Producers Jack Maple and Evelyn Hoskins are delighted to announce initial casting for the 15th Anniversary concert of the original West End production of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik’s Tony, Olivier and Grammy award-winning musical SPRING AWAKENING, based on the play by Frank Wedekind.
Celebrating the original London production’s 15th anniversary, the concert will reunite many of the original London cast for this one night only celebration on Sunday 2 June 2024 at Victoria Palace Theatre. Tickets are on sale now.
Returning cast members from the original West End production include Lucy May Barker (The Crucible, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) as Ilse, Natasha Barnes (Hex, National Theatre) as Anna, Harry McEntire (Andor, Disney+, Britannia, Sky) as Ernst, Hayley Gallivan (Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre) as Martha, Evelyn Hoskins (Waitress, West End & UK Tour) as Thea, Edward Judge (The Play That Goes Wrong, West End, UK & International Tour) as Otto, Jamie Muscato (Moulin Rouge, Piccadilly Theatre) as Melchior, Jos Slovick (Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, UK Tour) as Georg and Charlotte Wakefield (The Great British Bake Off Musical, Noel Coward Theatre) as Wendla. Other returning cast members include Chris Barton (The Sound of Music, UK Tour), Natalie Garner, Mona Goodwin (Misfits, Queen’s Theatre), Gemma O’Duffy (Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, Palace Theatre) and Richard Southgate (The Dogs of War, Old Red Lion Theatre).
Additional casting to be announced.
They are joined by the entire returning original London band consisting of Huw Davies (Guitars), Don Richardson (Bass), Matthew Senior (Drums), Vicky Matthews (Cello), Charlie Brown (Violin/Guitar), Rachel Robson (Viola), under the musical direction of Nigel Lilley.
SPRING AWAKENING tells the story of adolescent anarchy, set to one of the most loved scores of the 21st century. A group of teenagers – silenced and controlled by a censorious society – discover a new world of feeling and freedom outside the classroom, with beautiful and devastating consequences.
SPRING AWAKENING opened on Broadway at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre on 10 December 2006 starring Jonathan Groff, Lea Michele, and John Gallagher Jr. It won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Direction, Book, Score and Featured Actor. It embarked on a North American tour in 2008. The musical then opened in London at the Lyric Hammersmith on 23 January 2009, before transferring to the West End’s Novello Theatre in March that same year. It won 4 Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical. SPRING AWAKENING was revived on Broadway in 2015 and in London in 2021.
Speaking on the anniversary concert, Duncan Sheik said “Spring Awakening is the first musical I worked on that managed to get to Broadway and then the West End. Being in London in 2009 for opening night at the Novello with that young and amazing cast was one of the highlights of my life. It is more than exciting that 15 years on, London gets to experience this anniversary concert and I’m honoured that I can be some small part of that.”
Steven Sater said “My youthful dream was to be a part of the theatre in London. So for me, our brilliant original production of Spring Awakening at the Lyric, and then at the Novello, was an answered prayer. Fifteen years later, to bring back that production for a one-night-only anniversary concert, is like having that prayer answered all over again.”
This anniversary concert will also be raising funds on behalf of Imogen Kinchin.
Imogen Kinchin was one of the original producers of SPRING AWAKENING in 2009, guiding the show and its young cast on their journey. Imogen was the Senior Producer at the Lyric Hammersmith for 10 years before joining Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures as Executive Director in 2018. In 2022, Imogen was diagnosed with Stage IV Bowel Cancer. Aside from being one of the most outstanding, creative, inspirational and respected producers in show business, she is a cherished wife, family member and friend. Her cancer is aggressive, yet her resilience is extraordinary, and she remains a positive and hopeful warrior in the face of adversity. A fund, established to support bespoke treatment and her family’s needs as they journey through this cruel disease, has raised over £80,000 to date and is currently being used to pay for immunotherapy that is not available on the NHS. This treatment is only available to Imogen because of the on-going generous donations to this fund.
The company of SPRING AWAKENING have kindly chosen to donate the proceeds from the concert to Imogen’s Fund. Anyone wanting to read more about Imogen’s journey, and to make a donation, can find more information here: www.gofundme.com/f/imogens-fund
SPRING AWAKENING has direction by Jamie Armitage (SIX), musical direction by Nigel Lilley (Newsies, Next to Normal, The Witches), lighting design & production management by Toby Darvill (Treason), sound design by Paul Gatehouse (Mary Poppins) with original UK casting direction by Pippa Ailion.
This charming and classy chamber musical is a delight from start to finish. When Ben and Ami meet on a hillside under a tree, Ami recognises Ben, but he does not know her. When Ben quickly and sweetly explains that his social awkwardness is due to amnesia after an accident, Ami does not take her chance to reveal their relationship before the accident, instead pretending that this is their first meeting.
This problematic start could make Ami an unsympathetic character, but her motivations and fears are gradually revealed and, even if her choices are dubious, it is easy to understand why she made them and see the guilt she feels. Grace Mouat’s wonderful performance ensures that Ami’s manipulations are always seen through the prism of love.
The two time frames – before and after Ben’s accident – are differentiated by clear but simple costume tweaks, ensuring no confusion about when the scenes are taking place. The joy of falling in love soon becomes complicated by family and the realities of living together as Ami supports Ben’s passion for art. As we watch the breakdown of their relationship in parallel with the beginning of their new one, the positive changes Ami has made in her life because of Ben during the years they were apart become obvious and the frustration builds as she shies away from each new chance to tell Ben the truth as she slowly guides him back to his life as an artist.
There are issues with the plot – No friends to tell Ami that Ben was hurt? No photographs of the couple? – but as with any good romcom, the characters’ journey sweeps you along and any plot holes are easily forgiven. Timothy Knapman’s book is polished and funny and Stuart Matthew Price’s music and lyrics soar and are charged with emotion. Georgie Rankcom’s exquisite direction often evokes the warm wistful glow of lost summer afternoons with Yimei Zhao’s blank canvases and neutral colours a continuous reminder of Ben’s lost/future talent. Behind the canvases sit the musicians, led by Ben McQuigg, with just piano, cello and guitar creating a glorious sound as the actors unmiked voices fill the theatre creating an intimate atmosphere.
Grace Mouat and Jacob Fowler are simply brilliant as Ami and Ben, with stunning chemistry. Mouat’s voice is phenomenal, and she nails this complicated character, showing the fear, love and conflicted guilt in each gesture and expression. Fowler is charismatic and has superb comic timing, making the audience love Ben within minutes, and the pair’s voices are beautiful together. Their wonderful performances make Ami and Ben a couple you want to stay together.
THE WORLD TOUR OF LES MISÉRABLES THE ARENA SPECTACULAR
ALFIE BOE AND KILLIAN DONNELLY
WILL SHARE THE ROLE OF JEAN VALJEAN,
AND MICHAEL BALL AND BRADLEY JADEN
WILL SHARE THE ROLE OF JAVERT
IN THE UK
LEADING
A CAST AND ORCHESTRA OF OVER 65
OPENING AT THE SSE ARENA BELFAST
ON 19 SEPTEMBER 2024
Cameron Mackintosh, in association with Nick Grace Management, is delighted to announce that Alfie Boe and Killian Donnelly will share the role of Jean Valjean and Michael Ball and Bradley Jaden will share the role of Javert in the UK, leading a cast and orchestra of over 65 in the forthcoming World Tour of LES MISÉRABLES THE ARENA SPECTACULAR opening at the SSE Arena Belfast on 19 September 2024. UK tour schedule below. Tickets are on sale via lesmis.com/worldtour. Visit the website to view the cast’s scheduled performance dates, which are subject to change. Further casting to be announced soon.
Cameron Mackintosh said today “The spectacular world arena tour of the Les Misérables concert has been a dream of mine for many years. With Les Mis’ 40th phenomenal year starting this October, there couldn’t be a better time for it to happen. A dream concert deserves a dream cast and I couldn’t be more thrilled to announce that the first UK leg of the tour, which opens in Belfast in September and is already more than two thirds sold out, will star Alfie Boe or Killian Donnelly as Jean Valjean and Michael Ball or Bradley Jaden as Javert, heading a cast and orchestra of over 65. Many other favourite Les Misérables performers, chosen from all over the world, will be announced in a few weeks’ time. After the UK, the world tour will play many cities across Europe, the Middle East, Australia, Korea, Japan and several other Asian cities before it returns to Europe and beyond. With the Les Misérables movie now being re-released in cinemas across the world in its completely remixed digital glory, sounding and looking better than ever, and with the London and North American productions still regularly breaking attendance records, Les Misérables is a true phenomenon – The People’s Musical – and the only musical ever to be simultaneously a hit on stage, screen and in concert arenas. Boublil and Schönberg, Herbert Kretzmer and I owe our inspiration to the genius of Victor Hugo’s masterpiece.”
Multi-platinum selling recording artist, Alfie Boe OBE has established a reputation as one of the most powerful and prestigious UK born and bred voices. ‘The Nations favourite tenor’ also often referred to as ‘West End and Broadway Royalty’ has almost 3 decades of a whirlwind career under his belt so far. The Grammy nominated star has won a Tony Award, multiple Classical Brit Awards, a Silver Clef Award to name but a few. Alfie’s recording career has not only acquired him eleven top 10 albums including two number 1’s but numerous sold-out headline tours in the UK as a solo artist and as part of his duo act with Michael Ball ‘Ball and Boe’. He also sold out a US tour with Classic Quadrophenia alongside Pete Townsend, Vegas with his solo ‘Showstoppers’ debut and ‘Lights On Broadway’ that he headlined in Japan. Boe’s spellbinding voice has led him to some of the world’s most prestigious stages. From The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee to the balcony at Buckingham Palace, The Horse Guards Parade for VE Day 70, multiple shows at The Royal Albert Hall, Opera Houses around the world, Theatre stages in The West End and Broadway, U.S Memorial Day at The West Lawn in Washington and many more. A firm favourite of The Royal Family, Alfie also released the official Platinum Jubilee National Anthem as a duet with Sarah Brightman. Alfie progressed from singing Arias on the factory floor underneath cars during his apprenticeship as a mechanic in his home town, to receiving a place at The Royal College Of Music followed by The National Opera Studio and the Royal Opera House. It was the moment the legendary Baz Luhrmann discovered him where things really started to propel. He landed his first Broadway role in La Boheme which resulted in him winning his Tony award. Alfie went on to play Alfredo in La Traviata, Tamino in The Magic Flute, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Ferrando in Cosi Fan Tutti, J. M. Barrie in Finding Neverland on Broadway, The Mikado, Billy Bigelow in Carousel, and the role he is best known for, Jean Valjean in Les Misérables. Alfie’s spine-tingling rendition of ‘Bring Him Home’ continues to blow audiences away. He has played Jean Valjean in the West End and Broadway as well as celebrating the show’s 25th Anniversary at London’s O2 Arena and most recently, The All-Star Concert version of the show alongside Michael Ball and Matt Lucas. Alfie’s recording career took off when he was initially signed in 2006 by Classic FM where he released his first album. He then moved to EMI Records and Decca Universal where he went on to become one of the big success stories and acquired his multiple platinum sales and ten top 10 records. In 2016 he partnered with friend Michael Ball, (who he met on the set of Kismet) to form the duo ‘Ball and Boe’. The pair released a Number 1, double platinum album ‘Together’ followed by an equally successful release of ‘Together Again’. They have since had another 3 chart topping records and continue to sell out Arena tours across the UK. In 2023 Alfie released his most recent solo album ‘Open Arms, The Symphonic Songbook’ on BMG Records. An eleventh top 10 record that showcases an eclectic mix of power ballads accompanied by beautiful orchestral arrangements. He sold out a headline solo tour in the UK and released a Sunday Times Bestselling Memoir book ‘Face The Music’. This followed his appearance in BBC1’s Freeze The Fear with Whim Hoff where fans really grasped an insight to his personal journey. Alfie is set to go back on the road in May this year for his ‘Encore’ tour.
Killian Donnelly has just finished playing Jean Valjean in Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre, having previously played the role to critical acclaim in both the West End production and the sell-out UK and Ireland tour. Killian recently played ‘Bruce Bechdel’ in Fun Home at Gate Theatre, Dublin. His other theatre credits include the role of ‘The Phantom’ in The Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty’s Theatre, ‘Charlie Price’ in Kinky Boots on Broadway, a role he originated at the Adelphi Theatre in the West End in 2015, for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award and for the cast recording a Grammy Award, and ‘Huey’ in the original London cast of Memphis at the Shaftesbury Theatre for which he was also nominated for an Olivier Award. He created the role of ‘Deco’ in The Commitments at the Palace Theatre and has also played ‘Tony’ in Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre, as well as ‘Raoul’ in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre. He first joined the West End company of Les Misérables in 2008, going on to play the role of ‘Enjolras’ from 2009 to 2011. In 2010, he played the role of ‘Courfeyrac’ in the “25th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables” at The O2 Arena and also played the role of ‘Combeferre’ in the multi-award-winning film, which will be re-released in cinemas this month to mark its 10th Anniversary.
Michael Ball is Britain’s leading musical theatre star, a double Olivier Award-winning, Grammy nominated, multi-platinum recording artist and a hugely popular radio and TV presenter. For over 30 years he has been at the top of his game, starring in musical theatre productions in the West End and on Broadway, winning critical acclaim, a devoted following and awards for his stage work and recording career. Michael’s theatre include Edna Turnblad in Hairspray (ENO/Coliseum), Javert in Les Misérables – The Staged Concert (Gielgud Theatre) Anatoly in Chess (ENO/Coliseum), Mack in Mack and Mabel (Chichester/UK Tour), Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd (West End) for which he won the Olivier Award for ‘Best Actor in a Musical’, Edna Turnblad in Hairspray (Original West End Cast) for which he won the Olivier Award for ‘Best Actor in a Musical’, Kismet (English National Opera), Patience (New York City Opera), The Woman in White (West End/Broadway), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (West End), Passion, The Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love (West End/Broadway) and creating the role of. Marius in Les Misérables (Original West End Cast). His television credits include the Victoria Wood BBC TV film, That Day We Sang, opposite his Sweeney Todd co-star, Imelda Staunton. Michael has a successful radio broadcasting career which includes his own show, The Michael Ball Show on BBC Radio 2 on Sundays. He is also a popular TV presenter – he has hosted The Michael Ball Show on ITV1, his first TV travelogue, Wonderful Wales on Channel 5 and most recently an Easter Sunday special for the BBC. He regularly tours the UK as a concert artist and has sold millions of albums over the last 30 years; he’s performed in Australia, China, USA, Japan and, in 2007, made his BBC Proms debut: An Evening with Michael Ball at the Royal Albert Hall which marked the first time a musical theatre star had been given a solo concert at the Proms. In 2016 he released Together, a collaborative effort with close friend and singer Alfie Boe, that featured performances of classic songs. The album became the UK’s best-selling album of 2016 and beat the likes of Little Mix and The Rolling Stones to the Christmas No.1 spot. Ball & Boe then released Together Again which brought the pair yet another No.1 album in 2017, and Back Together which landed them the No.2 spot in the Official Albums Chart. In 2020, Michael and Alfie released their first festive album Together at Christmas featuring both old favourites and originals. Thanks to their latest release ‘Together in Vegas’, which entered the UK album chart at No.3 in October 2022, they have now sold over 1.5 million albums in the UK, received two Classic Brit Awards, sold out two headline arena tours and presented three ITV Specials! During the various U.K. lockdowns, Michael started to pen new material — the result was We Are More Than One, an album more personal than ever before. After learning how to write and record remotely, every track had an inspiring story to tell. His debut novel, ‘The Empire’ – published in Autumn 2022, became a Sunday Times Bestseller and he recently released his first ever memoir titled ‘Different Aspects’.
Bradley Jaden recently received rave reviews for his performance in Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends at the Gielgud Theatre. He also appeared as Raoul in Broadway Italia’s brand new production of The Phantom of the Operain Trieste and most notably as Javert in Les Misérablesat the Sondheim Theatre, a role he also played in the final cast of the musical at the Queen’s Theatre. Prior to that he starred as Enjolras in the concert staging of the production at the Gielgud Theatre. His other West End credits include appearing in the Gala cast of Old Friends at the Sondheim Theatre, Fiyero in Wicked at the Victoria Apollo Theatre, Thomas Percy in Treason: The Musical at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Sir Lancelot in Camelot in Concert at the London Palladium, the UK tour of Ghost The Musical and Shrek The Musical at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. His TV credits include Emmerdale on ITV, Sugar Rush on Channel 4, and most recently EastEnders on BBC One.
The World Tour begins as the stage musical enters its 40th revolutionary year and will run throughout the upcoming 40th anniversary celebrations for the world’s longest running musical in 2025.
LES MISÉRABLES THE ARENA SPECTACULAR will be expanded from the hugely successful Les Misérables The Staged Concert which played for over 200 record-breaking performances in the West End. It will have an extraordinary new design specifically created for arenas (and large theatres) with audiences of between 3,000 and 5,000. This spectacular production will have a company of over 110 actors, musicians and crew featuring a core cast with a great number of celebrated Les Mis guest stars appearing as their schedules allow.
Nick Grace is one of the World’s leading producers and general managers of international touring productions and in the last 25 years has presented shows in 59 countries worldwide including BATMAN LIVE – World Arena Tour, WALKING WITH DINOSAURS – The Arena Spectacular, BLUE MAN GROUP World Tour and the ongoing MAMMA MIA! UK & International Tour.
The critically acclaimed production of Les Misérables continues to play at the Sondheim Theatre where itwill soon enter its 40th revolutionary year, and several other local language productions are currently on or in preparation around the world. To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Oscar-winning movie, a remastered and remixed version will be released in cinemas Nationwide on 14th February.
LES MISERABLES THE ARENA SPECTACULAR – 2024 TOUR LISTINGS
The Menier Chocolate Factory today announces casting the European première of Paul Grellong’s Power of Sail. Dominic Dromgoole directs Julian Ovenden (Charles Nichols), Tanya Franks (Amy), Katie Bernstein (Maggie), Georgia Landers (Quinn) and Paul Rider (Frank).
This production – co-produced with Daryl Roth who previously collaborated with the Menier on the critically acclaimed production of Indecent – opens on 28 March, with previews from the 20March, and runs until 12 May.
Full cast will be announced shortly.
The Menier Chocolate Factory
POWER OF SAIL
By Paul Grellong
20 March – 12 May
Direction: Dominic Dromgoole; Design: Paul Farnsworth; Lighting Design: Oliver Fenwick; Sound Design: Ella Wahlstrőm
All hell breaks loose when Harvard professor Charles Nichols invites a contentious white nationalist to his yearly symposium. His colleagues are very concerned about how this will affect both his and the University’s reputation; his students are vociferously protesting. However, Charles refuses to budge. Is there another agenda?
Penned by Paul Grellong, whose television credits include The Boys and Law & Order: SVU, this moral thriller investigates the thin line between hate and freedom of speech – who bears the ultimate cost? This European première, directed by Dominic Dromgoole, promises to be one of the most talked-about plays of the year.
Julian Ovenden plays Charles Nichols. His theatre work includes South Pacific (Chichester Festival Theatre/Sadler’s Wells), All About Eve (Noël Coward Theatre), The Treatment (Almeida Theatre), My Night With Reg (Donmar Warehouse/Apollo), Show Boat (Lincoln Center), Sunday in the Park With George (Théatre du Châtelet, Paris), Finding Neverland (Curve, Leicester), Death Takes a Holiday (Roundabout Theatre, New York), Annie Get Your Gun (Young Vic), Marguerite, A Woman of No Importance (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Butley (Booth Theatre, New York), Grand Hotel, Merrily We Roll Along (Donmar Warehouse) and King Lear (RSC). For television, his work includes Trigger Point, Avenue 5, Bridgerton, Adult Material, Knightfall, The Crown, Major Crimes, Person of Interest, Death in Paradise, Downton Abbey, The Assets, Cosmos: A Space Odyssey, Smash, Any Human Heart, Foyle’s War, Charmed and The Forsyte Saga; and for film, The People We Hate at the Wedding, The Lost Girls, Made in Italy, Christmas Survival, Head of Honey, Made in Italy, The Confessions, Colonia, Allies and First Night.
Tanya Franks returns to the Menier to play Amy – she previously appeared in The Truth (also Wyndham’s). Her other theatre work includes Othello, Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads (National Theatre), East (Edinburgh and West End), The Good Person of Sichuan (Mercury Theatre, Colchester) and Sherlock Holmes – The Best Kept Secret (West Yorkshire Playhouse). Her television credits include Mum, EastEnders (as series regular Rainie Cross), Pulling (as series regular Karen), Family Affairs (as series regular Karen Ellis) Grantchester, Vera, Broadchurch (as Lucy Stevens) and Liz and Dick; and for film, Aux, We Steal the Old Way, Pieces, The Magnificent Eleven, Get Lucky and One Day.
Katie Bernstein returns to the Menier to play Maggie – she previously appeared as Felicity Rumpers in Habeas Corpus. Her other theatre credits include The Man in the White Suit(Theatre Royal Bath/Wyndham’s), The Play that Goes Wrong (Duchess and UK tour), Mrs Henderon Presents (Noël Coward Theatre),Urinetown (St James/Apollo) and Rent (UK tour). Her television credits include The Devil’s Hour (Amazon Prime) and the upcoming The Tattooist of Auschwitz (Sky).
Georgia Landers plays Quinn. Her theatre work includes Rock n Roll (Hampstead Theatre), Measure for Measure (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Winter’s Tale, The Comedy of Errors (RSC), Anna, Antony and Cleopatra (National Theatre) and A Woman of No Importance (Vaudeville Theatre). For television her work includes The Girl Before, Press and The Looming Tower; and for film, Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
Paul Rider plays Frank. His theatre work includes The Comedy of Errors, The Tempest, Cymbeline, Julius Caesar, Doctor Scroggy’s War, The Knight of the Burning Pestle, The Duchess of Malfi, Henry V, Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, Love’s Labour’s Lost, We the People, Coriolanus, Under the Black Flag (Shakespeare’s Globe), Don’t Destroy Me (Arcola Theatre) ,Don Perlimplin (Cervantes Theatre) Staircase, Cutting of the Cloth (Southwark Playhouse), Chicago (Phoenix and Cambridge Theatres), A Woman of No Importance (Vaudeville Theatre and UK tour), Wise Children (Bristol Old Vic), Hairspray (UK tour), Chekhov in Hell (Plymouth Theatre Royal and Soho Theatre), Comedians (Lyric Hammersmith), Dying for It (Almeida Theatre), Women Beware Women (RSC), Singer (Tricycle Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Albery), The Changing Room (Royal Court at Duke of York’s), and Teechers, and Bouncers (Arts Theatre). His television work includes Dangerous Liaisons, Doc Martin, Horizon – Einstein, French and Saunders, My Family, Victoria Wood With All the Trimmings, Dinnerladies, Murder Most Horrid, The Bare Necessities, Broker’s Man and The Ritz; and for film, Lion Versus The Little People, The War Below, Pond Life, Undercliffe, Making Noise Quietly, A Cock and Bull Story, Honest and Topsy Turvy.
Paul Grellong’s other plays include Manuscript, produced by Daryl Roth at the Daryl Roth Theatre, which has since been performed internationally; Radio Free Emerson (winner of the Elliot Norton Award from the Boston Theater Critics Association for Outstanding New Script), which was commissioned and produced by Rhode Island’s Gamm Theatre. His plays have been read and workshopped at Center Theatre Group, MCC, Trinity Repertory Company, Symphony Space, Echo Theater Company, and the Cape Cod Theatre Project. His television credits include The Boys, Scorpion, Revolution, and Law & Order: SVU. He lives in Los Angeles, where he is an alumnus of the Playwrights Union.
Dominic Dromgoole returns to the Menier to direct – he previously directed Marjorie Prime for the company. He launched a new theatre company, Classic Spring, which produced a year-long celebration of Oscar Wilde in 2017/18 directing the first play in the season, A Woman of No Importance, at the Vaudeville Theatre.Dromgoole was Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe from 2006 to 2016. In that time the Globe grew into an international theatre of progressive ambition and radical scope. Amongst other projects, he created a UK-wide touring operation and grew this touring internationally, culminating in a two-year tour of Hamlet which travelled to every country in the world. In 2012, he directed the Globe to Globe Festival, which hosted companies from 37 different countries. He was previously Artistic Director of the Bush Theatre – during his tenure between 1990-1996 he nurtured upcoming talents by premiering 65 new plays from a host of now influential writers such as Billy Roche, Irvine Welsh and Naomi Wallace. He then moved onto the Oxford Stage Company which he ran from 1999 to 2005. He launched a new film company, Open Palm Films, and made his first feature, Making Noise Quietly, in the summer of 2016. The film, released by an adaptation of Robert Holman’s play of the same name, starred Deborah Findlay, Barbara Marten, Trystan Gravelle and Matthew Tennyson, and was released by Verve in 2019. He is the author of the recently published Astonish Me! First Nights That Changed the World as well as Hamlet: Globe to Globe, The Full Room: An A-Z of Contemporary Playwriting and Will and Me: How Shakespeare Took Over My Life, which won the inaugural Sheridan Morley award.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
MENIER CHOCOLATE FACTORY
PACIFIC OVERTURES
Until 25 February 2024
POWER OF SAIL
20 March – 12 May
Box Office: 020 7378 1713 (£2.50 transaction fee per booking)
SUNSET BOULEVARD LEADS THE FIELD WITH 7 WINS FROM 9 NOMINATIONS, HOWEVER IT IS PIPPED TO THE POST FOR BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL BY BRIDGE THEATRE’S GUYS & DOLLS
A LITTLE LIFE LEADS THE STRAIGHT PLAY CATEGORIES WITH 2 WINS WITH ACTING NODS FOR JAMES NORTON AND LUKE THOMPSON
NICOLE SCHERZINGER, JACK WOLFE, AIMEE LOU WOOD, GRACE HODGETT YOUNG WIN MUSICAL ACCOLADES
RUFUS NORRIS RECEIVES THE AWARD FOR SERVICES TO UK THEATRE
At a ceremony tonight at The London Palladium hosted by Bonnie Langford and Melanie La Barrie, the winners of the 24th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards were announced – the only major theatre awards decided entirely by the theatregoers themselves.
WhatsOnStage’s Darius Thompson and Alex Wood said today, “What a year for UK theatre this has been. Looking at the winners, voted for by WhatsOnStage readers, it is striking just how audiences are keen to lend their support to bold, experimental takes on classic tales – from solo versions of Chekhov to immersive takes on classic musicals, or radical re-imaginings of Andrew Lloyd Webber shows. Long may this continue – theatre would not be able to thrive without challenging and forward-thinking creativity.
“We’ve had a complete blast at The London Palladium – and the team at LW Theatres have been incredible in accommodating everything we’ve thrown at them, including the installation of an auditorium ramp in order to facilitate step-free access to the stage.”
The big winner of the night was Sunset Boulevardwith 7 awards from its 9 nominations, receiving Best Performer in a Musical for Nicole Scherzinger, Best Professional Debut Performance for Grace Hodgett Young, Best Direction for Jamie Lloyd, Best Lighting Design for Jack Knowles, Best Sound Design for Adam Fisher, Best Video Design for Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom and Best Music Direction/Supervision for Alan Williams.
Grace Hodgett Young credit: Roy J Baron
The Best Musical Revival was scooped by Guys & Dolls, still running to critical acclaim at the Bridge Theatre, one of three awards the production took home, also receiving Best Set Design for Bunny Christie and Best Graphic Design by Muse Creative.
James Norton credit: Roy J Baron
In a very evenly spread remaining field, the straight play awards were led by A Little Life – Ivo van Hove’s adaptation of the publishing sensation by Hanya Yanagihara, with James Norton winning Best Performer in a Play, and Luke Thompson winning Best Supporting Performer in a Play. However, Best New Play was snatched by the West End phenomenon Stranger Things: The First Shadow by Kate Trefry, with original story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne and Kate Trefry, currently running at the Phoenix Theatre. Best Play Revival was won by VANYA, adapted for the stage by Simon Stephens with a tour de force performance by Andrew Scott.
Luke Thompson credit: Roy J Baron
Best New Musical was won by the highly garlanded Operation Mincemeat which arrived in the West End last year. The other musical categories saw Jack Wolfe win for the Donmar Warehouse’s production of Next to Normal, which transfers to the West End later this year; Aimee Lou Wood won Best Takeover for her turn as Cabaret’s Sally Bowles with the production also winning Best West End Show; and Best Choreography went to Matt Cole for Disney’s Newsies.
Aimee Lou Wood credit: Roy J Baron
This year’s Award for Services to UK Theatre was presented to Rufus Norris, Director of the National Theatre, who has led the company to great critical success. This has culminated in one of the most prolific years for them with work across the West End, including Dear England, The Motive and The Cue, The Ocean at the End of the Lane and The Crucible, as well as across all their stages, and tours including The Ocean at the End of the Lane, and Sucker Punch.
Best Costume Design went to Ryan Dawson Laight for his sumptuous work on La Cage aux Folles at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre; and Best Casting Direction to Jill Green for The Little Big Things.
Best Off-West End Production went to Flowers for Mrs Harris; Best Concert Event to Love Never DiesIn Concert at Theatre Royal Drury Lane; and Best Regional Production to The Lord of the Rings at The Watermill Theatre, continuing a spectacular year for the venue.
Performances at this evening’s event included Disney’s Newsies, Flowers for Mrs Harris, Guys & Dolls, La Cage aux Folles, Next to Normal, Operation Mincemeat and The Sound of Music, accompanied by a 25-piece orchestra, as well as an exclusive world premiere from Burlesque the Musical, and three additional specially curated performances, including a tribute to Chita Rivera, a trip down memory lane to relive some iconic performances from the last few decades and a showcase of theatre’s next rising stars.
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24TH ANNUAL WHATSONSTAGE AWARDS (WINNERS IN BOLD)
Best Performer in a Musical – sponsored by TickX
Michael Ahomka-Lindsay, Disney’s Newsies, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre Natasha Hodgson, Operation Mincemeat, Fortune Theatre Ed Larkin, The Little Big Things, @sohoplace Caissie Levy, Next to Normal, Donmar Warehouse Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre Marisha Wallace, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Best Supporting Performer in a Musical – sponsored by Newman Displays
Aynrand Ferrer, Miss Saigon, Sheffield Crucible Jak Malone, Operation Mincemeat, Fortune Theatre Jason Manford, The Wizard of Oz, The London Palladium Cedric Neal, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre Amy Trigg, The Little Big Things, @sohoplace Jack Wolfe, Next to Normal, Donmar Warehouse
Best Performer in a Play – sponsored by Sine Digital
Paapa Essiedu, The Effect, National Theatre Joseph Fiennes, Dear England, National Theatre and Prince Edward Theatre James Norton, A Little Life, Harold Pinter Theatre and Savoy Theatre Taylor Russell, The Effect, National Theatre Andrew Scott, VANYA, Duke of York’s Theatre Sheridan Smith, Shirley Valentine, Duke of York’s Theatre
Best Supporting Performer in a Play – sponsored by Situation Interactive
Michele Austin, The Effect, National Theatre Will Close, Dear England, National Theatre and Prince Edward Theatre Bryony Corrigan, I, Daniel Blake, UK tour Luke Thompson, A Little Life, Harold Pinter Theatre and Savoy Theatre Zubin Varla, A Little Life, Harold Pinter Theatre and Savoy Theatre Anjana Vasan, A Streetcar Named Desire, Almeida Theatre and Phoenix Theatre
Best Takeover Performance – sponsored by AKT London
Karis Anderson, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, Aldwych Theatre Cory English, Back to the Future: The Musical, Adelphi Theatre Mason Alexander Park, Cabaret, The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre Lucy St. Louis, Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre Rebecca Lucy Taylor, Cabaret, The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre Aimee Lou Wood, Cabaret, The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
Best Professional Debut Performance – sponsored by AKA
Rita Bernard-Shaw, Trouble in Butetown, Donmar Warehouse Laura Dawkes, Frozen, Theatre Royal Drury Lane Lou Henry, SIX, UK tour Grace Hodgett Young, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre Louis McCartney, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre Andrew Richardson, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Best New Musical – sponsored by Travelzoo
Disney’s Newsies, Alan Menken, Jack Feldman and Harvey Fierstein, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre The Little Big Things, Nick Butcher, Tom Ling and Joe White, @sohoplace Mrs. Doubtfire, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, Shaftesbury Theatre Next to Normal, Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt, Donmar Warehouse Operation Mincemeat, SpitLip, Fortune Theatre The Time Traveller’s Wife, Lauren Gunderson, Joss Stone, Dave Stewart and Kait Kerrigan, Apollo Theatre
Best Musical Revival – sponsored by Concord Theatricals
Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre La Cage aux Folles, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre The Lord of the Rings, The Watermill Theatre, Newbury The Sound of Music, Chichester Festival Theatre Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre The Wizard of Oz, Curve, Leicester and The London Palladium
Best New Play – sponsored by Ticketmaster
A Little Life, Adapted by Koen Tachelet, Ivo Van Hove and Hanya Yanagihara, Harold Pinter Theatre and Savoy Theatre Cowbois, Charlie Josephine, Swan Theatre Dear England, James Graham, National Theatre and Prince Edward Theatre Hamnet, by Maggie O’Farrell, adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti, Swan Theatre and Garrick Theatre The Motive and the Cue, Jack Thorne, National Theatre Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Kate Trefry, Jack Thorne and the Duffer Brothers, Phoenix Theatre
Best Play Revival – sponsored by Edwardian Hotels London – Official Hotel Partner
A Streetcar Named Desire, Almeida Theatre and Phoenix Theatre The Effect, National Theatre The Merchant of Venice 1936, UK tour The Pillowman, Duke of York’s Theatre Shirley Valentine, Duke of York’s Theatre VANYA, Duke of York’s Theatre
Best West End Show – sponsored by Dewynters
Back to the Future: The Musical, Adelphi Theatre Cabaret, The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre Les Misérables, Sondheim Theatre Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Piccadilly Theatre The Phantom of the Opera, His Majesty’s Theatre SIX, Vaudeville Theatre
Best Regional Production – sponsored by Music Theatre International
Boys from the Blackstuff, Royal Court, Liverpool Choir Boy, Bristol Old Vic In Dreams, Leeds Playhouse The Lord of the Rings, The Watermill Theatre, Newbury Miss Saigon, Sheffield Crucible To Wong Foo The Musical, Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
Best Off-West End Production – sponsored by Theatrical Rights Worldwide
Flowers for Mrs Harris, Riverside Studios George Takei’s Allegiance, Charing Cross Theatre Othello, Riverside Studios Rebecca, Charing Cross Theatre Scouts! The Musical, The Other Palace Studio The Shape of Things, Park Theatre
Best Concert Event – sponsored by TikTok
Ariana DeBose in Concert, The London Palladium Darren Criss, The London Palladium Evita in Concert, Theatre Royal Drury Lane Love Never Dies in Concert, Theatre Royal Drury Lane Once: In Concert, The London Palladium Schwartz at 75, Lyric Theatre
Best Direction – sponsored by LOVEtheatre
Polly Findlay, Assassins, Chichester Festival Theatre Rebecca Frecknall, A Streetcar Named Desire, Almeida Theatre and Phoenix Theatre Rupert Goold, Dear England, National Theatre and Prince Edward Theatre Nicholas Hytner, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre Jamie Lloyd, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre Sam Mendes, The Motive and the Cue, National Theatre
Best Musical Direction/Supervision
Mark Aspinall and Sioned Saunders, The Lord of the Rings, The Watermill Theatre, Newbury Nick Barstow and Nigel Lilley, Next to Normal, Donmar Warehouse Cat Beveridge and Nigel Lilley, The Witches, National Theatre Tom Brady, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre Stephen Brooker, Alfonso Casado Trigo and Stephen Metcalfe, Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, Gielgud Theatre Alan Williams, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
Best Casting Direction
Alastair Coomer and Naomi Downham, The Motive and the Cue, National Theatre Anna Cooper, Next to Normal, Donmar Warehouse Jill Green, The Little Big Things, @sohoplace Bryony Jarvis-Taylor, Dear England, National Theatre and Prince Edward Theatre Bryony Jarvis-Taylor, The Witches, National Theatre Jessica Ronane, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
Best Choreography – sponsored by Tandem Marketing
Fabian Aloise, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre Matt Cole, Disney’s Newsies, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf, Dear England, National Theatre and Prince Edward Theatre Stephen Mear, La Cage aux Folles, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Arlene Phillips with James Cousins, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, Free Your Mind, Factory International
Best Costume Design
Bunny Christie and Deborah Andrews, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre Lizzie Clachan, The Witches, National Theatre Ryan Dawson Laight, La Cage aux Folles, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Gregory Gale, To Wong Foo The Musical, Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester Gareth Pugh, Free Your Mind, Factory International Grace Smart, Cowbois, Swan Theatre
Best Lighting Design – sponsored by White Light
Rory Beaton and Lucy Carter, The Time Traveller’s Wife, Apollo Theatre Jon Clark, Dear England, National Theatre and Prince Edward Theatre Jon Clark, The Effect, National Theatre Jon Clark, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre Paule Constable, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Jack Knowles, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
Best Set Design – sponsored by Preevue
Miriam Buether, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre Bunny Christie, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre Lizzie Clachan, Assassins, Chichester Festival Theatre Lizzie Clachan, The Witches, National Theatre Chloe Lamford, Phaedra, National Theatre Morgan Large, Disney’s Newsies, Wembley Troubadour Park Theatre
Best Sound Design
Paul Arditti, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre Paul Arditti, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre Dan Balfour and Tom Gibbons, Dear England, National Theatre and Prince Edward Theatre Adam Fisher, The Lord of the Rings, The Watermill Theatre, Newbury Adam Fisher, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre Tony Gayle, Next to Normal, Donmar Warehouse
Best Video Design – sponsored by GDL
59 Productions, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre Andrzej Goulding, Miss Saigon, Sheffield Crucible Andrzej Goulding, The Time Traveller’s Wife, Apollo Theatre Ash J Woodward, Dear England, National Theatre and Prince Edward Theatre Ash J Woodward, The Witches, National Theatre
Best Graphic Design – sponsored by Hexagon Print
Bob King Creative, Operation Mincemeat, Fortune Theatre Muse Creative, Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre Jeremy Coysten and North Design, Free Your Mind, Factory International The Creative Partnership, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre Feast Creative, La Cage aux Folles, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Rick Guest, Rob Rae and the NT Graphics Studio, Dear England, National Theatre and Prince Edward Theatre
Harold Pinter Theatre, London – until 15th June 2024
Reviewed by Celia Armand Smith
4****
It’s the summer of 1976 in Blackpool and the heat is all consuming. Jez Butterworth’s newest play directed by Sam Mendes, tells the story of four sisters returning to their childhood home to say goodbye to their dying mother. The Hills of California sees sisters Jill (Helena Wilson) who stayed behind to look after their mother and missed out on life, Ruby (Ophelia Lovibond) who is a bored housewife prone to panic attacks, and Gloria (Leanne Best) who arrives in a sweaty and sweary whirlwind with her dopey husband and kids, gather at the family home. They are awaiting the arrival of Joan (Laura Donnelly), the glamorous oldest sister who they haven’t seen or heard from in twenty years after she left in hurry for America despite being their mother’s supposed favourite. For the first two acts, her absence is huge and consuming.
The entire play takes place in the family’s struggling guesthouse, Sea View (with no view of the sea). At the centre of Rob Howell’s stunning set is a huge imposing staircase that leads to several rooms named after American states, such as the glamorous far away lands of Minnesota and Alaska. The set rotates and the stairs swing round to reveal the sisters as children in the 1950s, singing in the kitchen with their mother, Veronica (also played by Laura Donnelly). Veronica is an ambitious stage mother who is pushing her children towards stardom with an Andrews Sisters style group whether they are along for the ride or not. The close harmonies and dancing are beautifully executed and they pay brilliant homage to the sister groups of the 40s and 50s.
Things take an inevitable turn when a slimy American agent comes to the house to see the girls perform at the behest of a local comic played by Bryan Dick. Shaun Dooley and Richard Lumsden round out the cast with a tragic comedy and musical stylings, all the male cast members playing characters in the past and present. The men in the play are all kind and hapless or creeps, there for comic effect or to be the receiving end of a sharp tongue.
This is a play with women at its centre about family, grief, and sacrifice. It is however laugh out loud funny with Ophelia Lovibond and Leanne Best delivering some of the best lines in the piece, and the singing from both the younger and older casts is achingly beautiful with perfect harmonies.
Never faltering in its ability to hold the audience’s attention, this ensemble piece from is both captivating and heartbreaking, and you would expect nothing less from Jez Butterworth. In the final moments of The Hills of California, the sisters are unified by song, and all the past traumas seem to dissipate and a peace finally falls over the house.
The Rose Theatre brings you this beautiful production that is a moving and compelling story, which has so much to offer. Based on the novel by Onjali Q. Rauf, which tells the story of Ahmet (Farshid Rokey), a refugee, that all begins with an empty chair at the back of the class. With no one knowing his story the rest of his classmates become eager to understand where he’s come from and what he’s been through.
Whilst watching the shy and unsure character that stands before them, telling his story through pictures, as he cannot speak English, a group of friends, Alexa (Sasha Desouza-Willock), Tom (Gordon Millar), Josie (Petra Joan-Athene) and Michael (Abdul-Malik Janneh) realise just how much this scared and unsure boy has been through.
The friends begin to formulate a plan, calling themselves the A Team, to help Ahmet find his family, who he has lost through his tumultuous journey.
During his time at his new school, he is subjected to bullying by certain individuals; not only a fellow student Brendan (Joe Mcnamara), but by a teacher Mr Irons (Zoe Zak) as well. With the support of the “A Team” and the head teacher, Mrs Kahn (Priya Davdra) Ahmet and his friends learn that Kindness is the most powerful thing that anyone can offer.
Throughout this production the cast offered many funny moments, with much laughter, providing light relief to the more serious moments and themes of the story. The cast had such a strong connection, which was amazing to watch. I can truly say that this production made me laugh, gave me goosepimples and offered such emotion I even cried, that when I looked around, the whole audience was experiencing the same.
This is definitely a production that is not to be missed, truly outstanding!
Hull Truck Theatre – 10th February 2024 and 12th February 2024
Reviewed by Dawn Bennett
5*****
A Great Pirate Adventure is part of Hull Trucks half term activities. Aimed at children between the ages of 3 and 6 years old this is a great chance to get young children involved in, and watch, theatre. This is the first review of a show I have done that had a craft session is included in the ticket price! The children involved made a pirate hat, eye patch and hook with help from the adults they brought with them and HEY and Hull Truck volunteers. A lot of the parents/guardians I spoke to said they had attended things at Hull Truck before that had a craft session related to the show they were seeing and had already booked for the shows that were being done during the Easter holidays. A lot also said how it helped children understand how a theatre worked and how to sit and watch a show and what happened during one.
After the 45 minutes craft session the actors (Sophie Clay and Jack Fielding) came out, introduced themselves to audience and took us into Hull Trucks Stage 1 auditorium. The children sat on the stage and the rest of us behind them and Sophie and Jack began the story of A Great Pirate Adventure.
Sophie had lots of jobs and she’d been sacked from all of them, they got the children to tell them what jobs they thought she’d done and why she had been sacked … it turns out the children were right, she wasn’t very good at any of the jobs. She meets Mr. Be-ard (Jack) who asks her to help him find something he’s lost and this really looks like a treasure map and he does look like a pirate! The actors really get the children involved, from walking the plank, wearing their eye patches and hats and when a parrot and a mermaid appeared the children absolutely loved it. After visiting an island Sophie, with the help of the children, find the treasure and then she realises that Mr. Be-ard isn’t her friend and neighbour but Captain Bad Beard the pirate!! It turns out that the captain doesn’t want to be a pirate anymore…he wants to retire and so he asks Sophie to be the pirate captain and she does!
This is a great show for the younger members of the theatre audience, a great introduction to theatre and a craft session thrown in. It is pitched at just the right level, isn’t too long and Sophie and Jack were brilliant in the way they interacted with the audience And I don’t know who enjoyed it more, me, the children or the adults that they brought with them!
Mayflower Theatre, Southampton – until 10 February 2024
Reviewed by Lorna Hancock
5*****
Birmingham Royal Ballet’s beautiful production was created by Sir Peter Wright, the genius behind the Company’s famous The Nutcracker and Swan Lake.
As to be expected the ballet follows the classic and well known tale. A beautiful princess falling into a deep sleep, after being cursed by a wicked fairy and pricking her finger, and the curse can only be broken by true love’s kiss. The Sleeping Beauty has been delighting audiences for well over a hundred years, adding entrancing ballet to this favourite childhood story. Set to Tchaikovsky’s inspiring music, magnificently played live by the acclaimed Royal Ballet Sinfonia.
I brought my ten year old aspiring ballerina along to help me with this review, and I have to say she was lost for words, in awe of the captivating dancing. We both said that Princess Aurora (Yu Kurihara) reminded us of a most beautiful music box ballerina. The delicate and perfect way she held the most difficult positions, was absolutely stunning to watch, whilst wearing the most exquisite tutu, we couldn’t take our eyes off of her.
I would like to add note aside of the performance, on the subject of taking children to a ballet. I have taken my daughters to a fair few ballets in the past, and I have never come across such a brilliant programme before. Apart from containing so much interesting information, and wonderful photos, I absolutely loved the way it had a simplified cartoon breakdown of the storyline for children. I’ve haven’t seen this before and thought the idea was genius!
Now returning to the performance itself, it is so hard to find the words to describe such a remarkable performance. The set design was simple yet superb and gave the grand illusion of splendour. The costume department have also done a fabulous job, the costumes were all stunning.
The company as a whole performed charmingly, from the flawless pointe work, to the traditional mime. We really loved the cleverly portrayed jollity between the hunting party, the bewitching dream sequence and we enjoyed discovering the characteristics of each fairy through their expressive dance.
A delightful performance leading up to a spectacle of a finale glittering with gold.
Kings Theatre, Portsmouth – Thursday 8th February 2023
Reviewed by Sally Lumley
5*****
For one night only, showbiz royalty arrived in Portsmouth last night as Kerry Ellis and Louise Dearman took to the stage at the Kings theatre in A Wicked Night. This was a stripped back showcase of exceptional talent, with some stories and laughs along the way.
Both singers are leading ladies in their own right: on the West End, with numerous studio albums and as established concert performers. However, what might not be so well known is that they first met back in college 30 years ago and have remained friends ever since. The relaxed mood, with chat show style interviews led by the Kings Theatre artistic director Jack Edwards peppered throughout, allowed the audience to gain some personal insights from both performers about both their careers and their friendship. Each song was given a little extra poignancy, as we heard why it was chosen. Some particularly touching moments were when Louise Dearman sang Rainbow Connection from the Muppets, which she had recorded on an album of lullabies after her daughter was born, and Kerry Ellis giving a beautiful rendition of Alfie, a song that shares the name of her first born. They shared some of the challenges of a career in music, such as auditions, and juggling performing with motherhood, as well as some career highlights that included performing in front of the Royal Family, on international tours, and at the recent Festival of Remembrance.
With musical director Craig Adams accompanying the singers on grand piano, and minimal staging, it gave space for the vocals to shine. And wow, they sure did shine! This truly was a masterclass, showing exactly why both women have achieved such success. With a mix of solos and duets, and songs from musicals to Cilla Black, there was something for everyone. Using local choirs – the Resonate Show Choir and the Kings Theatre Arts Academy Choir – for some of the numbers added an extra dimension, with the young soloists bringing a lump to everyone’s throat in You Will Be Found. Particular highlights for me were the Garland/Babs medley and of course hearing Defying Gravity sung by not one, but two Elphabas was a real treat!
Kudos to Kings Theatre for having the vision to bring this show to Portsmouth. As was pointed out, it’s not every day we get two West End leading ladies in this neck of the woods. Judging by the reception last night, there is certainly an audience for more of the same. It felt like a treat to be included in what felt like a special night, where a genuine friendship and a love of performing shone through.
