Tuesday 6 February 2024
Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical extends its season at The Other Palace
Bill Kenwright Ltd is delighted to announce that the London premiere of Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical (“Sexy, smirky... a fast, funny guilty pleasure” - Evening Standard) will extend its acclaimed season at The Other Palace by 5 weeks to Sunday May 19th.
Step-siblings Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Merteuil, manipulative monsters flushed with their own sexual prowess, engage in a cruel bet: Kathryn goads Sebastian into attempting to seduce Annette Hargrove, the headmaster’s virtuous daughter. Weaving a web of secrets and temptation, as the two set out to destroy an innocent girl - and anyone who gets in their way - their vengeful crusade wreaks havoc on the students at their exclusive Manhattan high school and the diabolical duo become entangled in their own mesh of deception and unexpected romance, with explosive results...
Tom Holland to Play Romeo in Jamie Lloyd's Romeo and Juliet
The Jamie Lloyd Company today announces its new West End production of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, starring Tom Holland as Romeo, and directed by Jamie Lloyd. Romeo & Juliet runs at the Duke of York’s Theatre, Saturday 11 May – Saturday 3 August 2024.
Further casting to be announced. Tickets go on sale to those signed up for priority booking and ATG+ members on Tuesday 13 February at 8am; general booking opens on Tuesday 13 February at 12pm.
Sign up for priority booking here: www.romeoandjulietLDN.com
The Jamie Lloyd Company also continues its commitment to accessibility, offering 10,000 tickets priced at £25 and under, with 5,000 of these exclusively for under 30s, key workers and those receiving government benefits. Further information to be announced.
Jamie Lloyd said today:
“Tom Holland is one of the greatest, most exciting young actors in the world. It is an honour to welcome him back to the West End.”
Text edited by Nima Taleghani; Set and Costume Design: Soutra Gilmour; Lighting Design: Jon Clark; Sound Design; Ben and Max Ringham; Video Design and Cinematography: Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom; Composer: Michael 'Mikey J’ Asante; Casting Director: Stuart Burt CDG; Movement Directors: Sarah Golding & Yukiko Masui (SAY); Intimacy Coordinator: Ingrid Mackinnon; Associate Director: Jonathan Glew; Associate Designer: Rachel Wingate
Violent delights have violent ends.
Violent delights have violent ends.
Photo Credit: Isaac Anthony / AUGUST
Monday 5 February 2024
Cara Delevingne and Luke Treadaway to join the cast of Cabaret | THEATRE NEWS
The award-winning West End production of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club is thrilled to announce that actress and model Cara Delevingne will play Sally Bowles, and Olivier Award-winning actor Luke Treadaway will take on the role of The Emcee from March 11 to June 1, 2024. Delevingne expressed her excitement about making her stage debut, while Treadaway is thrilled to join the Kit Kat Club production.
The show is booking until February 2025, and Cara Delevingne will have specific dates when she won't be performing*. They join Michael Ahomka-Lindsay as Clifford Bradshaw, Beverley Klein as Fraulein Schneider and Teddy Kempner as Herr Schultz. Nic Myers plays the role of Sally Bowles once a week.
Completing the company are Wilf Scolding as Ernst Ludwig, Jessica Kirton as Fraulein Kost/Fritzie, Liv Alexander as Texas, Natalie Chua as Frenchie, Taite-Elliot Drew as Hans, Damon Gould as Victor, El Haq Latief as Helga, and Travis Ross as Bobby, joining Laura Delany as Rosie, Grant Neal as Herman/Max and Hicaro Nicolai as Lulu. The cast is completed by Rebecca Lisewski, Ela Lisondra, Nic Myers, Andy Rees, Toby Turpin and Patrick Wilden.
The prologue company are Rachel Benson, Ami Benton, Onyemachi Ejimofor, Joseph Hardy, Liz Kamille, Andrew Linnie, Aine McLoughlin, Jack William Parry, Jazmyn Raikes, Oliver Stockley and Ena Yamaguchi.
Cabaret, praised as the ultimate theatrical experience, opened in December 2021 and won seven Olivier Awards in April 2022. The Broadway production featuring Eddie Redmayne and Gayle Rankin is set to open at the Kit Kat Club in April.
Transforming the theatre with an in-the-round auditorium and reimagined spaces, the Kit Kat Club invites guests to enjoy pre-show entertainment, drinks, and dining. The musical, featuring iconic songs like "Wilkommen" and "Don’t Tell Mama," is directed by Rebecca Frecknall, with set and costume design by Tom Scutt and choreography by Julia Cheng. The production promises a unique and immersive experience for audiences.
*Cara will not be performing on the following dates - Wednesday 13 March (matinee), Thursday 21 March (evening), Wednesday 27 March (matinee), Thursday 4 April (evening), Tuesday 9 April (evening) Wednesday 10 April (matinee and evening), Thursday 11 April (evening), Friday 12 April (evening), Thursday 18 April (evening), Wednesday 24 April (matinee), Thursday 2 May (evening), Monday 6 May (evening), Tuesday 7 May (evening), Wednesday 8 May (matinee and evening), Thursday 16 May (evening), Friday 17 May (evening), Saturday 18 May (matinee and evening), Wednesday 22 May (matinee) and Thursday 30 May (evening).
Photo credit: Jay Brooks and Emilio Madrid
Thursday 1 February 2024
Bronco Billy the Musical at the Charing Cross Theatre REVIEW | A Delightful Musical Romp
Bronco Billy the Musical
Charing Cross Theatre
Bronco Billy the musical, is a rollicking ride through the Wild West, that brings a unique blend of sincerity and high camp to the Charing Cross Theatre. It's a show so full of heart, you can't help but be charmed by it, as it provides a theatrical escape that is genuinely marvellous.
As the title suggests, the musical tells the tale of Bronco Billy, a performing Cowboy as he leads his troupe around America, aiming to make enough money to keep them afloat. Along the way he meets Antoinette, an heiress who's on the run from her money grabbing stepmother and a host of other characters wishing for her demise. It's as random and wacky as it sounds but truly it's a tale of heart, friendship and dreaming, all wrapped up to create a rootin' tootin' good show that thrives through it's melodramatic highs.
The cast are full of absolute joys. Star on rise, Emily Benjamin shines as the chocolate heiress on the run, Antoinette, injecting the role with gumption, charm and vulnerability, plus sweltering vocals to match. Her delightful partnership with Tarrin Callender as Bronco Billy, provides some of the show's standout moments. Callendar's effortless charisma and soaring baritone vocals fill the Charing Cross Theatre, making it evident why the troupe is so drawn to him, and showcasing a performance that is beautifully vulnerable and volatile.
The leading duo are complemented by a supporting cast of well-defined characters, each with small arcs and interests that really bring them to life. Between them, the group also showcase a variety of killer circus tricks, from juggling, to supremely impressive rope-wielding and magical wild-west wizardry. A big part of the show is the aspect of found family and the entire cast do a really fantastic job of portraying this loving unit, and together bring some sweet, sincere moments to an otherwise wild show.
Heaps of praise must go to Victoria Hamilton-Barritt portraying the gold digger, murderess stepmother, Constance, as she delivers a performance that is nothing short of perfection. Her comedic timing rivals the best in the business, and her astounding physicality, faultless facial expressions, and hilarious vocal inflections create a dynasty-esque portrayal that keeps the audience in stitches. Barritt's magnetic stage presence draws in the crowd, and she expertly milks every moment for maximum laughs and somehow still leaves us yeehawing for more.
Amy Jane Cook's set design and Sarah Mercade's costumes are commendable, wonderfully capturing the essence of the Wild West with authenticity and providing some surprising moments whilst utilising all of the limited space available. Alexzandra Sarmiento's choreography is undeniably fun and while there's potential for more in a larger space, it fits the Wild West vibe exceptionally well and is two-step away from perfection, though I'd trade my hat for an encore tap dance number.
The upbeat score by Chip Rosenbloom, John Torres and Michelle Brourman is continually engaging, with a number of quirky ear-worms and vocal gems. It may not be a musical masterpiece, but it's intelligent and inventive enough to fit perfectly with the style of the show and deliver exactly what it needs to.
Bronco Billy is a delightful musical extravaganza that successfully balances sincere moments with high camp theatrics. It isn't groundbreaking, but with charismatic leads, touching found family dynamics, and a hugely fun Wild West atmosphere, it is a silly stampede of a show that guarantees you'll leave with a prairie sized grin and joy to share. Who knew that what London theatre needed was a disco cowboy musical?!
★★★★
Reviewed on Wednesday 30th January 2024 by Olivia
Photo Credit: The Other Richard
{AD PR Invite- tickets gifted in exchange for honest review}
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