Thursday, March 28

Tag: Rachel John

A Christmas Carol – The Old Vic
London

A Christmas Carol – The Old Vic

Returning for its fifth year to The Old Vic, Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ feels as new, as innovative and as compelling as it ever was and always will be. On entering the theatre, it’s as if the show has already started, as the entire company mill about, dressed head to toe in dramatic black overcoats and top hats, offering mince pies and oranges to just seated audience members. The hearty welcome and wishes of ‘Merry Christmas’ set the tone for the evening immediately; the excitement in the room was palpable. Enticingly, this show is performed in the round. This may not be entirely unusual, but it it’s not something all that typical in my experience either, and definitely piqued my interest as to how this would influence the production. As it turns out, this may be the most...
West End Musical Celebration – Palace Theatre
London

West End Musical Celebration – Palace Theatre

Originally planned to be A West End Musical Christmas, and devised by the producers of West End Musical Drive In and West End Musical Brunch, in association with Nica Burns, this all-star concert morphed into a celebration of the gradual re-opening of the West End after the 15-month enforced hiatus. The stellar cast of Ben Forster, Alice Fearn, Sophie Evans, Layton Williams, Rachel John, Trevor Dion Nicholas and Shanay Holmes represent the very best of what the West End has to offer and this show provides a great showcase for their talents. There are many high points in a show full of great moments. John blows away the audience with "Don't Rain On My Parade", Dion Nicholas reminds the audience of what a perfect genie he was with Aladdin's "You Never Had A Friend Like Me", and Forster r...
Songs for a New World – Lambert Jackson Productions
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...
Songs For A New World on stream.theatre from 21st February
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...