Shantify is not a show built on narrative - and it doesn't need to be. Much like the popular Choir of Man, it takes famous songs and turns them into sea shanties, and having heard a lot about it yet not being a fan of the former, I was sceptical going in. But from the minute they started singing, all of those apprehensions disappeared. The cast of six West End performers harmonise to perfection, entertaining a crowd who cannot help but clap, laugh and cheer. The story follows

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

Judges: Simon Lipkin (Oliver!), Georgina Castle (Mean Girls), Ben Forster (The Phantom of the Opera), Alexia Khadime (Wicked) This year, the competition at West End Calling is fierce as ever. It sounds cliché - but the talent up on that stage tonight was really something, and I was only present at one of the three finals of the day! West End Calling is a competition. There’s no doubt about that, but there is something about every interview and the energy in the room that mak

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

The festive season is well and truly upon us, and with it comes the time to be merry, jolly, and ready to usher in the new year. In the UK, nothing is more synonymous with Christmas cheer than a pantomime - and Guildford’s Beauty and the Beast certainly does not disappoint. Bursting with bright, colourful costumes, slapstick humour, and all the festive flair you could wish for, this year’s production guarantees magical fun for audiences of all ages. Back with another classic

The sell-out, Irish-inspired Christmas concert returns for another UK tour, bringing festive cheer to audiences nationwide. Blending pop favourites, classic carols, Irish dance, and Celtic hits, A Fairytale for Christmas promises an evening that’s hard to forget. Having previously reviewed Seven Drunken Nights: The Story of the Dubliners —created by the same team as this production—I was pleasantly surprised by how much effort had gone into making A Fairytale for Christmas a