Richmond Theatre Archives - North West End UK

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...

14Jun

By Dave SmithNo Comments

London

…Earnest? – Richmond Theatre

Celebrating 130 years of Oscar Wilde’s masterpiece The Importance of Being Earnest, Say It Again, Sorry? offer up their own chaotic twist - part homage, part catastrophe. Oscar Wilde meets The Play That Goes Wrong - a heady blend of farce, improv, and gentle audience manipulation. ...Earnest? begins as normal: a servant considers it rude to listen to the piano, then cucumber sandwiches - but then the doorbell rings and Earnest is loudly announced… Yet now, the door stays closed and no one arrives. A quick interruption from the director fills some time while the cast of the play-within-a-play try to figure out how the show will keep going. The answer is simple: an audience member will join them on stage to stand in for the missing actor. When funny, ...Earnest? is hilariously funny. ...

4Jun

By Maani WayNo Comments

London

Little Women – Richmond Theatre

Louisa May Alcott’s beloved ‘Little Women’ is back, telling the celebrated and heartwarming story of four sisters, their mother and their friends as they navigate the twists and turns of life and what it has to offer. The stage is set as a quaint living room, adorned with a twinkling Christmas tree and centrepiece piano. This set is unobtrusive yet provides a whimsical feel, adding to the theme of the sisters’ hopes and dreams in the first Act of the show. Fitting props and staging create two main scenes – in the first Act, the March’s home and surrounding areas and in the second Act, the addition of bookcases show time has passed and sets the scene for Jo working at the boarding house. Lighting is used beautifully throughout the play, particularly when paired with the fake snow f...

Pride & Prejudice (Sort of) – Richmond Theatre

26Feb

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

Pride & Prejudice (Sort of) – Richmond Theatre

Welcome to the story of Jane Austin’s most famous novel Pride & Prejudice like you have never seen it before. This is not a serene period drama, but a love story between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, and the Bennet’s family race against time to get their five daughters married off for financial security. Yes it is familiar, but this is five women calling themselves the ‘servants of house’ telling the story from a whole new perspective. Right from the first few lines you start to get a feel of what is to come ‘in a good way’ comedy, mayhem and female drama. The story lands in the present day, with familiar language and terminology, including expletives not for the faint hearted which drew gasps from the audience. The five female performers acted out ‘...