Reviews

Believe it or not, The Phantom of the Opera got a sequel in the form of Love Never Dies, loosely based on Frederick Forsyth's novel The Phantom of Manhattan. As hard as it is for me to admit, especially given my love for Phantom, this is a show I could have done without. The story is strange, to say the least. The love triangle has been reignited, this time with the addition of Gustave, Christine Daaé's young son. Set against the backdrop of the Coney Island fairground, Love

The internet describes Don Black as "an English lyricist and songwriter celebrated for film, theatre, and popular music." He is responsible for the lyrics of 5 James Bond films, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard, amongst many other hits you may or may not know were his to begin with. But in reality, he is so much more than that. Through personal stories and anecdotes, this musical revue reveals that there is much more to Black than fulfilled contracts. Beyond the 'career

It is understandable why the life of P.T. Barnum is a source of fascination and fame (or, perhaps, infamy). Filled with love, heartbreak, controversy, glitz and glamour, as well as the unusual and the ‘odd’, Barnum - the showman and curator of embellished ‘human curiosities’ - made a name for himself in business, entertainment and politics. It seems, however, that 21st century London has taken a particular interest into P.T.’s life - with ‘Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Cir

The other night, I was invited to see Sting's musical, The Last Ship, during its two week run in the West End. Having heard about it from friends who caught the production in Paris, I went in with certain expectations. This was not what I got. Sting is a name that has earned international recognition over his decades-long musical career, so when I heard he had written a musical, I anticipated something closer in style to Billy Elliot, with its blend of working class grit and

"Another movie to musical adaptation?" I hear you ask. The answer is yes - but hear me out. Thelma and Louise, based on the 90s classic of the same name, follows two best friends, Thelma, a bored housewife (Amy Lennox), and Louise, an independent waitress (Rachel Tucker), as they set off on a holiday together. Events take a dark turn when Louise shoots a man attempting to assault Thelma. Having gone in with limited prior knowledge of the story beyond passing references, this

Theatre is subjective. When you're fortunate enough to see multiple shows in a year, you're bound to encounter one that leaves you feeling somewhat indifferent. This was that show for me. Tilda Swinton's visceral portrayal of Ella/Max was not to blame. In fact, it would be hard to pinpoint the exact moment I realised this simply wasn't for me. Translated by Anthony Vivis from Manfred Karge's original text, Man to Man is brought to the stage once more - 30 years ago at this sa

I love a trip to Sonning. I've reviewed many a production at this venue, and all have been incredibly unique. Two things never seem to change, however: the quality of the food, and the diversity of the productions on offer. As I've said in a previous review, this venue doesn't necessarily target audiences of my generation, and its shows often reflect this through revivals of niche twentieth century plays that are inevitably quite dated. That said, this one felt slightly diffe

Promotional Photograph 'Ava Pickett' is the name on everybody's lips these days, and this show has cemented that position. After the success of 1536 at both the Almeida and the Ambassadors' Theatre, it would be hard to imagine another play topping it. And whilst I'll always have a dark, twisted soft spot for 1536, Bloodsport has joined the ranks of the most gripping plays I've ever seen. Pickett's signature seems to be taking historical stories and turning them into modern, s

It's eleven o'clock in the evening, and I'm still turning over the show I saw tonight. Let me take you back to June 2026, when this production of Jane Eyre made its first public appearance at West End Live. I stood in that audience fantasising about hearing those songs a second time. But, as many of you know by now, the music is only part of the work of a musical. For one to succeed, it must have an equally strong book and an equally strong team, both on and off stage. I'll a

Many a great afternoon was spent at The Mill at Sonning in recent months, and not least because of the atmosphere. So, when I heard about a similar experience with a Sonning show right here in London's West End, I knew I had to jump at the opportunity. Instead of the usual two-course meal, I was treated to a lovely afternoon tea - complete with its traditional scones and mini sandwiches - all whilst watching Noel Coward's Still Life. For one week only, you too can experience

Have you ever wished you could travel to a Disney park without actually having to travel? Well, wish granted with this new musical imagined and performed by Jordan Li-Smith and Ayesha Patel. During the course of the show, we follow the pair as they go on the perfect day at Disneyland (or Disneyworld, it's still unclear). With features from some of the most iconic park tunes, they take us on an adventure full of thrills and childhood nostalgia. And we can't forget about the se

July 16th 2026. Dear diary: Heathers is back in town. The musical written by Laurence O'Keefe and Kevin Murphy is based on the 1989 film of the same name. Veronica Sawyer is a nobody, until she finds a way into the world of the Heathers - the most popular girls in school. When she meets, and falls in love with, Jason “JD” Dean, things quickly get out of hand. Photography by Pamela Raith Heathers the Musical has, over the years, become one of those musicals that everyone kn

There's a particular thrill in watching two actors capture the friction and unspoken affection of siblings so convincingly that you'd be forgiven for assuming some real life history between them. Hit Machine delivers exactly that, with Josh Radnor and Noah Galvin turning in performances so finely tuned to one another that their fraternal chemistry becomes the beating heart of the show. Hit Machine is a three person play with music, telling the story of Wes and Alex, two broth

The Jonathan Larson Project directed by John Simpkins and now playing at the Southwark Playhouse Borough, is a tribute piece to the work of Jonathan Larson - one of the most globally renowned voices of the musical theatre industry. With a West End revival of ‘Rent’ on the horizon, and, even more importantly, with 2026 marking 30 years since Larson's passing, it is only right that a reimagined version of ‘The Jonathan Larson Project’ arrives in London to celebrate Larson’s leg

On Saturday night, I was invited to attend and review Shanay Holmes' debut concert at Cadogan Hall. Now, I must preface this by stating that as I was feeling quite unwell due to the heat and exhaustion, I left at the interval. This is definitely not a habit of mine, but regardless, I thought I should share my thoughts on what I did see. Shanay Holmes is an incredible performer, I fell in love with her voice when I first heard her sing her now famous "As Long As He Needs Me" f

A trip to The Mill at Sonning is always at the top of my most anticipated outings of the year, though rarely for the shows themselves. My theatrical curiosity is, of course, always piqued, as the plays at this venue are never ones I have previously encountered. That said, this venue does not necessarily target my generation, and its shows often reflect this through revivals of niche twentieth century plays that are inevitably quite dated. However, that does not mean that I ev

The musical, based on the 1997 Disney classic, follows the journey of the demigod Hercules as he strives to reclaim his place among the gods on Mount Olympus after being stripped of his immortality by the villainous Hades. Despite including fan-favourite songs like "Go The Distance," "Zero to Hero" or "I Won't Say (I'm In Love)", this musical is not quite the adaptation I expected. Disney has gotten quite the reputation over the years for its lavish, big-budget productions, w

Based on Harper Lee's timeless novel, Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird returns to the West End after several years away. The story is told by Scout Finch, the youngest daughter of the town's renowned lawyer Atticus Finch. During the course of the play, Atticus represents a Black man, Tom Robinson, who is accused of heinous crimes against the daughter of Bob Ewell. It is a difficult but wonderful story, as through his actions, Atticus teaches his children emp

We are all familiar with World War One to some extent, having learned about it in school from a young age. Many people recognize that the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the key event that sparked the Great War. However, what many of us are not aware of is how Gavrilo Princip became one of history's most infamous murderers. Rajiv Joseph's 2017 play narrates the tale of how a group of young revolutionaries got involved in the plot to kill the Archduke. The show o

Franki Valli and the Four Seasons are back for a 20th Anniversary tour - starting off right here, in London. Jersey Boys is a name one hears often in this industry. Hailed as one of the most successful jukebox musicals, its reputation precedes it. And it delivers, with some minor caveats. Jersey Boys tells the story of a mismatched group of four guys who come together to form a band, whilst also being involved in some less-than-legal activities. It’s a musical that immediatel