Month: June 2022

TuckShop & Trafalgar Theatre Productions presents

DEATH DROP IS BACK!!!

WITH A NEW KILLER DRAG MURDER MYSTERY

NUN OF YOU EXPECTED…

TICKETS ON SALE

FROM DEATHDROPPLAY.COM

WRITTEN BY ROB EVANS

DIRECTED BY JESSE JONES

Following three sold-out West End runs and a smash hit UK tour, Death Drop is back! The drag murder mystery sensation is returning with a brand-new show: Death Drop: Back In The Habit. Touring across the UK from this autumn, the new production – written by Rob Evans and directed once again by Jesse Jones – kicks off on 27 October in Bromley. The laugh-a-minute show will then visit Dartford, Wycombe, Cardiff, Crewe and Sheffield until 14 January 2023, with further venues to be announced.

Tickets are on sale from DeathDropPlay.com

From the producers who brought Courtney Act, Monet X Change, Willam, Jujubee and Latrice Royale to theatres across the country, Death Drop Back In The Habit promises to be another “killer show…that absolutely slays.”

TuckShop Creative Director and Producer Christopher D. Clegg said: “We cannot wait to sashay onto the road again with the next chapter in the ridiculous Death Drop saga, this time with a gaggle of fabulous drag NUNS! Audiences are in for a real treat as this hilarious comedy puts a whole new spin on murder, religion and of course Drag. You will NOT want to miss this outrageous show.”

Death Drop Back In The Habit sees a gaggle of fabulous Nuns trapped in their Convent with a serial slayer slashing their way through the Sisters. As the clues are unearthed by Sis Marple, you’ll be laughing in the pews as the hilarious, fierce, all-drag killer comedy comes to its thrilling and uproarious conclusion.

Casting will be announced soon.

Death Drop Back In The Habit – UK Tour Dates 2022/23

27 – 30 October Bromley: Churchill Theatre

1 – 5 November Dartford: Orchard Theatre

22 – 26 November Wycombe: Swan Theatre

29 November – 3 December Cardiff: New Theatre

6 – 10 December Crewe: Lyceum Theatre

10 – 14 January Sheffield: Lyceum Theatre

FURTHER DATES TO ANNOUNCED

Twitter: @deathdropplay

Instagram: @deathdropplay

Facebook: Facebook.com/deathdropplay

FLYING INTO FAIRFIELD HALLS!

THE 2022 PANTOMIME STARRING RICKY CHAMP, GEMMA HUNT, MARK RHODES & DAVID RIBI
10 – 31 DECEMBER 2022
TICKETS ON SALE & AVAILABLE TO BOOK HERE

With plenty of swash and buckle, Peter Pan, Captain Hook and Tinker Bell take up their residency this Christmas at Fairfield Halls

UK Productions and BH Live are proud to present a super swashbuckling family adventure Peter Pan – The Return of Captain Hook, flying into Fairfield Halls Croydon from the 10^th to 31^ST December. The star-studded cast, headed up by EastEnders bad boy Ricky Champ as ‘Captain Hook’ and Gemma Hunt as ‘Tinker Bell’, promises to be a fabulous festive production with guaranteed fun, laughs and adventure! With galleons of entertainment, fantastic flying effects, an acrobatic pirate crew, and possibly the hungriest crocodile you’ll ever see, join the adventure this festive season.

Joining Ricky Champ and Gemma Hunt are CBBC and Crackerjack’s Mark Rhodes as ‘Smee’ and Channel 5 Milkshake! presenter David Ribi as ‘Peter Pan’. 

Join Peter, Smee, Tinker Bell, Emily and Ethel Mermaid on a brand-new swashbuckling adventure full of fun, laughter … and crocodiles!

After defeating the evil Captain Hook and his crew of prancing pirates, life has been pretty perfect for Peter Pan. But when a stranger arrives in Neverland, he is forced to question his past and face his future. Will Peter ever grow up?

And then there are the rumours … 

That a certain someone survived the stormy seas and is seeking revenge! Have you heard them too? People are saying … that Hook is back!

So watch out … he might be behind you!

David Ribi said, “I cannot wait to fly on over to Fairfield Halls and share this brand new adventure with the amazing Croydon audiences! My first ever time playing Peter Pan was at Fairfield Halls back in 2013, and so it seems only fitting to return a decade later with this exciting sequel to the original story! See you all in Neverland!”

Mark Rhodes said, “I can’t wait to get started and am delighted to be playing the role of Smee, what fun! Peter Pan is an iconic story and a show the whole family will enjoy. I’m honoured to be treading the boards at the wonderful Croydon Fairfield Halls, it’s going to be an awesome Christmas!”

Gemma Hunt said, “I’m really looking forward to getting my skates on again to reprise my alter ego Tinker Bell at the Fairfield Halls this Christmas. This glitter-tastic feisty fairy is ready to have some fun in Neverland with my good friends.”

Not to be missed, tickets and group bookings are available from bhlivetickets.co.uk with special early bird rates and super schools offers also available.

fairfield.co.uk

Facebook – @fairfieldcroydon

Twitter – @fairfieldhalls

Instagram – @croydonfairfield

Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford – until 11^th June 2022

Reviewed by Heather Chalkley

4****

The ink is still drying on this contemporary political thriller. Crime writer Hilary Bonner debuts her first play, rewritten four times to keep it relevant, before reaching the stage. The opening scenes could be taken from today’s national news headlines, they are so fresh.

As an audience we enter any thriller, settling into an investigative ‘who dunnit’ mind set. Dead Lies does not disappoint and has the added strength of a daring current political setting. This includes women at front and centre of the story line, providing contrasting dark and light characters, rather than used as a device for a male orientated plot. Portia Booroff (Jo George) develops her character, building Jo into a dangerously passionate, formidable finale. Alicia Charles (Kate Compton) presents integrity and honesty in a murky world of scandal and lies. All through Jeremy Edwards (Peter George) is believable in his portrayal of a politician we all wish for, hope for and want to believe in. Even he in the end is tripped up by his own promises and past indiscretions. Some of Andrew McDonald’s (Alan Parfit) delivery is not 100% clear, which is hard when delivering important dialogue. However, Andrew transports the audience back to an era when tabloids and the paparazzi were at their worst. He is a news editor always after a good story, balancing this with his endeavours to print the truth.

This is a grown up thriller that keeps the audience engaged from start to finish. A great first foray for Hilary Bonner, into the tough world of thriller writing. She manages to raise the bar above your average ‘whodunnit’ murder mystery.

Stockton Globe – until Saturday 12 June 2022

4****

Following its hugely successful run at London’s Dominion Theatre and after numerous successful world wide tours. We Will Rock You returns in a re-imagined production.  Purists be warned, it still has all the hits of Queen and it’s still scripted by Ben Elton, but there have been script tweaks and the addition of one or two extra songs.

The storyline is set on the futuristic i-planet, which was formerly known as Earth.   All the people are programmed to look, think and dress the same.  The planet and everything in it is controlled by the giant corporation Global Soft.  Musical instruments are banned and only computer simulated “music” is allowed by Global Soft.  But there are rebels searching for their “Dreamer” who will help to restore live music and free thought. 

The Dreamer is social outcast, Galileo (Ian McIntosh) and his rebellious and sarcastic girlfriend Scaramouche (Elena Skye).  They are pursued by Khashoggi (Adam Strong) the Chief of the Police, who reports directly to the Killer Queen herself (Jenny O’Leary).  But the Bohemians find Galileo, leading him and Scaramouche to a place of safety at their Rebel HQ.  Brit (David Michael Johnson), his chick Meat (Martina Ciabatti Mennell) and Cliff (Micheal McKell) tell them of the time before with their references to live music, posters, magazines and information from the archives.  Cliff (who was previously Pop at the Dominion) holds a “vi-day-o” which features the voices of the freedom fighters Queen.

Queen fans won’t be disappointed by hearing the band’s hits performed live and the futuristic stage set (Tim Blazdell) and video animations and graphics (Stufish Entertainment Architects) were surprisingly stunning and at times hypnotic.  

The live band (Zach Flis, Matt Herbert, Meg Cave, James Barber, Simon Croft, Neil Murray and Dave Cotterell) at the back of the set, play the songs of Queen with the reverence the music deserves and sometimes it’s difficult not to sing and clap along

The costumes (Kentaur) have been updated and the script features more up to date acts and cultural references – including covid.  

O’Leary shines as the villainous Killer Queen stunning with her killer vocals.  I loved her outfits, my favourite being worn during Don’t Stop Me Now, which is now sung in its entirety.  Adam Strong is a tad more menacing than previous incarnations and his suit (from M&S) is much better for his rank than the one worn in the west end.  

I have seen a number of Galileo’s and Scaramouche in my time (I’ve seen it more than 50 times) so I know a good one when I see one.  Skye’s vocals shine from the beginning with her first note of Somebody to Love.  But McIntosh, fabulous as he is, finally gets his shining moment towards the end with the titular We Will Rock You and Bohemian Rhapsody.  Although he sings everything excellently

I know We Will Rock You is a bit of a marmite musical, you either love it or hate it.  I love it and even with the changes I was still happy at the end, when I was finally allowed to sing along.  It was fully deserving of its standing ovation at the gloriously restored Globe Theatre in Stockton

Alhambra, Bradford – Until 11th June 2022

Reviewed By Katie Goldsbrough

5*****

Bat Out of Hell celebrates the music of Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman, with hit songs including’ Bat out of Hell’, ‘I Would Do Anything for Love (But I won’t do that)’ and ‘You Took the Words Right out of my Mouth’ this is one not to be missed.

Set in Obsidian we see Strat (Glenn Adamson), the leader of ‘The Lost’ a group of people whose DNA was frozen during chemical wars so they remain 18 forever. Strat falls in love with Raven (Marth Kirby), the daughter of Falco (Rob Fowler), the ruler of Obsidian who is at war with ‘The Lost’ and refuses to let Raven leave Falco Tower. Glenn Adamson as the eccentic Strat deserves a special mention and has a phenomenal voice. The whole cast is wonderful, the singing is fantastic throughout and they all put their all in to the performance.

With the majority of the show taken up with the music Bat out of Hell has to be a top choice for fans of rock’n’roll. With so much going on you sometimes don’t know where to look. There is some very unique staging, a big screen at the back of the stage shows the cast being followed by a video camera inside Falco Tower as other action is taking place at the front of the stage which is something I haven’t seen before. 

I don’t think I’ve ever seen an audience on their feet so quickly or heard louder cheers at the end of a show. Bat out of Hell is simply amazing, whether you’re a hardcore Meat Loaf fan or only know the big hits you will be sure to be blown away by this show.

TICKETS GO ON SALE THURSDAY 16 JUNE AT 10.00AM

FOR UK PREMIERE OF

NEWSIES, THE AWARD-WINNING BROADWAY MUSICAL

IN A NEW REIMAGINED PRODUCTION

AT LONDON’S TROUBADOUR WEMBLEY PARK THEATRE

STRICTLY LIMITED SEASON FROM 29 NOVEMBER 2022

OPENING NIGHT THURSDAY 8 DECEMBER 2022

ALL PREVIEW TICKETS £30!

Following priority on-sale from 10am on Wednesday 15 June, tickets will go on sale to the public at 10am on Thursday 16 June for Disney’s NEWSIES, the award-winning Broadway musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman and book by Harvey Fierstein, which will have its UK premiere at London’s Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, where the strictly limited season will open on Thursday 8 December 2022, following previews from 29 November.  All preview tickets will be priced at £30.

Based on a true story, NEWSIES is set in New York City at the turn of the 20th century. It’s the rousing tale of a ragged band of teenage newspaper sellers, who dream of a better life far from the hardship of the streets. After newspaper magnate Joseph Pulitzer hikes up the prices for his papers charged to the newsies, Jack Kelly rallies his fellow newsies in an attempt to protest the change, falling in love with young reporter Katherine along the way. These young newsies from across the city come together and rise up against the exploitation of wealthy publishing tycoons and fight for justice using the only power they have – solidarity. 

The original production of NEWSIES opened on Broadway in 2012 and was slated to play only 100 performances but went on to play over 1,000 performances before touring and winning two Tony Awards®, including Best Original Score. The original production was filmed live on stage and released in cinemas in 2017.

Now for the very first time, audiences in the UK have a chance to enjoy the thrill of one of the biggest Broadway hits of recent years. In an innovative and brand new immersive production at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, theatregoers will be thrust right inside the action as the newsies dance, sing, jump and fly around the streets of a booming 19^th century New York City. 

This new production of NEWSIES will be following on the recent successes of large scale shows at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre such as the National Theatre’s productions of War Horse and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Casting is to be announced.

To receive priority booking sign up at www.newsiesthemusical.co.uk

NEWSIES will be Directed and Choreographed by Olivier nominee Matt Cole, with Set Design by Morgan Large, Musical Supervision, Dance Arrangements & Musical Direction by Nigel Lilley, Costumes by Natalie Pryce, Lighting by Mark Henderson, Sound by Tony Gayle, Performer Flying by John Maddox for Suspended Illusions Ltd, Casting by Lucy Casson, Children’s Casting by Jo Hawes, Fight Directors Rachel Bown-Williams & Ruth Cooper-Brown for RC Annie, Associate Director Rachael Nanyonjo, Associate Choreographer Jane McMurtrie, Associate Musical Director Chris Ma and Production Management by Lee Batty and Andy Fox for Setting Line.

NEWSIES is produced by Tristan Baker & Charlie Parsons for Runaway Entertainment, Gavin Kalin, Hunter Arnold, Kater Gordon and Dianne Roberts, by permission of Disney Theatrical Productions.

Website: newsiesthemusical.co.uk

Instagram: @newsies_uk

Facebook: @newsiesuk

Twitter: @newsies_uk

LISTINGS

Disney’s NEWSIES

Strictly Limited Season from 29 November 2022

Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre

3 Fulton Rd

Wembley Park

London HA9 0SP

Box Office:

Tickets: 

Performances: Wednesday-Saturday at 7.30pm, Thursday & Saturday at 2.30pm, Sunday at 1pm & 5:30pm*

*no 2.30pm matinee 1 & 8 December, no performance 4 & 9 December, extra 7.30pm performance 5 December 2022

Christmas 2022/23 Performance Schedule

Monday 19 December             NO PERFORMANCE

Tuesday 20 December            7.30pm 

Wednesday 21 December      2.30pm & 7.30pm 

Thursday 22 December          7.30pm 

Friday 23 December               2.30pm & 7.30pm 

Saturday 24 December           2.30pm & 7.30pm 

Sunday 25 December             NO PERFORMANCE 

Monday 26 December             NO PERFORMANCE

Tuesday 27 December            7.30pm

Wednesday 28 December      2.30pm & 7.30pm 

Thursday 29 December          7.30pm 

Friday 30 December               2.30pm & 7.30pm 

Saturday 31 December           2.30pm 

Sunday 1 January                   NO PERFORMANCE 

Suitable for age 5+

JACK MAPLE PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

HORSE-PLAY

A NEW COMEDY BY IAN HALLARD

TO PREMIERE AT THE RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

30 AUGUST – 24 SEPTEMBER

They’re about to have the ride of their lives…

HORSE-PLAY – a new comedy by Ian Hallard exploring the kinkier side of life – will premiere this autumn. Directed by Andrew Beckett, with Set and Costume Design by David Shields, and Pearson Casting as Casting Director,HORSE-PLAY will be at The Riverside Studios from 30 August to 24 September, with a press night on 1 September. Full cast and creative team to be announced shortly, and tickets are on sale here.

After ten years of married life, Tom and Tim decide to spice up their sex life by booking an evening in a dungeon with a gorgeous male escort.

Meanwhile, crime-busting superhero, the Stallion, and his intrepid side-kick, Butterfly, have been lured to the secret lair of their arch-nemesis: the dastardly Villainor.

But what connects these two seemingly random events?

One thing’s for sure: a bump on the head and a faulty door lock result in a night none of them will ever forget – for all the wrong reasons!

Ian Hallard says: “I wrote the first draft of ‘Horse-Play’ in less than a week during that strange, hot Spring/Summer of 2020. Why it occurred to me, in the middle of the very first lockdown, to write a play about a middle-aged gay couple trapped in a room together with no possible means of escape is a mystery, but there you go! Who knows where our creative ideas truly spring from?

The two central characters in the play may be a gay couple, but their relationship, and the ups and downs they encounter when they are faced with adversity, are universal.

I wanted to avoid the stereotype that sees anyone over the age of thirty-five who has a less than conventional side to their sexuality depicted as sleazy, unpleasant or often downright villainous. The characters in ‘Horse-Play’ certainly have their kinks, but they’re also loving, lovable and – on the whole – pretty well-adjusted.

More than anything, ‘Horse-Play’ is fun and it’s silly. If you’ve ever been tempted to spend the evening in a sex dungeon surrounded by handcuffs, bananas, spandex bodysuits, and a big tub of gunge, it may well be just the thing for you…

“As it says on the poster: They’re about to have the ride of their lives. I really hope our audiences will too.”

Mark Goucher, Gavin Kalin and Matthew Gale present
SHREK THE MUSICAL

A BRAND-NEW PRODUCTION OF ‘SHREK THE MUSICAL’ HEADS OUT TO PAINT THE TOWN GREEN IN 2023 WITH A MAJOR UK AND IRELAND TOUR OPENING IN PLYMOUTH ON 21 JULY.

THE PRODUCERS OF ‘HAIRSPRAY’ AND ‘PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT’ HAVE JOINED FORCES WITH DIRECTORS SAM HOLMES AND NICK WINSTON, AND DESIGNER PHILIP WITCOMB, TO RE-IMAGINE THIS CLASSIC STORY FOR A NEW AUDIENCE.

FEATURING A HOST OF LOVABLE FAIRYTALE CHARACTERS AND MEMORABLE SONGS, INCLUDING ‘I’M A BELIEVER’, ‘SHREK THE MUSICAL’ IS A FUN FILLED NIGHT AT THE THEATRE THAT EVERYONE WILL ENJOY.

Producers Mark Goucher, Gavin Kalin and Matthew Gale are delighted to announce a brand-new production of the award-winning Broadway and West End hit show Shrek the Musical will tour the UK and Ireland from July 2023. The bright and beautiful fairy-tale world of Shrek will be reimagined by a new creative team for this major tour. All the classic characters from the Oscar®-winning DreamWorks animated film will be back to paint the town green, accompanied by the iconic songs and story from David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori’s original musical.

Having played Lord Farquaad in the previous UK tour, Sam Holmes (Club Tropicana the Musical) returns to the swamp to co-direct. He is joined by acclaimed director and choreographer Nick Winston, whose recent credits include Bonnie and Clyde (Arts Theatre) and Beauty and the Beast (as associate director and choreographer for the UK tour) and upcoming projects include a new world tour of We Will Rock You and a remounted UK tour of Rock of Ages.

Set and costume design will be by Philip Witcomb whose previous productions include Bonnie & Clyde In Concert (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Jack & The Beanstalk (Everyman Theatre Cheltenham), Atlantis (Tivoli Concert Hall, Copenhagen), Mame (Hope Mill Theatre and UK Tour), The Beauty Queen of Leenane and Stones In His Pockets (The Minack Theatre).

Further creative team to be announced in due course.

Shrek the Musical opens at Plymouth Theatre Royal on 21 July 2023 and then tours to Manchester, Dublin, Bristol, Southend, Carlisle, Aberdeen, Oxford, Wimbledon, Dartford, Northampton, Bradford, Woking, Eastbourne, Cardiff, York and Blackpool with more dates to be announced soon. The national press night will be Thursday 3 August 2023 at Opera House Manchester.

Mark Goucher said ‘I am delighted to be bringing this re-imagined production of the beloved ‘Shrek the Musical’ to audiences across the UK and Ireland. The story of Shrek is known and loved across the world and this show is an incredibly joyous, fun and uplifting evening at the theatre that will be enjoyed by all ages’

The Oscar®-winning DreamWorks animated film Shrek celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. Shrek the Musical was first performed on Broadway in 2008, receiving 8 Tony nominations, and the award for Best Costume Design. The original West End production was nominated for 4 Olivier awards, including Best New Musical, at the 2012 Olivier awards. Nigel Harman received the award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Lord Farquaad.

Join our unlikely hero Shrek and his noble steed Donkey as they embark on a big, bright, musical adventure. Based on the Oscar®-winning DreamWorks animated film, the Broadway and West End hit Shrek the Musical is a fun-filled, hilarious musical comedy with a cast of vibrant characters and a ‘shrektacular’ score.

Featuring the beloved Princess Fiona, the evil Lord Farquaad, a host of magical fairy-tale characters and fabulous songs including the smash hit ‘I’m a Believer’, Shrek the Musical is a ‘musical extravaganza for big kids and little kids alike’ (Bristol Post).

Come join the adventure as Shrek and Donkey endeavour to complete their quest, finding unexpected friendships and surprising romance along the way. A perfect night out for the young, and the young at heart, the award-winning Shrek the Musical is guaranteed fun for all ages and will have you dancing in the aisles and laughing all the way home.

King’s Head Theatre, London – until 26 June 2022

Reviewed by Alun Hood

3***

Ghost stories are a much loved theatrical genre – The Woman In Black has been in the West End for over thirty years and shows no signs of moving on – but can be fiendishly difficult to get right: go too horrific and you run the risk of alienating your audience, overdo the melodrama and you end up with inappropriate laughter in the auditorium. Mark Ravenhill’s tense new piece avoids these pitfalls, providing some authentic chills even if it fails to completely satisfy as a piece of supernatural storytelling.

Actually, the storytelling here is skilfully done, seamlessly bleeding real life into fiction as Ravenhill himself gets up before the performance officially begins (or at least before it APPEARS to have begun) to regale us with facts about the Kings Head Theatre. Regular visitors to this venue won’t find this unusual, since every performance here is prefaced by a heartfelt appeal for funds. Ravenhill is interrupted mid sentence by an audience member who has performed as an actor at this theatre in a previous production and is still haunted by a supernatural experience she had during that run. 

In all honesty, this conceit would work better if Suzanne Ahmet, in that role, weren’t so obviously acting at the outset. Ravenhill is much more successful at apparently making his lines up on the spot, possibly as a result of having written them himself. That said, Ahmet gets into her stride as the piece draws on, compellingly recalling her brush with a vengeful ghostly presence that feels unsettlingly plausible in the dimly lit, muggy back room of this historical Islington pub. She also interacts winningly with a couple of game audience members, drawing all of us further into the eerie theatrical mire.

Without giving away spoilers, Ravenhill’s text is so bound up with the venue itself that it’s basically a piece of immersive theatre. It even works as a useful, if slightly heavy-handed, advertisement for the venue’s future plans as the King’s Head prepares to move to their new home in an adjacent new Upper Street development (Ravenhill is the co-artistic director). 

Ahmet’s haunted Susan accused Ravenhill at one point of being “another white man” trying to control the narrative, which she then wrestles from him. That’s all well and good, but the irony still stands that this piece is still the creation of a white man, albeit an extremely talented one, and one who creates convincing female characters. If the play’s conclusion is a bit of a letdown given the shuddering suspense and carefully brewed atmosphere of what has gone before, that is a frequent weakness of this genre, and one that the aforementioned The Woman In Black only avoids by deviating quite drastically from its original source material.

Jo Underwood’s lighting and Roly Botha’s lighting are flawless however. Botha’s contribution is particularly invaluable, a foreboding soundscape that ratchets up the tension to pleasurably unbearable levels. 

This may not be a classic of the ghost story genre, being too tied to the venue and the surrounding area to have serious legs, although future productions could possibly see portions of the script rewritten to reflect alternative locations. It is however a creditable and often gripping attempt to marry contemporary issues with Islington’s somewhat grim past, and an interesting, evocative way to commemorate fifty years of the King’s Head Theatre.

Royal & Derngate, Northampton – until Saturday 11th June 2022

Reviewed by Amarjeet Singh

4****

It’s honestly hard to believe that the film School of Rock is almost 20 years old, and as I take my seat, I am flooded with waves of nostalgia, but not for long, as my ears are assaulted with a delicious riff of a guitar, and sights of a glistening midriff. The band ‘No Vacancy’ have arrived!

Dewey Finn, played superbly, by the delightful Jake Sharpe, is an amateur rock enthusiast but in reality, comes across as a wastrel musician who has no job prospects and spends his time mooching off his best mate Ned Schneebly. When Dewey is fired from his rock band, ‘No Vacancy’, he is left with no money and in danger of being homeless, so he slyly takes up employment as a schoolteacher in the prestigious Horace Green Private School by impersonating his best friend, Ned.

When faced with a class of children Dewey doesn’t have a clue what to do, but upon discovering that the children are able to play instruments, he decides to teach them everything he knows about rock. The ultimate exam, to win a place in ‘The Battle of The Bands’. With many obstacles to overcome along the way, parents who misunderstand their children, huffy teachers, Dewey’s best friend’s girlfriend, Dewey’s personal hygiene and an uptight principle. It’s not all plain sailing but here in lies the laughs and the pathos as he inadvertently teaches the children empowerment and how to find their inner voices and make themselves be heard.

School of Rock was fabulous. Brilliant sets, wonderful staging, and great energy. The only thing that stopped me from giving School of Rock 5 stars was the music, which is supposed to be an integral part of a rock musical. Some of the songs were forgettable and dreary. Other than that, it was a fantastic show.

School of Rock is a heart-warming comedy. Lots of fun for all ages. Although it’s clear that the main driver behind the success of the film is Jack Black, Jake Sharp did a tremendous job. Supported by Rebecca Lock as Principal Mullins who had the most breath-taking voice, they made a formidable pairing and were supported by and excellent ensemble.

However, the true stars of the show and where the real magic happened was when the children appeared. Superb singers, actors and musicians. Yes, they really did play their own instruments. Issac Forward as Freddy, Daisy Hanna as Katie, Angus McDougall as Lawrence, Harry Churchill as Zack, Dereke Oladele as James, Ruthie Heathcote as Sophie, Wilf Cooper as Billy, Evie Marner as Summer, Tia Isaac as Tomika, Caelan Wallington as Mason, Elodie Salmon as Marcy and Kyla Robinson as Shonelle, shone and brought the production to life.

School of Rock is funny, charming and without spoilers there is an amazing way you’re encouraged to Stick it to The Man! before you leave the show. You can’t get more Rock than that!