Review: Michael Crawford stars in The Go-Between at the Apollo Theatre

The Go-Between
Apollo Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 8th June 2016
★★

Michael Crawford has returned to the West End in Richard Taylor and David Wood's musical version of L.P. Hartley's novel The Go-Between. Crawford plays an older version of the central character Leo Colston who retells the story of when he was acting as the go-between messenger for Marian and the local farmer Ted who were having a passionate affair, despite Marian being engaged.

Review: Nell Gwynn at the Apollo Theatre starring Gemma Arterton

Nell Gwynn 

Apollo Theatre

Reviewed on Tuesday 16th February 2016

★★★★★

Jessica Swale’s new play Nell Gwynn, which has transferred to the West End following a short season at the Globe, is an absolute must see. I took my seat at the Apollo knowing nothing about the piece - somehow I hadn't even glanced at a review or taken notice of a star rating - and proceeded to have the most joyously incredible evening.

Review: Peter Pan Goes Wrong at the Apollo Theatre

Peter Pan Goes Wrong
Apollo Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 8th December 2015
★★★★

It's official - Mischief Theatre are unstoppable! In 2013 The Play That Goes Wrong - which was created as an improvised piece by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields - premiered at the Old Red Lion, a pub theatre in Camden. Two and a half years later the play is celebrating its first birthday in the West End and Mischief have brought their second creation Peter Pan Goes Wrong to the West End for a festive run.

Review: Showstopper! The Improvised Musical at the Apollo Theatre

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical 
Apollo Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 30th September 2015 (matinee & evening)
★★★★

Marking the first time that an improvised show has received a full West End run, The Showstoppers have brought The Improvised Musical to the Apollo Theatre! Six actors take to the stage with a live band and, after listening to audience suggestions before the show and via twitter during the interval, create a different musical every single night.

Interview: Jack Fox, starring in Dear Lupin

Jack Fox is currently starring alongside his father, James Fox, in Dear Lupin at the Apollo Theatre. The play transferred to the West End earlier this month following a UK tour.

Written by Roger Mortimer and Charlie Mortimer, Dear Lupin, Letters to a Wayward Son has been adapted for the stage by Michael Simkins. The piece sees journalist and author Roger Mortimer’s brilliantly hilarious, often touching and always generous letters to his unruly son Charlie vividly brought to life.

Having previously appeared in The Picture of Dorian Gray at Riverside Studios, Dear Lupin marks Jack’s West End debut. His television credits include Our Zoo, Mr Selfridge, Dracula, Privates, Fresh Meat, Lewis and Henry VIII: Mind of a Tyrant, whilst Jack’s film work includes London Underground, The Messenger, Blood Moon, Kids in Love and Theeb.

I recently spoke to Jack about why he was so moved the first time he read the play, what it was like to step into the rehearsal room with his father and how he feels after performing such an emotionally draining role each night…

Dear Lupin is an almighty play! What made you want to take it on?

Well my Dad was approached to do it before I was, he was given an offer from the producer. I went to see my agent about another project and, being the clever man that he is, as I was walking out the door he said, “You should have a read of this” and I read it on the train. I cried and laughed, it must have looked like I was having a nervous breakdown [laughs]. It just blew me away because of how funny and well written it was, and also the relationship is such a wonderful thing.

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical transferring to the West End!

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical is transferring to the Apollo Theatre for its first full West End run.

The show will open on 30th September (previews from 24th September) for a limited run until 29th November 2015. 

Over the course of its run, eighty brand new musicals will grace the stage of the Apollo Theatre, each created on the spot by multi award-winning musical comedy improvisers The Showstoppers. Audience suggestions are transformed instantly into all-singing, all-dancing shows with unpredictable and hilarious results.

Review: Dear Lupin at the Apollo Theatre

Dear Lupin 
Apollo Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 3rd August 2015
★★★★

Michael Simkins' stage adaptation of Dear Lupin, Letters to a Wayward Son by Roger Mortimer and Charlie Mortimer is gentle with flashes of poignancy.

Review: The Audience at the Apollo Theatre starring Kristin Scott Thomas

The Audience 
Apollo Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 6th May 2015
★★★★

Peter Morgan's play The Audience premiered in the West End two years ago with Helen Mirren receiving huge acclaim for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II. Mirren is currently recreating her performance on Broadway whilst a new, updated version has opened its doors to West End audiences at the Apollo Theatre.

Review: My Night With Reg at the Apollo Theatre

My Night With Reg 
Apollo Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 27th January 2015
★★★★ 

I seem to be one of the few people who didn't manage to catch My Night With Reg during its sold out run at the Donmar Warehouse last year. Thankfully the show has transferred to the West End for a short run, filling the gap left between Urinetown and The Audience at the Apollo.

Review: Urinetown at the Apollo Theatre

Urinetown

Apollo Theatre

Reviewed on Wednesday 8th October 2014

★★★★★

Jonathan Slinger

For the past few months I've been telling everyone who missed Urinetown during its sell-out run at the St James Theatre to make sure they catch the musical in its new West End home. Of course the reply I always receive is, "What on earth is that about?" 

To put it simply, instead of retelling a love story or following a journey to self-discovery as many musicals do, Urinetown looks into how the world would cope if we lost the privilege to pee. Those who break the rules are sent to Urinetown but, of course, there is a rebellion.

It's important to point out that Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis' show is a satirical musical comedy. The tone is perfect with the Narrator, Officer Lockstock (Jonathan Slinger) and Little Sally (Karis Jack) making fun of musicals in general as well as Urinetown's dark story and peculiar title. The piece is written cleverly and it's so refreshing to see it in the West End. The satirical humour makes Urinetown totally unique and I am confident it could build up a hugely dedicated audience.

Urinetown confirms West End transfer to Apollo Theatre in September!

Jamie Lloyd has confirmed his production of Urinetown will transfer to the Apollo Theatre from Monday 29th September 2014, following its successful run at the St James Theatre. The production is currently booking to Saturday 24th January 2015. Casting is yet to be announced.

Jamie Lloyd said: "Having attracted a diverse audience of all ages at the St. James earlier this year, I'm bursting to bring our production of this brilliantly off-kilter musical comedy to the West End, where I hope we'll make an even bigger splash. I'm delighted to return to the Apollo Theatre – the perfect home for our energetic and anarchic cast to run riot in. So, a big thank you to Nica Burns."

Review: Let The Right One In at the Apollo Theatre

Let The Right One In
Apollo Theatre

Reviewed on Wednesday 2nd April 2014

They say love is blind and that people will do anything to protect the one they love. But would you be able to kill for love? Based on the cult 2004 novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist, Let The Right One In is a love story with gore.

Apollo Theatre to re-open with West End transfer of John Tiffany’s Let The Right One In

It has been confirmed that John Tiffany’s acclaimed production of Let The Right One In will transfer to the West End's Apollo Theatre next month. 

The show marks the first production to run at the Apollo Theatre following last year's ceiling collapse during a performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. The theatre has since been refurbished.

Based on the Swedish novel and cult-hit film by John Ajvide Lindqvist, Let The Right One In marks the National Theatre of Scotland’s West End debut and follows the show’s sell out success at the Royal Court Theatre. It is described as a "chilling tale of loneliness, love and legend". Let The Right One In opens on Monday 7th April (previews from 26th March).

Boris Johnson: "My thoughts are with all of those caught up in the ceiling collapse"

Boris Johnson has released a statement regarding last night's ceiling collapse at the West End's Apollo Theatre during a performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

The Mayor of London said: This was clearly a terrifying incident for everyone involved and my thoughts are with all of those caught up in the ceiling collapse. The emergency response, in particularly confused and trying circumstances, was rapid and the co-ordination between the Metropolitan Police, the London Ambulance Service and the London Fire Brigade was exemplary.

"I'd also like to pay tribute to the London bus drivers who ferried the injured to hospital, the hospital staff who dealt with a large influx of patients, and the doctors and crew of the London Air Ambulance."

London Ambulance Service release latest info about roof collapse injuries

The London Ambulance Service has released further information about audience members who were injured when a section of the ceiling collapsed at the Apollo Theatre last night (19th December) during a performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

A statement reads:

We can now confirm that we sent a total of 54 resources to the scene. These included 29 ambulance crews, seven responders in cars or on motorbikes, 18 officers and other vehicles, including members of our hazardous area response team and a medical team from London's Air Ambulance who also attended in a car.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time cancels all performances until 4th January

Nimax Theatres have released a statement announcing that all performances of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time have been cancelled until and including Saturday 4th January 2014. The full statement reads:

This is a shocking and upsetting incident. Our thoughts are with the audience and staff who were in the theatre and their families. We're very grateful to the emergency services for their tremendous work and to our staff who helped with the evacuation.

Performances of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time have been cancelled until and including Saturday 4th January 2014. If you have tickets for these performances please contact your original point of purchase.

Emergency services were called after a section of the ceiling collapsed and fell onto theatregoers. It is believed part of the roof came down forty minutes into the performance. The exact cause of the incident is still being investigated and the theatre owners (Nimax) are working closely with the relevant authorities to establish exactly what happened.

The Society of London Theatre release statement regarding Apollo Theatre roof collapse

The Society of London Theatre have released a statement to the press regarding last night's roof collapse at the Apollo Theatre during a performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time:

On behalf of London’s theatre industry, our thoughts and sympathies go out to everyone who was injured and affected by last night’s incident at the Apollo Theatre. We would like to praise the emergency services for their calm and rapid response and all the theatre staff on Shaftesbury Avenue for their professional and compassionate handling of the situation.

The exact cause of the incident is still being investigated and the theatre owners, Nimax, are working closely with the relevant authorities to establish exactly what happened. Our theatres entertain over 32,000 people in central London every night and all theatres take the safety of their audience, performers and staff very seriously. Every theatre undergoes rigorous safety checks and inspections by independent experts, and incidents like last night are extremely rare.

Theatre roof collapses during performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

A section of the ceiling collapsed during a performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time at the Apollo Theatre tonight (19th Dec). Emergency services were called after a section of the ceiling collapsed and fell onto theatregoers. It is believed part of the roof came down forty minutes into the performance.

"People were looking up in a bewildered way when the roof came down, wondering if it was part of the show," an eyewitness told BBC News. "Those close to the emergency exit managed to get out, though others were trapped."

Idina Menzel returning to the West End for one week only for solo concerts

Idina Menzel, star of the West End & Broadway was trending on Twitter earlier today after she announced that she would be playing the West End's Apollo Theatre for one week only from Monday 8th to Sunday 14th October 2012! This will then be followed by regional UK dates at Edinburgh's Usher Hall on Tuesday 16th October, and Manchester’s Palace Theatre on Wednesday 17th October. Backed by a 25-piece orchestra live on stage, Idina will sing songs from her diverse musical theatre and pop music repertoire, including a few personal favourites and some exciting new material.

It has been a year since her last concert in the UK at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Idina Menzel created the role of Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway and in the West End. She has gone onto win a Tony Award and star in Glee.

Idina recently released a live concert album and DVD entitled, Idina Menzel LIVE: Barefoot at the Symphony, recorded in Toronto on her internationally acclaimed symphony tour. Idina recently came 7th place in our 'Who would you like to see return to the West End' poll which was won by Lee Mead. 

Tickets are priced from £25 - £65. Visit www.idinauk.com for more information.