Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre – until 1 Setember 2019
Reviewed by Lottie Davis-Browne
5*****
Following on from last years successful touring production which played at London’s Regents Park Open Air Theatre, the tour is back but this year swapping open air for industrial chic, in the brand new theatre – Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre.
Wembley Park is a dynamic new cultural neighbourhood in North West London. The area has become a landmark destination enriched with culture, entertainment and a community at its heart. It includes state-of-the-heart homes (over 6,000 new homes have been built in the area), primary and nursery schools, plus a GP surgery.
The opening of the new Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre is a key moment in the transformation of the area as it establishes its credentials as a new creative hub for. North West London. Located within the former Fountain Studios, which were best known for being the venue of live televised shows including The X Factor, Britains Got Talent and Pop Idol. The venue is @ flexible 1000-2000 capacity space that can be transformed to suit the requirements for a range of productions. Opening within the Theatre later this year will be a modern state-of-the-heart restaurant and a large sociable bar space.
Dinosaur World Live is the first production to perform in this new venue, so apart from being excited to revisit last years Dinosaur filled show I was also curious to be one of the first to check out the new theatre. Located on Fulton Road, just a stones throw away from Wembley Central railway station, with great links to the underground. Being a newly opened venue, there is still evident work taking place meaning it doesn’t yet quite look like it’s prototype photo just yet – there’s no name sign on the building and it blends in to the background of all the other major developments taking place in the area – so much so we’d circled the entire building twice before asking builders to point us in the right direction (ironically we were literally inches away from the entrance!).
Whilst there has been no major changes to last years touring production, Lucy Varney has taken over the role of Miranda, who introduces us to the variety of dinosaurs. I personally felt that Varney gelled better with the young audience than last years “Miranda” which was evident in the reactions and audience participation.
What makes this touring production magical is the life size realistic dinosaur puppets, which I’d forgotten just how life like they are! The real highlight is the opportunity to get up close to them after the show. I have a feeling this show is going to become an annual event; seeing the joy it brings a dinosaur obsessed four year old is well worth the long road trip.
Whilst you may have missed your chance to see these fantastic puppets at Wembley hottest new venue, older kids and adults alike have the chance to capture the magic of War Horse for its limited run at the Troubadour Theatre from 18th October, for a strictly limited run (six weeks). I eagerly await my return visit to this stylish new theatre, hopefully being able to sample food from its yet-to-be opened restaurant.
More information about the venue and upcoming events can be found at www.troubadourtheatres.com