Theatre Royal Drury Lane Archives

Pippin: 50th Anniversary Concert – Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

30Apr

By Carole GordonNo Comments

London

Pippin: 50th Anniversary Concert – Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Packed full of Stephen Schwartz's memorable songs, such as "Corner of the Sky" and "Magic To Do", Pippin is a show that has been re-produced and re-imagined over the last 50 years around the world, including in the West End and on Broadway. At its heart there's the simple tale of a young man, a prince, at a loss of what to do with his life, the curse of princes throughout history. Pippin is the son of King Charlemagne the Great and heir to the Frankish throne. He seeks fulfilment, believing that, as he's extraordinary, he should find something extraordinary to achieve. In his attempts to break through this existential despair, he tries leading an army, but only succeeds in losing most of his men. Then he has a period of debauchery, but that leaves him empty. Art and religion also fai...

Treason The Musical In Concert – Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

23Aug

By Maani WayNo Comments

London

Treason The Musical In Concert – Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Set in 1605, where “being Catholic is treason”, Treason tells the tale of the famous gunpowder plot which would have been the bloodiest event in British history. In a world completely divided between Protestants and Catholics, everything is at stake as the decision must be made whether to hide in the shadows or fight what you believe in. The story follows the plotters, Robert Catesby (Simon-Anthony Roden) and Thomas Percy (Bradley Jaden) and the famous Guy Fawkes (Sebastian Harwood), although he was not a lead. Thomas Percy’s wife, Martha (Carrie Hope Fletcher) is an essential part to the plot, knowing more than anyone what was at risk. The show opens with the Narrator (Debris Stevenson) who introduces the plot and sets the scene in Britain in 1605. The story unfolds in a rap style, ...

Kinky Boots: In Concert – Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

10Aug

By Ely KingNo Comments

London

Kinky Boots: In Concert – Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Kinky Boots is one of the most well-loved pieces of modern theatre. The production follows Charlie Price’s struggle to take over his father’s failing shoe company and how he finds help in the most unexpected of places…a drag bar in London. The incomparably lavish Lola and her Angels take Charlie on a journey of acceptance, defiance, and most importantly, making stiletto shoes for drag queens. Your average workday. The story of Kinky Boots is based on a true story and is split between its base in Northampton, the drag bar in London, and a fashion show in Milan. As someone who has just moved from Northampton to London, I do identify with Charlie’s struggle quite a lot, it’s certainly given me a new take on the show. Going into this performance, it was important to be reminded that it i...

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...

5Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

42nd Street – Theatre Royal Drury Lane

This show has it all - glitz, glamour...and of course, showtunes. Any fan of musical theatre - young and old - should see 42nd Street, a true celebration of the theatre and a masterpiece from start to finish. The plotline for this production is somewhat familiar - an age-old tale of the underdog done good. 42nd Street follows small-town girl Peggy Sawyer, whose one ambition is to secure a place in the chorus line of Pretty Girl, the hottest new show in town. Of course, to paraphrase Shakespeare, “the course of ambition never did run smooth”, so there was lots of obstacles for our young heroine to overcome to get there - but, thanks to her raw talent, she soon finds herself competing for the spotlight against theatre veteran and diva extraordinaire, Miss Dorothy Brock. It’s almost lik...