Richmond Theatre Archives - North West End UK

2Jul

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Malory Towers – Richmond Theatre

Adapting a beloved children's classic for the stage is never an easy task, particularly when generations of audiences arrive with fond memories of Enid Blyton's ‘Malory Towers’. Emma Rice's adaptation does not attempt to reinvent the theatrical landscape, nor does it aspire to compete with the spectacle of the West End's biggest productions. Instead, it embraces the warmth, imagination and youthful optimism at the heart of the original stories, delivering an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable production that knows exactly who its audience is: young girls discovering the story for the first time, alongside the mothers and grandmothers who grew up with these much-loved books. From the moment the pupils arrive at the famous Cornish boarding school, the production captures the excitement...

Barnum: The Circus Musical – Richmond Theatre

24Jun

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Barnum: The Circus Musical – Richmond Theatre

There are revivals that simply revisit a beloved classic, and then there are productions that completely reinvent it for a contemporary audience while preserving everything that made it special in the first place. This latest revival of ‘Barnum’ achieves exactly that. This vibrant touring production has arrived at Richmond Theatre bursting with colour, spectacle and seemingly boundless circus energy, and creating a celebration of theatrical imagination. From the moment the curtain rises, the production embraces the organised chaos that surrounded the life and legend of P.T. Barnum. The stage becomes a playground of constant movement, with astonishing circus artistry seamlessly woven into absolutely every scene. Rather than feeling like separate variety acts inserted between songs, the b...

11Jun

By Savitha VenugopalNo Comments

London

Allegra – Richmond Theatre

“Given all the misery around… if you spend the day smiling, there must be something wrong with you.” That is the diagnosis for the ever-singing, always happy Allegra. She sings at home, at the baker’s, at the library, in the café, and even to her neighbours at 3 in the morning. In this new play by Peter Quilter, directed and choreographed by Stephen Mear, Maureen Lipman plays the titular role. Allegra lives by herself in a village where everyone is seemingly infuriated with her habit of breaking into song. Her fridge and cupboards might be empty (save some old cocoa and flour tins that hold her father’s ashes), but her mind is bursting with music and colourful imaginations. Her brother Ronen (John Middleton) looks in on her regularly, brings her food, and attempts to reign in her ene...

13May

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

Blood Brothers – Richmond Theatre

The classic and much-loved musical Blood Brothers returns to Richmond Theatre, bringing Willy Russell’s iconic story back to the stage with emotion, humour and heartbreak. Written by Willy Russell, Blood Brothers tells the tragic story of the Johnstone twins, separated at birth and raised in completely different households, unaware that they are brothers. Despite growing up in contrasting worlds, fate continually draws them back together, forming a lifelong friendship as “blood brothers”. The story powerfully explores themes of class, family, destiny and whether blood really is thicker than water. Kristofer Harding was outstanding as the Narrator, commanding the stage whenever he appeared. His presence helped guide the audience through the story while creating a constant sense of ten...

16Apr

By Dave SmithNo Comments

London

Single White Female – Richmond Theatre

Ostensibly based on the early 90s erotic thriller of the same name, Single White Female really only takes on the idea of a disturbed stalker moving in and disrupting lives. It updates the setting to take on social media, photoshop and school bullying. There isn’t really much to do with the original film, vast swatches of the plot removed, new pieces added and a dramatically different ending. Faced with a sudden drop in finances, Allie (Lisa Faulkner), and her 15-year-old daughter Bella (Amy Snudden) take in a lodger, Hedda (Kym Marsh) in their new apartment. As Hedda settles in, it becomes clear - she thinks of herself as more than a lodger and oversteps boundaries, first tentatively then increasingly inserting herself into every aspect of their world. The suggestion that He...

13Apr

By Kira DanielsNo Comments

London

Carmen – Richmond Theatre

Carlos Acosta’s Carmen isn’t the opera you know but you’ll recognize the music. Extremely danceable and performed by a highly competent company, Bizet’s famous score is in this case prerecorded and piped in to the Richmond Theatre offering a curious mixture of ecstatic dance and rather quiet song to theatregoers. Adria Díaz as Carmen and Alexander Arias as Don José both rise to the occasion and their dancing chemistry powers this performance forward with compelling turns by Paul Brando as Bull and Brandy Martínez as Zúñiga to compliment the molten core of sensuality at the heart of this piece. Music by George Bizet and arrangement by Rodión Schedrin is interspersed with additional music by Martin Yates, Yhovani Duarte and Denis Paralta fairly seemlessly. Set and costumes by Tim H...

5Mar

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

Double Indemnity – Richmond Theatre

Double Indemnity is a thrilling stage adaptation that dives deep into the darker side of human nature, exploring how lust, greed, and temptation can drive even the most ordinary people toward murder. The play captures the essence of classic noir storytelling, asking the audience to consider just how far someone might go when love and money become intertwined. The story follows insurance broker Walter Huff, played by Ciarán Owens, whose seemingly routine job takes a dangerous turn when he meets Phyllis Nirdlinger, the wife of one of his clients. Phyllis, portrayed by the wonderful Mischa Barton, quickly draws Walter into an illicit affair. What begins as flirtation soon escalates into something far more sinister, as the two begin plotting the murder of Phyllis’s husband in order to claim...

10Oct

By Savitha VenugopalNo Comments

London

Death on the Nile – Richmond Theatre

This is quintessential Agatha Christie. There’s murder, intrigue, a roomful of suspects, and that Belgian detective whose keen eyes miss nothing. Throw in some brilliant set design and beautiful period costume, and you have a charming little murder mystery unfolding on stage. In this version of Death on the Nile – adapted by Ken Ludwig and directed by Lucy Bailey – an ancient sarcophagus that has been on display at the British Museum is being transported back to Egypt. On this cruise is an ensemble of travellers including benefactors of the museum, an Egyptologist, an MI5 agent, and Hercule Poirot. Also present are the glamorous (and rich) Linnet Ridgeway, her new husband Simon Doyle, and to add drama, his ex-lover Jacqueline de Bellefort. Soon enough there is a smoking gun and a dea...

23Jul

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

By Royal Appointment – Richmond Theatre

The late Queen’s view on almost all topics is famously unknown. She rarely made public statements or gave interviews, and all her speeches were carefully drafted. On the other hand, she was also the most photographed woman in the world. So, exploring the use of her outfits as a way expressing her views upon the world and its events is an interesting idea, which lies behind Daisy Goodwin's new play at the Richmond theatre, part of a UK tour. The play starts and ends immediately after the Queen's funeral and in between is a series of vignettes of periods in her life, starting in 1969 and proceeding chronologically until her death 53 years later. The setting is the sumptuous interior of a royal residence, we are never quite sure which, with long drapes in glorious colours, a few well-chose...

19Jun

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

The Last Laugh – Richmond Theatre

The Last Laugh is a fast-paced and nostalgic stage show that transports audiences back in time to celebrate three of Britain’s finest comedians: Tommy Cooper, portrayed by Damian Williams; Eric Morecambe, brought to life by Bob Golding; and Bob Monkhouse, played by Simon Cartwright. From the moment the curtain rises, the energy is palpable, and what immediately stands out is how astonishingly accurate each actor is in embodying the comedian they represent. Their mastery of the mannerisms, voices, and comedic timing is so convincing that it genuinely feels like you are watching the real legends share the stage together. One of the show’s greatest strengths is how it seamlessly blends homage with humour. The script incorporates many of the comedians' iconic catchphrases and inside jokes—m...