Djalenga Scott Archives - North West End UK

26Nov

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

Chicago – Regent Theatre

If you’re a fan of musical theatre, Chicago at the Regent Theatre in Stoke is an absolute must-see. This iconic production, currently on tour, is nothing short of sensational. From the moment the overture begins, the packed theatre buzzes with excitement, setting the stage for a night of pure theatrical magic. Set in the roaring 1920s, Chicago plunges audiences into a world of jazz, scandal, and sensationalism. Against the backdrop of Prohibition and a media frenzy that transforms criminals into celebrities, we follow Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly—two women locked up for murdering their lovers. The show’s gritty glamour, sharp wit, and intoxicating music transport you straight to the heart of Jazz Age Chicago. A minimalist yet striking set design instantly captures attention. A lone cha...

22Oct

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Chicago – Bradford Alhambra

There is no better opening in musical theatre than Chicago as a troupe of ripped and toned dancers shimmy, strut and shoulder roll their way round the stage in perfect unison as vaudeville performer turned murderess Velma belts out All That Jazz. Originally choreographed by the great Bob Fosse this is a show full of ‘jazz hands’, which is a concept that many people sneer at, but as Craig Revel Harwood constantly points out on Strictly strong hands make for great dancing. There is something really elemental about a simple move like a hand roll, and the dancers in this cast nail some of the toughest and naughtiest routines in any show. At heart Fosse’s wonderfully cynical book is both a tribute to the exuberance of vaudeville and to the nature of fame, aided by the med...

19May

By Lewis DownhamNo Comments

North West

Chicago – New Wimbledon Theatre

New Wimbledon Theatre had it coming as the show razzle dazzled its way onto the stage, with popular musical hits such as Cell Block Tango, Mister Cellophane and many more. The show is set in 1920’s Chicago and follows the story of Roxie Hart (Faye Brookes) and Velma Kelly (Djalenga Scott) as they battle for a space on the front of the newspaper to gain fame and stardom, after murdering various lovers after not getting their way. Billy Flynn (Russell Watson) takes the case of the two stars. The set for this production was stripped back, which by no means takes away from the show but frames the stage and band quite literally as they take centre stage while being immersed into the show and given a character of their own. Interacting with the cast led by Andrew Hilton (Musical Director) ...

11May

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Chicago – Leeds Grand Theatre

I’ve seen umpteen versions of this show, including one on Broadway that made a star of Ruthie Henshall, but the visceral energy and precise steps of All That Jazz may still be for me the greatest opening number of them all. And if ever there was a show ahead of its time, then it’s this one about two morally bankrupt murderesses Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart - aided by dodgy attorney Billy Flynn - who merrily manipulate the media in prohibition murder capital Chicago creating their own web of (mis)truths to escape the noose. It seems that Kander and Ebb were not only a pair of geniuses, they were also soothsayers predicting in this wry and often arch show the age of fake news, and people famous for being nothing other than being morons on vacuous channels like Tik Tok or Instagram. It...

15Mar

By Angela KellyNo Comments

North West

Chicago – The Regent, Stoke

Originally directed by Bob Fosse, based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins and with music by John Kander, ‘Chicago’ graced the stage of the Regent Theatre in Stoke on Monday night. Directed originally by Walter Bobbie and with a recreation of the original direction by Stacey Haynes, ‘Chicago’ was set in the decadent 1920s and tells the story of the flamboyant ‘Roxie Hart’ (Faye Brookes) whose lover is murdered when he threatens to leave her. The story unfolds as she is desperate to avoid conviction. With several well-known names in this particular cast, the surprise of the night was the role of classical tenor, Russell Watson. Whilst his vocals were never in doubt, his acting was unknown but from his performance with ‘the Girls’ to ‘All I care about’ it was evident he would not disap...

11Feb

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Chicago – Liverpool Empire

Last night in Liverpool the cast of Chicago set out to give the audience a little Razzle Dazzle as the production kicks off on its tour. This show has a glorious score and a brilliant cast to match. The synopsis of the story is Roxie Hart played by Faye Brookes is arrested for murdering Fred Casely. However, she always dreams of being a show girl. After being arrested she’s put in the Cook County jail we’re she meets shows girl Velma Kelly (Djalenga Scott). Needing to get out of the clink before she is headed for the death penalty, she asks the keeper of keys Matron Mamma Morton (Sheila Ferguson) for help and after a few expensive calls, in comes Billy Flynn (Russell Watson), who for 5000 dollars will represent Roxy. Part of the plan will be to win over journalists one in particular is ...

9Nov

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Chicago – Hull New Theatre

Whose idea was it to place a 10-piece band centre stage throughout the production of Chicago, which came to the Hull New Theatre on Monday night? The programme credits a John Lee Beatty as being responsible for “scenic design”. So, Mr Beatty - I doffs my cap, it was a genius move on your part. The musician backdrop was a major part of this amazing spectacle and wouldn’t have been the same if such talents had been hidden away in an orchestra pit. All the action takes place in 1920s Chicago, America, as we follow the shenanigans of two prison cellmates - Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly. Roxie (Faye Brookes) and Velma (Djalenga Scott) are streetwise “broads” and murderers who use their feminine wiles to try to convince a jury to find them innocent. Of course, they need the services ...

26Oct

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

Chicago – Wolverhampton Grand

“Chicago” can hardly be described as bursting with colour with a limited design palette of black, white, grey and occasional splatters of bloody red light during the murders it aims to emulate, perhaps, the movies of the period. More accurately it emulates the still photographs of the newspapers of the period and chooses to present it all in a stilted and, oddly, uninvolving fashion. As the production adopts a distancing alienating technique (I’m guessing more a directorial decision than an authorial one) it deliberately stops us from engaging and empathising with the characters or plot - so all that is left to beguile us is technique and design. The band dominate the stage sitting like a jazz orchestra trapped in a roll-top desk leaving just a sliver of fore stage for the remainder of ...

Darren Day joins Chicago UK Tour cast as Billy Flynn

4Jun

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Darren Day joins Chicago UK Tour cast as Billy Flynn

David Ian in association with Barry and Fran Weissler are delighted to announce that West End and TV star Darren Day will play ‘Billy Flynn’ in the forthcoming UK and Ireland tour of the international musical sensation CHICAGO opening at the King’s Theatre, Glasgow on Saturday 11th September 2021. Darren joins the previously announced Faye Brookes as ‘Roxie Hart’, Sinitta as ‘Mama Morton’, Divina De Campo as ‘Mary Sunshine’, Djalenga Scott as ‘Velma Kelly’ and Joel Montague as ‘Amos Hart’. Tour schedule and casting details below. www.chicagothemusical.com The cast will also include Ishmail Aaron, Michelle Andrews, Gabby Antrobus, Delycia Belgrave, Joel Benjamin, Tanisha-Mae Brown, Daniel Clift...