American Idiot is a musical which stems from the Greenday album of the same name, but it is far from a jukebox musical. The rock opera concept album set out to tell a story. We meet Johnny, Tunny and Will in a post 9/11 USA, all disillusioned with their future. Johnny and Tunny set off for the big city to
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When I heard that Festoon Theatre Company were putting on a production of the Toxic Avenger I was thrilled. Having seen a production of it at The Arts, which I adored, I was looking forward to getting another chance to relive this show. Summing up The Toxic Avenger is easier said than done and few words could do justice to
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Cats can be a marmite show and the 2019 movie did little to help these polarised opinions. Cats, based on the book of poems by TS Eliot, and for those that love it say that it shows a group of cats who gather once a year at the jellicle ball to see who can cross over into another life. Love
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There is no denying that 2021 continued to be a tough year for the theatre industry, with many theatres forced to close until June due to social distancing rules and then the end of the year saw numerous show closures due to Covid cases within cast and crew. However 2021 also brought us some wonderful theatrical moments and I wanted
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Working is a musical that is based on a series of interviews in 1974 that took place with a cross section of Americans about their working life. Fast forward to 2007-2008 and further interviews were carried out. Stephen Schwartz along with help from his friends, including Lin Manual Miranda set these interviews to music and produced a musical about the
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Making a welcome return to the Bridewell Theatre after 18 months of postponement due to lockdown, SEDOS demonstrated that there has been no loss of talent, professionalism or production value in the intervening period with Ophelia Thinks Harder. However, while West End shows may be attracting near capacity audiences (possibly assisted by aggressive promotion) it would have been disheartening for
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Shrek is a musical I am incredibly fond of and (full disclosure) the show I am currently directing for Bromley Players. The musical is based on the 2001 film and is full of heart and a great moral message. Add to that some catchy songs and there is the foundations of a great musical there. The show spends a lot
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Funny Girl is the story made famous by Streisand. It tells the story of Fanny Brice, who starts out featured on Vauderville but makes her way up to the Follies. Her stardom however comes at a price and as her star continues to rise her relationship with her husband disintergrates. Playing the role of Fanny Brice was Elizabeth Burton. She
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As a perennial fan of all things Sondheim, I was delighted to be asked to review this production of A Little Night Music- in fact I had already purchased tickets as it happens! Based on the Ingmar Bergman film of 1956 ‘Smiles of a Summer Night’, A Little Night Music is a tragic farce- ’whipped cream with knives’- and has the
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Best West End Musical – Strictly Ballroom Strictly Ballroom hit the West End in April but unfortunately the run was to be short but sweet. I am a big fan of the film so I was pretty excited to finally see it on stage and for me it lived up to all of my glitter fulled expectations. Many critics weren’t
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