Reviews

When I started taking classes in musical theatre some years ago, I was told repeatedly that the world's best belters were young kids. Their natural ability to lay their souls bare on stage without a single worry about what the person in row H could be thinking is the greatest of gifts, something that is lost much too quickly as we grow up. These kids are simply grateful to be singing and dancing on stage, and it really shows. In comes Annie, a story everyone around the world

The world premiere of Dark of the Moon is now playing at the Charing Cross Theatre until early August. Based on the 1940s play, it follows the story of Barbara Allen and John the Witch Boy as they defy the odds for their love. A witch boy who sacrifices his immortality to be with the woman he loves; a woman set apart by the village in which she lives. It is a Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Twilight fusion, and on paper, it is a great story. The set looks as though i

Since 2024, Giffords Circus has earned a permanent place at the top of my theatrical calendar. I attended the circus as a child, though it was never quite the spectacle that captured my heart. Giffords is something else entirely. This is not simply a circus. It is a world you step into. Upon arrival, a charming village of caravans unfolds before you, dotted with food stalls, merchandise and drinks, all at genuinely reasonable prices: hot dogs at £7.50, posters around £5 and c

Care is a translation of the French play 'Une Morte Dans La Famille' by Alexander Zeldin, now making its Young Vic debut under Zeldin's direction. It tells the story of Joan (Linda Bassett), who finds herself in a care home following a series of bad falls. Her daughter and difficult grandsons are all she has left in the world, but when she finds herself confined against her will, she makes the best of her situation amongst a cast of fascinating characters. The writing of this

The Royal Shakespeare Company production of The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind has now transferred to the West End at @sohoplace. This new and modern venue has been transformed into an intimate thrust staging where every seat feels like part of the action - a feeling reinforced from the very first moments, as the cast moves through the audience with a ease and familiarity that made this reviewer beam from ear to ear. I only wish it had continued throughout. The story follows 13-y

This isn't a political piece. Except it is, in every sense of the word. There is very little objectivity when it comes to a work with such a strong message. This reviewer finds herself almost sick to the stomach contemplating how, almost 500 years on, very little has changed in men's attitudes towards women. 1536 is a formidable year in history, one whose events are known throughout England, and yet very few could place it with any precision. It is, of course, the year when H

Album Cover This is a little bit of a different medium for this blog, but you'll understand soon enough why I had to write this review. Earlier this week, I was invited to get a first look at Henry Patterson's new album, Broadway Maybe, and I can tell you that I fell in love almost instantly with this music. Recorded in a single day at Abbey Road Studios, this album fuses jazz and musical theatre hits to create a brand new sound, one that is accessible to Broadway lovers and

For its 70th Anniversary season, the Royal Court is rolling out the red carpet for an incredible lineup of shows and artists. 5 months into the year and we have already had some phenomenal works grace its stages, both upstairs and downstairs, including Guess How Much I Love You? (with BAFTA winning actor Robert Aramayo and Olivier Award Nominee Rosie Sheehy), The Sh*theads and John Proctor is The Villain. This month, we are going back to the roots of the theatre with a 2-in-1

There are some composers whose music feels too big for an ordinary stage. Jim Steinman was one of them. And the London Coliseum, grand and sweeping as it is, felt like the only fitting venue for an evening dedicated to his work. From the opening number to the final bow, this was a concert that understood exactly what Steinman's music requires: scale, commitment, and the kind of voices that can match an orchestra at full cry. My journey with this music started years ago, but i

This whole experience is quite unique to The Mill, and every time I have been blessed enough to be invited to see a show there, I have absolutely loved it. Although every trip is distinct in its theatrical experience, the food and service part of the package has always been top-notch. This following paragraph has been taken from a previous review I have written, and still very much applies to this occasion. The Mill at Sonning has one of those stellar reputations - and not wi

Tonight, this reviewer was invited to see a new play by Callum Pardoe, staged in the intimate theatre nestled on the second floor of a North London pub. The play presents a novel concept: an anthology of scenes from various fictional television programmes. Upon entering the space, the four cast members are visible on stage in pairs, facing the walls and engaged in what appear to be tense, frustrating conversations. The pre-show music and audience noise make it difficult to ca

For anyone who knows anything about The Rocky Horror Picture Show, you will know that it is, first and foremost, a cult favourite. Its appeal is fiercely niche, adored by devoted fans across the world, but leaving little room for newcomers - particularly at events like these. I am a newcomer. I reviewed the UK tour last year, which gave me a glimpse of the extraordinary love audiences have for this show, and I genuinely loved the atmosphere. But tonight was something differen

Twenty years after its West End debut, Avenue Q is back for an anniversary celebration at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Over the years, the show has received widespread acclaim, its name spoken with near-universal reverence among musical theatre devotees. Suffice it to say that expectations were high for this reviewer - and they were not disappointed. The story follows Princeton (played by Noah Harrison) - a fresh university graduate with a BA in English - as he moves to Avenue Q

“A Dashing Antidote for Life’s Sorrows” In recent years, West End stages have become a home to numerous musical revivals, some enchanting the loyal fans and the demanding London audiences more than the others. However, a recent addition to the mix, Kinky Boots directed by Nikolai Foster, with book by Harvey Fierstein, is without a doubt one of the former - a revival that will knock you off your feet and make you want to dance all night long! Kinky Boots tells the story of Cha

Many a time has this reviewer been lucky enough to witness a famous classic musical for the first time. You know, those shows everyone raves about for years on end and you just can’t seem to fit into your schedule? Waitress is one of those shows for this reviewer. When I started reviewing in the summer of 2023, this show was just finishing a successful UK and Ireland tour (if I remember correctly). Never to be seen again. And yet, rumours of a much anticipated return filled s

Once in a while, we come across a piece of writing that is so masterfully crafted that it feels like nothing short of pure genius. Now, this doesn't happen often, and it is even more rare that this piece of writing unites the minds of its viewers in agreement with this assessment. This play by Kimberly Belflower is that piece of writing. John Proctor is the Villain is a one-in-a-lifetime production—a show that speaks to every generation alike. Handling topics as delicate as

Spitfire Girls shines a light on the unspoken heroes of the Second World War - the women who fought stereotypes and deep rooted misogyny to serve their country. The show follows two women as they enlist to join the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), flying planes from factories to deliver them to the Royal Air Force during the war. Whilst these women were not on the front lines of the fighting, their job was essential in assuring the security of the soldiers who were. Although t

There’s a quote in the show’s programme that reads “Our age is the age of the refugee, the displaced person, mass immigration.” We live in terrifying times. Uncertain and uncomfortable times. When the status quo is constantly being challenged, corruption is reaching far and wide and our reliance on human bonds is stronger than ever. A story like The Beekeeper of Aleppo perhaps never felt more relevant than it does right at this moment. It follows the story of Nuri ( Adam Sin

Recently, West End theatres have played host to a growing number of one-night-only concerts and musical premieres. These productions have received a wide range of responses—from standing ovations for last month’s revival of Once On This Island to more measured, and at times scathing, criticism for others. While the premiere of Rosie does not quite fall into the category of failure, it cannot comfortably be called a success either. This show follows the story of Miss Rosie B

Based on the beloved ITV series, this original story provides yet another case for Inspector Morse (played here by Tom Chambers ) to add to his repertoire. When a young actress suddenly dies during a performance of Hamlet , a gripping investigation begins, gradually uncovering elements from the inspector’s past. As with the television series that inspired it, the production attempts to balance an intricate mystery with a more introspective look at its central character. The p