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New Wimbledon Theatre – until Saturday 6 November 2021

Reviewed by Liberty Noke

4****

At first glance Heathers seems like an ordinary teen coming of age story about a main character that wants to be popular but this musical has a dark side.

The curtain opens to reveal Veronica Sawyer on her first day of senior year wishing that everyone at school were a little nicer. She falls in with the Heathers- 3 girls all named Heather, the popular yet mean girls at the school and suddenly she is well liked. Despite their new friendship Heather Chandler, the leader of the Heathers, continues to bully Veronica. When a new bad boy JD shows up at the school Veronica falls for him but he quickly reveals his true colours suggesting he and Veronica kill all the mean kids at school. Veronica must choose whether to go along with JD and play God or choose kindness and help the school become a better place.

Maddison Firth gave a stand out performance as Heather Chandler she perfectly played the stereotypical high school mean girl she was nasty and loud while all the time appearing confident, charming and sexy so even though you might want to you couldn’t hate her.

Veronica Sawyer played by Rebecca Wickes was the perfect awkward and anxious high school character. Her awkward laughs and facial expressions really made the audience believe they were watching a real teenager in high school. Wickes’ vocals were incredible and she was a fantastic Veronica from start to finish.

A highlight of the show was the song You’re Welcome sung by Kurt (Liam Doyle) and Ram (Rory Phelan) they played caricatures of high school Jocks and watching Veronica (Rebecca Wickes) outsmart them was a powerful moment.

The entire cast had energy from start to finish – the ensemble in particular. They each had a high school character to play and were all committed to that role. Candy Store is an iconic song from the show one that the audience were eager to hear and the Heathers ( Maddison Firth, Merryl Ansah, and Lizzy Parker) performed it excellently, the choreography was fantastic and performed in perfect synchronisation and the Heathers perfectly showed the power and status they hold at the school.

This show is fantastic, it is easy to see how it has such a following with many of the audience wearing costumes inspired by the characters. With amazing songs, quirky characters and a powerful message about kindness this show is a must see!

UK Theatre appoints Joint Presidents for first time in organisation’s history

Today (Wednesday 3 November) at the UK Theatre AGM, the UK Theatre membership have voted in Jon Gilchrist and Stephanie Sirr as Joint Presidents for the first time in the organisation’s history.

Current UK Theatre President Fiona Allan, who is leaving the Birmingham Hippodrome for a new role at Opera Australia, stood down as President at the AGM (a year before the expiry of her term of office). With Fiona’s tenure coming to an end, Stephanie Sirr automatically assumes the role of President as she is already the current Vice-President, and Jon Gilchrist becomes Interim Vice-President.  

From the 2022 AGM for a 3-year term, Stephanie and Jon will be Joint Presidents.

A statement from Jon Gilchrist and Stephanie Sirr:

‘We are delighted to be taking up the roles of Joint Presidents in order to continue the work of recent years to deliver an organisation that really supports our industry in its time of greatest need. There is a significant amount of work to be done to continue to move the sector forward and as Joint Presidents we will be better able to deliver this alongside also running venues.

‘In addition, as Joint Presidents we underline the commitment of UK Theatre to job sharing and improving the industry’s flexibility as employers. Finally, because the interests of both producing and presenting houses will be fully represented by us, we believe that at this critical time our combined approach will assist the sector in its recovery from the pandemic.

‘A shared leadership will enable us to focus on a wider range of priorities, and to better reflect the needs of the membership. We are also committed to building a UK Theatre board that is more reflective of all areas of the industry. Over our term we look forward to working with the team at UK Theatre to build on the constitutional changes in place to diversify the board and positions of power.’

Information about newly appointed Board Members will follow in due course.

Birmingham Hippodrome – until 6 November 2021

Reviewed by Joanne Hodge

5*****

Phenomenal!!! If Lyn Paul (formerly of The New Seekers) could teach the world to sing, it would be a much happier place. Lyn leads the cast, playing the role of Mrs. Johnstone, in telling the story of twin boys separated at birth, who grow up ‘on opposite sides of the tracks.’ Chance brings them back together and after immediately hitting it off, Mickey & Edward (Eddie) make a pact to be ‘blood brothers’, neither of them aware of their genuine blood ties.

Bill Kenwright (Producer) and Bob Tomson (Director) have made an incredible job of bringing Willie Russell’s tale to life, delivering a very emotive performance in a simple but effective stage setting. The left side of the stage depicts the poorer, working-class families, the right side, the wealthier, upper-class lifestyle, and their larger houses; the center where two worlds collide.

There is a rawness to the performances of all cast members, which draws the audience into the lives of the Johnstone family and their acquaintances; it addresses complex subjects such as class, economic status and Mental Health issues very effectively and realistically.

A thoroughly enjoyable performance which provides clear evidence of why this play is known as the “Standing Ovation Musical”, with everyone delivering rapturous applause and a number of tears shed.

New Victoria Theatre, Woking – until 6 November 2021

Reviewed by Alexandra Sykes

5*****

The Disasters in Magic Charity fundraiser arrived in Woking with problems before the show even started, the doves had escaped into the auditorium. Anyone familiar with Mischief knows the show starts before curtain up with cast members running around in the audience looking for missing props and cast members. 

Presented by Sophisticato (Sam Hill), who is attempting to recreate his late fathers magical act, Magic Goes Wrong features performances by The Blade (Kiefer Moriarty) who claims to be immune to pain and does death defying tricks involving knives, water tanks and rat traps, the Mind Mangler (Rory Fairbairn) who claims to have advanced senses including xray vision and the ability to guess people’s jobs by smelling them, and Bar and Spitzmaus (Chloe Tannenbaum and Jocelyn Prah respectively), sisters who perform gymnastic tricks, all have things go wrong in their acts as you would expect with Mischief productions. With support from Eugenia (Valerie Cutko) and Mickey (Daniel Anthony) the show ends up raising very little money due to legal costs and expensive confetti cannons. 

Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, Henry Shields and magic duo Penn and Teller, the show is full of audience participation, especially during the Mind Manglers act, and will have everyone laughing from start to finish. Although some of the tricks are easy to explain, some are done so well it is impossible to tell how they were actually done. 

A brilliant night out for the whole family and worth every laugh, grab a ticket before it is too late and something really does go wrong. 

An inclusive social community for men in York supported by Jimmy Carr

Menfulness bring men together to socialise, exercise, enjoy themselves, talk and let off steam in a non-judging, friendly and supportive environment. These are all essential for wellbeing and health, both physical and mental.  They will be present at Jimmy Carr’s show at the Grand Opera House on  Tuesday 9^th November aiming to bring awareness of the mental health of men and hoping to raise as much money as possible to provide urgent counselling to help save men’s lives.

Menfulness is led by five men from York who, like many men, have struggled with mental health and the pressures of life.  Menfulness want to keep growing their community and continue to look for funding opportunities to help us with events, activities and counselling offers of support to men’s wellbeing in a friendly, non-judgemental environment where they can share at their own pace.

The team will be available on the night if any of the theatregoers would like advice on Menfulness.  A collection will also take place on the exit.

For more information on the charity please go to https://menfulness.org/

DIGITAL “GHOST WALK” TO PREMIERE AT BROADGATE, LONDON, STARRING JULIET STEVENSON, CO-PRODUCED WITH NEW DIORAMA THEATRE

Created by multi-award-winning POLTERGEIST THEATRE, star casting includes Juliet Stevenson, Lydia West, Adam Buxton, Paterson Joseph, Nina Wadia & Tanya Reynolds, and original music by Alice Boyd.

Co-Produced by New Diorama Theatre, supported by British Land and Arts Council England, this interactive comedy is the first public event launched by NDT Broadgate.

Acclaimed theatre company Poltergeist (Lights Over Tesco Car Park, Art Heist) return to London this December with GHOST WALK, a genre-bending audio walk. Download the app, plug in your headphones, and track down a host of hilarious ghosts lurking in the alleyways of City of London.

Collaborating with sound mapping app developers Echoes, Ghost Walk is a site-specific audio show, turning audience smartphones into ghost detectors. Launched through a 3-day live event in Broadgate, City of London (9th – 11th December), with tickets available now, the GHOST WALK app will then be available to download for free into Spring 2022. 

The all-star cast is led by Olivier-winner Juliet Stevenson (The Doctor, Mary Stuart). It also stars Adam Buxton (The Adam Buxton Podcast, The Adam and Joe Show), Lydia West (It’s a Sin, Years and Years), Tanya Reynolds (Sex Education, Emma), Nina Wadia (The Outlaws, Goodness Gracious Me),  Paterson Joseph (Peep Show, The Leftovers), David Mumeni (Dead Pixels, Stath Lets Flats), and introducing Ivo and Zac Stimpson. The cast is rounded off by Poltergeist company members Rosa Garland and Will Spence.

Alice Boyd is Composer and Sound Designer for this audio experience, and Jack Bradfield is Director and Lead Writer. The piece is co-written by Rosa Garland and Will Spence, with visual design by Shankho Chaudhuri, and produced by Emily Davis.

Ghost Walk is powered by Echoes (https://echoes.xyz/), and is a co-production with New Diorama Theatre. Supported by British Land, Arts Council England, and with thanks to the Pound Corsham.

Juliet Stevenson said: “I have so loved my involvement with this unique project, and with Jack and all those who have collaborated on it. So exciting to be part of a team who are creating a new form, and to feel the originality of it. It’s going to be such an immersive, fun, and fascinating experience for those who participate. Using the state-of-the-art technology of Now to explore and reveal the fascinating history of London’s Then. Can’t wait to be a punter myself and take the walk with the garrulous ghouls and ghosties in the City.

SASHA REGAN’S ALL MALE COMPANY SAILS INTO WILTON’S IN MARCH 2022

Sasha Regan’s inventive all male take on W. S. Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan’s ‘H.M.S. Pinafore’ docks at Wilton’s Music Hall in March. 

The All Male Company hopes to attract a diverse crew of shipmates and will run an online talent show later this year to find male falsettos.

Come and “sail the ocean blue”with Sasha Regan’s award-winning All Male Company which docks at Wilton’s Music Hall from 16^th March – 9^th April for another nautical adventure!  The crew on board W. S Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore are sailing across the high seas to bring you a cracking new show.

A Diverse New Crew

Due to overwhelming demand and several sell-out runs, the much-loved All Male Company will down anchor carrying a diverse shipshape crew for this new look show. The Company hopes to attract more shipmates from diverse backgrounds, particularly male falsettos, and will be running an online talent show later this year.

The 3-week run follows their smash-hit Wilton’s and West End run of theAll Male The Pirates of Penzancefollowed by 2 hugely popular screenings on Stream.Theatre.

About

Sasha Regan’s burly sailors and winsome lasses will take you below deck during World War II in this inventive reimagining of Gilbert and Sullivan’s fourth collaboration and first blockbuster: H.M.S. Pinafore, or The Lass That Loved a Sailor.  The Captain’s daughter, Josephine, falls for lower class sailor Ralph Rackstraw but her father wishes for her to marry the upstanding Sir Joseph Porter, First Lord of the Admiralty.  Will Josephine follow her heart’s desire or will she honour her father’s wish?  Find out in March!

The troops create a distraction from the goings-on above board.  Expect plenty of mischief, mistaken identities and surprises on the high seas from a diverse crew of brawny Popeyes and their love interests. 

With infectious tunes and a beautifully constructed libretto, this charming comic operetta deals with the age-old conundrum of love between social classes.  

Joyful, witty and fun for all the family! Don’t miss the boat!

Director – Sasha Regan

Choreographer – Lizzi Gee

Design – Ryan Dawson-Laight

Lighting – Ben Bull

Libretto – W.S. Gilbert

Composer – Arthur Sullivan

Casting Director – Adam Braham Casting 

Producers – Regan De Wynter Williams Ltd
PR – Fiona Lockley, Lockley Gladwyn
Graphic Design – Spiff

Cast to be announced.

Runs at Wilton’s Music Hall, 16^th March – 9^th April 2022

Box office: Boarding passes are available now from Wilton’s Music Hall or call the box office on: 020 7702 2789. Tickets from £10 – £30.

Tickets: https://www.wiltons.org.uk/whatson/698-h-m-s-pinafore

Address:  Wilton’s Music Hall, Graces Alley, London E1 8JB

DISNEY’S FROZEN FREEZES COVENT GARDEN

INCLUDING NINE ICE SCULPTURES OF MUCH-LOVED CHARACTERS FROM

FROZEN THE MUSICAL COMING TO COVENT GARDEN

This Christmas Disney’s Frozen freezes Covent Garden piazza as part of Disney Theatrical Productions’ continued partnership which began with their first Pop Up Shop in 2018. As part of the festive installation, a Frozen Forest will spring up, with snow fall every hour from noon until 7pm alongside other magical touches across the area, including the Insta-famous Infinity Chamber having an icy makeover to appear frozen, with an additional 3D neon installation at both the Long Acre and Floral Street entrances.

On 13^th November, as part of a special one-off event from 10am to 6pm, Europe’s leading ice manufacturer, The Ice Co, will create a series of nine ice sculptures of the much-loved characters from Frozen The Musical which will be displayed throughout the piazza for families to enjoy – including Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Olaf, and many more.

On the same day, from 1 – 4pm, The Ice Co will live carve an ice sculpture of Sven for passers-by to see in action in Covent Garden. In addition, a giant ice wall will also be installed, carved with Frozen, and families are welcome to try their hand at ice sculpting.

*****“Frozen is one hot hit.” Daily Mail

Frozen opened to critical acclaim last month at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. With a multi award-winning creative team – music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, and book by Jennifer Lee, Frozen is directed by Michael Grandage, and the company is led by Samantha Barks (Elsa), Stephanie McKeon (Anna), Obioma Ugoala (Kristoff), Craig Gallivan (Olaf), Oliver Ormson (Hans), Richard Frame (Weselton), and alternating the role of Sven, Mikayla Jade and Ashley Birchall.

*****“Big, Blinding, Breathtaking. Frozen’s triumphant musical debut.” Guardian

Twitter @FrozenLondon     Facebook /FrozenLondon     Instagram @FrozenLondon

frozenthemusical.co.uk

Covent Garden:

Facebook /coventgardenLDN    Instagram @coventgardenLDN   Twitter @coventgardenLDN

Theatre Royal, York – until 6th November 2021

Reviewed by Katie Goldsbrough 

3***

York Opera’s production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute is a good introduction for those who have never seen opera before. It is one of Mozart’s more light-hearted and easier to follow operas.

The Magic Flute tells the story of Tamino (Hamish Brown) a young prince who finds himself on a quest to prove himself worthy of the affection of Pamina (Alexandra Mather), a young princess who is being held captive. He is given a magic flute to aid him on his quest and most complete 3 challenges to prove his worth. Tamino is assisted on his journey by Papageno (David Valsamidis) who provide light-hearted comedy throughout and who only wants to find someone to love him. Evil must be vanquished to ensure Tamino and Pamina can be together. 

Some members of the cast stood out as having strong voices easily making themselves heard over the impressive orchestra, particularly Heather Watts as the Queen of the Night. Others were a little lost and it was difficult to make out what was being sung over the music.

Traditionally those coming to opera’s would know the story to help them follow what was going on, I would recommend doing this for this production and would at least ready the synopsis if you are unfamiliar with the story.  

The orchestra lead by Claire Jowett’s violin was fantastic throughout, always in time and an asset to the production.  

Despite a couple of minor mistakes, the production was good and is a nice introduction to those who want to give opera a go.

‘Crosswalk the Musical’ with the cast of Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of). The show officially opens tonight at the Criterion Theatre.

Isobel McArthur’s unique and audacious retelling of Jane Austen’s classic love story was critically acclaimed when it played at Glasgow’s Tron Theatre. Men, money and microphones are fought over in this irreverent but affectionate adaptation, which includes pop classics such as Every Day I Write the Book, Young Hearts Run Free, Will You Love Me Tomorrow, I Got You Babe and You’re So Vain. Five actresses portray the young female servants who retell one of literature’s most famous stories, and these same five actresses play every other character, as well as singing and playing instruments.
Writer and director Isobel McArthur once again plays Darcy and Mrs Bennet. Also in the cast are Tori Burgess as Lydia and Mr Collins, Christina Gordon as Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Jane, Hannah Jarrett-Scott as Charlotte Lucas and Charles Bingley and Meghan Tyler as Lizzie Bennet.

There are no premium seats and tickets at the Criterion Theatre are £9.50 to £59.50.

Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) is directed by Isobel McArthur and Simon Harvey, with comedy staging by Jos Houben, design by Ana Inés Jabares-Pita, lighting by Colin Grenfell, musical supervision by Michael John McCarthy, sound design by Michael John McCarthy and Luke Swaffield for Autograph and choreography by Emily Jane Boyle.

David Pugh presents Tron Theatre Company, the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and Blood of the Young’s production of Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) with co-producers Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Leeds Playhouse, Northern Stage and Oxford Playhouse.