Musical

Writers:  Gary Barlow and Tim Firth Design: Robert Jones Musical Staging: Lucy Hind Director: Matt Ryan Orchestrations: Steve Parry Reviewer: Rob Atkinson To judge a musical theatre rendition of a story against its original movie production, or even against the in-between incarnation of a stage play, is to risk comparing chalk with cheese; they’re simply different animals with different types ...

Book: Terence McNally Music and Lyrics: David Yazbek Director: Adam Lacey Reviewer: Selwyn Knight It’s hard to believe that it’s over 20 years since the film, The Full Monty, burst onto cinema screens, telling the story of a group of Sheffield steelworkers made redundant from the only living they’d ever known. In 2000, the action was moved to Buffalo, NY for ...

Book and Lyrics: Ben Elton Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Director: Hannah Chissick Reviewer:  Richard Maguire The second show in The National Youth Musical Theatre’s takeover of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new venue, The Other Palace, is none other than his 2000 musical The Beautiful Game, and these young actors do him proud. Their production is only on for four days, but ...

Book: Douglas Day Stewart & Sharleen Cooper Cohen Musical Supervision: Sarah Travis Director: Nikolai Foster Reviewer: Frances Scott The 1982 film is an Academy Award-winning feature that remains one of the highest grossing love stories of all time. In an all-new production that has been remixed into a stage musical, the Cinderella story continues its reign as a rom-com classic. Taking ...

Composer: Jeanine Tesori Book and Lyrics: David Lindsay-Abaire Director: Nigel Harman  Choreographer: Josh Prince Designer: Tim Hatley Lighting Designer: Hugh Vanstone Reviewer: Leah TozerAn offbeat fairytale about being a believer in happily-ever-afters for the beautiful and ogreish alike, Shrek the Musical is a hefty, hearty, gorgeously green show that lets its Freak Flag Fly but its originality fall victim to fart gags and the far-greater film.  The original film won ...

Reviewer: Clare Howdon Baby Wants Candy is fast becoming a staple part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe experience. Following total sell-out shows in 2015, 2016 and 2017, one of most celebrated improv shows in the world is back and judging from the audience reaction this year, is as strong as ever. It is nigh-on impossible not to be completely charmed ...

Writer: Frances Hodgson Burnett Adapted Book and lyrics: Carl Miller Music and lyrics: Marc Folan Additional lyrics: Adey Grummet Director: Emily Gray Reviewer: David Guest There is something of a welcome and exciting renaissance in the world of youth theatre, with young people not only being given a chance to perform but also to appear in productions at well-regarded London ...

Music: AnneMarie Lewis Thomas Script and Lyrics: Phil Willmott Director: Brendan Matthew Reviewer: Karl O'Doherty There has clearly been a huge amount of work put into this production - a 17 strong cast, musicians, original writing and more. The ambition to have a large scale, vibrant and punchy musical is evident. However, the show passes a lot of that work ...