Showing posts sorted by date for query West Side Story. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query West Side Story. Sort by relevance Show all posts

Friday 5 November 2021

Full Cast Announced for Love Story in Concert




Rebecca Caine (Les Miserables, The Sound of Music, Preludes) will join the previously announced Emma Williams and Michael Xavier for Love Story: 10th Anniversary Concert, directed by Kirk Jameson (I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Marry Me A Little).

Michael Matus (The Phantom of the Opera, La Cage Aux Folles) will replace Peter Polycarpou as Phil Cavilleri, who has had to withdraw due to scheduling conflicts. Simon Green (Titanic, Mrs Henderson Presents, Priscilla Queen of the Desert) will play Oliver Barrett IV. Completing the cast is Jenna Boyd (Come from Away) as the Doctor. 

The Ensemble features Simbi Akande (The Prince of Egypt), Jordan Cunningham (Priscilla Queen of the Desert), Alison Driver (What’s New Pussycat?), Charlie-Jade Jones (West Side Story), Maximillian Murphy (Parade), and Nikhil Singh Rai (Les Miserables, Mountview). 

Love Story celebrates the 10th Anniversary of Love Story’s premiere at Chichester Festival Theatre and subsequent transfer to the West End’s Duchess Theatre. 

Based on the 1970 New York Times #1 bestselling novel by Erich Segal - which was adapted into one of the highest grossing films of all time - Love Story follows Oliver Barrett IV, a Harvard jock, and Jenny Cavilleri, a gifted musician studying at Radcliffe. 

Love Story was Olivier-nominated for Best Musical, Best Actor in a Musical (Xavier) and Best Actress in a Musical (Williams). Since its West End run in 2010, the show has been performed in the USA, Russia, The Netherlands, Belgium, Brazil, South Korea, Italy, Germany and Bolton Octagon Theatre. 
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Monday 4 May 2020

Theatre You Can Stream For FREE

With no end in sight to this lockdown, the boredom may be setting in for a lot of people so I thought I'd make a little round up of some FREE theatre you can watch from your home. Now some of these do rely on you having a Netflix, Disney+ and/or Amazon Prime account but I assume most people do! There are also some no subscription shows at the end. If you have a show you'd like to be included in this list, feel free to email rewritethisstory@outlook.com


Netflix has a whole host of binge-worthy films and series, with a great selection of musicals including:

 The Wizard of Oz: A young farm girl Dorothy (Judy Garland) and her dog Toto are whisked away from their Kansas home in a tornado to the magical land of Oz. A complete classic, with whimsy to take you away and a load of tunes to sing along to.

 Burlesque: Ali (Christina Aguilera) is a singer who moves to LA in hopes of achieving her dreams. After getting a job at a burlesque lounge, Ali performs there nightly and helps the lounge's owner (Cher) restore the club to its original glory. It's a film of absolute boppage with two musical queens.

 La La Land: While navigating their careers in Los Angeles, a pianist (Ryan Gosling) and an actress (Emma Stone) fall in love. As they start to experience professional success, they struggle in their relationship and have to decide between love and doing what they love.

 Opening Night: A failed Broadway singer who now works as a production manager must save opening night on his new production by wrangling his eccentric cast and crew. Starring Lesli Margherita and Taye Diggs.


 West Side Story: Romeo and Juliet told through the street gangs of New York City — The Sharks and The Jets. When Tony (Richard Beymer), a Jet, falls in love with Maria (Natalie Wood), a Shark, drama ensues as the gangs fight one another and Tony and Maria fight for their love.

 Crazy Ex Girlfriend: Rebecca Bunch, a New York City real-estate lawyer abandons her job and her life in an attempt to find happiness in the unlikely locale of West Covina, California. It's hilarious and heart-warming and the music (by Rachel Bloom) is completely genius.


 Disney+ there are of course all the live action movies on here as well as the classic Disney films such as Annie, The Sound of Music, Frozen etc... but here are a few other things you may have missed/not gotten round to yet:

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: If you haven't watched this, you'll probably think it's rubbish but it's actually really entertaining and has some great songs. The main plot point is that the school where the HSM  movie was filmed are putting on their own production of the musical, but amongst that there's teen romance, rivalries and over the top musical numbers.

Newsies: Based on the real-life Newsboy Strike of 1899, this musical tells the story of Jack Kelly (Jeremy Jordan), a rebellious newsboy who dreams of a life as an artist away from the big city. After publishing giant Joseph Pulitzer raises newspaper prices at the newsboys' expense, Kelly and his fellow newsies take action. The dancing, the choreo, the cast- it's all exceptional and worth a watch purely just for Jezza singing Santa Fe!

Encore!: Hosted by Kristen Bell, this series takes adults back to high school to revive the musicals they were a part of in their youth. There's a great selection of musicals included from Godspell to The Sound of Music and it's lovely to see theatre kids who have all taken different directions in life reunite through a shared love.


 Amazon Prime has a few more rogue theatrical selections as well as some great documentaries; some of my favourites are:

 Once:  The story of Girl meeting Guy. He, is a Dublin busker on the brink of walking away from music after having his heart broken and feeling unheard in a bustling world; whilst, she is a force for change who exudes positivity from the moment their worlds collide. In the space of a few days, their lives become beautifully connected and changed forever.

 The Last Five Years: This show chronicles the lives of a struggling actress (Anna Kendrick) and a successful writer (Jeremy Jordan) as they journey through their ultimately doomed relationship. Told from two perspectives, this is just a beautiful piece of theatre.



Wild Rose: Fresh out of prison, a Scottish woman  (Jessie Buckley) juggles her job and two children while pursuing her dream of becoming a country music star. She soon gets her chance when she travels to Nashville, on a life-changing journey to discover her true voice. Featuring both original music and covers, this is a lovely, lovely film.

 Jesus Christ Superstar: Based on Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice's musical, JCS recounts the last days of Jesus Christ (Ted Neeley) from the perspective of Judas Iscariot (Carl Anderson), his betrayer.

 Hamilton: One Shot to Broadway: If you're a Hamilton fan this is a must watch. It looks at how the hit musical came to be and features snippets of the show as well as interviews and archive footage.
Aside from what's available on these regular streaming platforms, the brilliant creatives from the world of theatre have put together some amazing online resources:

 National Theatre at Home: Each week the National Theatre are streaming plays from their archives on YouTube. Each show stays up for 7 days and there's a whole variety of genres. This week's stream is Frankenstein with Anthony and Cleopatra going live on Thursday and more to be announced. Check out the channel here

 Ghost Quartet: If you missed the recent revival of Dave Malloy's show at the Boulevard Theatre, you can now watch the original production here

 Signal: A series that presents new artist driven musical theatre has released a complete playlist of songs presented over the past two years. Available here

 The Show Must Go Online: Each Friday Andrew Lloyd Webber is sharing one of his musicals, available here

21 Chump Street: Lin Manuel Miranda's lovely 15 minute musical is available to stream now. Telling the true story of an agent who went undercover in a school to reveal students who were dealing drugs. For a short musical, this fits so much in and the performances from Anthony Ramos and Lindsay Mendez are outstanding.


Cirque Du Soleil 60-Minute Specials: The iconic troupe are releasing regular hour long special's of their spectacular shows which can be viewed here

 Southwark Playhouse have introduced the Southwark Stayhouse with three of their previous productions, including the tale of the Bronte sisters, Wasted. Find them all here

 The Royal Opera House #FromOurHouseToYourHouse: The Royal Opera House are releasing lots of their archive shows, including La Traviata. Find them all here

 The Shows Must Go On!: Weekly readings of Shakespeare's plays, performed by stellar actors take place on YouTube

 Only The Brave: Telling the story of a group of soldiers in the run up to the D-Day landings, the hit musical starring Caroline Sheen and David Thaxton is available to view here



Myth: The Rise and Fall of Orpheus: Filmed live at The Other Palace in March 2018, this belt-fest of a musical is available to watch here

Eugenius! Towards the start of lockdown, team Eugenius! released their show which was filmed during its run at The Other Palace and the show is still available to stream now.
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Sunday 3 May 2020

The Return of the Movie Musical


During the Golden Age of Hollywood, movie musicals were abundant and arguably the most popular genre. However, with the move towards pop culture in the 1960s, their popularity dwindled and gave way to a more rebellious style and tone, which meant the all-singing, all-dancing, wholesome stories fell to the side.

Since then, aside from animated films, there have been a handful of live action musicals, with a few big hits such as Hairspray, Chicago and Mamma Mia!, but these have been largely hard to come by and a rare feature at the cinema. However, it seems that things are changing and we are in the midst of musicals coming back into the mainstream!

In some ways, the huge success of La La Land in 2016, a film which combined Old Hollywood with contemporary vibes, marked the return of movie musicals, with A Star is Born, Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman following in its footsteps and taking the box offices by storm. Disney's live action adaptations have also proved massive hits with Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King making huge profits. Of course there's also been the occasional flop... Cats.... (which I actually enjoyed) but on the whole, each release has highlighted the demand and appreciation for musical theatre.  

It seems that Hollywood are finally taking note of the power of theatre people and are giving us the sweet, sweet, high quality films we deserve. There are a whole host of movie musicals in the works which are hugely exciting. Some that I'm most looking forward to are:

In The Heights: This is my all time favourite musical and I just can't wait for the summer vibes, incredible music and general wonder of Heights to be played out on the big screen. The film was originally set for release next month but thanks to Miss Rona it's been pushed back to June 2021.

Everybody's Talking About Jamie: This brilliantly British musical is set for release in October and is sure to thrill as it tells the real-life story of Jamie New, the 17 year old drag queen who wants to go against the norm and be true to himself. We'll also get the chance to see wonderful Max Harwood take on the lead role which will be a real treat.

West Side Story: In what's sure to be another 'Star is Born' performance, Rachel Zegler will be starring as Maria in this Stephen Spielberg adaptation. The production photos that have been released so far look amazing and I cannot wait to see this sumptuous film.

The Prom: I saw this show on Broadway so it'll be wonderful and interesting to see a film version. I think this will transfer brilliantly; plus, Meryl Streep is set to star in it so it's already a win in my eyes.

Matilda: The original Matilda film is a complete classic that will always be a heartwarming treat and the musical evokes the same magical and wondrous vibes. Tim Minchin's music is so clever and will no doubt get us all tapping our feet in the cinema!

Merrily We Roll Along: Ben Platt. Beanie Feldstein. Filmed over 20 years. Okay so this isn't going to be out in the near future but I just can't wait to eventually see this movie. The whole concept sounds so exciting and the cast are absolutely stellar.

As well as these there are more live action adaptations in the works as well as a number of current Broadway musicals being transferred from stage to screen. These include Dear Evan Hansen, Tick, Tick... Boom! and Come From Away. All in all, it seems that we can expect a whole lot more musicals in the mainstream and I cannot wait! What upcoming movie musical are you excited to see?

Post by Olivia Mitchell
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Thursday 22 August 2019

West Side Story, Sydney Opera House | Review


West Side Story 
Sydney Opera House 
Reviewed on Tuesday 20th August 2019 by Jamie & Emily 
★★★★★

West Side Story- an explosion of colour and culture clashes and immerses all your senses as one of the most iconic musicals takes over the iconic Sydney Opera House. This heart wrenching tale of lovers from two sides is a rollercoaster journey, taking its audience through every emotion. 

Director Joey McKneely has created an enthralling show. A set (Paul Gallis) you would think impossible with three moveable tiers, takes you around New York and you are truly immersed and transported.The choreography (Joey McKneely) is on point as it whisks and whirls around the stage; complimented by the fabulous costumes, and fantastically virtuosic playing from the Opera Australia Orchestra, a winning combination is created. Plus, what more could you ask for when listening to Bernstein's glorious score, than the brilliant acoustics of the Sydney Opera House?!

Maria and Tony take you on an emotional journey as the Romeo and Juliet story is transported to New York. The suspense of the rumble between the Jets and the Sharks keeps you on the edge of your seat with the first act leaving the audience in a state of shock, yet wanting more. The scene is set for the darker second act. 


Tony (Daniel Assetta) is a particular stand out, his powerful tenor voice blows the audience away with each, perfectly controlled note and emotion portrayed. Just when you think the performance can’t get any better the duets between Tony and Maria (Sophie Salvesani) and the harmony they achieve blows you away. Their talent is like no other as the complement each other and soar together faultlessly.

All round, this production of West Side Story is full of multi talented individuals singing and moving around the stage with ease and power in this enthralling stage production.

The uniformly strong cast give impeccable and energetic performances with vibrant dancing, fantastic vocals and a dramatic plot.  You'll leave the Opera House singing every song, and certainly won't forget this theatrical experience. What a great alternative to the usual evening of Netflix!

West Side Story runs at the Sydney Opera House until 6th October 2019

photo credit: Jeff Busby

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Thursday 15 August 2019

Once on This Island, Southwark Playhouse | Review


Once On This Island 
Stockwell Playhouse 
Reviewed on Wednesday 14th August 2019 by Olivia Mitchell 
★★★★

The British Theatre Academy's production of the Caribbean-inspired Little Mermaid adaptation, Once On This Island is an enchanting show with dynamic, heart-wrenching performances, energy in spades and a glorious uptempo score. Through beautiful harmonies and high-intensity choreography, the young cast bring sunlight to rainy London and infuse a gust of tropical warmth into the magical story and score by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.

Once On This Island tells the legend of Ti Moune, a young orphaned peasant girl raised by Tonton and Euralie, who falls in love with a boy from a wealthy family on the other side of the island, Daniel. Guided by four Gods, Ti Moune rescues Daniel from a life threatening car crash and nurtures him back to health. However, though they may be divided by only a few miles, they are worlds apart and after promises made to the Gods, Ti Moune must see whether love can conquer all, including death. 

At the heart of it, Once On This Island is a much needed delivery of the message of the need for inclusion for people from all walks of life. In a world doused in prejudice, where literal walls are being built and we are continually bombarded with stories of segregation, it's crucial that we speak loudly and take a stand to highlight the necessity for equality. The diverse BTA cast do an outstanding job of this and deliver the heart-warming but emotionally raw tale with grace and cohesiveness you would expect to see from older, full-time West End performers.


The BTA team have done an outstanding job of bringing the Tony Award Winning show to life in the pretty intimate space of the Southwark Playhouse. An ever versatile venue, it's fantastic to see it transformed to house a traverse stage where the performers integrate themselves into the audience, and interact as though they are locals wandering the streets. Lee Proud and Harrison Clark's dynamic choreography fills the space and works with the Calypso sounds and rhythms to create an upbeat party feel, as well as highlighting the more deeply emotive parts of the story. Thanks to the ensemble, there isn't a moment that feels under-energised and it's both enthralling and authentic to watch.

In the role of Ti Moune, eighteen year old Chrissie Bhima is otherworldly. Maintaining a poise and depth of someone much older, whilst imbuing the character with an innocence that draws the audience to her; she is a certain star in our midst. Bhima's killer vocals earn rapturous applause after her first solo and set the tone for the nuanced but electric performance she continues to give throughout. 

Aviva Tulley as Erzulie is clearly born to perform and she brings the ethereal Goddess of Love to life with a vocal and physical warmth that calms the room. On the other hand, Jonathan Chen is the embodiment of energy as he brings Asaka to life. As the other gods, Kyle Birch (Agwe) and Martin Cush (Papa Ge) embody their elements well.  


Sam Tutty is charismatic and sincere as Daniel, who shows genuine heartbreak as the pair struggle through their relationship, whilst, Marie-Anna Caufour oozes affection alongside divine vocals as Ti Moune's adopted mother Euralie. Special notice must go to Elliot Gooch who plays Armand among a variety of ensemble characters and stands out throughout thanks to his energy, facial expressions and witty interactions with both the cast and the audience. At the core, this is really a piece about community so it's a winning factor that the ensemble are so strong. The tight knit group work incredibly hard throughout and are consistently strong. Mention goes to Ella Biddlecombe and Grace Venus who draw the eye throughout.

Despite a few technical issues at the start with sound, the cast's energised portrayal of this provoking, mystical piece keeps the audience in the palms of their hands, and Simon Wells' simplistic but detailed set transports us to an island where magic really happens. The sweet story directed with a winning touch by Lee Proud, alongside vast vocal talent and and an authenticity that courses through, is a must see show this summer.

photo credit: Eliza Wilmot
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Friday 5 July 2019

Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky on Taking Her Version of Rizzo on Tour in Grease the Musical | Interview

Grease is the epitome of a cult-classic musical, after various revivals and reinventions, there's a new tour taking over the country. In this refreshed production, Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky takes on the iconic role of Rizzo and took the time to chat to us all about the experience...


Tell us a bit about your career and highlights so far? 
My first job out of college was cover Nabalungi/Swing in The Book Of Mormon (West End). I stayed there for a year and had the best time there. I then went into Bat Out Of Hell as ensemble/1st Cover Zahara. I have been so lucky to have the experiences I had and the memories I made on both of those jobs. We performed for Prince Harry, performed at Proms in the Park in front of thousands. Mental really. I’m now performing as Rizzo in Grease the UK and Ireland Tour and am having the time of my life. I’m so grateful for the career I’ve had so far.


You finished performing in Bat Out Of Hell at the beginning of the year which featured the iconic Jim Steinman music. Grease is a cult favourite, what’s it like bringing these well-loved songs and characters to life? 
It has been amazing learning and performing this well-loved musical. I grew up with Grease, my family and I watched it pretty much every weekend, I used to sing Hopelessly Devoted To You and There Are Worse Things I Could Do to my teddies in my room haha! So to be performing in it every night really is a dream come true. I never tire of the music and it’s been amazing getting to put my own stamp on the characters, particularly Rizzo. 


Rizzo is a very layered character, which sides of her are you most excited to discover and perform? 
Rizzo is a very layered character indeed. I wanted to try and explore as much of her as I can, and I’m still learning about her every performance I do. I love getting to play the fun, nonchalant side of her seen in Look At Me I’m Sandra Dee as well as the heartbroken side of her in There Are Worse Things I Could Do.


Does this production stick true to expectations from the movie? 
This production still has the fun loving elements from the film; however the creative team have really encouraged us to focus on the truth of the story. We are working class teenagers growing up in the 50s facing all sorts of problems such as body image, love triangles and pressures to fit into society. It’s a lot grittier than the film.


What part of touring are you most excited about? 
It’s my first tour so I’m super excited to get on the road. I think I’m most excited about seeing other parts of the country and exploring. I love travelling! 


If you could play any other character in the show, who would you play? 
If I could play any other character in the show it would have to be Kenickie. He is just so bloody cool! He also sings Greased Lightnin’ and that gets me pumped every time I hear it. 


What’s the last thing you do before you step out on stage? 
The last thing I do before I step on stage is usually drink some water, have a mint and take a couple of breaths just to focus myself. I start the show in the first wing on my own so it usually gives me time to get myself together and focus on the show. 


You have a five minute break in rehearsals, what are you doing? 
If I have 5 minutes in rehearsals I would probably be eating, ha! Or recapping dance steps usually. 


What’s a fun fact that people might not know about you? 
If I wasn’t an actress I would love to be a journalist. I love writing and talking to people. I have short novels that I have written at a young age in my room.


What’s your best piece of advice for an aspiring performer?
LOVE WHAT YOU DO! Keep yourself healthy and keep learning. Never stop working hard. See as much theatre as you can to keep your motivation going.


Grease is currently touring the UK and Ireland, information and tickets can be found here

Interview by Editor, Olivia Mitchell

photo credit: Manuel Harlan 


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Thursday 9 May 2019

Georgia Carling and Patrick Sullivan: Surviving a Millennial Jukebox, Museum of Comedy | Review


Georgia Carling and Patrick Sullivan: Surviving a Millennial Jukebox
Museum of Comedy 
Reviewed on Wednesday 8th May 2019 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★★

Bat Out of Hell may have closed at the start of the year but that doesn't mean the love for the show and its cast has dwindled. In fact, the fans may be even more supportive now as they jump at each chance to keep the memories alive. Last night that was helped by Valkyrie and Blake themselves: Georgia Carling and Patrick Sullivan who put on a concert as part of Monsteers Artistry's new series. The pair took to the stage of the intimate Museum of Comedy to bring us a night of beautiful vocal entertainment as they sung us through some of their favourite songs.

Despite both having their starring moments in Bat, it was an enthralling treat to hear both performers really sing and show the audience just how talented they are. Their various song choices allowed us to hear cutesy, lilting moments alongside huge belt numbers, each and every one of which was performed with intensity and vocal prowess.

Patrick Sullivan's gloriously smooth tone is a true delight to hear as he skilfully masters huge songs including The Streets of Dublin (revive A Man of No Importance please) and Sam Smith's Lay Me Down. Patrick's natural charm leads the audience to feel welcomed and the space of the Museum of Comedy is perfect for a semi-informal concert.


Georgia Carling's infectious personality bursts out from the stage as she provides not only killer vocals but a magnetic stage presence which enchants the audience and has them in the palm of her hand. Georgia's rendition of The Story was completely magical and Before He Cheats brought a sassy side to the night's proceedings. Georgia has a special skill of being able to capture a crowd whilst remaining natural and relaxed as she allows the audience to bask in her talents.

Alongside the natural banter of Georgia and Patrick, the pair were joined by ex-Strat and fan favourite, Benjamin Purkiss who brought spades of humour and vocals beyond belief to the nights proceedings. Stacy's Mom was a comedic standout and Matt Corby's Brother was a vocal gem of a piece which Ben performed stunningly.

In a night where every song was a delight, some other highlights included Patrick's masterfully controlled version of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face; They Just Keep Moving The Line which Georgia performed with gusto and honesty; Dream On which was a battle of the powerhouses Patrick and Ben; and Lucky which was magically performed by Georgia and Patrick.


If you weren't at the Museum of Comedy last night then you really missed out on a fantastically performed concert with treat after treat from three of the most talented performers the West End has to offer. I can only hope this isn't the last time we see and hear this trio perform. If you want to witness truthful, magnetic performances then look no further than Georgia, Patrick and Ben!

Follow Monsteers Artistry for information on future concerts and events

photo credit: Rishi Rai

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Saturday 9 March 2019

Mamma Mia, Novello Theatre | Review


Mamma Mia
Novello Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 6th March 2019 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★

It's a cult classic, it's summery fun, it's the music of ABBA and altogether it's a great night out. It's never going to be the most theatrically enthralling or deeply emotive piece of theatre but Mamma Mia is a boat load of laughs and a perfect carefree way to spend a couple of hours.

In case you've somehow missed it, Mamma Mia is set on a Greek Island where Donna Sheridan lives with her daughter Sophie, who is getting married to ex-banker Sky. Sophie is on a mission to find her dad so invites her three potential fathers to her wedding. What ensues is a journey where past emotions are brought up, and the importance of family is examined and everyone bops out to a bit of ABBA. When it opened in 1999 in London, very few would have imagined the worldwide success of the Mamma Mia franchise and it seems that this success is in safe hands with the current West End cast who are helping it celebrate it's 20th Anniversary.

Having recently taken over the role, Charlotte O'Rourke is super sweet is Sophie Sheridan. Bringing the sweet vocals we all expect as well as power in act two. Alongside Alec Porter as Sky, the pair make a nice duo and give an especially entertaining performance in Lay All Your Love on Me.


Leading lady Donna is a pretty extensive role which requires some big vocal chops. At this performance, Caroline Deverill took on the role and did so with both honesty emotion and exuberant energy. Songs such as The Winner Takes It All and Money, Money, Money were stand outs of the night. As her Dynamos, Jennifer Hepburn (Rosie) and Kate Graham (Tanya) gave spandex filled performances and delivered their witty lines with a freshness that the audience clearly loved.

Sophie's three dads were played by Mark Isherwood (Harry), Stephen Beckett (Bill) and Richard Trinder (Sam). The three get the audience on their side immediately and give wonderfully comedic and heart warming performances. Their complex relationships with each other, Donna and Sophie are well played out and extremely entertaining. 

The ensemble work hard to bring the Greek island to life in terms of choreography as well as providing backing vocals to most of the show. There did seem to be come vocal imbalance throughout, with the leads often being almost silent but this was rectified by the mega-mix ending. 


Mark Thompson's basic set is cleverly used with the addition of props and lighting to simplistically put the story across and compared to other shows does feel a bit dated and overly basic, but it does the job and that's all you can ask for, and expect, with a show like this. 

With the Mamma Mia sequel recently being released and the ABBA love being felt more than ever, it's no surprise that this show continues to be a success. It's not a categorically 'great' musical but it's super energetic, platform filled and as much fun as you wish it would be. 

Tickets for Mamma Mia can be booked via www.londonboxoffice.co.uk

photo credit: Brinkoff/Mögenburg
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Saturday 9 February 2019

Friday Night is Music Night, Queen Elizabeth Hall | Review


Friday Night is Music Night: Live From The Queen Elizabeth Hall (Concert)
Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre
Reviewed on Friday 8th February 2019 by Olivia Mitchell 
★★★★

The iconic Friday Night is Music Night, led by Ken Bruce took over the recently refurbished Queen Elizabeth Hall last night for an eclectic 2 hours of outstandingly virtuosic performances. From Shostakovich to Barry Manilow there was something for everyone and whether you were in the room or listening on the radio, you surely had a fantastic night. 

The ever wonderful BBC Concert Orchestra showcased their impressive ensemble work as they performed a variety of pieces, including highlights from West Side Story and Jurassic Park. Under the baton of Bramwell Tovey, the orchestra created magic that filled the space of Queen Elizabeth Hall with power whilst, also bringing moments of tranquility to the auditorium. A contrast, which listening back to the radio broadcast, transferred very well indeed. 

Also part of the proceedings was supremely talented cornet player, Thomas Nielson who was awarded the 2018 BBC Young Brass Award. With the talent and stage presence of someone much older, Thomas showed just how versatile the cornet can be with his renditions of Napoli and Someone to Watch Over Me. With highly impressive breath control, a wonderful aura and bucket loads of talent, there's no doubt that Thomas will be highly successful in the music scene.

Gary Wilmott and Sarah Fox contributed even more beautiful performances. Gary opened with the tongue-twister Ya Got Trouble from The Music Man which showed his impressive linguistic skills. Wilmott's strong vocals were showcased more in Billy's Soliloquy (Carousel) which built to a powerful and emotive ending that had the audience in instantaneous applause. Song To The Moon was the perfect piece to highlight Sarah's strong soprano voice and provided a lovely contrast to the other pieces in the programme. Cleverly transitioning from a story which inspired a Disney film, to a Mary Poppin's number from a Disney film, the night flowed very well and shone light on the versatility of all the performers.

Joyous performances made for a really magical and highly entertaining night at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Although for most people, every night is music night, there's something special about being part of such an iconic BBC feature; and when it's as well performed as last night, you can't really go wrong.

Friday Night is Music Night is available for catch up here

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Sunday 23 December 2018

Come From Away, Abbey Theatre, Dublin | Review


Come From Away (European Premiere) 
Abbey Theatre, Dublin 
Reviewed on Wed 19 December 2018 by Damien Murray
★★★★

As a former refuelling stop for trans-Atlantic flights, the remote town of Gander in Newfoundland was once well used to having many visitors on board passing planes. 

In 2001, due to its position and facilities, it unexpectedly found itself playing host to 38 international flights filled with 7,000 passengers of many nationalities during the horrific attacks of 9/11 on the North-Eastern region of the United States. 

This is not a show about those atrocities, but rather a true story of generosity, gratitude and ultimate hope performed as a theatrical documentation of the unfolding events at Gander as a result of the attacks and the efforts of a small island population to help their fellow man in exceptional and demanding circumstances. 

Ahead of its transfer to London at the end of January, it is, perhaps, appropriate that the European premiere of Irene Sankoff and David Hein’s relatively new, but highly-acclaimed, award-winning musical, is being staged in Dublin as Newfoundland owes much of its music, language and culture to Ireland. 


This fact is reflected in the show’s accents, humour and music, with a distinctly ‘celtic’ approach to the score, instrumentation and underscoring in this Abbey Theatre co-production with Junkyard Dog Productions and Smith & Brant Theatricals. 

Playing a multitude of roles with a quick-fire change of accent, hat, shirt or jacket to convey each character, the hard-working and 12-strong cast - Jenna Boyd, Nathanael Campbell, Clive Carter, Mary Doherty, Robert Hands, Helen Hobson, Jonathan Andrew Hume, Harry Morrison, Emma Salvo, David Shannon, Cat Simmons and, returning to the city where she made her professional debut, Ireland’s own West End and Broadway star, Rachel Tucker - prove the perfect team for this exceptional ensemble piece. 

Indeed, the captivating cast takes ensemble performance to a whole new and higher level in this factual, intense and heart-warming drama. 

Performances here are of such a uniformly impressive standard, it is almost impossible to single anyone out for special praise, but it must be said that, with her commanding stage presence, quality vocals and passionate performance, it is no accident that one of Rachel Tucker’s main characters is, appropriately, that of the Captain. 


By necessity, the casting is diverse to reflect the wide cross section of some of those who were caught up in the Gander situation with people of various shapes, colours and creeds being represented; each with their own story and circumstances and each dealing with the situation in their own way. 

With Beowulf Boritt’s simple, sparse and static (apart from a stage revolve, which, thankfully, is not overused) set representing the remoteness of the forested island being cleverly lit by Howell Binkley’s mood-inspiring lighting, this production is greatly helped by Christopher Ashley’s no thrills direction and Tara Overfield-Wilkinson’s relentless choreography and movement to advance the evolving story in its 100-minute performance time, without ever losing the attention of its audience. 

Because of the nature of its unfolding story, this unconventional musical benefits greatly by the absence on an interval to ensure no loss of momentum or continuity. 

The show is also unusual in terms of the musical score, which mixes Celtic with folk and rock with the addition of a few ballads and, with tongue firmly in cheek, gives a musical nod to Titanic to add humour to the piece. 

Apart from when they take centre stage for a bit of an international hoe-down during Screech In (highlighting the importance of music as an international language), the eight accomplished musicians, under Alan Berry’s musical direction, are discretely positioned at the side of the stage. 


Musical highlights are dominated by the ensemble’s excellent choral work throughout, particularly in songs like Darkness And Trees, while the beautiful rendition of Prayer reinforces the commonality of music in religion. 

Other highlights include Rachel Tucker’s moving showcase song, Me And The Sky, and the tender love song, Stop The World. 

In the midst of mixed emotions, fear, confusion, panic, terror and tragedy, we find that camaraderie, friendship, tolerance, respect and humour are universal and all shine through in this story of interaction between strangers when they are thrown together in the most unusual of circumstances and when relationships survive and grow with random acts of kindness. 

Human resourcefulness becomes second nature as all rally round to provide such practical essentials as food, clothing, accommodation, language interpreters, counselling, medical and spiritual care, money and special care needed for babies and animals that were on any of the grounded flights. 

In addition to the positive feelings when they are all pulling together as one, a painful feeling of loneliness and emptiness descends on everyone immediately after they eventually leave to go home similar to that experienced at the end of an Irish wake. 

This story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in a time of need is truly inspirational and this intense, gripping, emotional and heart-warming production perfectly captures the generosity of the human spirit and the hope that has been born out of tragedy to create an oasis of harmony in a world of confusion. 

Come From Away runs at the Abbey Theatre until Sat 19th January 2019 

Photo credit: Matthew Murphy 
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Monday 13 August 2018

West Side Story (Prom 39), Royal Albert Hall | Review


Prom 39: West Side Story (BBC Proms) 
Royal Albert Hall 
Reviewed on Saturday 11th August 2018 by Olivia Mitchell 
★★★★

At 61 years old, West Side Story remains one of the most well-loved and socially relevant musicals. Following the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks and a forbidden love between Maria and Tony, it's a beautiful and heartbreaking story about the strength of love. The score was performed by a wonderful cast and the outstanding John Wilson Orchestra, but the omission of the majority of the text did dim the impact slightly. Following the narrative was a little difficult and some of the key characters were sidelined without their text but it was still a stunning performance.

 The concert provided a reminder of the phenomenal way Bernstein contrasts musical styles and completely makes his own rules as he combines classical and contemporary music with exceptional effect. Tricky time signatures, scotch-snap rhythms, syncopation and chromatic notes are just some aspects which were played so wonderfully by the John Wilson Orchestra which Wilson conducted himself. The intensity and passion which they played with transferred to the audience and created some magical moments.

Our leads, Tony and Maria were played by the exceptionally talented Ross Lekites and Mikaela Bennett. Mikaela portrayed Maria's excited, fresh love with humour and warmth before bringing her heartbreak to life with honest pain. She was also vocally stunning with her pure operatic sound providing power which drew you to the character and worked wonderfully alongside Lekites' smooth, strong voice that flowed with flawless abandon.

 Louise Alder performed Somewhere in a hauntingly beautiful way and was a certain highlight of the night. Eden Espinosa was vocally and physically fiery as Anita and gave a truly memorable performance of America alongside the vocally stunning Emma Kingston. Leo Roberts' Riff was notably strong, especially during his performance of Cool.  

The ensemble brought the two gangs to life, with Alistair Brammer, Jocasta Almgill and Michael Coulbourne standing out. The ArtsEd ensemble and Mountview choir added extra oomph, especially during their brief interactions with the performers on stage.

 From the rapturous applause it was clear that Bernstein's score, performed by a stellar cast is a surefire way to entertain an audience. West Side Story is a beauty and it was truly glorious to see it performed in this well-rounded Proms version. 

The BBC Proms continue until 8th September 2018

 photo credit: Chris Christodolou
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