptation of Mariveaux’s farce The Game of Love and Chance (***** Hackney Gazette) was Arcola’s first major production to open their new Outside Space post-COVID. As Writer & Adaptor, credits include: The Game of Love & Chance (Arcola Theatre). As Dramaturg: The Coral (Finborough Theatre).

Emily Louizou (Writer & Director)
Emily Louizou is a London-based theatre and opera director, originally from Athens, Greece. She trained on the acclaimed MFA Theatre Directing programme at Birkbeck, University of London. Prior to this, she completed her BA Degree in English Literature at University College London (UCL). She is the founder and Artistic Director of Collide, an international female-led theatre company based in London. Since its inception in 2015, Collide has collaborated with more than 70 migrant artists coming from all disciplines and created 9 successful theatre productions. Most notable past credits include: The Woman Who Turned Into A Tree (Omnibus Theatre, 2023), The Coral (Finborough Theatre, 2022), Metamorphosis (New Diorama & HOME, 2019).

Elizabeth Filippouli (Executive Producer)
Elizabeth Filippouli is a writer and executive with a career across media and social entrepreneurship. As a journalist she has worked at Al Jazeera English, CNN International and in Greek media. She is also the Founder of the non-profits Global Thinkers Forum and Athena40, supporting women and youth through mentoring and public conversations. In 2023 she adapted and produced ‘Alexander the Great-Between Dreams and Imagination’, a  sold out play revisiting the idea of greatness in leadership, presented in the British Library. She works on artistic projects that aim to re-imagine our societies and the way we think.

Arcola Theatre
Arcola Theatre was founded by Mehmet Ergen and Leyla Nazli in September 2000. Arcola Theatre produces daring, high-quality theatre in the heart of East London and beyond. They commission and premiere exciting, original works alongside rare gems of world drama and bold new productions of classics. Their socially engaged, international programme champions diversity, challenges the status quo, and attracts over 65,000 people to our building each year. Ticket prices are some of the most affordable in London. Their pioneering environmental initiatives are award-winning and aim to make Arcola the world’s first carbon-neutral theatre. Arcola has won awards including the UK Theatre Award for Promotion of Diversity, The Stage Award for Sustainability and the Peter Brook Empty Space Award.

LISTINGS INFO

Collide Theatre in partnership with
Elizabeth Filippouli and in association
with Arcola Theatre
present the world premiere of

Fabulous Creatures
The untold story of the female monsters
of The Odyssey.

Written by Quentin Beroud & Emily Louizou

Directed by Emily Louizou

ARCOLA THEATRE
24 Ashwin Street,
London
E8 3DL

Box office:
https://www.arcolatheatre.com/whats-on/fabulous-creatures/at

May 22 – June 15

The renowned cabaret artist Hersh Dagmarr presents his new show

Indefinite Leave To Remain – The Songs of The Pet Shop Boys

at Crazy Coqs on 28 June 2024

Hersh Dagmarr, the immortal wandering ghost of a European yesteryear,will deconstruct the songs of The Pet Shop Boys and transport them to the Weimar Berlin era in his new show Indefinite Leave To Remain – The Songs of the Pet Shop Boys at London’s Crazy Coqs cabaret venue on Friday 28 June 2024.

This is not a tribute show, this is a love letter to London in the words and music of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, and it is an ode to finding one’s home. Expect classic hits such as West End Girls, Heart, Rent, I’m Not Scared and I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind Of Thing.

The London-based singer/songwriter and visual artist will be joined by pianist and arranger extraordinaire Karen Newby to put a unique twist on the hits of the legendary synth-pop duo. 

Hersh Dagmarr mixes his visceral inspiration of the grand Weimar Berlin era with his own experience as a forever club kid and international socialite, resulting in a unique blend of Kabarett, storytelling, expressionist chanson, sprechgesang and power singing!

A French native and originally a cabaret and jazz singer, Hersh started featuring on indie house and dance music tracks as a vocalist. The temptation to give life to his own inner visions brought Hersh to start composing songs inevitably informed by his cabaret and live performance persona.

Besides his own music production, Hersh regularly performs cabaret shows in which, accompanied by a pianist, he performs classic tunes from the global cabaret songbook as well as more contemporary material with an emphasis on Kurt Weill’s repertoire.  

Discussing his musical inspirations, Hersh said: “My interest in music is quite polar. It’s equally coming from a faraway past and a rather distant future. Like running ahead from some kind of haunting past life.”

To book tickets for Indefinite Leave To Remain – The Songs of the Pet Shop Boys, visit the Crazy Coqs website: tickets.crazycoqs.com/tickets/series/HERSH24/hersh-dagmarr-indefinite-leave-to-remain-939043

LISTINGS

Venue: Crazy Coqs at Brasserie Zedel, 21 Sherwood St, London W1F 7ED

Date & time: Friday 28 June 2024, 7pm

Tickets: £20 tickets.crazycoqs.com/tickets/series/HERSH24/hersh-dagmarr-indefinite-leave-to-remain-939043

Running time: approximately 75 minutes

Access information: https://www.brasseriezedel.com/faq/

Category: cabaret / music

‘WICKED’ BECOMES 10^TH LONGEST-RUNNING WEST END SHOW IN BRITISH HISTORY

Christmas 2024/25 performances now on sale with extra shows added

www.WickedTheMusical.co.uk

WICKED, the West End stage musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, will today (Wednesday 24 April 2024) play its 6,762^nd performance, becoming the 10^th longest-running West End stage production in British history. Wicked surpasses the run of the legendary farce No Sex Please, We’re British, which ran from June 1971 until September 1987, playing a total 6,761 performances.

“One of the all-time musical theatre successes” (The Guardian), the Tony®, Grammy®, Olivier, and WhatsOnStage award-winning musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman opened at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre in September 2006 where it has already been seen by more than 12 million people.

The ten longest-running West End stage productions in British history are: The Mousetrap, Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, The Woman in Black, Blood Brothers, Mamma Mia!, Cats, The Lion King, Starlight Express, and Wicked.

Michael McCabe, Executive Producer of Wicked in the UK said:

 “As we celebrate the historic milestone of becoming the West End’s 10^th longest ever running stage show, we offer our heartfelt thanks to the amazing audiences who have supported and championed Wicked since its very first performance in 2006. We also thank our exceptional creative and backstage teams, performers, and musicians who have worked so tirelessly and diligently to deliver every performance of the show.”

All Christmas 2024/25 performances are now on sale, with 8 extra shows added on:

Friday 20 December 2024 @ 2.30pm, Monday 23 December 2024 @ 2.30pm & 7.30pm, Friday 27 December 2024 @ 2.30pm, Monday 30 December 2024 @ 2.30pm & 7.30pm, Tuesday 31 December 2024 @ 2.30pm, and Thursday 2 January 2025 @ 2.30pm. Doors open 90 minutes prior to performance times.

Through its ‘For Good’ charitable endeavours and acclaimed Wicked Active Learning cultural and social education programme, the London production of Wicked proudly supports and champions the work of the Anti-Bullying Alliance, the National Literacy Trust, and Theatre Works!, the charity providing theatre tickets to disadvantaged children across the UK. www.WickedActiveLearning.co.uk

Wicked currently stars Alexia Khadime (Elphaba), Lucy St. Louis (Glinda), Ryan Reid (Fiyero), Sophie-Louise Dann (Madame Morrible), Michael Fenton Stevens (The Wizard), Caitlin Anderson (Nessarose), Graham Kent (Doctor Dillamond), Joe Thompson-Oubari (Boq), Laura Harrison (Standby for Elphaba), Christine Tucker* (Standby for Glinda), Zac Adlam, Conor Ashman, Jessica Aubrey, Jeremy Batt, Felipe Bejarano, Asmara Cammock, Joshua Clemetson, Effie Rae Dyson, Aston Newman Hannington, Aimee Hodnett, Kate Leiper, Jemima Loddy, Joshua Lovell, Rory Maguire, PaddyJoe Martin, Darnell Mathew-James, Millie Mayhew, Ayden Morgan, Rishard-Kyro Nelson, Aiesha Naomi Pease, Jeanie Ryan, Natalie Spriggs, Charlotte Anne Steen, James Titchener, Micaela Todd, Taela Yeomans-Brown, and Jacob Young.  *Maternity cover for Lisa-Anne Wood.

A spectacular touring production of Wicked continues engagements until January 2025. Currently playing at the Bradford Alhambra Theatre until 19 May 2024, the critically acclaimed production will then continue to Southampton Mayflower Theatre; Liverpool Empire; Dublin Bord Gáis Energy Theatre; Sunderland Empire; Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre, and Manchester Palace Theatre.

Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman’s celebrated stage musical is based on the acclaimed novel by Gregory Maguire and imagines a beguiling backstory and future possibilities to the lives of L. Frank Baum’s beloved characters from ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’. Wicked reveals the decisions and events that shape the destinies of two unlikely university friends on their journey to becoming ‘Glinda The Good’ and the ‘Wicked Witch of the West’.

Wickedhas music and lyrics by multi-Oscar® and Grammy® Award winner Stephen Schwartz (‘Godspell’, ‘Pippin’, ‘The Prince of Egypt’, Disney’s ‘Pocahontas’, ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’and ‘Enchanted’). It is based on the multimillion-copy best-selling novel ‘Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of theWest’ by Gregory Maguire and written by Emmy® and Tony Award® nominee Winnie Holzman (creator of the landmark American television series ‘My So-Called Life’). Musical staging is by Tony Award®winner Wayne Cilento with direction by two-time Tony Award® winner Joe Mantello.

The stage musical Wicked is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt, and David Stone. Executive Producer (UK) Michael McCabe.

The Apollo Victoria Theatre, Wilton Road, London, SW1V 1LG

Official UK website: www.WickedTheMusical.co.uk

Education programme: www.WickedActiveLearning.co.uk 

‘X’ (Twitter): @WickedUK  |  Facebook: /WickedUK  |  Instagram: @WickedUK

Blackpool Grand Theatre – until Saturday 27 April 2024

Reviewed by Debra Skelton

5*****

If you feel like an evening of ghost stories, the supernatural and suspense, then The Grand Theatre Blackpool has just what you need and that is ‘2:22 A Ghost Story’ produced by Runway Entertainment which is showing until Saturday 27th April 2024.

2:22 A Ghost Story is a thriller play by Danny Robins which premiered in the West End in 2021 and was nominated for three Laurence Olivier Awards in 2022, including Best New Play and Best Actress. The premiere production was also nominated for four WhatsOnStage Awards winning Best New Play, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor.

The story is about Jenny (Fiona Wade) a typical new mum who is burnt out, highly stressed and looking for support from her husband Sam (George Rainsford). One source of her anxiety is from the eery sounds that have been coming through the baby monitor in her daughter’s room @ precisely 2:22am over the last three nights. To help Jenny alleviate her fears, she sets up a vigil with Sam’s old friend Lauren (Vera Chok) and her builder-boyfriend (Jay McGuiness) who have come to visit, to stay awake until the allotted time to see if the ghost returns.

This does not go down well with Sam as the idea of catching the ghost that Jenny thinks is haunting their daughter makes him actively hostile due to his scepticism and therefore spends most of the night highlighting his own rationality at the expense of his wife’s patience. Lauren, who is a psychologist, isn’t unsympathetic to Jenny’s fears but still tends to think all horrors are based in the mind. The only believer is Ben as he had a paranormal experience as a child.

As to the end of the story, this I cannot reveal as it would spoil the surprise which I can say is not what I was expecting at all, so please do go see the show as you will not be disappointed.

Huge applause must go to Fiona, George, Vera and Jay who I feel must have a huge amount of pressure on them with being such a small cast but they provided a superb portrayal of their characters with an interjection of humour when required which entertained the audience from start to finish.

Special thanks are also needed to Matthew Dunster and Isabel Marr the Director’s, Anna Fleischle the Set Designer, Ian Dickinson for the eerie, scary, and jumping out of your seat sounds, Lucy Carter for the spooky lighting and Chris Fisher for the incredible illusions.