Emma's Theatrics

“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 o

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

Cable Street follows the uprising of young revolutionaries against the rise of fascism in London’s East End. Based on a true story, the musical brings together the story one hundred thousand Jews, Irish workers and communists as they unite to resist hatred. On paper, it is a powerful and necessary story, rich with dramatic and emotional potential, especially given the politically uncertain times in which we currently find ourselves. This production centres on three young peo

From childhood, we are told stories with meaning — stories that carry a moral. That is, after all, where the familiar phrase “the moral of the story is…” comes from. Beauty and the Beast teaches us that true beauty comes from within; Peter Pan reminds us to treasure our childlike spirit. The point is that good stories leave the audience with something to take away. Gerry & Sewell , despite its impressive journey from a small pub theatre to major regional stages, does not seem

Most of us are familiar with the music of The Kinks , whether by name or simply by recognising one of their iconic tunes. Yet far fewer of us know the band’s full story—how it began with brothers Ray and Dave Davies and grew into one of the most influential British groups of the 20th century. Their legacy reaches far beyond a playlist of hits, and Sunny Afternoon aims to trace the emotion, conflict, and ambition behind that legacy. Over the past two years of reviewing, thi

Hot Mess , is a new original musical co-written by Jack Godfrey (Music and Lyrics) and Ellie Coote (Book). Also directed by Coote , the musical has found a temporary home at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant after a sold out and critically acclaimed run at the Birmingham Hippodrome (where the play was commissioned and produced) and the Edinburgh Fringe earlier this year. Hot Mess is a two handler musical, revolving around the relationship between Earth ( Danielle Steers ) a

The scene is 1985 Dublin and Conor Lawlor ( Sheridan Townsley ) is struggling, as is most of the country at the time. From financial...

The London theatrical scene has received the much anticipated transfer of the 2023 musical The Great Gatsby, now appearing on both the...

A musical about a top secret MI-5 operation during World War 2? God, that’s brilliant! Complete with a cast of just five, Operation...

Amid the devastation of World War Two, when hope felt scarce, a small group of Germans chose to resist. Among them stood the White Rose movement - university students in Munich who, through anonymous leaflets and non-violent protest, dared to speak truth to power. Their story is too often relegated to the footnotes of history, which is precisely why musicals like White Rose are so vital. They remind us that resistance doesn’t always begin with weapons: it can start with word