FIRST LOOK AT THE MUSIC OF LA BAMBA!

LA BAMBA! A BRAND-NEW ORIGINAL JUKEBOX MUSICAL IS EMBARKING ON A UK TOUR FROM 1^st AUGUST.

LA BAMBA! FEATURES AN ALL-STAR CAST INCLUDING THE WANTED’S SIVA KANESWARAN AND STRICTLY COME DANCING CHAMPION PASHA KOVALEV.

Website: www.labambaonstage.co.uk

Socials: @LaBambaOnStage #LaBambaOnStage

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Paul Morrissey Ltd is pleased to share a first look at the music for the world premiere of the fiery new jukebox musical, La Bamba!

La Bamba! is a pulsating new musical that will open at Curve inLeicester on Tuesday, 1st August 2023 before heading to London’s Peacock Theatre, Sadler’s Wells West End theatre, for a limited seasonon Tuesday 22 August 2023 until Saturday 2^nd September 2023. La Bamba! will continue a UK tour until December 2023.

La Bamba! is an explosive new musical starring Strictly Come Dancing champion Pasha Kovalev, The Wanted’s Siva Kaneswaran and rising star Inês Fernandez.

Featuring an electric soundtrack of Latin pop anthems such as Ricky Martin’s Livin’ La Vida Loca, Shakira’s Hips Don’t Lie, Marc Anthony’s Vivir Mi Vida, Becky G’s Fulanito, Camilla Cabello’s Havana, J-Lo’s Let’s Get Loud and many more.

Joining previously announced Strictly Come Dancing champion Pasha Kovalev, will beboyband star Siva Kaneswaran playing the role of Mateo. Singer and songwriter and best known for being one fifth of pop band The Wanted, Siva has recently appeared in ITV’s Dancing on Ice. He will be joined by rising star Inês Fernandez in the lead role of Sofia.

The full company includes Bethan Mitchell, Stefani Ariza, Julia Ruiz Fernandez, Nicolle Matheu, Gabriella Rose-Marchant, Alex Sturman, Brendan Graham, Tristan Ghostkeeper and Luke Jarvis

La Bamba! tells the heartwarming story of Sofia (Inês Fernandez), a small-town girl from Los Angeles on her journey to stardom. Her dream of becoming a superstar began when her father, Ricardo (Pasha Kovalev), handed her a guitar. Sofia, inspired by her musical heroes, will discover, with the help of her family and best friend Mateo (Siva Kaneswaran), that while talent makes you a star, fate can make you a legend.

La Bamba! is written by Paul Morrissey, directed by multi-award-winning American director Ray Roderick, and features choreography by Graziano Di Prima, Erica Da Silva and associate choreography by Giada Lini. This brand-new musical will feature music from across the Latin genre from traditional folk songs to recent chart-topping hits all arranged by award-winning musical maestro, Alfonso Casado-Trigo. 

La Bamba! is a vibrant new musical fiesta about passion and pride and the realisation that every journey begins with a single step! Tickets are on sale now.

TOUR DATES

Tuesday 1^st August – Saturday 5^th August 2023

Curve, Leicester

Box Office – 0116 242 3595

Website – www.curveonline.co.uk/whats-on/shows/la-bamba/

Thursday 10^th August – Saturday 12^th August 2023

Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe

Box Office – 0343 310 0060

Website – https://wycombeswan.co.uk/Online/tickets-la-bamba-wycombe-2023

Thursday 17^th August – Saturday 19^th August 2023

The Lowry, Salford

Box Office – 0161 876 2000

Website – https://thelowry.com/whats-on/la-bamba/

Tuesday 22^nd August – Saturday 2^nd September 2023

Peacock Theatre, London

Box Office – 020 7863 8000

Website – www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/la-bamba/

PRESS NIGHTS & MEDIA NIGHT

TUESDAY 22^nd AUGUST

WEDNESDAY 23^rd AUGUST

Tuesday 5^th September – Saturday 9^th September 2023

Swansea Grand, Swansea

Box Office – 01792 475715

Website – https://www.swanseagrand.co.uk/LaBamba

Tuesday 19^th September – Saturday 23^rd September 2023

Theatre Royal, Brighton

Website – https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/la-bamba/theatre-royal-brighton/

Tuesday 26^th September – Saturday 30^th September 2023

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

Box Office – 024 7655 3055

Website – https://www.belgrade.co.uk/events/la-bamba/

Tuesday 3^rd October – Saturday 7^th October 2023

Regent Theatre, Stoke-On-Trent

Website – https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/la-bamba/regent-theatre/

Tuesday 10^th October – Saturday 15^th October 2023

New Theatre, Cardiff

Box Office – 0343 310 0041

Website – https://newtheatrecardiff.co.uk/Online/tickets-la-bamba-cardiff-2023

Tuesday 17^th October – Saturday 21^st October 2023

Princess Theatre, Torquay

Website – https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/la-bamba/princess-theatre-torquay/

Tuesday 24^th October – Saturday 28^th October 2023

Wyvern Theatre, Swindon

Box Office – 0343 310 0040

Website – https://swindontheatres.co.uk/Online/tickets-la-bamba-swindon-2023

Tuesday 31^st October – Saturday 4^th November 2023

The Orchard Theatre, Dartford

Box Office – 0343 310 0033

Website – https://orchardtheatre.co.uk/Online/tickets-la-bamba-dartford-2023

Tuesday 7^th November – Saturday 11^th November 2023

Grand Opera House, York

Website – https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/la-bamba/grand-opera-house-york/

Tuesday 21^st November – Saturday 25^th November 2023

Grand Theatre, Blackpool

Box Office – 01253 290190

Website – www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/event/la-bamba

Festival Theatre, Malvern – until 29th July 2023

Reviewed by Courie Amado Juneau

5*****

Heathers The Musical is the award winning stage adaptation of the cult 1988 film “Heathers”. I didn’t know the film but was intrigued by the brief synopsis I had seen and I was surrounded by people who had loved and were raving about it – so expectations were high. I was not disappointed.

Although the name of the work is Heathers it is really Veronica (who is desperate to join the Heathers group to gain some popularity) who is the real star. Jenna Innes brought amazing range to the role giving us tenderness, fear, anger, vulnerability, a warrior spirit in the face of spiralling events and much more. Her singing voice was gorgeous and I found her acting utterly compelling as she made this quirky leading role very believable. Every inch a star in the making.

Jacob Fowler, as lead male Jason “J.D.” Dean, was equally charismatic in a poetic reading. I loved his introduction with the comical slow motion fight scene which justified his place on the stage alone – wonderful direction from Andy Fickman in evidence.

The two jocks (think American football, not Scotland) – Kurt (Alex Woodward) and Ram (Morgan Jackson) were the most obvious comedy elements (though there is much comedy throughout for all the cast). They worked exceptionally well together, providing many laugh out loud (and cringeworthy) moments. As did the actors playing their fathers: Jay Bryce (Kurt’s dad) and Conor McFarlane (Ram’s) were hilarious, particularly in the song “My Dead Gay Son” – my favourite number of the entire piece. I would happily vote for a spin off show of the dad’s further adventures.

The entire cast displayed a rambunctious spirit and all deserve much praise. I was especially taken with Billie Bowman’s Heather McNamara; she brought a refreshing, youthful exuberance that was infectious. Kingsley Morton playing Martha Dunnstock was another pivotal character that was sensitively wrought.

The music is very 80’s influenced (to my ears) giving a Buffy meets High School Musical feel. It’s an extremely catchy score, supported by lyrics that intelligently propel the story along as well as being stand alone pieces, many of which are very inspirational.

The set was a masterclass in how to produce maximum effect with limited stage real estate. A balcony, a screen, some movable pieces that double as several things. The costumes were exactly what you would expect from 17 year old fashionistas and were a feast for the eyes. Very inventive stuff from David Shields (Set and Costume Designer).

What I was most impressed with was that the writers (Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe) managed to weave a rather uplifting musical out of some very dark, perhaps unpromising subject matter. The really clever part was juxtaposing the darkest of elements with the lightest, giving us plenty of emotion as well as some much needed light relief.

At the finale the audience were on their feet cheering loudly in vociferous support. And rightly so, for this is a superb show with amazing music, fantastic singing and dance routines… It really has everything. Most of all, it’s a whole lot of fun! If you loved SiX you will love this. Get yourself down to Malvern Theatre and mingle with the in-crowd. You won’t regret it.

HOME THEATRE, MANCHESTER – UNTIL 12TH AUGUST 2023

REVIEWED BY ZOE BROWN

5*****

Following its sell-out tour of the West End ‘Cruise’, the one-man show written and performed by Jack Holden, hit the stage this week at HOME.

With set design by Nik Corrall, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were entering a 80’s underground with black walls, dimly lit but for the occasional striking neon strip and a DJ booth raised above all else, as if an altar at which to pray.

Jack Holden wrote his debut stage play during the depths of the first year of the pandemic and watching this show you understand how its themes continue to resonate.

The story begins within the call room of Switchboard, a volunteer led helpline dedicated to providing signposting and information to the LGBTQIA+ communities across the UK.

Based on the writer’s own experience of working for the helpline it’s the perfect springboard from which the action soon pulls us back to the 80’s using the testimony of a Switchboard caller, Michael, who, to enlighten our young Switchboard volunteer Jamie, relives his wild rollercoaster of a life throughout this turbulent time in Gay history.

This show is a powerful reflection of cultural Gay history packed full of evocative punches, breathtaking spoken word, pumping music, and clever use of a rotating wooden structure that swiftly takes us from one venue to another. Set in London’s Soho, Michael takes us on a tour of iconic Soho haunts, retelling his early life with a mix of nostalgia, pride, and sadness. Arguably this list of haunts could easily be replaced with that of our own Gay Village or indeed any of the underground Gay venues in the 80’s across the UK.

Reflecting on the fragments of so many lives lived and lost in the 80’s and the communities’ experience of dealing with the devastating impact of a new and deadly virus, HIV.

The direction by Bronagh Lagan is laser focused. The music is phenomenal, composed and performed by John Patrick Elliot, who in 2022 won the Stage Debut award for Best Composer for his original score.

Slick, keen character observations, flawless voice, fast paced dialogue (with some15,000 words and thirty characters) Jack delivers a rich story with such energy you can’t help but be in awe of his stamina.

My only small critique is that, at times, it felt like system overload. An hour and 45 mins without interval the story told with such pace and vigor I was on edge keeping up with it. Perhaps a slowing down in places may have been helpful to give this piece, and the storyteller, a moment to breathe.

Breaking down barriers, dispelling myths and sharing insight into what was, as Jack Holden beautifully described, a tragic moment in Gay history, with a new deadly virus sweeping the world, much like the Covid virus today (minus urgency given to finding a cure or treatment).

Overall, a fantastic, essential story, with the same impact of the brilliant ‘It’s A Sin’, informing not only the younger LGBTQIA+ community but all communities across the UK.

HAMPSTEAD THEATRE ANNOUNCES FULL CAST FOR LAUREN GUNDERSON’S ANTHROPOLOGY, DIRECTED BY ANNA LEDWICH, FROM 7 SEPTEMBER – 14 OCTOBER 2023

Hampstead Theatre is delighted to announce the full cast and creative team for the world premiere of anthropology  – Lauren Gunderson’s gripping thriller about Artificial Intelligence – directed by Anna Ledwich from 7 September until 14 October. 

MyAnna Buring (Twilight: Breaking Dawn; The Witcher; Downton Abbey; Ripper Street; A Very Expensive Poison, Old Vic; The Wasp, Hampstead Theatre) and Dakota Blue Richards (The Golden Compass; Skins; Arcadia, English Touring Theatre) are joined by Yolanda Kettle (Patriots, Almeida; Deep Blue Sea, National Theatre and Eden, Hampstead Theatre) and Abigail Thaw (Endeavour and The Strange Death of John Doe, Hampstead Theatre).

Lauren Gunderson, playwright said:

“I can’t quite express how meaningful it is that Hampstead Theatre is welcoming me back and trusting me for the world premiere of anthropology. I began this play in 2022 a full year before the launch of ChatGPT and the rapid growth of AI that we see all around us now. Hampstead was the very first theatre I shared it with, and its truly exhilarating to meet this moment and bring this play to life with Anna Ledwich and our phenomenal cast and creative team.

“While anthropology is a roller coaster of the contrasting tensions between technology and its creators, this play is truly a very human story of family, grief, resilience, love and sisterhood. The grounding thesis of this play is that all new technology – like all art – is first and foremost a method of expressing and coming to understand ourselves. Our tech tells us who we are long before we tell it what we want it to be.” 

“I built you because this is what I do. It’s my job. These are my tools, I used them, and honestly it’s not that hard – you’re basically a chatbot.”

Merril is one of silicon valley’s leading software engineers, but her life disintegrates when her younger sister Angie vanishes on her way home from college. A year later, when the police have long abandoned their search, Merril assembles all the digital material Angie has left behind and sets about building herself a digital simulation of her sister. The resultant ‘virtual Angie’ offers her some solace – until, that is, it starts to reveal new details about the real Angie’s disappearance.

Official anthropology trailer starring Dakota Blue Richards

San Francisco-based Lauren Gunderson is widely recognised as America’s most performed playwright and this autumn will have three plays running simultaneously in London and the UK. These include the world premieres of anthropology at Hampstead Theatre and The Time Traveller’s Wife in the West End, along with The Book of Will at Shakespeare North. Lauren’s play I and You was a huge success at Hampstead Theatre in 2018. Author of over 20 plays, Lauren has also received the Lanford Wilson Award at the Dramatists Guild Awards and two Steinberg/ ATCA New Play Awards. 

Anna Ledwich will be directing her twelfth Hampstead Theatre production where her previous work has ranged from Labyrinth to the Olivier-nominated productions Dry Powder and Four Minutes Twelve Seconds. Joining Anna Ledwich is designer, Georgia Lowe; lighting designer James Whiteside; sound designer Max Pappenheim and video designer Daniel Denton.

Hull New Theatre – until 29th July 2023

Reviewed by Dawn Bennett

5*****

The New Adventures Production of Matthew Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet last night brought the audience of the Hull New Theatre to their feet with a very deserved standing ovation.

With music by Sergei Prokofiev (Recorded by the New Adventure Orchestra) this is Romeo and Juliet as you’ve probably never seen it before. Set in the Verona Institute, a white-tiled, clinical, foreboding secure institution where the young people are locked up, abused and drugged so they conform. The set was stark white metal with walkways, banging doors, harsh lighting a metal walkway and entrances with “boys” and “girls” built into the wall and the dancers (apart from a couple of scenes) were all dressed in white adding to the sense of foreboding (Set and costumes were design by Lez Brotherston and were brilliant in their simplicity).

Romeo (Paris Fitzpatrick) was brought to the institute by his parents Senator Montague (Andy Monaghan) and Mrs Montague (Daisy May Kemp) who didn’t seem to know what they could do with him. Romeo is stripped of his clothes, and his dignity, by other inmates and he is soon dressed in the regulation white.

We meet Juliet (Monique Jonas) as she is being pursued by the very sinister guard Tybalt (Sam Archer), what follows is heartbreaking and beautifully danced. The two acts before the interval build up to a conclusion that was both shocking, terrifying and thought provoking.

The third act is one week later and we see the inmates, behaving like they have been drugged and trying to prosses the horror of what had happened and this was brilliantly done by the cast. At times during this production, you can have heard a pin drop and you could just hear the sound of the dancers’ feet and them breathing such was the atmosphere in the theatre.

All the cast are fabulous dancers and they manage to portray the feeling and emotions of the story without words, it was just through their movements and facial expressions. The chorography (Sir Matthew Bourne) as always in New Adventure productions, was quirky, funny, stunning and heartbreaking to watch in equal measures.

I have to give a shout out to Bryony Pennington (who played Dorcas) a dancer who trained in Hull at LWHS School of Dance. They were a pleasure to watch and it was great to see yet another talented dancer from Hull!

I have always loved watching Sir Matthew Bournes productions and Romeo and Juliet is one of the few I haven’t seen live. It was a treat from beginning to end and I’m very pleased that I’ve booked to watch again on Thursday!

The Almeida Theatre announces two new productions for 2023/24: 

• Carrie Cracknell (Oil; The Deep Blue Sea) returns to the Almeida to direct Alison Oliver (Women, Beware the Devil; Best Interests)in Marina Carr‘s modern Irish classic Portia Coughlan. 
• Following his acclaimed performance in Hymn at the Almeida in 2021, Danny Sapani (Killing Eve; Les Blancs) takes the title role in King Lear, directed by Yaël Farber (The Tragedy of Macbeth; Blood Wedding). 

Almeida Artistic Director Rupert Goold said, “I first saw Danny Sapani at the Almeida in the extraordinary Big White Fog in 2007 – for me, it remains one of the defining performances in our theatre. Then in 2021, at the peak of the third Covid lockdown, he moved and inspired us in Lolita Chakrabarti’s live streamed Hymn, alongside Adrian Lester. Next year, Danny returns to the Almeida as King Lear – one of our greatest stage actors in one of the greatest stage roles. 

“Before then, we welcome back Alison Oliver to play the eponymous Portia Coughlan in Marina Carr’s breathtaking, haunting play. Alison is an incredible talent – this year alone she has received acclaim for Women, Beware the Devil here at the Almeida, Dancing at Lughnasa at the National Theatre and on TV in the BBC’s Best Interests. 

“Helming these productions are two visionary directors – two years ago Yaël Farber gave us a spectacular Macbeth and Carrie Cracknell directs her first Almeida show since the epic Oil in 2016.” 

PORTIA COUGHLAN
by Marina Carr 

Directed by Carrie Cracknell 

Tuesday 10 October – Saturday 18 November 2023 

There’s a wolf tooth growin in me heart and it’s turnin me from everywan and everthin I am.  

A young woman unravelling.
A twin reappearing. 

A family torn asunder by the living and the dead.  

Today is Portia’s birthday. But it’s not a day for family and celebrations. Because Portia is making terrible choices, lurching between past and present, and wondering if the hand of fate has already set her course. 

Tormented by her dead twin Gabriel, who disappeared into the depths of the Belmont River 15 years ago, she wreaks havoc on all she loves in a desperate bid to save herself. 

Carrie Cracknell (Oil; The Deep Blue Sea) returns to the Almeida to direct Alison Oliver (Women, Beware the Devil; Best Interests) in Marina Carr‘s heart-wrenching modern Irish classic about destructive families and obsession. 

KING LEAR 
by William Shakespeare

Directed by Yaël Farber 

Thursday 8 February – Saturday 30 March 2024 

Nothing shall come of nothing. 

We all must face the moment of truth that we won’t live forever.   

Lear, father and king of unquestioned power, must divide his realm between his three daughters. The first two quickly declare the love he is desperate to hear, yet his favourite Cordelia shuns the performative circus. “Nothing” she answers, when asked to speak. And towards that nothing Lear’s world begins to slide.  

As the new generation unleashes the consequences of their father’s choices, Lear takes us into the eye of the storm and its trail of destruction.  

Following her Olivier Award-nominated The Tragedy of Macbeth, Yaël Farber directs Danny Sapani (Killing Eve; Hymn) as King Lear in Shakespeare’s poignant, morally ambiguous, and subversive epic.  

Theatre Royal, Nottingham – until Saturday 29th July 2023

Reviewed by Jill Heslop

5*****

“Tell your friends to come on down, ‘cos Buddy Holly’s back in town!” With these words, A. J. Jenks as Buddy Holly, ends this glorious musical show celebrating over 30 years of The Buddy Holly Story. And what a show it is! Brilliant singers, talented musicians, funny dialogue, all adding up to a wonderful night out at the theatre for all ages.

The tragic tale of Buddy Holly’s early death is well-known and luckily this is not the focus of the show. Instead we are taken on a musical journey (cleverly narrated by Hipockets Duncan, played by Thomas Mitchells) from Lubbock, Texas where Buddy was born and learned to play the guitar, to the recording studios of Decca and the beginnings of Rock and Roll taking over from the popular Country and Western music of the time. Amazingly, ‘That’ll Be The Day’ was rejected harshly at their early performance of the song! But the hits just keep on coming and the audience enjoy joining in with such familiar and legendary songs as ‘Peggy Sue’, ‘Oh Boy’, ‘Everyday’ and ‘Rave On’ throughout the show.

We see Buddy’s determination and talent at such a young age as he tirelessly does take after take in the studio. There is fun aplenty as we move to the Apollo theatre in Harlem, New York, where Buddy Holly and the Crickets were the first all-white rock act to play at the venue. This was shown with good humour. We are treated to a fantastic performance of ‘Reet Petite’ by Miguel Angel as Tyrone Jones and the brilliant singing of ‘Shout’ by Chantel Williams (Laura-Dene Williams) and Marlena Madison (Samuelle Durojaiye).

The final move to Clear Lake, Iowa is a mixture of back stage fly-on-the-wall dialogue and live performances, and we see the significance of the light-hearted bargaining for a seat on the fatal plane by Ritchie Valens (Miguel Angel) and The Big Bopper (Christopher Chandler).

A grand finale, the Surf Ballroom performance, involved the whole musical cast on stage with individual performances of ‘Chantilly Lace’ by The Big Bopper (Christopher Chandler) and yet another highlight of the evening, an unforgettable rendition of ‘La Bamba’ led by Ritchie Valens (Miguel Angel). By now the audience wish there were no seats in the venue, so we could get up and dance! We were all on our feet by the end of the evening, asking for more and being given some great guitar tricks by Buddy (A. J. Jenks) and acrobatics by bass player Joe B. Mauldin (Joe Butcher).

This is a feel-good musical with so much history on stage displayed with energy and verve, taking the audience on a trip down memory lane with a bang! As Buddy says, “Come on down, ‘cos Buddy Holly’s back in town!”

TICKETS ON SALE

THURSDAY 27 JULY AT 10.00AM

FOR

RALPH FIENNES AND INDIRA VARMA

IN

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S

MACBETH
DIRECTED BY SIMON GODWIN

AT

THE DEPOT, LIVERPOOL

FROM 18 NOVEMBER – 16 DECEMBER 2023

Wessex Grove and Underbelly, in association with Shakespeare Theatre Company, Washington, D.C. are delighted to announce that tickets are now on sale for MACBETH starring Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma at The Depot, Liverpool from 18 November – 16 December 2023. For tickets please go to MacbethTheShow.com.

This brand-new production of one of Shakespeare’s most iconic plays will be staged like never before in custom built theatre spaces unique to this production. Following the run at The Depot, Liverpool (18 November – 16 December 2023), the production will play in Edinburgh at the Royal Highland Centre (13 – 27 January 2024) and London at Dock X, Canada Water (10 February – 23 March 2024), giving audiences the chance to be even closer to the action.

The production will then play a season in Washington, D.C. (2 – 28 April 2024) with tickets now on sale as part of a six-play subscription to Shakespeare Theatre Company’s 23/24 Season.

Macbeth is coming. A couple corrupted by their relentless lust for power have blood on their hands. Witness the gripping tale of greed, murder, deception and superstition. Once you cross the line, you can never turn back.

Tony and BAFTA Award-winning Ralph Fiennes will star as Macbeth and Olivier Award-winning Indira Varma will star as Lady Macbeth in a new production of William Shakespeare’s MACBETH. Directed by Simon Godwin with set and costume design by Frankie Bradshaw and an adaptation by Emily Burns. Further creative team and full casting to be announced soon.

Leeds Grand Theatre – until Saturday 29 July 2023

5*****

One of the things I wanted to do when visiting New York was to tap dance down 42nd Street.  I can’t tap dance or sing so I envy those who can. But I did my version and a tick was placed on the bucket list.  For me, you can never go wrong with a good old fashioned musical filled with tap dancing, so 42nd Street was always going to make me happy

The story of the talented dancer plucked from the chorus line to take the starring role in a Broadway musical is the Cinderella story of the American Depression, and this revival is injected with new energy. 

Singer Dorothy Brock is due to be the star of “Pretty Lady”, the new musical by Julian Marsh.  Unfortunately she can’t dance so Marsh demands lots of chorus girls to hide this. Small-town hopeful Peggy Sawyer joins the chorus line, but has a lucky break (literally – when Dorothy cracks her ankle) and gets to play the lead role. The attraction of 42nd Street is the dancing, and a string of catchy 1930s songs by Harry Warren and Al Dubin – the kind you know without knowing you know them (‘We’re in the Money’, ‘Lullaby of Broadway’, ‘Forty Second Street’, etc). Satisfyingly, the show starts with a curtain rising to show tap-dancing feet – it can only get better.

Nicole-Lily Baisden is a powerhouse of tap, with unbelievable solos in 42nd Street, and nails Peggy Sawyer’s naivety and ambition. Sam Lips as cocky tenor Billy Lawler is the perfect dance partner, while Michael Praed as Julian Marsh marshals proceedings with convincing egotism and drive.  Faye Tozer and Les Dennis make a sparkly Maggie Jones and Bert Barry, and Sarah-Marie Maxwell, Aimee Hodnett and Brianna Craig are endlessly bright and fun as chorus girls. But the entire company are perfect and every step is a joy to watch. Samantha Womack and Baisden compete to steal every scene, bubbling with energy and presence. Womack has great comic timing and lack of vanity. Whether she’s belting out Boulevard of Broken Dreams or swooning in I Only Have Eyes For You.  Baisden just has talent by the bucketful, which we get to see with every dance step she takes.

Outstanding choreography by Bill Deamer is pure Hollywood and the set and costume designs by Robert Jones just sparkle under the assured direction of Jonathan Church.  The live band (Jennifer Whyte, Grant Walsh, Toby Kelly, Simon Willims, Rhodri Taylor, Jamie Fathers, Tom Tait, Kevin Ferris, Alan Hase, Jamie Pimenta, Simon Walker, Dave Oxley, Mark Fincham, Paul Rosi), who are kept in a a pit for a reason, give life to the music and lyrics of Warren and Dubin.

The show is just tap dancing heaven. It’s very early in the tour so there is plenty of chance to see this totally joyous musical and everyone can come and meet those dancing feet, at the avenue I’m taking you to, 42nd Street. 

Kings Theatre Portsmouth – until Saturday 29th July 2023

Reviewed by Lucy Hitchcock

5***** – because that’s the most I’m allowed to give!

Richard O’Brien’s cult classic ‘Rocky Horror’ has beamed into Portsmouth for one week only for the best night you’ll have this year!

This classic sees an extremely talented cast including Kristian Lavercombe as ‘RiffRaff’, a role he has performed over 2200 times earning him a world record, Hayley Flaherty and Richard Meek as our romantic leads Brad and Janet and Stephen Webb as‘Frank’n’furter’ to name a few; each and every member of this cast is phenomenally talented.

Narrated by Phillip Franks, Rocky Horror is full of sex, fun, hilarity and heel offering the chance for the audience to heckle the cast to provide an interactive experience for all-each performance is slightly different as Phillip improvises responses to the audience each night. Franks is the perfect narrator, he handles and encourages the audience participation with ease and teases the audience throughout the show with his incredibly witty charm.

Kristian Lavercombe as RiffRaff is exceptional. His talent and incredible singing is not to be missed in this role and lends a performance that I can never get bored of. His comic timing is spot on and during ‘Over at the Frankenstein Place’ he gives the audience a glimpse of why he has been in the production over 2200 times. Lavercombe is an amazing actor, one that uplifts and holds the show to the standard it is through his acting of the highest calibre. He truly is a star and I cannot wait to return to the show to see him perform again. Together with Suzie Mcadam as his sister ‘Magenta’,this duo is a treat to watch. Their performances are in sync and with the talent that flows through them both, it is a wonder how they do it each night!

Hayley Flaherty and Richard Meek as ‘Janet’ and ‘Brad’ had the perfect mix of romance and vulnerability and with a little hint of humour, we saw a great story unfold. They are both extremely talented and with show off pieces such as ‘Toucha Touch Me’ and ‘Once in a While’ we see the extent of their skill, providing a wonderful audience experience. It was a joy to watch their romance change and they are perfectly suited together.

Stephen Webb, as ‘Frank’n’Furter’ is superb. He absolutely melted into the role, creating a seamlessly sexy performance to tantalise your tastebuds and is a feast for the eyes and ears. Webb, with his platformed heels, fitted corset and flowing feather boa, pranced around the stage as if he was at home-it was a joy to see such a passion for the role he was playing and I forgot I was watching him; he really was ‘Frank’! He commanded the stage with such ease and enthusiasm and connected with the audience instantly creating an atmosphere that completely encapsulated the whole audience!

I particularly enjoyed the outlandish costumes from the mind of Sue Blane, keeping fairly close to the cult classic film but with a modern twist of an absurd amount of sequins!!