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 ...
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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 ...
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Book: Jeff Whitty Music and Lyrics: Amanda Green, Tom Kitt, and Lin-Manuel Miranda Director: Ewan Jones Reviewer: Richard Maguire The youthful cast of this American high school musical certainly bring it on, but it’s a shame that the Southwark Playhouse didn’t bring on some air conditioning. Although Bring It On occasionally reaches camp zeniths, it’s the audience that remains smoking hot. ...
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Book: Fiona English Music and lyrics: David Eaton Director: Benji Sperring Reviewer: Stephen Bates Lin Manuel Miranda’s smash hit Broadway musical Hamilton has already been followed across the Atlantic by the off-Broadway parody Spamilton and now, within a matter of weeks, comes this new variation, based loosely on the life and career of Britain’s World Formula 1 champion. What next ...
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Based on the book by Douglas Day Stewart and Sharleen Cooper Cohen Director: Nikolai Foster Reviewer: Charlotte Vowles It seems surprising that it’s taken this long for the much-loved 80’s film to make its transition to the stage, but when it arrives, the cast spring to action with such impact and energy, it takes a moment for the eyes and ...
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Music & Lyrics: Maury Yeston Book: Peter Stone Director: Thom Sutherland Reviewer: John Roberts Having originally launched just months before James Cameron’s recording breaking film, Maury Yeston and Peter Stone’s powerful and heart-breaking musical won plaudits and awards on its maiden voyage on Broadway – yet unlike Cameron’s filmic version Yeston & Stone’s retelling of the tale uses the stories ...
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Book: Peter Stone Music and Lyrics: Maury Yeston Director: Thom Southerland Reviewer: Richard Miller A bare-bones set, an eerie sea-mist and the clever use of chilly moon-blue lighting, conveys a sense of true horror in Titanic The Musical. That the audience already knows the outcome, adds to the feeling of gloomy, but gripping, foreboding. Despite the ominous undertone of tragic ...
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Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Don Black and Charles Hart Book: David Garnett Director: Jonathan O'Boyle Reviewer: Sam Lowe Aspects of Love returns to the UK musical scene eight years after the revival production at Menier Chocolate Factory. Now we get to experience a smaller scale and intimate interpretation of this musical. The story is set over a period of ...
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