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Serious Questions raised over DRIVEINSIDE at the Trafford Centre

18May

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Serious Questions raised over DRIVEINSIDE at the Trafford Centre

Questions are being asked by ticket holders tonight as to what is happening with DRIVEINSIDE at The Trafford Centre, as days after the original advertised opening, and on the eve of the first rescheduled event there remains no sign of what is promoted as the biggest marquee tent in Europe arriving at the centre’s car park. DRIVEINSIDE is advertised by Beyond Theatre Ltd and posted an “11th hour” update on the 13th May, the day of the first scheduled performance of ‘Manchester’s Git Talent’ which read as follows. Since then postings on Facebook and Twitter have led us and ticket holders to believe preparations were ongoing to mount shows in the ‘tent’ from tomorrow, 19th May. As of 2pm today there was no sign of the tent being in place at the Trafford Centre, and a call put into c...

The Alternative Eurovision Song Contest – The Showstoppers

16May

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

REVIEWS

The Alternative Eurovision Song Contest – The Showstoppers

I am a self-confessed Eurovision geek! The annual contest is almost like a religious ceremony to me. So, I jumped at the chance to watch the Alternative Eurovision Song Contest by The Showstoppers. Given that social distancing is still part of our daily lives, the entire production was filmed according to the guidelines. With some of the contests taking part from their bedrooms. Clearly it is a challenge to produce any kind of show when the cast are not all physically in the same location, but The Showstoppers did a wonderful job. The show had a mixture of live and pre-recorded segments, which slotted together brilliantly. A few things here and there would have made it even better - but nothing that would distract from the enjoyment of the show as a whole. I think it’s fair to say...

16May

By David S ClarkeNo Comments

REVIEWS

There Will Be Light – Online Fundraiser

An online concert in support of Acting for Others. Created, produced and hosted by Sarah Drake. During the last traumatic year or so when live theatre has been taken from us there have been many online musical concerts put together by various artists to show us what we have been missing. This one stands up there with the best of them. This show is an international fundraiser in aid of the charity “Acting for others” and gives us a veritable feast of excellent singing from a number of performers from Broadway and the West End. Sarah Drake has put together a great show which is in memory of her father who died in October 2020. She has gathered together a number of her musical theatre colleagues who have contributed towards making this a wonderful evening’s entertainment. Opening the sh...

Short But Sweet: Zoom Edition Liverpool Network Theatre Group

15May

By Louise PennNo Comments

REVIEWS

Short But Sweet: Zoom Edition Liverpool Network Theatre Group

Liverpool Network Theatre, a company of non-professional local creatives, share five short plays in their first Zoom live-stream. In Private Number, written by Steve Bird, William (PJ Murray) and Judy (Liana Jane Bourne) have an awkward first date, but events conspire against them. Although the ending was weak and the premise a little unconvincing, the plot twist was interesting and there could be room for expansion of this piece to find out what happened next. First-time director Gillian Paterson Fox does a respectable job. The Interview, by John Jones, has moments of comic mania as it progresses. You can tell it was written for a couple of male characters, but Katarina Dobrovodska gives a lot of expression to her keen candidate with tall tales, and Karolina Gorska’s reactions are a...

Clive Rowe to Star as Jethro in The Prince of Egypt

15May

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Clive Rowe to Star as Jethro in The Prince of Egypt

THE PRINCE OF EGYPT, the hit musical based on the classic DreamWorks Animation film, is delighted to announce that Olivier Award-winner and ‘Tracy Beaker’ star Clive Rowe will join the company as ‘Jethro’ for a limited engagement from Thursday 1st July to Saturday 16th October 2021. “A huge popular hit” (LBC), the Grammy® Award nominated musical will resume performances at London’s Dominion Theatre on Thursday 1 July 2021 with tickets on sale until Saturday 8 January 2022. Performances between Thursday 1st July and Saturday 4th September 2021 are currently expected to take place under UK Government Step 3 protocols (social distancing). Tickets for all performances are available now via www.ThePrinceofEgyptMusical.com From his celebrated debut performance as ‘Mr Snow’ in Nicholas Hyt...

Moulin Rouge! The Musical confirms UK Premiere dates

15May

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Moulin Rouge! The Musical confirms UK Premiere dates

Global Creatures, the producer of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, is thrilled to announce today that the UK premiere of the acclaimed show will begin performances at the Piccadilly Theatre in London on Friday 12th November 2021. Priority booking will begin Monday 17th May 2021, with tickets on General Sale on Monday 24th May. For further information, please visit www.moulinrougemusical.co.uk “At its heart, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is about a group of artists fighting to keep their stage show alive. That element of the story has felt very real for us as a company, as we’ve contended with the Covid shutdown and delay to our UK premiere. But now we are so excited and so honoured to finally confirm that our show will form part of a revitalised West End. We cannot wait for the red windmill...

Hot Gossip! Showbiz legend Arlene Phillips unleashed in the West End

15May

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Hot Gossip! Showbiz legend Arlene Phillips unleashed in the West End

Arlene Phillips CBE is best known as one the UK’s top choreographers, an international theatre director, talent scout, TV judge, presenter, and dancer who has worked with legends from Elton John and Diana Ross to Tom Cruise and Clint Eastwood. Now at an intimate event in the West End she promises to share her biggest secrets and lift the lid on what it was really like working with the biggest pop and movie stars in ‘An Evening with Arlene Phillips’ at the Duchess Theatre on Monday 7th June. Arlene first became a household name as the director and choreographer of Hot Gossip, a ground breaking mixed race dance troupe that scandalised Britain in the 1970s after they exploded onto TV screens with risqué costumes and provocative dance routines on ‘The Kenny Everett Video Show’. Clean-up ...

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre confirms Carousel initial principal casting and creative team

15May

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre confirms Carousel initial principal casting and creative team

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre have confirmed initial principal casting for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel, which plays 31st July – 25th September. Carly Bawden and Declan Bennett play Julie Jordan and Billy Bigelow, John Pfumojena plays Enoch Snow, Olivier Award-winner Joanna Riding plays Nettie Fowler and Natasha May Thomas plays Louise Bigelow. Carousel is created by Joanna Bowman (associate director), Lucy Casson (casting director), Tom Deering (musical supervisor and orchestrator), Mark Dickman (associate musical director), Molly Einchcomb (co-costume designer), Annie May Fletcher* (creative team associate – sound), Barbara Houseman (season associate director/voice and text director), Nick Lidster (sound designer), Simisola Majekodunmi* (creative team associate – lighting...

Full cast and production team announced for The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber

15May

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Full cast and production team announced for The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber

Leicester’s Curve theatre has announced the full cast and production team for its Made at Curve production of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, a celebratory reopening concert featuring the songs that made the musicals and memories from the extraordinary life and career of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Running 7th to 19th June in Curve’s transformed auditorium as part of the theatre’s upcoming socially distanced season, the production will be directed by Curve’s Artistic Director Nikolai Foster. Bringing Andrew Lloyd Webber’s songs to life will be Madalena Alberto (Evita, Dominion Theatre), Jessica Daley (An Officer and a Gentleman, Curve and UK tour, Over The Rainbow, BBC), Tim Howar (The Phantom of the Opera, Her Majesty’s Theatre), Shem Omari James (Songs For A New World, London Palladium), R...

Tune into the ONLY Eurovision Song Contest – West End style!

15May

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Tune into the ONLY Eurovision Song Contest – West End style!

Following the success of last year’s glitterfest, Olivier Award-winning improvisers The Showstoppers are presenting the ‘Alternative Eurovision Song Contest’ for a second year on Saturday 15th May. Comedians Marcus Brigstocke and Rachel Parris are now lined-up to provide pithy commentary. He said “This is it! This is our time. This will make music history. In a good way.” They are joined by an all-star cast of celebrities including actor Les Dennis, comedian Russell Kane, comedian London Hughes and cabaret star Le Gateau Chocolat as judges and Grace Mouat (‘& Juliet, ‘Six’), singer Jordan Gray and improv legend Mike McShane as guest performers. Featuring brand new songs parodying all your favourite Eurovision genres, expert commentary and interactive voting, The Showstoppers i...