Robert Bartley, Author at North West End UK

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 ...

5Aug

By Robert BartleyNo Comments

London

South Pacific – Sadler’s Wells

For those who missed out on the Chichester Festival Theatre run in 2021, or those who loved it so much they need to see it again, its production of ‘South Pacific’ is back in London until the end of August, prior to a 3-month tour. Assembling the same highly acclaimed cast as last year, the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic sees US Ensign Nellie Forbush falling for French plantation owner Emile de Becque on an island in the South Pacific island during World War 2. Their happiness seems set despite the ongoing threat of war going on around them, while at the same time, young lieutenant Joseph Cable arrives on the island having been sent on a spy mission but is quickly distracted by his attraction to a local girl. Love may be in the Pacific Ocean air for both couples, bu...

2Aug

By Robert BartleyNo Comments

London

Chess – Theatre Royal Drury Lane

One of the key players in the ‘MegaMusicals’ club of the 1980s, ‘Chess’ was a megahit on both sides of the Atlantic. Springing from the minds of ABBA geniuses Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, with lyrics by Tim Rice, the musical became of staple of the decade (despite being about a chess tournament being played at the height of the Cold War), with its hugely memorable synth-rock score which included the worldwide smash “I Know Him So Well”. Now, over 36 years later, the musical is back on the West End at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, for three performances only. Set during the height of the political tensions of the 1980s, ‘Chess’ sees the American world champion Freddie Trumper (played here by Joel Harper-Jackson) preparing to defend his title against the Russian challeng...

101 Dalmatians – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

23Jul

By Robert BartleyNo Comments

London

101 Dalmatians – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Loosely based on the 1956 classic tale by Dodie Smith, ‘101 Dalmatians’ see Dominic and Danielle literally bumping into each other and falling in love while out walking their dotty dogs Pongo and Perdi. Local influencer Cruella DeVil thinks the dogs would look great in her upcoming photoshoot, but during the shoot, the dogs severe dislike of Cruella causes one of them to bite her. She attacks the dogs with a stick, and her retaliation is caught on social media, going viral within minutes. Cruella quickly swears revenge on the dogs, and plots to dognap the spotted pooches and make herself a coat that no-one will ever forget. It’s a timeless story that audiences already knows, but does the Regent’s Park production have legs, or is it more of a dog’s dinner? Visually, the show ...

20May

By Robert BartleyNo Comments

London

My Fair Lady – London Coliseum

It’s hard to believe that ‘My Fair Lady’ is rapidly approaching its 60th anniversary. The classic tale, based on George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 play ‘Pygmalion’, hasn’t been seen in London since the National Theatre’s Oliver-winning production in the early 2000s. Director Bartlett Sher’s 2018 Broadway production has now taken up residence at London’s Coliseum, where it plays until late summer. But is the story of plucky Eliza Doolittle’s transformation from common flower girl to sophisticated socialite at the teachings of Professor Henry Higgins still as “loverly” as it once was? The world has changed massively in the decades since the play and subsequent musical were written, in terms of attitudes towards women and gender equality, and in this regard “My Fair Lady” does s...

19May

By Robert BartleyNo Comments

London

Grease – Dominion Theatre

‘Grease’ is one of those shows that everyone knows, even people who don’t like musicals. Who among us hasn’t performed one half of the legendary megamix (badly) at a wedding or Christmas party? Steeped in kitsch 1950s nostalgia, the original “high school musical" premiered on stage in 1971 before being immortalised on film with the world’s tightest trousers in 1978, cementing the careers of John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. Now, 15 years after it was last seen in London, the show is back in town. Reimagined by Nikolai Foster (Curve’s resident Artistic Director), and featuring choreography by Arlene Phillips, ‘Grease’ has moved into the Dominion Theatre for a summer run on the back of a successful UK tour. But with such a well-known and often-visited show, ...

Zorro The Musical – Charing Cross Theatre

13Apr

By Robert BartleyNo Comments

London

Zorro The Musical – Charing Cross Theatre

The Phantom Of The Opera isn’t the only masked man in black running around the West End while singing about the woman he loves. He now has competition from Zorro, the Spanish vigilante whose story was developed as a musical back in 2008. This new production was beginning a run in Manchester in March 2020 when Covid got in the way, but now the swashbuckler with the flaming sword is back at London’s Charing Cross Theatre. Based on the origin tales of the famous fictional character (along with the 1998 film starring Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta Jones), the show follows the life of the wealthy young Diego who is sent away from California to study in Spain. Initially Diego resents being sent away, but soon falls for the Latin way of life, along with the intoxicating gypsy ...

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical – Leicester Curve

5Mar

By Robert BartleyNo Comments

East Midlands

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical – Leicester Curve

Carole King is such an exceptional songwriter (both with her husband Gerry Goffin and singlehandedly in her own right), that a biographical musical detailing her life and extensive back catalogue was inevitable. Sure enough, ‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’ first hit US stages in 2013, transferring to Broadway in 2014 and the West End in 2015, and has also enjoyed a UK tour in 2017. Leicester’s Curve have teamed up with the Theatre Royal Bath and the Mayflower Theatre Southampton to create a new adaptation, which has kicked off a new UK tour this week. Spanning 1958 to 1971, ‘Beautiful’ tells King’s story from being a 16-year-old aspiring songwriter, to finding success with Goffin (in more ways than one), rivalry with fellow songwriters and friends Barry Mann and Cynthia...

17Feb

By Robert BartleyNo Comments

London

Broken Wings – Charing Cross Theatre

One of the lovely things about being a theatregoer is seeing a show grow from workshops, through to concert productions, and then being finally fully realised on stage. The joy is even greater when it's clearly a passion project of its creators, and you can feel how much work and care has gone into its creation. Such is the journey of ‘Broken Wings’, a British musical which started life 4 years ago as public readings, before enjoying well-received concerts at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and The Other Palace. Its development continues with a new fully staged production at the London’s Charing Cross Theatre, where it opened this week. With music and lyrics by Dana Al Fardan and Nadim Naaman, ‘Broken Wings’ is adapted from Khalil Gibran’s novel of the same name and tells Gibran...