SCHWARTZ SONGS

A COLLECTION OF BRAND-NEW RECORDINGS FROM THE ICONIC WRITER AND COMPOSER STEPHEN SCHWARTZ, SUNG BY THE WEST END’S FINEST ARTISTS!

ALBUM TO BE RELEASED ON CD/DIGITAL 28 JUNE 2024

Preorder/Presave https://slinky.to/SchwartzSongs  

AND ON DOUBLE VINYL PACKAGE ON 9^th AUGUST  2024

Preorder now https://shop.westwaymusic.com

DEFYING GRAVITY SUNG BY FOUR WEST END ‘ELPHABA’S – KERRY ELLIS, RACHEL TUCKER, LUCIE JONES AND ALICE FEARN – TO BE RELEASED AS A SINGLE 21^st JUNE – PRE-SAVE NOW https://slinky.to/DefyingGravity

Westway Music, along with The Theatre Cafe, is pleased to announce the full details of SCHWARTZ SONGS, an album of spectacular new recordings of Stephen Schwartz’s much-loved songs including DELIVER US and WHEN YOU BELIEVE (Prince of Egypt), CORNER OF THE SKY (Pippin) LET THERE BE (Children of Eden), THE WIZARD AND I and DEFYING GRAVITY (Wicked), COLOURS OF THE WIND (Pocahontas), BEAUTIFUL CITY (Godspell) and many more.

Stephen Schwartz’s career has spanned over five decades, and he is the recipient of 3 Grammy Awards, 3 Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, 6 Tony Awards and an Olivier Award.

The album features a fantastic array of West End stars including Marisha Wallace, Trevor Dion Nicholas, Samantha Barks, Jamie Muscato, Lucie Jones, Louise Dearman, Kerry Ellis, Rachel Tucker, Billy Luke Nevers, John Owen-Johns, Oliver Tompsett, Rob Houchen, Hiba Elchikhe, Alice Fearn, Rachel John, Peter Joback, Jamie Lambert, Jordan Luke Gage and Emma Kingston.

Neil O’Brien, MD of Westway Music comments, “Along with our friends at The Theatre Cafe, we are thrilled to be releasing this spectacular album of music from an iconic writer and composer, sung by West End royalty. With the first part of the eagerly awaited film adaptation of Wicked coming out this autumn, this is a fantastic time to be celebrating so much of his work.”

The opening track, DEFYING GRAVITY, is performed by four of the West End’s leading ladies who have all played ‘Elphaba’ in Wicked in the West End: Kerry Ellis, Rachel Tucker, Lucie Jones and Alice Fearn. Defying Gravity will be released as a single on 21 June. PRESAVE NOW https://slinky.to/DefyingGravity

Kerry Ellis said, “I owe so much to Stephen for the break I had in musical theatre. To be involved with this album and this new arrangement of Defying Gravity, which I have performed on stage for so many years, is truly amazing.”

Rachel Tucker said, “I respect Stephen Schwartz so much and feel honoured to have worked with him for a long time during my career. I never get tired of singing his songs and I was delighted to be asked to join a stellar cast on this album, to celebrate just how much of a genius Stephen is. His music will live on forever.”

Lucie Jones said, “Some incredible performers have played the role of Elphaba and I’m so happy to be performing on this album and record with so many iconic other Green Witches! This new four-part arrangement is truly spellbinding!”

Alice Fearn said, “Having been a long admirer of Stephen Swartz, and been fortunate enough to work with him on several occasions, I’m thrilled to be a part of this album which truly celebrates the breadth and scale of his incredible talent.”

DON’T BE RIDICULOUS.

EVERYBODY WANTS THIS.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE…

THEM.

THE FULL CAST ARE NOW READY TO CATWALK INTO

WITH MUSIC BY ELTON JOHN,

LYRICS BY SHAINA TAUB,

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

The cast of The Devil Wears Prada will see 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, James Darch (Mamma Mia!; Wicked) as the devious journalist, Christian, and Rhys Whitfield (The Phantom of the Opera; Summer and Smoke) as Andy’s long-term boyfriend, Nate.

They will join the previously announced, Vanessa Williams, best known for her celebrated roles in Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives and as a multi-award-winning singer, as the irrepressible Miranda Priestly, alongside Olivier Award winner, Matt Henry,as Runway’s Creative Fashion Director, Nigel.

Completing the cast are: Maddy Ambus, Gabby Antrobus, Selena Barron, Pamela Blair, Robertina Bonano, Lloyd Davies, Elishia Edwards, Akeem Ellis-Hyman, Elizabeth Fullalove, Jinny Gould, Natasha Heyward, Samuel How, Luke Jackson, Debbie Kurup*, Liam Marcellino, Robbie McMillan, Ciro Lourencio Meulens, Gabriel Mokake, Theo Papoui, Christopher Parkinson, Eleanor Peach, Ethan Le Phong, Jon Reynolds, Harriet Samuel-Gray, Olivia Saunders, Kayleigh Thadani, Ella Valentine, Rhys Whitfield and Tara Yasmin.
* London only

The Devil Wears Prada, a new musical, based on the blockbuster film and bestselling novel, will strut into London’s Dominion Theatre this October, featuring an original score by music icon, and Olivier and Tony Award winner Elton John, lyrics by singer-songwriter Shaina Taub, book by Kate Wetherhead with direction & choreography by three-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell.

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

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 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), 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 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 Tony Award winner Kevin McCollum (In the Heights, Avenue Q, Rent, SIX and Mrs. Doubtfire), 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.

Jerry Mitchell now steers this brand-new reimagined production of The Devil Wears Prada to new heights following a developmental run in Chicago in 2022.

The Devil Wears Prada The Musical is proud to announce The Mandrake (www.themandrake.com) as it’s official hotel partner; a design-led, luxury lifestyle property in the heart of London’s Fitzrovia, presenting guests with an ever-bubbling fusion of fashion, art and culture.

DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS IN CONCERT

STARRING RAMIN KARIMLOO & HADLEY FRASER

WITH CARLY MERCEDES DYER, JANIE DEE, RUFUS HOUND & LAUREN DREW

AT THE LONDON PALLADIUM

2.30PM & 7.30PM ON SUNDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2024  

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is coming to The London Palladium in concert for two very special performances on Sunday 24 November. 

Marking 20 years since the musical premiered at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, musical theatre superstars, Ramin Karimloo, as the scrappy underdog Freddy Benson, and Hadley Fraser as the smooth and suave Laurence Jamieson, go head-to-head to woo an heiress out of $50,000.

The con is on in this uproariously funny musical set in the glamorous French Riviera. Experience the thrill of the hustle, high jinks and hilarity with a world-class cast.

Directed by Rupert Hands, Karimloo and Fraser, lead a live orchestra, the Mountview Choir and a stellar cast featuring Carly Mercedes Dyer as ‘Christine Colgate’; Janie Dee as Muriel Eubanks; Rufus Hound as ‘Inspector Andre’ and Lauren Drew as ‘Jolene Oaks’. The concert is produced by Lambert Jackson and Positive Sum.

Based on the 1988 hit movie, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels features an unforgettable score by David Yazbek (The Full Monty) and a book by Jeffrey Lane. The 2005 Broadway adaptation was nominated for a staggering ten Tony Awards and the subsequent cast album nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.

Ticket Link: https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/dirty-rotten-scoundrels-in-concert/

Instagram and Facebook: @lambertjacksonproductions

Twitter: @ljprods

The National Theatre announces the return of its smash-hit production of Dear England by James Graham

This Olivier Award-winning ‘Best New Play’ will return to the National Theatre in Spring 2025, followed by a 4-week run at The Lowry, Salford

The National Theatre announces today that its smash-hit production ofDear Englandwill return to the Olivier theatre from 10 March to 24 May 2025, followed by a four-week run at its Theatre Nation Partner, The Lowry in Salford, from 29 May to 29 June 2025. 

James Graham’s Olivier Award-winning play, directed by the Almeida Theatre’s Artistic Director Rupert Goold, tells the story of the England men’s football team under Gareth Southgate. As the nation watches the drama unfold at this summer’s UEFA EURO 2024, Graham’s critically acclaimed play will evolve to include this key European championship – continuing to examine the crucial role the England team and manager play in English society.  

Tickets for both the National Theatre and The Lowry will go on sale to the General Public at 10am on Friday 14 June 2024,coinciding with the start of the UEFA EURO 2024 tournament.

Director of the National Theatre, Rufus Norris, said:

‘Dear England is a captivating examination of football, leadership and English identity that has already resonated with so many people, and we now have the unique opportunity of restaging it with a script which will reflect the outcome from this summer’s Euros. In bringing the narrative right up to 2025, we acknowledge how pertinent and urgent the work is – a living, breathing play that cuts straight to the heart of our nation’s psyche. James and Rupert have created such a special show, and we’re thrilled that even more audiences in London and Greater Manchester will have the chance to experience it.’

Playwright James Graham said:

‘To continue the life of Dear England feels like coming top of the group and moving onto the knockout stages – it’s genuinely thrilling, and I’m so grateful to all the audiences who supported the show. Knowing that we welcomed thousands of people who had never see a play before was a huge honour for us all, but also a responsibility. We hope to continue that mission in London and now in Salford too.’

CEO of The Lowry, Julia Fawcett said:

‘The National Theatre is one of our founding partners – and over the last twenty-five years they have played an incredibly important role – helping develop our programme and build our audiences for world class drama.  It’s a partnership that continues to grow and develop and this run of Dear England is a unique and incredibly special event. With football being so integral to the whole culture of the North West, we know that this production is going to really resonate with our audiences. But first…..this summer’s Euros!’

Dear England reunites writer James Graham (Punch, Nottingham Playhouse; Sherwood, BBC) with director Rupert Goold (Patriots; Tammy Faye, Broadway) for this gripping examination of both nation and game. Goold will be joined by set designer, Es Devlin;costume designer, Evie Gurney;lighting designer, Jon Clark; co-movement directors, Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf; co-sound designers, Dan Balfour and Tom Gibbons and video designer, Ash J Woodward.  Casting is by Bryony Jarvis-Taylor, dialect coach is Richard Ryder and associate director is Elin Schofield.

The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can’t England’s men win at their own game?

The team has the worst track record for penalties in the world, and manager Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take team and country back to the promised land. 

Casting to be announced.

Dear England was originally commissioned by the National Theatre and developed with the theatre’s New Work department. It had its world premiere in the Olivier theatre on 20 June 2023.  Following a sold-out run, Dear England transferred to the Prince Edward Theatre, in London’s West End, from 9 October 2023 to 13 January 2024 where it broke box office records. Dear England was subsequently released to cinemas through National Theatre Live on 24 January 2024 and has been screened almost 2,500 times across the UK. It will also be screened for free at this year’s River Stage on Saturday 27 July. The BBC has also recently commissioned a four-part drama of Dear England based on the stage production for BBC One and BBC iPlayer. 

Trafalgar Theatre Productions, Eilene Davidson Productions and Fiery Angel

present

THE DUCHESS

starring

JODIE WHITTAKER

“A bloody revenge tragedy made marvellously modern”

Daily Telegraph

TRAFALGAR THEATRE

5 OCTOBER – 20 DECEMBER

TICKETS ON SALE NOW FROM THEDUCHESSPLAY.COM

Adapted and Directed by Zinnie Harris

Returning to the stage for the first time in over a decade, Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who, Broadchurch) takes on the iconic role of a lifetime in Zinnie Harris’ acclaimed contemporary production of The Duchess.

This powerful adaptation of John Webster’s classic The Duchess of Malfi opens for a strictly limited 11-week West End season at the Trafalgar Theatre from 5 October – 20 December. Tickets are on sale now from TheDuchessPlay.com.

Jodie Whittaker said: “I’m beyond delighted to return to the stage after over a decade, and even more so to lead Zinnie Harris’ incredibly powerful adaptation of John Webster’s harrowing drama. Zinnie has so brilliantly propelled The Duchess of Malfi into contemporary culture, which is what originally drew me to the piece. Being able to portray the Duchess’ tragic and captivating story on stage every night is a true honour.”

Recently widowed and in search for a new lease of life, the Duchess (Whittaker) defies her family’s wishes by remarrying beneath her class. However, when her brothers, driven by insurmountable greed and rage, discover her second marriage they unleash a series of cruel and devastating punishments against her that repress her power. But will their vicious atrocities come back to haunt them?

Directed and adapted by award-winning Zinnie Harris (Macbeth (an undoing)), this “towering adaptation” (The Stage) of Webster’s thrilling drama explores the depths of the patriarchy against female resistance.

Vivid, complex and captivating, further casting for this must-see contemporary production will be announced soon.

Originally produced and developed by the Royal Lyceum Theatre.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Trafalgar Theatre, 14 Whitehall, London SW1A 2DY

First Performance: 5 October 2024

Final performance: 20 December 2024

Matinee performances: Thursday and Saturday at 2:30pm

Evening performances: Monday to Saturday at 7:30pm

Age guidance: 12+

Website: TheDuchessPlay.com

Trafalgar Theatre Box Office: TrafalgarTheatre.com

Facebook: The Duchess West End

OUTINGS

TRACY-ANN OBERMAN, SAMUEL BARNETT, ABIGAIL THORN AND JOHN OWEN-JONES AMONGST MANY OTHERS TO

STAR IN KING’S HEAD THEATRE PRIDE FUNDRAISER – FULL LINE UP ANNOUNCED

7 / 9 / 14 / 21 JUNE

King’s Head Theatre are thrilled to announce the official, star-studded line up for their Pride Month Fundraiser: OUTINGS, playing throughout the month of June in their brand-new venue.

The cast for 7 June are Abigail Thorn (Philosophy Tube), Ashley Byam (Eastenders) and Olivier Award Winning actor David Cumming (Operation Mincemeat, Fringe and West End, Nicola Stephenson (Holby City, Emmerdale Farm). 

Performing on the 9 June are Samual Barnett (The History Boys; Bright Star), Ian Hallard (The Boys in the Band, West End), Jodie Jacobs (Hello, Dolly; Rock of Ages, West End) and Freddie Love (Just For One Day, The Old Vic).

14 June will see Tracy -Ann Oberman (The Merchant of Venice 1936, RSC), John Owen-Jones (The Phantom Of The Opera, West End), Linus Karp (Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story, Fringe and Tour), Isabel Adomakoh Young (As You Like It, Globe) take to the stage, with one more performer yet to be announced.

On 21 June, Andrew Hayden-Smith (Hollyoaks), Kate Butch (Drage Race UK), will be performing, with further line up to be announced soon.

OUTINGS – the funny, powerful and soul-bearing play by Matthew Baldwin and Thomas Hescott (The Act, West End) will be performed in June as a fundraiser for the King’s Head Theatre, and the LGBTQ+ Switchboard Charity. This collection of true coming out stories (first produced by outgoing Chair of the Board James Seabright and directed by David Grindley at the Edinburgh Fringe and then the West End in 2015) will be performed by a star-studded cast with tickets from £30 on sale now HERE

OUTINGS will be directed by Richard Beecham (Footfalls/Rockaby; Rose) with Lighting design by Jason Taylor.

For this new production, the writers of Outings have crowd sourced new coming out stories to include in this version being performed in June.

Produced by Entertainers

The Curve Theatre, Leicester –until 3rd June 2024 then touring

Review by Amanda Allen

3***

I love musicals, I love circus, I love live singing and dancing, so I was really looking forward to seeing Cirque at The Curve in Leicester. Sadly, although each of these elements were present and individually well done the whole didn’t seem to hang together that well. The concept sounded great, but the show was like something I would expect to see at a holiday park as entertainment, Butlins redcoats with a few more sequins. If that is what you are looking for then it’s worth a visit.

The mime artist, Christian Lee was Truly Fantastic. He tied the whole show together, although a bit loosely. With the idea that he was being transported from his black and white life to one of exciting full technicolour through the medium of his new TV, we were treated to some breathtaking circus acts. He even involved two audience members into his act, which was well done, very funny without being embarrassing for them. The best part of the whole show for me was the re-enactment of the famous Titanic scene using the air from a VERY large balloon, it would be worth the ticket money for that one sketch.

My personal favourite was Duo Eclipse, a dynamic skating duo, Steve and Georgia, they truly did defy gravity spinning around in evermore dangerous, fast and unbelievable ways. I half expected Georgia to come flying into the auditorium. The Juggler/ Crossbow act, Thomas Barrandon, was also impressive. Aerialists Jennifer Van Gool was truly spectacular, bending, balancing and moving about beautifully in 3 dimensions.

Although the dancers were all very good, I was a bit disappointed in the lack of imagination in the male dancers costumes, they seemed to think it would be ok to just have bare chested fit dancers and change the colour of their trousers every so often, adding red braces didn’t really help. The female dancers got a bit more imagination but a lot less fabric! There seemed to be sequins on everything. The circus performers had great costumes, all appropriate to the act and the mime doing his quick change from black and white to colour at the end was amazing to see.

The music was great but a bit piecemeal, there seemed to be no thread linking the different song sequences, lots of Greatest Showman, which was well suited to the show, La La Land, Rocket Man and Moulin Rouge not so. I think the show was let down a little by the audio quality, where I was sitting the music drowned out the singers’ voices quite considerably so you couldn’t tell what words they were singing. In one ensemble piece the voice of the female lead Tori Murray was impossible to hear.

There were a lot of children at this performance who all seemed to thoroughly enjoy the show, I can highly recommend it for 6-14 year olds. The magic of circus, song and dance come together to make a good afternoon out for youngsters, however for more experienced theatre goers, I feel that in trying to be the best bits of everything it fell short of being the best of anything by quite a way.

West End LIVE line-up revealed: 

50+ top West End shows will perform for free in Trafalgar Square this June

Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 June 2024

www.westendlive.co.uk

• Hailed as ‘Glastonbury for theatre lovers’, Europe’s largest free musical theatre festival returns on Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 June
• The impressive line-up of shows includes familiar favourites and new shows performing for the first time including The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button; Fangirls; Hadestown; Kathy & Stella Solve A Murder!; Kiss Me, Kate; Mean Girls; MJ The Musical; Mrs Doubtfire; Standing At The Sky’s Edge; Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York); Why Am I So Single? and Your Lie In April.

A packed line-up featuring nearly every musical playing in the West End has been unveiled ahead of this year’s West End LIVE. This free celebration of London’s world-leading theatre scene comes to Trafalgar Square on the weekend of 22 and 23 June.  

Tens of thousands of theatre fans are expected to flock to the capital for this year’s musical theatre spectacular, enjoying free performances from top shows. This unique event, run by Westminster City Council in partnership with the Society of London Theatre (SOLT), and with the support of the Mayor of London, brings people of all ages into central London to experience the best of the West End – from the city’s unparalleled theatre and culture scene to food, drink, fashion, nightlife, retail and more. 

The event this year, would not be possible without the on-going commitment shown by Westminster City Council and the support of TikTok, London Heritage Quarter, Art of London, ATG, ASDA, The Crown Estate, Disney On Stage, Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, FM Conway, FujiFilm, Heart of London Business Alliance, New West End Company, Nimax Theatres, Regent Street and St James’s, LW Theatres, Shaftesbury Capital, Theatre Royal Haymarket, Trafalgar Entertainment, Veolia and Ontix 

Debbie Jackson, Executive Director of Regeneration, Economy and Planning at Westminster City Council, said:  

“We’re thrilled to once again be celebrating West End LIVE in Trafalgar Square for a weekend of top-tier theatrical performances. 

“This free event showcases Westminster City Council’s commitment to making arts and culture accessible to our communities, providing residents and visitors with a unique taste of what the West End has to offer. 

“Theatre productions in the West End attract visitors from all over the world, providing a  

major boost to Westminster’s local economy, supporting jobs within the creative industries and inspiring the next generation into a career within the performing arts.” 

Official London Theatre will be backstage throughout the West End LIVE weekend sharing exclusive behind-the-scenes content across our social channels. 

West End LIVE remains free as in previous years. The event will be BSL interpreted live by Omoyele Davey, Marco Nardi, Caroline Richardson and the weekend’s performances, including with accompanying BSL interpretation for the first time, will be streamed on Official London Theatre’s YouTube after the event. 

List of shows appearing at West End LIVE 2024

42 Balloons  

Babies The Musical 

Back To The Future The Musical 

Baga Chipz 

The Baker’s Wife 

The Book Of Mormon 

Cabaret 

The Choir Of Man 

A Chorus Line 

Closer To Heaven  

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button 

DIVA: Live From Hell!  

Dorian: The Musical  

Emerald Storm 

Fangirls  

Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World 

Frankie Goes To Bollywood 

Disney’s Frozen 

Hadestown 

Hamilton 

Heathers The Musical 

I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical 

I Wish You Well – The Gwyneth Paltrow Ski Trial Musical  

John Owen-Jones 

Kathy & Stella Solve A Murder!  

Kiss Me, Kate  

Les Misérables 

Disney’s The Lion King 

Magic Mike Live 

Mamma Mia! 

Marie Curie 

RSC’s Matilda The Musical 

Mean Girls 

MJ The Musical 

Moulin Rouge! The Musical 

Mrs Doubtfire 

Next To Normal 

A Night With Janis Joplin The Musical  

Operation Mincemeat 

The Phantom Of The Opera 

Queenz: Live In London! 

Roles We’ll Never Play  

Shantify – The Show 

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical 

Sister Act 

Six The Musical 

Standing At The Sky’s Edge  

Tina – The Tina Turner Musical 

Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York) 

Westway Music Presents 

Why Am I So Single?  

Wicked 

The Wild Party 

The Wizard Of Oz 

You, Me & The Rest Of The World 

Your Lie In April The Musical 

More shows and acts will be announced in the lead-up to the event.

westendlive.co.uk / @WestEndLIVE / @westendlive / @westendLIVE

First look images released of Wendi Peters as Mother Superior in the UK and Ireland tour of SISTER ACT, currently playing at the Buxton Opera House.

The cast also includes Landi Oshinowo as Deloris Van Cartier, Alfie Parker as Eddie Souther, Ian Gareth-Jones as Curtis Jackson, and Eloise Runnette as Sister Mary Robert, alongside Isabel Canning, Julie Stark, Phillip Arran, Kate Powell, Elliot Gooch, Michalis Antoniou, Callum Martin, Esme Laudat, Amber Kennedy, Harvey Ebbage, Joseph Connor, Ceris Hine, Sheri Lineham, Corrine Priest and Samuel John-Humphreys.

The tour continues to Northampton, Chester, Grimsby, Eastbourne, Blackpool, Canterbury, Bath, Bournemouth, Torquay, Darlington, Nottingham, Swansea and Liverpool.

SISTER ACT has direction by Bill Buckhurst, choreography by Alistair David, Set and Costume Design by Morgan Large, Lighting Design by Tim Mitchell, Sound Design by Tom Marshall and Musical Supervision by Stephen Brooker. Casting is by Stuart Burt. 

SISTER ACT features original music by Tony® and 8-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken(Disney’s Aladdin, Enchanted), lyrics by Glenn Slater, book by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner with additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane.

https://sisteractthemusical.co.uk

Hull New Theatre – until 1st June 2024

Reviewed by Dawn Bennett

5*****

I’ve seen a lot of the Mischief productions and have loved watching them all. After seeing Magic Goes Wrong on tour and the section with The Mind Mangler in it, I did wonder if it would be possible to fill a full show with just them and the answer is absolutely yes!

Even before the show began the fun started, the audience were given a card to fill in with their name and their darkest secret and hand it back in. Then the voice of the Mind Mangler himself came over the speakers telling us that he would “challenge himself to become a human lie detector” and this really set the tone for the rest of the show.

The show was non-stop fun, from one joke, magic trick and audience interaction to another.

Henry Lewis (The Mind Mangler) and Jonathan Sayer (Mike, “audience member” and Stooge) wrote this show as well as staring in it. It was slick, brilliantly acted and very, very funny.

The audience participation parts were so good, people where on stage, on camera and the Hull audience really had The Mind Mangler on his toes with some of the interactions and comments!

The mind reading and magic tricks were quite impressive and they really worked and even if they hadn’t it really wouldn’t have mattered it was all part of the fun. They did have me wondering how did they do that?

It’s quite hard to do a review and not give much away, people really need to go and see this show. My face hurts this morning from laughing and I’m very tempted to go and watch it again!

From the minute the show started it had me and the rest of the audience laughing, it is a fantastic show and really deserves full houses and standing ovations for the rest of the run.

A very welcome addition to the Mischief family. Just fabulous!