Posts with the label stagey
Showing posts with label stagey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stagey. Show all posts
Wednesday 8 March 2017
In Conversation With... Billy Cullum | Rent | Interview
Billy Cullum, has already had an impressive and extensive career starring in shows such as Spring Awakening and Jesus Christ Superstar. He's currently taking on the role of Mark Cohen, the introverted film maker in the 20th Anniversary tour of Rent and wowing audiences across the country with his incredible performance. I saw Rent for the fifth time last night and was as moved as I was the first time. It's truly a brilliant production.
Not only is Billy a wonderful performer but also a wonderful person and he was nice enough to answer these questions about all things Rent, performing and life in general!
Not only is Billy a wonderful performer but also a wonderful person and he was nice enough to answer these questions about all things Rent, performing and life in general!
For those that don't know, can you explain a little about your career and highlights so far?
I trained at the Arts Educational School of Musical Theatre and graduated in 2010. My first job was a small scale musical of Alice in Wonderland that toured all around Italy. It was hard work but getting paid to travel all around such a beautiful city made all the early mornings and get-ins worthwhile. I then went on to play Jesus in Godspell at the Union Theatre followed by one of my dream roles as Moritz in the UK Tour of Spring Awakening. I then performed in Hair, Merrily We Roll Along before my West End debut in the RSC’s Matilda at the Cambridge Theatre. Roald Dahl was becoming a running theme as I then joined the cast of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Being an Oompa Loompa was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do! After this I joined the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. It was an incredible piece to be a part of. I understudied and played the role of Jesus. Now I am lucky enough to be in one of my favourite musicals and playing one of my dream roles as Mark Cohen in Rent.
Was being a performer what you always yearned for or did you have another career path in mind when you were younger?
Performing is the only thing I’ve ever really focused on from the age of 3. It wasn’t until I was about 16 though that I thought it could become a career. I’m a songwriter and a recording artist which is something I love to do as well. I’m just about to release the first single ‘Lost in You’ from my debut album which is released 03.03.17.
Rent is one of the most iconic musicals ever, do you feel a lot of pressure taking on such an important role?
When I got offered the job I was ecstatic. I was so excited. Then it hit me that this musical has such a strong following. It means so much to people. It really has a place in people’s hearts so the pressure slowly started to dawn on me. I then had to go into the rehearsal room on the first day and let all that pressure go and focus on my portrayal of Mark. I like to think I’ve made him my own and I have enjoyed exploring him. He’s very complex and intricate which I don’t think many people realise.
The cast must be so close with this production, have there been any standout funny moments on or offstage between you all?
There have been MANY funny moments. My favourite though has to be when Layton Williams who plays Angel got his coat stuck in his wig as he was about to go full throttle into 'Today For You'. Somehow, he managed to sort out the issue whilst incorporating it into the song with humour and sass "My Wig! Help me out with my Wig!" It was pure genius!
Has the show changed at all going from tour to the St James and then back on tour?
It naturally changes to fill different spaces. The St James was such an intimate setting which I loved. It was very intense. Performing in bigger venues such as Edinburgh Festival Theatre lets other moments thrive more. The show always has the same heart but it definitely feels adapts beautifully to each venue.
How are you enjoying touring life? What do you miss most being away from home?
I’m really enjoying it. I love seeing different places I wouldn't necessarily chose to go to. The thing I miss most about being away is my loved ones and my dogs.
Can you sum up the show in 5 words?
Live and Love without fear.
If you could go back to any era, when would it be and why?
I’d wanna go back to the caveman era. I wanna know how I would survive!
If you had a magic wand, which show would you do next?
Oooh. I think it would have to be Next to Normal.
What's the best piece of advice you're ever received and what advice would you give to aspiring performers?
"Just Be You" is the best advice I’ve ever had. It really works. That’s the advice I’d give to any aspiring performers. Don’t try and fit a mould because someone told you to or because that’s how you get work. I like to think I’ve been employed because of my talent and character and I’ve done that by simply being me. To add to this I would also say never give up. Focus on your own path, it’s so dangerous to compare yourself to others. If you really want it don’t give up. Your time will come.
Thank you so much Billy for doing this interview; go see him in Rent and make sure you purchase all his new music!
Rent is playing at the New Victoria theatre, Woking until March 11th. Visit http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/rent-the-musical/new-victoria-theatre/ for tickets
Reasons You Should Go See Rent: http://www.rewritethisstory.com/2017/02/reasons-you-should-go-and-see-rent.html
Interview by Olivia Mitchell, Editor
Tuesday 28 February 2017
Ghost (UK Tour), New Victoria Theatre | Review
Ghost (UK Tour)
New Victoria Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 27th February 2017 by Valerie Field
Reviewed on Monday 27th February 2017 by Valerie Field
★★★★
Despite all the drama and speculation that has been surrounding this show, I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it very moving and well acted. I have never seen the film but know of the story and have heard all about the iconic scene at the potters wheel so I was a bit surprised that more wasn't made of that scene on stage. The fact that this is my only major criticism shows how much I enjoyed the show.
The scenery was great and scene changes were smooth and convincing with each set feeling exactly like the place it was portraying and the characters fit into it perfectly. The special effects were brilliant and really added to the show, although sometimes they did feel a little unnecessary, altogether they added a very nice layer to the performance.
The acting, dancing and songs were great and very entertaining, memorable and enjoyable. Carolyn Maitland was wonderful as Molly and has fabulous chemistry with Andy Moss as Sam. Both their voices are strong and they are convincing as the characters.
Jacqui Dubois as Oda Mae was a definite stand out and was fantastic on stage, stealing the show at points and really showing off her star power. Garry Lee Netley as the Subway Ghost deserves a special mention as he was a great presence on stage and suited the character wonderfully.
My only other criticism is that I did feel sometimes the orchestra was a bit too loud when the solos were being sung as it seem to drown the singer's voices slightly. This was probably just an issue that night.
Apart from that the show was great and I enjoyed it immensely and will definitely recommend it. The cast are strong and well rounded. The sets, costumes and effects fit the show precisely and overall it was a great night out seeing a much loved musical. All in all I think the whole show came together really well and was a very entertaining evening.
Ghost runs at the New Victoria theatre until March 4th and then continues on it's UK tour.
Photo credit: Matt Martin
Sunday 15 January 2017
How To Get Hamilton London Tickets
The time is coming. It's time to get your computer ready. Check your bank balance. Prepare your rap battle and get ready to face the rest of the Musical Theatre world in... The battle to get Hamilton tickets!
Priority booking for the supernova shows transfer to the West End opens tomorrow and I think we're all feeling slightly nervous in anticipation of the online war to snatch a coveted ticket! So in preparation, I've prepared a list of 5 tips to help you grab those tickets and be on your way to see the story of the founding father!
1. Sign up to Ticketmaster: Ticketmaster is one of the three official websites selling Hamilton UK tickets so to save time and make sure you don't accidentally lose your tickets sign up for an account before Monday! It's super easy, just go to www.ticketmaster.co.uk for all the information.
2. Have your priority email on hand: If you've signed up for the priority sale then you should have received your unique code by now. But make sure you don't accidentally delete that email or forget about it when it gets to 12 tomorrow. You need that code to enter the sale so learn it by heart, print it and stick it on the fridge, flag the email or write it all over the walls, just make sure you don't misplace it! (You can only use each code once though so don't use it on a billion tabs or it might not go through!)
3. Get all your friends involved: The number of people trying to get Hamilton tickets is going to be off the charts so I would say to work as a team. Each person can book 4 tickets so get a group together and come up with a game plan! Remember though, that whoever's card is used to buy the tickets MUST be present at the performance!
4. Know when you want to go: Booking will be open for performances from November 21st to June 30th, with performances taking place Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm with matinees at 2.30 on Thursday's and Saturday's. Knowing a rough time period will make it easier to get tickets instead of scrolling through all the dates. I'd also advise not trying to book the first preview or opening night as these will be super popular!
5. Don't give up: If you don't get tickets in the priority sale it's not the end of the world! General sale opens on January 30th and there's always the lottery when the show opens. There will be a daily lottery at the theatre as well as a weekly online one so keep your fingers crossed! Also, if the show sells as well as it's anticipated to it's almost certain to get an extension so there will be plenty more chances to nab your tickets to be in the room where it happens!
For all the official information about purchasing Hamilton tickets, visit www.hamiltonthemusical.co.uk
Friday 9 December 2016
She Loves Me, Menier Chocolate Factory | Review
She Loves Me is a perfect mix of over the top sweetness and sincerity- pure joy to watch
She Loves Me
Menier Chocolate Factory
Reviewed on Thursday 8th December 2016 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★★
Let's start this review by saying that She Loves Me at the Menier Chocolate Factory is definitely in my top 5 shows of 2016. I loved pretty much everything and really couldn't have asked for more from this idealistic but delightful show.
The basic idea of She Loves Me is that Amalia (Scarlett Strallen) and Georg (Mark Umbers) work together and detest each other but don't realise they are sending anonymous lonely hearts correspondences to one another whilst falling in love with the person on the page. There are also two sub-plots where we follow a heartbreaking time for the store owner Maraczek (Les Dennis) and the love trials of the giddy, Ilona (Katherine Kingsley).
Admittedly the story is cliched and somewhat predictable but that doesn't matter because for two and a half hours I escaped every day life to visit a sickly sweet and nostalgic world full of wonderful moments, sweet smells and fabulous music. Matthew White's revival of the 1963 show has the humour, wit, charm and above all sincerity to make it a truly great production.
The set by is fairly simple but super effective. The four small revolves which transition each scene to the next perfectly, fit so well in the intimate Menier Chocolate Factory but I can definitely see the beautiful set being easily transferred to a much bigger West End stage (which hopefully it will!) The shop design is especially beautiful with lots of intricate details which create a spectacle to look at.
Scarlett Strallen is outstanding as Amalia Balash, her beautiful soprano voice rings out effortlessly and her comedic timing is impeccable. She makes over the top and crazily idealistic Amalia, lovable and relatable- a positively dazzling performance. Mark Umbers as Georg Nowack is equally brilliant. Showing a number of different sides and gradually transitioning from a stiff, cold man to a romantic, caring gentleman. Each ensemble member gives an individual and memorable performance. Katherine Kingsley is hilarious as Ilona and had the audience laughing out loud throughout the show; every movement and facial expression is perfectly timed to create a fantastic character.
There's not a weak link in the cast and this whole production is a sweet as a music box's tune. I'm definitely hoping for a West End transfer as She Loves Me is sure to delight any audience member and make them fall in love with this sweet, festive, heart-warming musical.
She Loves Me runs at the Menier Chocolate Factory until 4th March
Monday 28 November 2016
In Conversation With... Shoshana Bean | Concert | Interview
Firstly I want to apologise for how late this interview is. I interviewed Shoshana back in September but unfortunately my phone glitched and I couldn't retrieve the interview so it had to be put off. Thankfully I got it back so you lovely, stagey people can finally read it! So I hope you enjoy this late, but still very interesting and relevant interview from the wonderful Shoshana Bean!
Shoshana is a Broadway veteran who's starred in Wicked, Funny Girl, Hairspray and Beaches to name a few. She's released 3 solo albums, done countless solo concerts as well as those with the Postmodern Jukebox AND she sung back-up vocals for Michael Jackson! There's really nothing this lady can't do!...
Wednesday 16 November 2016
Curl Up and Die, Questors Theatre | Review
Curl Up and Die is a fabulous farce which will grip and thrill you.
Curl Up and Die
Questors Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 15th November 2016 by Olivia Mitchell
Reviewed on Tuesday 15th November 2016 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★½
Until fairly recently I was quite unaware of all the fringe theatre on offer in and around London but since I've discovered this thriving community I've witnessed some top-notch productions. Curl Up and Die was one of them. Admittedly I don't see that many plays but the ones I have seen have ranged from absolutely fantastic to downright dismal and although I'm not the most seasoned play reviewer I think I know how to spot a good one when I see it! Curl Up and Die is witty, well thought out and clever, all things which in my books, create an admirable play.
Curl Up and Die is set in the antiquated salon Ruth inherited from her aunt along with the ageing clientele who pay a mere £5 per appointment. Struggling to keep the salon open, Ruth's only hope is to win a £50k hair dressing competition run by Fab Hair Magazine.
The plot-line although somewhat simplistic, is intriguing and has a steady pace throughout keeping us invested and giggling throughout. There are a number of humourous moments throughout expressed by each lively cast member, especially the ditzy Bryony (Rose Edwards) who delivers some hilarious one liners! My personal favourite character was Gonky Blatent-Severs played hilariously by the beautiful Abigail Ribbans, she embodied the over the top, rich daddies-girl perfectly and had me laughing throughout.
It was interesting to see such a female led cast and it really epitomises girl power. Each character was very clearly thought out and it was obvious a lot of work has been done during the creative rehearsal process. It was also interesting that nearly all characters were on stage at all times, this created the frantic atmosphere required whilst also keeping the audience on their toes flittering their eyes to see what each character was up to.
Anna Longaretti has done a wonderful job writing and producing this unique play and I really look forward to seeing how it develops and if it will continue to have a long life after its limited run at the Questors Theatre. I certainly enjoyed it and at approximately an hour and a half its a perfect distraction for a short amount of time. If you're around the Ealing area definitely snap up a ticket and enjoy this fabulous production.
Anna Longaretti has done a wonderful job writing and producing this unique play and I really look forward to seeing how it develops and if it will continue to have a long life after its limited run at the Questors Theatre. I certainly enjoyed it and at approximately an hour and a half its a perfect distraction for a short amount of time. If you're around the Ealing area definitely snap up a ticket and enjoy this fabulous production.
Curl Up and Die runs at the Questors Theatre until November 19th, tickets can be purchased at: http://www.questors.org.uk/event.aspx?id=614
Tuesday 6 September 2016
A Thank You to the In The Heights Cast
Hello stagey friends! This is more of a personal post but I thought I'd share it anyway. You guys know by now how in love I am with 'In The Heights' (see posts about it here, here, here and here) and with it just being cast change I'm feeling very sentimental about it so I wanted to share some love for the show and cast.
Thursday 4 August 2016
The Secret Garden, Ambassadors Theatre | Review
What immediately struck me when I heard about this production was the mammoth cast. The productions features over 300 cast members mostly made up of children and young adults. Now of course all these people are not on stage at once, the cast rotates around for performances with only the few adults keeping their roles throughout the run, but there's something lovely about the casting. The programme doesn't feature individual cast lists for each performance but instead a large ensemble list; everyone is equal which just creates a lovely change to some shows nowadays where its all about who's in the cast as opposed to the show itself.
Monday 30 May 2016
10 Reasons You Should See In The Heights
If you want some background information on the show check out my review here and if you fancy reading a cast interview, there's one here.
Wednesday 20 April 2016
Funny Girl, Savoy Theatre | Review
I didn't properly comprehend that I was seeing Funny Girl until I was sat in the theatre. Funny Girl is such a pinnacle of Musical Theatre for me, I grew up watching Barbra Streisand perform the iconic role my whole childhood so it felt like a dream finally seeing Mr Arnstein, Fanny and the Ziegfeld girls in real life... well real life on stage but you know what I mean!
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