When talking ballet, there are certain names that should always be mentioned and noted; Sergei Diaghilev is one of these. The Russian ballet impresario created Ballet Russes, and arguably brought Russian Ballet to Western Europe with the first independent ballet company not associated with a national opera. Nowadays, many of Diaghilev’s ballets are still in the repertoire of ballet companies around the world, from well known works such as Sleeping Beauty to lesser known, short works such as … [Read more...]
Merrily We Roll Along Harold Pinter Theatre
Review of Merrily We Roll Along at the Harold Pinter Theatre. When a popular show transfers from an ‘Off-West End’ theatre to a mainstream West End theatre, expectations are always high and questions surround the production; Will it pull in a big enough audience? Will the intimacy of a small space be lost in a big theatre? Will the cast project the original sentiment across the bigger auditorium? And so on. Proving to be a hit with audiences at the Menier Chocolate Factory, Maria Friedman’s … [Read more...]
Good Morning Midnight – Jermyn Street Theatre
Tucked away in the heart of Piccadilly is the intimate space of the Jermyn Street Theatre. With a stage space no bigger than my kitchen, my initial thoughts were - how could any piece of theatre, dance or otherwise, really work with such limitations. How wrong I was. Good Morning Midnight created by Drew McOnie and TTJ, cleverly explores the realm of time in the middle of the night after the late sleepers have turned in and before the early risers awake. It is the time of night that belongs … [Read more...]
Taboo Review Brixton Clubhouse
Having heard good things about the current production of Taboo in its Brixton bolt-hole, I was looking forward to experiencing this site-specific musical myself. Tucked away in South London, the Brixton Clubhouse is a large bar room converted into its current theatrical state for the run of Taboo, theatre doesn’t get more intimate than this. The action happens right at the audience’s feet making the job for the actors harder I think, as there is nowhere to hide, and nobody can get away with … [Read more...]
Singin’ In The Rain Review The Palace Theatre
Singin’ In The Rain The Palace Theatre Don Lockwood - Adam Cooper Cosmo Brown - Daniel Crossley Kathy Selden - Scarlett Strallen Lina Lamont - Katherine Kinglsey Based on the popular 1952 MGM film, Singin’ In The Rain is a title that is synonymous with Gene Kelly and the style of the era. Before the curtain even rose, as an audience member, I already had my own preconceptions of how the show should appear based on my knowledge of the film, and I expect the majority of the audience had … [Read more...]
The Hurly Burly Show Review Garrick Theatre
Burlesque is having a rebirth. No longer is the art of strip tease and pole dancing performed in secret, behind the closed doors of ‘Gentlemen Only’ clubs, but it is becoming the 21st century, twenty-something girl’s choice if leisure, fitness and confidence building. It, of course, wouldn’t be long before London’s West End caught up with this craze and produced a West End style burlesque show to brighten up a grey, breezy March evening. Miss Polly Rae is the headliner, followed dutifully by … [Read more...]
Legally Blonde Savoy Theatre London
I will admit that I was a little skeptical about seeing Legally Blonde – The Musical as the film is not on my list of favourites. In fact I remember being heavily persuaded to watch the film one evening as part of a girls’ night in whilst working at Disneyland in Paris. Despite this however, I had heard some very good reviews about the musical and wanted to give it a try. I also have a friend in the chorus and obviously wanted to see her. As soon as you walk into the theatre, the atmosphere … [Read more...]