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AWARD WINNING MUSICAL

TO MAKE UK PREMIERE IN 2026

The award-winning musical to open as a fully staged UK production next year

This Saturday night, Jason Manford performs “It’s A Musical” from the show
on BBC 1’s Big Night of Musicals

Sign-up for all production information at www.kmjentertainment.com/something-rotten

Broadway and West End producers, Kevin McCollum of Alchemation and Joshua Andrews of JAS Theatricals, are pleased to announce that a fully staged production of the 10-time Tony Award nominated comedy musical Something Rotten! will make its UK premiere in 2026.

The production follows the acclaimed, sold-out concert performances of the show at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 2024, which last month won the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Concert Event.

This weekend, renowned performer Jason Manford will perform one of the show’s most popular numbers “It’s A Musical”when he presents BBC’s Big Night of Musicals, which broadcasts on Saturday 22 March on BBC1.

All production information, including dates and cast, will be announced in due course.

To be first to receive information about the 2026 UK premiere production of Something Rotten!, sign up at www.kmjentertainment.com/something-rotten

Something Rotten! is the hilarious musical comedy with a book by John O’Farrell and Karey Kirkpatrick and music and lyrics by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick. Set in 1595, the story follows the Bottom brothers, Nick and Nigel, who struggle to find success in the theatrical world as they compete with the wild popularity of their contemporary, William Shakespeare. In desperation to finally win one over on their rival, they come up with the novel idea to write the world’s first ever musical!

The show ran for over 700 performances on Broadway and was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Hugely successful US Tours and various international productions have followed and in 2024 a UK concert version was presented over 3 performances at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, starring Jason Manford, Marisha Wallace, Gary Wilmot and Richard Fleeshman. The concert shows received rave reviews, as well as the 2025 WhatsOn Stage Award for Best Concert Event. 

Kevin McCollum and Joshua Andrews said:
“After the success of the Broadway run and American tour and the incredible response to the Drury Lane concerts we are excited to bring the show to the land of Shakespeare!”

FLORALS FOR SPRING? GROUNDBREAKING.
VANESSA WILLIAMS EXTENDING HER REIGN AS MIRANDA PRIESTLY?

FABULOUS!

WITH MUSIC BY ELTON JOHN,

LYRICS BY SHAINA TAUB AND MARK SONNENBLICK,

AND BOOK BY KATE WETHERHEAD

DIRECTED & CHOREOGRAPHED BY
THE MULTI AWARD-WINNING JERRY MITCHELL

BASED ON THE NOVEL BY LAUREN WEISBERGER AND THE HIT TWENTIETH CENTURY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURE

AT THE DOMINION THEATRE UNTIL 3 JANUARY 2026

That’s NOT all! Vanessa Williams will continue to guard the gates of the fashion empire at the Dominion Theatre, playing the irrepressible Miranda Priestly, until 18 October 2025.Best known for her celebrated roles in Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives and as a multi-award-winning singer,she first donned Prada (and Pamella Roland) in Plymouth last summer and then opened in the West End at the end of last year.

Vanessa will continue to be joined by Olivier Award winner and Grammy nominated, Matt Henry (Kinky Boots; The Drifters Girl), MBE,as Runway’s Creative Fashion Director, Nigel, Georgie Buckland (Shrek The Musical; Bedknobs and Broomsticks) making her West End debut playing the driven Andy, Amy Di Bartolomeo (SIX; We Will Rock You) as the icy First Assistant to Miranda, Emily (for which she has received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical) and James Darch (Mamma Mia!; Wicked) as the devious journalist, Christian.

While Rhys Whitfield is on an agreed leave of absence, from Thursday 27 March Jamie Bogyo* (Moulin Rouge!; Aspects of Love) will star as Andy’s long-term boyfriend, Nate for a limited season.

Completing the cast are: Maddy Ambus, Gabby Antrobus, Selena Barron, Pamela Blair, Robertina Bonano, Josh Damer-Jennings, Lloyd Davies, Elishia Edwards, Akeem Ellis-Hyman, Jinny Gould, Natasha Heyward, Samuel How, Luke Jackson, Emma Johnson, Debbie Kurup, Nathan Lorainey-Dineen, Liam Marcellino, Ciro Lourencio Meulens, Theo Papoui, Christopher Parkinson, Eleanor Peach, Ethan Le Phong, Jon Reynolds, Harriet Samuel-Gray, Olivia Saunders, Brandon Lee Sears, Joshua Steel, Kayleigh Thadani, Ella Valentine, and Tara Yasmin.

*Please note that casting for performances from 18 October 2025 is to be confirmed in due course. The producer cannot guarantee the appearance of any artist at any specific performance and reserves the right to substitute an alternate artist when required as a result of the indisposition, injury or illness of a member of the performing company of the production.

The Devil Wears Prada, a new musical,has become the fastest selling show in the Dominion’s history, opening with record breaking sales and playing to rapturous audiences. It is now booking until 3 January 2026.

In December of last year, the show officially opened with a special gala night which raised over £750,000 for the Elton John AIDS Foundation—and was attended by guests including Anna Wintour, Donatella Versace, Lily Collins, Edward Enninful, Bob Geldof, Graham Norton, Zandra Rhodes, Amelia Dimoldenberg, Elizabeth Hurley, and many more.

The Devil Wears Prada, features an all-star, award-winning creative team led by Elton John (Tammy Faye, Billy Elliot: The Musical, The Lion King), new direction & choreography by Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde, Pretty Woman, Hairspray), lyrics by singer-songwriter Shaina Taub (Suffs) and Mark Sonnenblick (Theatre Camp), book by Kate Wetherhead (Ever After, Submissions Only), set design by Tim Hatley (Life of Pi, Back to the Future), costume design by Gregg Barnes (Some Like It Hot, Legally Blonde), lighting design by Bruno Poet (The Tina Turner Musical, Frankenstein), sound design by Gareth Owen (Come From Away, & Juliet) and casting by Jill Green CDG.

The production played an exclusive preview engagement from 06 July – 17 August at Theatre Royal Plymouth prior to opening in the West End.

Hilariously fun and fabulously stylish, The Devil Wears Prada tells an inspiring story about discovering what kind of person you truly want to be. Choose your outfit carefully and get ready for a new musical that’s hautter than hell!

Fresh out of college, aspiring journalist Andy scores a job at the prestigious Runway magazine working for fashion’s most powerful and terrifying icon — editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly. Sacrificing her personal life to meet Miranda’s impossible demands, Andy finds herself seduced by the glamorous world she once despised. How far will she go to succeed… and will it be worth selling her soul to get what she’s always wanted?

The musical is based on Lauren Weisberger’s best-selling 2003 novel and the 2006 blockbuster film from Twentieth Century Studios which went on to gross $326 million worldwide and received two Academy Award nominations.

The Devil Wears Prada is produced by four time Tony Award winner Kevin McCollum (Mrs. Doubtfire, In the Heights, Avenue Q and Rent), Rocket Entertainment/David Furnish (Tammy Faye, Billy Elliot: The Musical) and Jamie Wilson (Mrs Doubtfire, Ain’t Too Proud, Sister Act The Musical) as a co-production with Theatre Royal Plymouth, and presented by special arrangement with Buena Vista Theatrical.

MULTI OLIVIER NOMINATED
TITANIQUE EXTENDS
AT CRITERION THEATRE THROUGH TO JANUARY 2026

AND RELEASES NEW PHOTOS

london.titaniquemusical.com

Eva Price and Michael Harrison are delighted to announce their Olivier Award Nominated splash hit West End musical Titanique has extended its booking period to Sunday 4 January 2026. They have also today released new images of the original West End cast currently starring at London’s Criterion Theatre.

Titanique has been nominated for three Olivier awards; for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play, Lauren Drew for Best Actress in a Musical and Layton Williams for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical.

You can see Titanique on your screens this weekend with Lauren Drew, Rob Houchen and Kat Ronney set to perform on Comic Relief: Red Nose Day on BBC 2 from 10pm on Friday 21 March and the full company on The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals on BBC 1 from 6.50pm on Saturday 22 March.

Tickets to “The West End’s funniest new musical” (Smooth Radio) are on sale at london.titaniquemusical.com

The original West End company of Darren Bennett (Singin’ in the Rain, Grease) as Victor Garber / Luigi, Lauren Drew as Céline Dion, Jordan Luke Gage(Bonnie & Clyde, & Juliet) as Cal, Stephen Guarino (Showtime’s I’m Dying Up Here, Netflix’s Eastsiders) as Ruth, Rob Houchen (Les Misérables) as Jack, Kat Ronney (Hex) as Rose, Charlotte Wakefield (The Great British Bake Off Musical) as Molly Brown and Layton Williams (Cabaret, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) as the Iceberg; as well as Adrianne Langley (Sixties Girls), Madison Swan (The Book of Mormon) andRodney Vubya (The Book of Mormon) as on-stage background vocalists and offstage understudies Freddie King (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes) and Kristina Walz (Titanique, New York) are scheduled to appear until Sunday 8 June 2025.

Casting from 8 June is to be announced.

★★★★★
The Times, Daily Mail, Sunday Express, Sunday Mirror, Gay Times, London Theatre

When the music of Céline Dion makes sweet Canadian love with the eleven-time Oscar®-winning blockbuster film Titanic, you get Titanique, off Broadway’s most award-winning splash hit that turns one of the greatest love stories of all time into a hysterical musical fantasia.

Want to find out what really happened to Jack and Rose on that fateful night? Just leave it to Céline Dion to enchant the audience with her totally wild take, recharting the course of Titanic’s beloved moments and characters with her iconic song catalogue. Sailing on fierce powerhouse voices in show-stopping performances of such hits as My Heart Will Go On, All by Myself and To Love you More – backed by a full live band – Titanique is a one-of-a-kind theatrical voyage bursting with nostalgia, heart and campy chaos. “Fantastique! 100 minutes of cast iron hysteria!” (Daily Mail)

Co-written by Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle and Constantine Rousouli, Titanique celebrated its Off-Broadway premiere in June 2022 at Asylum Theater, starring the musical’s co-authors Mindelle and Rousouli as Céline Dion and Jack Dawson. After several sold-out extensions, the musical transferred to the Daryl Roth Theatre on 20 November 2022 where it continues to play.

Titanique is directed by Tye Blue and choreographed by Ellenore Scott. Music Supervision, Arrangements and Orchestrations are by IRNE Award-Winner Nicholas James Connell. Scenic Design for Titanique is by Gabriel Hainer Evansohn and Grace Lauchbacher for Iron Bloom Creative Production; Costume Design is by Alejo Vietti; and Lighting Design is by Paige Seber; and Sound Design is by Lawrence Schober with casting by Pearson Casting CDG.

Titanique won seven major awards during the 2022/23 theatre season, including three Lucille Lortel Awards, the Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best New Musical, Las Culturistas’ Culture Award for Best Indoor Performance and two Dorian Awards.

The London production of Titanique is produced by Eva Price and Michael Harrison.

ROSE THEATRE, CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE AND ETT
ANNOUNCE FULL CAST & CREATIVE TEAM FOR
UK PREMIERE OF MARIE AND ROSETTA
STARRING BEVERLEY KNIGHT

A ROSE THEATRE, CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE AND ETT CO-PRODUCTION

To mark the 110^th anniversary of the birth of American singer and songwriter Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Rose Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre and ETT today announce the full cast and creative team for the UK premiere of George Brant’s (Grounded) critically-acclaimed Marie and Rosetta, the roof-raising play with music telling the true story of Tharpe and her protégé Marie Knight. Directed by Monique Touko (The Boy at the Back of the Class; School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play), this production featuring gospel and blues hits is an electrifying portrait of the godmother of rock ’n’ roll.

As previously announced, celebrating her professional play debut as Rosetta Tharpe, is multi award-winning singer and actress Beverley Knight, whose many West End performances include Memphis, The Drifters Girl, Sylvia (for which she won an Olivier Award) and Sister Act.

Joining Beverley Knight is Ntombizodwa Ndlovu, an up-and-coming talent making her London stage debut as Marie Knight, Rosetta’s protege and musical partner. Her recent theatre credits include, Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, The Space Between Us, Mixtape, Nothing, and The Mountain Top (Royal Exchange Theatre).

The creative team joining Touko includes Lily Arnold (Set Designer), Jodie-Simone Howe (Costume Designer), Kloé Dean (Movement Director), Liam Godwin (Music Supervisor, Arranger & Orchestrator), Matt Haskins (Lighting Designer), Tony Gayle (Sound Designer), Bethan Clark (Intimacy Director), Joel Trill (Voice & Dialect Coach), Jacob Sparrow (Casting Director), Jordi M. Carter (Associate Director), and Teresa Nagel (Associate Lighting Designer).

Marie and Rosetta runs at the Rose Theatre in Kingston 2 – 24 May (Press Performance: Friday 9 May ) before transferring to the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre 27 – 31 May and Chichester Festival Theatre 25 June – 26 July (Press Performance: Wednesday 2 July).

Monique Touko, Director, said: “With this UK premiere, I am incredibly grateful to work alongside such a talented, reflective, and passionate creative team whose skill and dedication will bring this story to life in the most profound way. We have found our Marie in Ntombizodwa Ndlovu, and alongside Beverley Knight, we aim to create a space where Marie and Rosetta’s powerful bond and transformative influence can resonate with UK audiences. From the performances to the design, and the injection of live music, every element of this production works in harmony to highlight the immense cultural significance of these trailblazing women.”

Christopher Haydon, Artistic Director of Rose Theatre, said: ”Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight’s story is a powerful, essential and thrilling tale of creativity and triumph in the face of adversity. To truly honour the work of such  remarkable artists, we need the most exceptional cast and creative team. Monique Touko has assembled just such a group of artists. Their talent and passion will create something extraordinary, a production that will soar with passion, style and integrity. I cannot wait to share it with our audience.”

Justin Audibert, Artistic Director of Chichester Festival Theatre, said: “It’s thrilling that Monique Touko has recruited a bright young star, Ntombizodwa Ndlovu, to play opposite the magnificent Beverley Knight as Rosetta. Together with her excellent creative team, I know they will give us a revelatory, memorable and exhilarating experience. It’s no surprise to us that our audiences have rushed to snap up tickets to see this remarkable play in the intimate environment of the Minerva Theatre, and we can’t wait to see it, both here in Chichester, in Kingston and in Wolverhampton.”

Richard Twyman, Artistic Director & CEO, and Sophie Scull, Executive Producer of ETT said: “Marie and Rosetta is a beautiful and brilliant play, based on extraordinary women. Monique Touko has brought together a truly world-class cast and creative team to realise this poignant story, that I know will resonate powerfully today. We cannot wait for audiences in Kingston, Chichester and Wolverhampton to experience the production and be carried away by this magical celebration of music and theatre.”

Marie and Rosetta is a co-production between Rose Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre and ETT.      

Tickets for the Rose Theatre can be booked via www.rosetheatre.org.    
Tickets for Wolverhampton Grand can be booked via www.grandtheatre.co.uk/.               
Tickets for Chichester Festival Theatre can be booked viawww.cft.org.uk/.

National Theatre at Home to stream Olivier Award-winning Life of Pi from 10 April – an Easter treat for the whole family

National Theatre at Home, the National Theatre’s pioneering streaming platform, announces the release* of Life of Pi by Yann Martel, adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti. From 10 April, audiences can watch this ‘triumph’ (★★★★★ Sunday Times) which won the 2022 Olivier Awards for Best New Play, Best Actor for Hiran Abeysekera’s (The Father and the Assassin)performance as Pi, and a historic first for the seven performers who played the tiger, collectively winning Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

Puppetry, magic and storytelling combine in a unique stage adaptation of the best-selling novel, a production from the Simon Friend Entertainment and Sheffield Theatres.  After a cargo ship sinks in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean, a 16-year-old boy named Pi is stranded on a lifeboat with four other survivors – a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a Royal Bengal tiger. Filmed live in London’s West End and featuring state-of-the-art visuals, this ‘hit’ (★★★★★ The Times) production is the perfect Easter treat for the whole family.

Launched in 2020, National Theatre at Home offers access to over 100 productions, with new titles added monthly. Subscriptions are available for £9.99 a month or £99.99 annually.

All titles on National Theatre at Home include captions, and over 85% are available with Audio Description.

Bloomberg Philanthropies is Headline Sponsor of National Theatre at Home.  

National Theatre at Home is also supported by The Linbury Trust. 

For more information or to subscribe, visit ntathome.com.

STRATFORD EAST ANNOUNCES
FULL CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM FOR
LOVESTUCK: A NEW COMEDY MUSICAL

Stratford East today announces full cast and creative team for LOVESTUCK: A NEW COMEDY MUSICAL, the unmissable new comedy musical inspired by true events.Conceived and written by James Cooper, with direction by Jamie Morton (co-creators of the hit podcast My Dad Wrote A Porno) and music by triple-platinum singer-songwriter Bryn Christopher with Martin Batchelar. The production runs at Stratford East from Friday 06 June – Saturday 12 July,with press night on Tuesday 17 June, 7pm.

Jamie Morton directs Bridgette Amofah (Cassandra/Miseraie), Marcus Ayton (Reece), Jessica Boshier (Lucy), Johan Munir (David), and Shane O’Riordan (Peter), joined by Ambra Caserotti (Ensemble), Callum Connolly (Ensemble), and Holly Liburd (Ensemble).

James Cooper (Writer), Bryn Christopher (Music & Lyrics) and Martin Batchelar (Music) said today: “This project has been years in the making and a real labour of love. We wanted to make a musical that felt modern whilst staying true to the traditional form so to be premiering at Stratford East, a theatre with such rich history and a contemporary spirit, feels like the ideal fit. Add to that, our incredibly talented cast and creative team and it’s the perfect match. We’re so excited to finally share this funny, feel-good show with audiences.”

Jamie Morton (Director) said today: “I am thrilled to be directing this bold, fresh new musical exploring the complicated, embarrassing, and frankly hilarious predicaments we get ourselves into on the quest to find love. As a champion of new work, it’s an even greater joy to bring a wholly original British musical to the stage – one with a killer score and riotously relatable book. I couldn’t be prouder of my impeccable cast and creative team and cannot wait for audiences to fall head over heels for the theatrical magic we’re creating at Stratford East.”

The creative team is completed by: Tom Rogers (Set & Costume Designer); Chi-San Howard (Choreographer); Adam King (Lighting Designer); Beth Duke (Sound Designer); Will Burton CDG for Grindrod Burton Casting (Casting Director); Jessica McKenna (Assistant Director); Rachel Ryan (Costume Supervisor) & Kate Golledge (Dramaturg).

When we first meet thirty-somethings Lucy and Peter, we find her stuck upside-down in his bathroom window at the end of their first date. How on earth did they get themselves into this awkward situation? And what happens next?

All will be revealed in this riotous romantic comedy with a catchy score as big as its heart. Tackling themes of online dating, toxic social media and crippling self-doubt, LOVESTUCK charts the hilarious, humiliating and all too relatable quest for our happy ever after…

Presented by Stratford East and Wildpark Entertainment.

Tickets on sale. For more information visit www.stratfordeast.com.

Theatre Royal Nottingham – until Friday 21 March 2025

Reviewed by Louise Ford

5*****

Music is magic

This production by Opera North was given its first outing in 2019, and is directed by James Brining. The sets which are grand and  imposing, are by Colin Richmond. They manage to convey the grandeur of the palaces and the intimacy of the forest, whilst moving effortlessly between scenes. Colin Richmond also designed the costumes which have a nod towards The Handmaid’s Tale for the women and a cultish scout troop for the men. The use of clever visuals for the trails by fire and water is by videos designed by Douglas O’Connell.

The story of The Magic Flute is a bit tricky to unpick, suffice to say it’s one of good and evil and the pursuit of love, with magical bells and, of course, a flute.

As the story is quite confusing and convoluted this production treats it all as a dream. The opening scene is one of a child going to bed whilst in the background a rowdy party is taking place. Then the nightmare begins. The monster is defeated by a handsome stranger but he needs reinforcements. The cavalry comes in the guise of three “nurses”, complete with bloodied aprons and, of course, light sabers. The trio of ladies are played by Hazel Croft, Charlie Drummond and Katie Sharpe The hero Tamino is played by the tenor Tristan Llŷr Griffiths.

From the palace we are then transported to the forest to meet Papageno brilliantly portrayed by Emyr Wyn Jones. He’s out collecting birds for the Queen of the Night and rather foolishly he claims to have defeated the monster for which he is duly punished. The two (Tamino and Papageno) are now bound on a journey to rescue Pamina ,the daughter of the Queen of the Night.

Pamina is beautifully portrayed by Soraya Mafi who has an incredible voice. The Queen of the Night in our production was played by Anna Dennis. She appeared on stage in true Maleficent style. She delivers the famous aria effortlessly, to a huge round of applause. It’s an amazing piece of Opera to see performed live.

In contrast to the dark queen we have Sarastro portrayed by Justin Hopkins. He has an amazing bass-baritone voice and he commands the forces of light.

The love interest for Papageno is Papagena (of course), she is portrayed by Pasquale Orchard she is lively and sparky.

The live orchestra of Opera North are a delight and really enhance the experience. In our performance they were conducted by Patrick Lange. Both he and the orchestra received a huge round of applause at the end.

Our production was sung in English and had subtitles on the screens at the side of the stage. But even more intriguingly was the announcement that the performance was to be signed, and that rather than standing to the side the signers would be an integral part of the production. There were two signers, sadly I could not see their names in the programme, one covering the women the other the men. They were outstanding and somehow enhanced the production, it was mesmerising to see them signing the music.

The other shout out was to the children in the chorus and in particular the three scouts who were on stage for most of the second half, their voices were particularly angelic.

The whole Company, Orchestra and Signers were given at standing ovation,which they richly deserved.

What an outstanding evening’s entertainment.

The Godfather of children’s standup comedy 

James Campbell 

announces tour dates for his new show Comedy 4 Kids: Reducks!

including Brighton Fringe & Edinburgh Festival Fringe dates

James Campbell, the internationally renowned and much-loved children’s comedian who pioneered the genre of comedy for kids, has announced his brand new live show, Comedy 4 Kids: Reducks!, which may include exploding penguins, seventeen ways to eat jam and songs to sing to the worms in your dog’s bottom.

Comedy 4 Kids: Reducks! will tour in 2025 to The Corn Hall in Diss (3 May), Komedia in Brighton, as part of the Brighton Fringe (4-5 May), Gilded Balloon Patter House, as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (11-17 August) and the Museum of Comedy in London (25-26 October). Further dates will be announced shortly. 

Since first starting to perform back in 2001, James has been travelling the world, bringing high-quality laughter to children in thousands of schools, libraries, theatres and festivals – as well as teaching kids’ comedy workshops, writing a series of much-loved funny books (including Boyface, the Funny Life books, Daphne and the Marmalade Cow) and parenting his own children. 

James Campbell says: “This show is twice as funny as anything you’ve seen before so cover yourself in glue, roll around in glitter for five minutes and then come to the show shouting, “I’m a massive disco maggot!” until someone asks you to leave”. 

Comedy 4 Kids: Reducks! is produced by Denise Silvey for Cahoots Theatre Company.

For further details and booking links, visit www.jamescampbellauthor.com/dates

2025 TOUR DATES

Saturday 3 May                                   The Corn Hall, Diss 
https://www.thecornhall.co.uk/shows/james-campbells-comedy-4-kids-redux/

Sunday 4 – Monday 5 May                  Komedia, Brighton Fringe 
https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/james-campbells-comedy-4-kids-redux/

Monday 11 – Sunday 17 August         Gilded Balloon Patter House, Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Tickets on sale soon

Saturday 25 – Sunday 26 October       Museum of Comedy, London https://museumofcomedy.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873652563

Lyceum Theatre Sheffield – until 22 March 2025

Reviewed by K.Roberts

3***

Rock of Ages, rock or flop? Having not watched the film, I didn’t know what to expect, but I was reliably informed that it was worth watching and that the musical should be of a similar ilk.

Based on the Sunset Strip Boulevard, it revolves around the Bourbon club and two young wannabees with dreams of making it big in the world of music, amid their blossoming romance.

The story is pretty basic and its lack of depth is filled by the rousing and stirring rock ballads which fill every scene and lead us through the montage of comical sketches, to the touching moments between the lead characters. The two lead characters are Sherrie Christian and Drew Boley, played by Grace Hadabora and Adam Walker respectively. Throughout the story of Sherrie and Drew and mixed messages of love, via strip joints and boyband, they both excel in their roles. They literally hit every high note with aplomb, especially Grace, who I thought excelled in her role.

Along with their burgeoning relationship, in the background we have the secondary story of the corrupt German developers father and son Hertz Klinemann (Phil Brownhill) and Franz Klinemann (Matt Bevan).The characters are played with great comedic effect by Hertz as he goosesteps around the stage followed by his camp son. The developers are challenged throughout the show led by Regina (Tara Kulbatski) and her band of protestors trying to stop the strip from being torn down.

The first half was a difficult watch at times despite the fantastic efforts of the cast as there were several technical issues affecting the performance. The dialogue could not be heard at times over the music and there were a few microphone malfunctions. This did on occasion make it difficult to follow if you’re unfamiliar with the story.

Despite these issues it was all about the music and the band and cast didn’t disappoint and the audience were treat to some classic rock ballads, via some talented musicians, who also act as Stacie Jaxx (James Smith) stage band. Jaxx was another great lead and played with great front man attitude by Smith, who oozes charisma and has great stage presence, revelling in the adoration of the female cast.

The whole cast were superb and a mention must be given to Helen Green, playing the madame Justice Charlier who adds another female lead to her already long list of feisty ladies. The highest accolade must go (in my opinion) to Tom Fox-Owens and Mark Holmes who play Lonny Barnett who was the narrator of the show alongside club owner Dennis Dupree. Their performances were energetic, funny and they had great chemistry. Fox-Owens performance as Lonny had the audience in stitches and regularly seemed to go off-piste in his desire to entertain the audience. Their second half duet of can’t fight this feeling a particular high. They certainly carried the show and made the performance enjoyable.

My honest opinion is that it was a bit erratic in parts and not as smooth as I thought it might be for a well known show. Although the quality and talent on show is very good and worthy of a good review, the sound issues throughout prevent me from giving it higher than 3 out of 5, although as stated it was still enjoyable if hard to follow due to the issues. Despite this the show rocked…

PLAYHOUSE THEATRE, LIVERPOOL – UNTIL SATURDAY 22ND MARCH 2025

REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN

4****

Malorie Blackman OBE, best known for her bestselling Nought & Crosses series, also wrote Pig Heart Boy, published in 1997, which was inspired by an article discussing the potential for human heart transplants from pigs in the future. While her novel initially fell into the category of speculative fiction, the first actual transplant occurred in 2022!

Now, Unicorn Theatre, Sheffield Theatres, and the Children’s Theatre Partnership have collaborated to create a stage adaptation of Blackman’s impactful novel. The adaptation is crafted by Winsome Pinnock and directed by Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu. This heart-warming production explores profound themes such as loyalty, honesty, friendship, family, integrity, ethical dilemmas, and emotional resilience, all seen through the eyes of a young boy wrestling with life-altering decisions.

This production is undoubtedly a faithful adaptation of the novel, maintaining the pre-social media setting and featuring very few alterations. We are introduced to our protagonist, Cameron, portrayed by Immanuel Yeboah. Cameron is a 13-year-old boy with a passion for swimming, who finds himself grappling with the pressing need for a heart transplant. However, there is a complication: he must decide whether to accept a pig’s heart and contemplate the potential changes this decision may bring, both positive and negative.

The cast is exceptional, particularly Yeboah in the role of Cameron, along with Chia Phoenix as both Nan and Trudy the pig. Their performances are striking and leave a lasting impression on the audience. The ensemble works brilliantly together, with all members, except Yeboah, seamlessly switching between roles and portraying characters that add depth to the narrative. The banter among the teenage characters is not only engaging but also genuinely amusing.

The production showcases stunning set design by Paul Wills, complemented by Andrew Exeter’s lighting and dynamic movement sequences by DK Fashola. These elements work together to create an immersive theatrical experience. The action seamlessly transitions between various settings, while consistently reminding us that Cameron’s condition remains at the heart of the narrative.

The play addresses complex themes while remaining accessible and relatable to its target audience of 9 to 13-year-olds. It is beautifully crafted and evokes feelings of inner strength, bravery, and love through the characters’ experiences.