Robert Bartley, Author at North West End UK

8Oct

By Robert BartleyNo Comments

West Midlands

& Juliet – Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

The name ‘Max Martin’ doesn’t immediately ring a lot of bells for most people, but the chances are you actually know him pretty well. Martin is the writer and producer of a mammoth number of hit songs over the last three decades and is a huge driving force behind the careers of global acts including Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Backstreet Boys, Pink and countless others. Seeing the theatrical potential in this catalogue of iconic bangers, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ writer David West Read was enlisted to adapt one of William Shakespeare’s most famous plays, and so, ‘& Juliet’ was born. 90s boybands and star-crossed lovers may not seem the most obvious pairing at first, but ‘& Juliet’ made it work, gaining an adoring fandom in its Manchester and London runs. Now it’s the...

28Jun

By Robert BartleyNo Comments

London

Next To Normal – Wyndhams Theatre

When cult favourite ‘Next To Normal’ was announced at the Donmar Warehouse in 2023, critical acclaim and incredible word-of-mouth made it a sell-out smash, and one of the highlights of the year for many theatre fans. The Donmar’s intimate space meant many fans missed out on seeing it, and if you were one of them, you need to be heading to Leicester Square’s Wyndhams Theatre, where the show has returned for another limited run. Reassembling the Donmar’s celebrated cast (including Broadway belter Caissie Levy), the multi-award winning musical explores mental illness and grief in the face of trying to maintain a “normal” suburban family life, set to a rock-based score from composer Tom Kitt and lyricist Brian Yorkey. Wife and mother Diane Goodman (Caissie Levy) is struggling wi...

2May

By Robert BartleyNo Comments

West Midlands

Love Never Dies – Wolverhampton Grand

When Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Phantom’-follow-up ‘Love Never Dies’ hit the West End in 2010, it opened to a critical mauling that led to the show being closed to allow significant reworking. The press still wasn’t too kind, with some jokingly retitling the show as ‘Paint Never Dries’. While the show never stood a chance of replicating the success of its predecessor, there is still a lot of love for it in theatreland, as showed by the standing ovations at the Drury Lane concerts last year. And now it’s time for the country’s amateur groups to have a bash, starting with the West Bromwich Operatic Society (WBOS), who are performing the show this week at the Wolverhampton Grand. Loosely based on the 1999 novel ‘The Phantom Of Manhattan’ by Frederick Forsyth, ‘Love Never Dies...

20Sep

By Robert BartleyNo Comments

London

The Little Big Things – @sohoplace

As much as we love all of the American musicals that cross the pond to entertain us, there’s a special kind of excitement that comes when a new British creation gets announced. The latest “little” show with “big” aspirations is ‘The Little Big Things’, playing at the @SohoPlace Theatre in London’s West End. Based on the memoir of the same name by artist Henry Fraser, the musical hopes to follow in the footsteps of other British successes like ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ and ‘Six’, and is already capturing audiences’ hearts with its uplifting true story of triumph over adversity, the importance of family, and the strength of the human spirit. When an accident on holiday changes his life forever, Henry Fraser (played in dual roles pre- and post-accident by Ed Larkin and ...

26Aug

By Robert BartleyNo Comments

London

Next To Normal – Donmar Warehouse

Cult favourite ‘Next To Normal’ has taken 15 years to reach our shores, and while it’s relatively unknown over here, it arrives on the back of a wave of adoration from its devoted fanbase, not to mention the critical acclaim (Tony Awards a Pulitzer, no less). The show comes from the mind of composer Tom Kitts, who along with Brian Yorkey (book and lyrics), tells a story of a family dealing with a crippling mental health problem which has governed their lives for the best part of 2 decades. News of the show’s UK premiere was met with massive excitement, with its limited run selling incredibly well. But was it worth the wait? Wife and mother Diane Goodman (Caissie Levy) is struggling with bi-ploar disorder, and the toll it's taking on her family, daughter Natalie (Eleanor Wort...

9 to 5 The Musical – The Alexandra, Birmingham

15Jun

By Robert BartleyNo Comments

West Midlands

9 to 5 The Musical – The Alexandra, Birmingham

Dolly Parton’s instantly recognisable hit “9 To 5” became the signature anthem behind the film of the same name, which kicked off the 1980s with a huge dose of female empowerment. The film’s legendary cast (Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Parton herself) made the film an instant classic still beloved today, and as is often the way these days, went on to inspire a stage musical. Though it was short-lived on Broadway, running just a few months in 2009, it has found a larger audience here in the UK, with a year-long West End run (curtailed by Covid) and two successful national tours. The uplifting and empowering musical is the latest choice for the long-running BMOS group based in Birmingham. Incredibly this is their 166th production in a history spanning nearly 140 years...

Heathers The Musical – The Alexandra, Birmingham

18May

By Robert BartleyNo Comments

West Midlands

Heathers The Musical – The Alexandra, Birmingham

‘Heathers’ has become widely known as a “teen” show, but anyone expecting the light frothiness of ‘High School Musical’ or ‘Glee’ will be surprised by the show’s much darker tone and razor-sharp bite, with themes of suicide, depression, attempted rape and drug use, not to mention murder. A scathing black comedy with a rock-infused edgy-pop score, the show brings the 1989 film to the stage and gives an exaggerated look at just how hellish teenaged life can be. The show became an off-Broadway hit in 2014 before gaining a huge cult following in the UK in 2018 and is currently seeing great word of mouth on its UK tour, playing the Alexandra Birmingham this week. Veronica Sawyer (played by Jenna Innes) can’t wait for college and struggles to fit in to the social hierarchy of West...

The Bodyguard – Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

10May

By Robert BartleyNo Comments

East Midlands

The Bodyguard – Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

It’s been over a decade since the tragic death of Whitney Houston, but that voice remains unmistakable. Setting a new standard for female vocalists, Houston in her prime was an effortless yet formidable force that dominated the charts in the 80s and 90s and became an idol to millions. The 1992 film “The Bodyguard” captured her at arguably the peak of her power and gave the world a soundtrack that remains the highest-selling film soundtrack of all time. Combining that soundtrack with Houston’s own classic back catalogue of hits, the stage adaption of “The Bodyguard” fleshes out the romantic thriller as a musical, and plays at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre this week, with former Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton as its lead. Rachel Marron (Thornton) is one of the biggest s...

Strictly Ballroom – Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

14Feb

By Robert BartleyNo Comments

West Midlands

Strictly Ballroom – Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

Back in 1992, director Baz Luhrmann brought the world of competitive ballroom dancing into the cinematic spotlight with his hit film ‘Strictly Ballroom’. Covered in fake tan and sprinkled with sparkles, the lovingly satirical Australian film offered an entertaining glimpse into a high-pressured world with its on-stage rules and off-stage dramas. It half-inspired the title of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and has since gone on to inspire its own stage musical. First seen in the UK in its Leeds tryout prior to a short-lived West End run, the production has been reworked and is now midway through a successful UK tour. Scott Hastings (played by ‘Strictly’ favourite Kevin Clifton) has grown up in a family of dancers, craving the freedom to dance his own steps and frustrated in be...

<strong>Mamma Mia – Wolverhampton Grand</strong>

19Jan

By Robert BartleyNo Comments

West Midlands

Mamma Mia – Wolverhampton Grand

The brainchild of creator/producer Judy Craymer, “Mamma Mia” is a thundering juggernaut of a success. Running on the West End for over 20 years (and 14 on Broadway), it boasts audience figures in the multi-millions, two movie spin-offs, and grossing over £3billion in its near-quarter-century lifetime. “Mamma Mia” translates to “Mega Money”, and this doesn’t show any signs of slowing down, as theatregoers continue to flock to it in their droves. For anyone wanting to banish the January Blues and escape to a Greek island for a fraction of the price, the current UK tour is playing right now at Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre. “Mamma Mia” sees bride-to-be Sophie (Jess Michelmore) needing answers around her father’s identity which has remained a secret for 20 years. On ...