At the time of the interview, Jefferson was about to star alongside Daniel Clarkson in Potted Panto which opened at the Vaudeville Theatre on 18th December 2011, for a limited run until 8th January, 2012. Potted Panto is one of the nominations for the Best New Comedy Award in the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards 2012. “CBBC's Dan and Jeff, the masterminds behind Potted Potter and Potted Pirates, turn their attention to that much loved British institution, the … [Read more...]
London Theatre News - UK Touring Productions News
Centre Stage: Dean Chisnall
London theatre is a highly competitive industry. There are a vast number of extremely talented stage actors looking to work in the West End and with a select number of theatres and shows, opportunities are limited; add to that, the ever-growing number of students graduating from drama/theatre schools with each passing year, and they become even more limited. The reality is that there aren’t enough roles to meet the demand, so a lot of these talented performers are missing out. Even when they do … [Read more...]
Interview with Killian Donnelly: Raoul in The Phantom of The Opera
At the time of the interview Killian was starring as Raoul in The Phantom of The Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre. Inspired by his parents Killian started singing in the choir while at school. His first stage performance was in Oliver of which he says: “Fagin aged 10 was my stage debut in Kilmessan Hall. Held 50 people (60 if 10 stood at the back) and WE had to put out the chairs.” Killian achieved considerable success on the stage in Ireland before he headed to London where he made his West … [Read more...]
Opening night for Matilda musical and 59 years of The Mousetrap
The curtains are now officially up for Matilda The Musical as the holiday period ends and a brand new term begins. Last night was Press Night and it seems that anyone who was anyone was there, including the show’s creative team: writer Dennis Kelly, director Matthew Warchus and composer/lyricist Tim Minchin. Between them, these three have created what will surely be one of the giants of the West End, joining The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Ghost and, of course, Les Miserables, of which it has … [Read more...]
Tribute to Freddie Mercury: gone but never forgotten.
The world is full of music. We have a never-ending supply of boy bands, girl bands, pop stars, rappers, classical singers – and X-Factor contestants. Yes, they get a class of their own. They come and go like the tide: for every washed-up music act that disappears back into the vast ocean of oblivion, another rides in on a ten-foot wave and crashes onto the music scene with an almighty splash. It’s an inter-changeable business, where lasting success is hard to find. There’s always someone younger … [Read more...]
Understudy triumph in 2012 cast change announcement for Shrek The Musical
It was announced yesterday that Dean Chisnall and Neil McDermot are to lead the cast of Shrek The Musical, when they change over on 29th February 2012. Richard Blackwood is to stay on as Shrek’s talkative sidekick Donkey, while McDermot replaces Nigel Harman as the vertically-challenged Lord Farquaad and Chisnall takes over from Nigel Lindsay as lovable green ogre, Shrek. McDermot is popularly known for his role of bad-boy Ryan Molloy in Eastenders, but he has plenty of theatre credits to his … [Read more...]
Album Previews: Alfie Boe and Ramin Karimloo
If you wanted to know who were the biggest actors on the West End stage in 2011, the names of Ramin Karimloo and Alfie Boe would most definitely crop up. Both have enjoyed huge success this year and have seen their fan following shoot as high as their rising stars. So what better way to celebrate than by releasing an album? Alfie Boe is first on the agenda, with his second Decca album having just been released on 31st October 2011. The self-titled Alfie continues from the success of his 2010 … [Read more...]