Monday, January 13

Author: Paul Downham

Together Again – Thespie Online
16Jan By Paul DownhamNo Comments
REVIEWS

Together Again – Thespie Online

During lockdown, like most, I’ve been desperately missing all things theatre. So, I took it upon myself to listen to as many new cast albums as I possibly could, and I frankly fell head over heels for the Heathers soundtrack. I love Laurence O’Keefe, as it is, as Legally Blonde reigns supreme in this theatre fans heart. But, during 2020 Heathers was my most played album on Spotify. I loved the UK cast recording; the setup, the voices and the raw emotion that came across in every song. So, when I saw that the UK’s iconic trio were reuniting for a concert, I jumped at the chance to watch it. The concert opens with the ladies singing ‘One Night Only’ from Dreamgirls and T’Shan took the lead on this. She has such a soulful and sublime voice. The vocal blend in this sound is just stunning. I...
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Rosegold – Online@TheSpaceUK
16Jan By Paul DownhamNo Comments
London

Rosegold – Online@TheSpaceUK

Donna Kay Yarborough’s monologue, Rosegold, is a startling story of alcohol addiction which starts as a regular testament at a Zoom meeting of what seems to be a religious group for those with some sort of baggage but takes a slowly disturbing turn as the story progresses. Jamie is speaking from her porch, outside her home. Other than briefly introducing “Carrie”, who doesn’t speak and wears a mask to remind us of our current pandemic, she is on her own, sharing a story so bleak and horrifying it toys with the tropes we recognise from both the traditional Christmas ghost story and the type of horror film that includes “found footage”. Far from being a simple tale of abusing the bottle, Jamie’s tightly wound personality takes us into a crime scene where she was the only survivor. A cr...
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Happily Ever After – Online@theSpaceUK
16Jan By Paul DownhamNo Comments
London

Happily Ever After – Online@theSpaceUK

Better Day Productions’ Happily Ever After from @theSpaceUK’s new season of online shows explores the story of bride to be Jasmin as she plans her special day with the help of Wedding Planners Frank and Gary. Written in a mockumentary style, the show begins by focusing on couple Frank (James Coare) and Gary (Perry Pullman) who were inspired by their own dreamy Disney-themed wedding to create their own wedding planning company. The light-hearted banter between Frank and Gary is definitely a highlight of the show. Filled with plenty of energy and hilarious one-liners, Coare’s performance as Frank was a standout for me. My favourite line was when we first meet the couple. Frank describes Gary as “the missing part of my Polo mint”, simple but performed perfectly and it really made me laugh....
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Join Leeds Playhouse’s Young Leaders Project
16Jan By Paul DownhamNo Comments
NEWS

Join Leeds Playhouse’s Young Leaders Project

Leeds Playhouse’s Young Leaders are looking for six new people to join their free course supporting 18- to 25-year-olds to become the next generation of arts facilitators. Six aspiring arts professionals are already working in partnership with Chapel FM, DAZL, Geraldine Connor Foundation, Mind the Gap and Leeds Libraries & Studio 12 to develop their creative community practice. The course will help those selected to: •  Develop leadership skills •  Support and manage a team •  Make events happen The course runs from February to December 2021, and to apply complete the online form, or send a video or audio file (no longer than 5 minutes) by 10am on 29th January. Photography by Anthony Robling The Playhouse team is interested in hearing from people ...
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Thespie presents: Unlimited – The Songs Of Stephen Schwartz
16Jan By Paul DownhamNo Comments
REVIEWS

Thespie presents: Unlimited – The Songs Of Stephen Schwartz

It’s a sad fact that theatre is suffering greatly during these strange days so it is always welcoming when companies like Thespie can produce live performance streaming of such calibre. Stephen Schwartz is probably one of the most underrated of musical theatre talents and certainly (in my opinion) up there with the Lloyd Webbers and Sondheim’s of this world. From the sublime “Pippin” to the dazzling “Wicked” his music and lyrics positively shine through and it’s to Thespie’s credit that they have produced a superlative showcase of his songs featuring nine excellent West End performers – Nikki Bentley, Sophie Evans, Alice Fearn, Alexia Khadime, Melanie La Barrie, Carl Man, Dianne Pilkington, Liam Tamne and Oliver Tompsett. The concert starts with the wonderful “Magic To Do” from “P...
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Mark Ravenhill’s new play is the highlight of Sound Stage
14Jan By Paul DownhamNo Comments
NEWS

Mark Ravenhill’s new play is the highlight of Sound Stage

Pitlochry Festival Theatre, The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in collaboration with Naked Productions have created Sound Stage featuring a new play by Mark Ravenhill. This new immersive audio digital theatre experience has hit the jackpot with the world premiere of Ravenhill’s, Angela, as he offers his first autobiographical play exploring the way culture high and low impacted his mother’s life and that of his family. The season kicking off on 26th March will premiere eight new co-productions from Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh written by Roy Williams, Timberlake Wertenbaker, and Tutti Frutti writer John Byrne. “The original idea came from my experience last year making the audio premiere of Adventures with the Painted People with David, Polly, and ...
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The Corporate Knobs – Online @theSpaceUK
14Jan By Paul DownhamNo Comments
London

The Corporate Knobs – Online @theSpaceUK

Earl & Grace Productions’ The Corporate Knobs is a short comedy variety show exposing the truth about life in corporate America and how the pandemic has changed corporate work lives for better and worse. Performed by Lori Hamilton, the show opens with a short film showing the shady history of company, Landalor Industries as it grew from a small family business to the government’s main irresponsible disposer of nuclear waste. Diane Prenderghast (Lori Hamilton) is the exhausted and HR Director who leads us through our journey with the company. COVID, she tells us, has made many of us realise that we hate our jobs, but no one wants to quit when they can get a severance package, so she runs a short course in how to be a bad manager so that you can get fired and paid off. Or, if you d...
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Sunset Boulevard – Leicester Curve Online
13Jan By Paul DownhamNo Comments
East Midlands

Sunset Boulevard – Leicester Curve Online

As it toured the country, Leicester Curve’s 2017 production was praised by audiences and critics alike. Now, the team has come back together and filmed the musical for home viewings, whilst the theatres it visited sadly remain closed. Nikolai Foster’s artistic take on the iconic show has elevated the plot, and in doing so, has created an even more captivating piece. The first number embodies the chaos and desperation of late-40's Hollywood, set to the familiar melodies of Webber. “Did I hear that chord sequence in Joseph, or was it Jesus? Or have I just heard it earlier on in this song?” Webber’s signature style is stamped onto the show from the get-go. Another thing that is noticeable straight away is the appeal of the leading man. Narrating directly to camera, Danny Mac (White Christm...
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Piaf and Brel: The Impossible Concert – Online@TheSpaceUK
12Jan By Paul DownhamNo Comments
London

Piaf and Brel: The Impossible Concert – Online@TheSpaceUK

Melanie Gall, a Canadian opera singer who works internationally bringing the singers and songs of the past back to life, now focuses on the greatest of French musical icons: Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel. The concert is not impossible because of the music, but because these two legends never worked together or even met. Piaf (1915-1963), her adopted name causing her to be nicknamed “The Little Sparrow” was born into Parisian poverty, a daughter of street and circus performers. Brel (1929-1978) was born in Brussels and is considered to be the master of the modern chanson. Vocalist Gall clearly feels both affinity and affection with the music associated with both artists, and despite not being a native French speaker her diction is impeccable, mining the meaning deep within her song choi...
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Witness for the Prosecution returns to London County Hall
12Jan By Paul DownhamNo Comments
NEWS

Witness for the Prosecution returns to London County Hall

Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Rebecca Stafford Productions are today delighted to announce that performances of Witness for the Prosecution will resume from 18th May 2021 at London County Hall on the Southbank. Tickets are back on sale today and can be booked here www.witnesscountyhall.com with casting to be announced soon. Eleanor Lloyd and Rebecca Stafford said ‘We cannot wait to bring ‘Witness for the Prosecution’ back to the magnificent setting of London County Hall and share Agatha Christie's courtroom spectacle with audiences once again. When the theatres were closed last March we had just celebrated our 1000th performance having played to over 325,000 people over two and a half years. Last year was tough for everyone in the theatre industry. In order to be able to re-open as soon...
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