If you’re a theatre fan – and by reading this, I’m assuming you are – then what are you going to do to see in 2012? New years are all about starting as you mean to go on and, if you have a love of theatre, you’re probably going to want to mark the occasion with some form of theatrical celebration. Perhaps you’ve drawn up a list of shows to see in 2012? Perhaps you’ve put in a bulk order for all the cast recordings and solo albums (from MT performers) that you didn’t find in the bottom of the stocking this Christmas? Perhaps it’s just as simple as booking tickets to see a favourite show – of all the avenues to take, I’m betting this was probably the most popular option.
If you’re planning to book tickets for something but haven’t yet, then one possibility open to you is to head down to the Landor Theatre. The off-West End venue is situated on the first floor of The Landor pub in Clapham and was one of the places to be in 2011, playing home to popular productions such as The Hired Man, Stand Tall and Ragtime, which has been nominated for Best Musical Revival in the 2012 Whatsonstage.com Awards. Now at the start of this new year, the Landor Theatre certainly means to go on with its current streak as it hosts the first anniversary of its highly-anticipated cabaret series, A Spotlight On…
Featuring a succession of one-night-only performances from an array of West End performers, A Spotlight On… has become a firm favourite of theatre fans due to the “quality of its artists and their uniquely honest performances.” Produced for the Landor by Andrew Keates and Theatrica Ltd, a different West End star has their moment in the spotlight each night as they share the stories and music that have held special meaning for them throughout their personal and professional life. The three-week run starts from Sunday 8th January 2012 to Sunday 29th January 2012 and includes nineteen of the West End’s most loved stars:
1) Kim Ismay: Ismay has an extensive list of theatre credits, including roles in Sunset Boulevard, Cabaret, The Rocky Horror Show and Babes in the Wood, and has undertaken a number of UK tours (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Singin’ in the Rain, Grease and more). She is currently playing the role of Tanya in Mamma Mia at the Prince of Wales Theatre.
2) Tim Driesen: Driesen has toured with Starlight Express, The Rocky Horror Show, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Never Forget, in which he originated the role of Adrian Banks/Mark Owen. Recently, he appeared on the West End as Paul in Jet Set Go. Former Les Miserables and Blood Brothers cast member Kelly-Anne Gower will join Driesen as his guest for the night.
3) Natasha Barnes: Barnes most recent role was as Princess Mia in the production of Stand Tall at the Landor Theatre. Previous theatre credits include Spring Awakening, Striking Twelve and Lend Me A Tenor.
4) Anton Stephans: Stephans has previously worked on Porgy and Bess and Sweeney Todd and can soon be seen in the gala concert of Children of Eden. He also organised the 2010 concert Grateful after battling cancer.
5) Rosalind James: James has appeared in many musicals, such as Gone With The Wind, Oliver and Whistle Down The Wind, as well as playing Eponine in the 25th Anniversary tour of Les Miserables.
6) Stevie Webb: Webb is most known for his roles in Dougal Irvine’s Departure Lounge and last year’s production of Betwixt! and is a regular cabaret guest vocalist. He can next be seen in the new musical from Tim Prottey-Jones, After The Turn.
7) Jeremy Legat: Legat has worked on many theatrical productions, including Beautiful Thing, Peter Pan and the West End hit, Wicked. Most recently, he sailed on the Queen Mary 2 with a group of fellow RADA graduates, where he played Hamlet in an abridged version of the renowned play.
8) Matthew Gent: Gent is a regular host at Show-off Piano Bar on Friday nights in London and has worked on West End shows, Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera. He most recently appeared in The Hired Man at the Landor Theatre.
9) Lucy Williamson: Williamson has worked in theatre for twenty years, appearing in such shows as Les Miserables (UK tour), Rent (UK tour), We Will Rock You and Thriller! In 2011, she was stand by to the role of Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow.
10) George Ure: Ure played the role of Boq in Wicked and went on to perform in the European tour of Hair. In 2007, he was a finalist in the reality television programme, Britannia High, on ITV.
11) Liz Robertson: Robertson has played Madame Giry in both The Phantom of the Opera and its sequel, Love Never Dies, recently resuming the role for the 25th Anniversary production of Phantom at the Royal Albert Hall. Her work in other productions includes Hairspray, My Fair Lady, The King and I (US tour), Company and more.
12) Andrew Derbyshire: Derbyshire was handpicked by Brian May to join the cast of We Will Rock You and since then has toured with the UK productions of Hollywood and Broadway and Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat.
13) Carl Mullaney: Mullaney is currently performing in West End’s Les Miserables and hosts the late night Kinky Kabaret at Freedom Bar every Monday. He has previously appeared in Chicago.
14) Kieran Brown: Brown has recently joined the cast of Wicked after previously appearing in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies. In October, he appeared in his debut solo cabaret at the Pheasantry. Prior to this, his theatre credits include Les Miserables, Over The Threshold and Laughter in the Rain (UK tour), as well as directing and starring in various productions for The Vienna Theatre Project.
15) David Alder: Alders West End theatre credits include Les Miserables, Salad Days, Me and My Girl, Annie, High Society and more. He has also made appearances in other productions, such as The Pirates of Penzance, The Boyfriend, By Jeeves and Joseph.
16) Beverly Klein: Klein has had roles in Sweeney Todd, Romeo and Juliet, Into The Woods, Fiddler On The Roof and, most recently, in Bernada Alba and The Kissing Dance.
17) Leanne Jones: Jones made her West End debut as Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray, which won her an Oliver Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Other work includes Tick, Tick…Boom! and Beauty and the Beast.
18) Lucy May Barker: Barker was one of the original cast members of Spring Awakening and has also had roles in Annie (UK tour), The Crucible, Earthquakes in London, most recently playing Joanna in the Chichester Festival production of Sweeney Todd.
19) Clive Rowe: Rowe has a long list of theatre credits to his name, including Little Shop Of Horrors, Carousel, Company, Guys and Dolls, Chicago, Twelfth Night, The Fantasticks and The Ladykillers.
By Julie Robinson (@missjulie25)
3rd January 2012