Since opening at the London Palladium in March 2011 the stage musical of The Wizard of Oz has become one of the West End’s most popular shows. It has earned a spate of theatrical awards, including Best Musical Revival just three days ago at the 2012 Whatsonstage.com Awards and its two stars Danielle Hope and Michael Crawford, who led the cast as Dorothy and The Wizard respectively, quickly became fan favourites – with them both departing in the WOZ cast change at the start of this month, I went along to the Palladium to see how their replacements are … more »
Repeat Attenders – documenting the theatre fan
The business of musical theatre is a very passionate one, and it breeds that same passion in its fans. It’s a good thing too as the theatre-goers are the backbone of the theatre industry and without their collective loyalty and dedication (not to mention their money), the West End wouldn’t be the giant that it is today. Not every show that turns up there will be met with universal adoration; in fact, some have fallen on their face long before they have a chance to find their feet. Even those shows which are the definitive of ‘a flop’ have … more »
New shows for a new year
Every new year brings with it a new batch of shows to the West End. Quite what they may be, we don’t always know, but theatre fans always have great fun speculating about it. Some rumours turn out to be just that, but sometimes the whisperings turn out to have more volume to their truth. Baz Bamigboye wrote an interesting article in the Mail Online last week that looked at some of the shows which may or may not be turning up in our West End theatres this coming year, and there were some interesting shows mentioned. One in … more »
Whatsonstage Awards – The Audience Votes
Last autumn we took the decision to support the Whatsonstage Awards and became one of its sponsors. It felt particularly appropriate that these awards are supporting Stage One, a charity which is dedicated to helping new producers and productions. Sunday night’s awards’ ceremony was the culmination of weeks of voting by theatregoers who finally had the chance to find out who had won! My congratulations to Whatsonstage.com for creating an award that allows the people that actually go to see shows; vote and decide on who wins, and also who doesn’t win. The evening was presented by Sheridan Smith, … more »
Small Wonders commissions Fevered Sleep for under-fives festival performance
I once wrote a blog on the importance of introducing theatre to the young generation. I have taken my seven year old daughter to a variety of West End shows and from that very first visit she developed an instantaneous love of it. She has a creative mind and her ability to both empathise and look at things more deeply than perhaps other children her age is something I partly attribute to her experiences within the world of theatre – she often behaves better than other audience members four or five times her age. Theatre can be a very … more »
Oliver! UK Tour at Manchester – Review
First time I’ve ever been to a Sunday matinee… and The Palace Theatre on Manchester’s Oxford Road is a suitably impressive place to start. This is the venue for the current leg of the Oliver! UK Tour, and there seems to be a real sense of excitement and anticipation in the packed foyer pre-show. It’s easy to understand why – this show is a an absolute classic, much loved by young and old, and mostly anyone in between. So how does the latest incarnation of Lionel Bart’s masterpiece stack up? Programme, brochure, pocket watch, key-ring and furry Bullseye secured, … more »
In Profile: Zizi Strallen
In the many genres of entertainment, there are a multitude of talented individuals working within them. Sometimes though, a group of these individuals all happen to belong to the same family. Hollywood has the Baldwins and in musical theatre, we have the Strallens. There are four Strallen sisters and, for this week’s In Profile, the spotlight is being shone onto Strallen number 3: Zizi Strallen. Zizi Strallen comes from a long line of talented musical theatre performers. Her parents, Sandy Strallen and Cherida Langford were both in the original London cast of Cats and, for those who may not … more »
Review of Jackie Mason Fearless at Wyndhams Theatre
Jackie Mason Fearless “You can’t please everyone all of the time” says Mason. Given that he’s been making people laugh for the better part of 50 years, he’s done pretty well. The self-named “Ultimate Jew” started by saying that if he stank, he’s not coming back! However, Fearless marks the final British tour of his career, so he was already on the winning foot. As someone who loves stand-up, I have of course heard of Jackie Mason, seen a few sketches on shows, but never live. He is a comic who knows his audience and his fans – in that respect … more »
Pippin Review Menier Chocolate Factory
We usually try to get to see a show early in its run but a very busy schedule over the past few weeks meant that our visit to see Pippin came fairly late. The show concludes on 25th February, 2012. In some ways I wish we had seen it sooner, as we may have gone to see it again; but close to the end of the run, the cast are likely to be at their peak, so all is good! Pippin first hit Broadway in 1972 and the West End in 1973, so it has been around for quite … more »
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