Cedric Neal Archives - North West End UK

Kinky Boots: In Concert – Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

10Aug

By Ely KingNo Comments

London

Kinky Boots: In Concert – Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Kinky Boots is one of the most well-loved pieces of modern theatre. The production follows Charlie Price’s struggle to take over his father’s failing shoe company and how he finds help in the most unexpected of places…a drag bar in London. The incomparably lavish Lola and her Angels take Charlie on a journey of acceptance, defiance, and most importantly, making stiletto shoes for drag queens. Your average workday. The story of Kinky Boots is based on a true story and is split between its base in Northampton, the drag bar in London, and a fashion show in Milan. As someone who has just moved from Northampton to London, I do identify with Charlie’s struggle quite a lot, it’s certainly given me a new take on the show. Going into this performance, it was important to be reminded that it ...

Monday Night at the Apollo – Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue

25May

By Jenn McKeanNo Comments

London

Monday Night at the Apollo – Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue

One positive that has come out of theatres being closed? Line ups like this evening that probably wouldn’t have happened had we not had lockdown and the closing of theatres. It’s about the only good thing I can think of – that and the streaming of shows, such as this one, that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to get to! This powerhouse quintet is enough to cheer anyone up after a miserable Monday and worth the ticket price alone. Billed as an intimate evening of conversation and song filled with an eclectic mix of music from the performers’ favourite genres, the night definitely did not disappoint. The first act felt like it got off to a slow start and that it was going to be an evening more about the talking than the singing, but after each performer had sung once and chatted with host ...

6May

By Scot CunninghamNo Comments

REVIEWS

A Killer Party – stream.theatre

The whodunnit musical Curtains meets everybody’s favourite video conferencing software Zoom in this nine-part murder mystery by Rachel Axler and Kait Kerrigan. Having been created and developed in America last year, it is now premiering in the UK with an array of stage stars-turned-suspects. When jaded traffic warden Justine Case (Emma Salvo) is inexplicably asked to investigate a killing, she eagerly dons her deerstalker and heads to the crime scene. There, a gaggle of outlandish guests of West End producer Varthur McArthur (Jason Manford) nervously, bitterly and/or hungrily await questioning. Annoyingly, the reason Justine is asked to step up is never addressed and, as the main character, her aversion to theatre is unfortunate. Salvo nevertheless pumps the new mystery-solver with ...

BFI at Home presents Back to the Future: From Screen to Stage

22Apr

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

BFI at Home presents Back to the Future: From Screen to Stage

After 36 years, classic sci-fi adventure and 1985’s highest grossing film, BACK TO THE FUTURE has become a hi-tech stage musical, led by a creative team that includes the co-writer of the original trilogy Bob Gale, and the Oscar-nominated composer behind the iconic score for the film Alan Silvestri. Ahead of BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical opening in the Adelphi Theatre from 20th August, the BFI present an online discussion with members of the cast and crew, broadcasting globally, for free, on BFI YouTube at 19:00 on Thursday 29th April. The panel comprises Bob Gale, who, as well as co-writing the original trilogy, has written the book for the musical, and multi award winning composer Alan Silverstri, who has written new music and lyrics for the show alongside six-time Grammy award winn...

Back to the Future the Musical begins performances 20th August at the Adelphi Theatre

16Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Back to the Future the Musical begins performances 20th August at the Adelphi Theatre

Producer Colin Ingram (Ghost – The Musical) and Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, the creators of the Back To The Future film trilogy, have announced that BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical’s performances at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End will now begin on 20th August 2021. The musical’s out-of-town opening at Manchester Opera House in March 2020 received an incredible reaction from critics and the public alike, but was cut short when theatres were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic exactly a year ago. Roger Bart and Olly Dobson will play the roles of ‘Dr Emmett Brown’ and ‘Marty McFly’ respectively. Hugh Coles performs as ‘George McFly’, Rosanna Hyland as ‘Lorraine Baines’, Cedric Neal as ‘Goldie Wilson’, Aidan Cutler as ‘Biff Tannen’, Courtney-Mae Briggs as ‘Jennifer ...

Songs for a New World – Lambert Jackson Productions

21Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

REVIEWS

Songs for a New World – Lambert Jackson Productions

Recorded remotely in June 2020, this abstract musical is a breath of fresh air in this confined lockdown. Jason Robert Brown’s song cycle captures the feeling of transitioning as we explore the effects of “one moment” of change. The piece opens with footage of closed theatres and soundbites of the news. The uncharacteristically empty theatre districts are accompanied by the words of hope in “A New World”. The show premiered in 1995 but, as with this song, the whole show’s premise feels especially poignant in this time. Almost instantly I had goosebumps and there was many more of that to come. The idea of a moment igniting change couldn’t be more significant when thinking of last year’s Black Lives Matter protests. The footage of Windrush and street art of George Floyd gave even more...

Casting confirmed for the highly anticipated online concert streaming of Treason

7Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Casting confirmed for the highly anticipated online concert streaming of Treason

Casting has been confirmed for the highly anticipated online concert streaming of Treason, the exciting new musical drama based on the notorious gunpowder plot of 1605. The world premiere of this exclusive musical concert will be performed by a selection of some of the West End's most gifted performers including Lucie Jones (Legally Blonde, Waitress), Oliver Tompsett (& Juliet, Kinky Boots), Daniel Boys (Falsettos, Nativity Rocks!), Waylon Jacobs (Hamilton, Memphis), Bradley Jaden (Les Misérables, Wicked), Emmanuel Kojo (Oklahoma!, Show Boat), Rebecca LaChance (School of Rock, Beautiful), Cedric Neal (Chess, Memphis), Sharon Rose (Hamilton, Caroline Or Change), and alongside the multi-talented poet, writer and performer, Debris Stevenson (1st Luv, Poet in da Corner), as the show’s ...

Songs For A New World on stream.theatre from 21st February

5Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Songs For A New World on stream.theatre from 21st February

Lambert Jackson Productions today announces its online lockdown production of Jason Robert Brown’s Songs For A New World which will stream on stream.theatre for one week from 21st February. Filmed during the first UK lockdown, entirely in isolation and on the artists smart phones, Séimí Campbell directs Rachel John (Hamilton), Ramin Karimloo (Phantom of The Opera), Cedric Neal (Motown) and Rachel Tucker (Come From Away), and introducing Shem Omari James, with musical supervision by Adam Hoskins, musical direction from Josh Winstone and video editing by Danny Kaan. “It's about one moment. It's about hitting the wall and having to make a choice… or take a stand… or turn around and go back.” Written by Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown and sitting between musical and so...