Review: Kerry Ellis Live at the Pheasantry

Kerry Ellis Live 
The Pheasantry
Reviewed on Saturday 24th January 2015
★★★★★

Last week Kerry Ellis - the first lady of the West End - played three sold out shows at the Pheasantry in Chelsea, marking her return to the venue. The intimate space paved way for a chilled evening of immense variety. Those familiar with Ellis' work will know she isn't just a stereotypical musical theatre performer; she has a strong musical identity and is able to make absolutely any song of any style her own - something which is easier said than done.

Album Review: Rush Of Life by Julie Atherton

Rush Of Life
Julie Atherton
Theatre Bench Records
★★★★

In the land of musical theatre West End star Julie Atherton is known as the Queen of new writing. As well as showcasing her remarkable vocals, Atherton's latest studio album Rush Of Life features material by some of the industry's most exciting new writing talents.

Review: Thérèse Raquin at the Park Theatre

Thérèse Raquin

Park Theatre (Park200)

Reviewed on Tuesday 5th August 2014

★★★★

Based on Émile Zola's novel set in 19th Century Paris, Thérèse Raquin is a dark new musical about a woman who has an affair with her husband's friend, leading to desperate actions and disastrous consequences.

Full casting announced for transfer of Thérèse Raquin

Full casting has been announced for Thérèse Raquin's run at the Park Theatre. 

Julie Atherton (pictured right) will reprise her performance in the title role alongside Tara Hugo (Madame Raquin), Jeremy Legat (Camille), Greg Barnett (Laurent), James Hume (Michaud), Matthew Harvey (Olivier), Lila Clements (Suzanne), Gary Tushaw (Grivet) and Iwan Lewis (Oarsman).

Claire Greenway, Ellie Kirk and Lucy O'Byrne complete the cast as the River Women.

Craig Adams and Nona Shepphard's musical transfers to the Park200 following its sell-out, world premiere at the Finborough Theatre in March. The production opens on Tuesday 5th August (previews from 30th July) and runs until Sunday 24th August 2014.

Thérèse Raquin transfers to Park Theatre

It has been announced that Thérèse Raquin will transfer to the Park Theatre (Park200) following its sell-out run at the Finborough Theatre. The production opens on Tuesday 5th August (previews from 30th July) and runs until Sunday 24th August 2014.

The new musical is adapted from the classic French novel of the same name. Thérèse Raquin has music by Craig Adams and book and lyrics by Nona Shepphard who also directs. The Finborough cast is led by Julie Atherton, Ben Lewis, Jeremy Legat and Tara Hugo, but casting is to be confirmed for the transfer.

Review: Thérèse Raquin at the Finborough Theatre

Thérèse Raquin
Finborough Theatre
Reviewed on Friday 29th March 2014

Based on Émile Zola's novel set in 19th Century Paris, Thérèse Raquin is a dark new musical about a woman who has an affair with her husband's friend, leading to desperate actions and disastrous consequences.

Big Interview: Craig Adams

Craig Adams’ new musical Thérèse Raquin, based on the classic French novel, opens tonight at the Finborough Theatre.

Craig (music) has adapted Émile Zola’s novel for the stage with Nona Shepphard (book and lyrics). The production features a stellar cast, including Julie Atherton (LIFT/Avenue Q) and Ben Lewis (Candide/Australian production of Love Never Dies).

Craig is a composer, lyricist, and arranger. He was the Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer at the Finborough Theatre, facilitated by Mercury Musical Developments and Musical Theatre Network UK. 

His first musical LIFT, developed in association with Perfect Pitch, received its world premiere at Soho Theatre in February 2013 and received an Off Broadway run in November 2013. The show was ranked #2 in West End Frame’s top ten shows of 2013.

Craig’s other writing credits include: DEFECT (as part of Vibrant 2013 – A Festival of Finborough Playwrights at the Finborough Theatre), 101 Dalmatians (The Castle, Wellingborough), Ghosts Of The Past and The Watchers (YMT:UK), Ballet People (The Place), Battlement (Vanbrugh Theatre), Let Him Have Justice (Cochrane Theatre), Spell, The Frog Prince (Wimbledon Studio Theatre and Edinburgh Festival) and Alice in Wonderland (Edinburgh Festival and tour). 

He is currently working an adaptation of the Terry Pratchett novel Soul Music for YMT:UK, and a dance piece based on acclaimed children’s book Bob Robber and Dancing Jane entitled Shadowthief which will premiere in summer 2014. 

Recently I spoke to Craig about why he decided to write Thérèse Raquin, the overwhelming success of LIFT and the state of new writing… 

How have you felt over the past few weeks with the build up to the opening of Thérèse Raquin?

Very nervous… [laughs] really nervous! It’s a really hard show; the subject matter is hard anyway because the book is very naturalistic. It doesn’t centre itself on emotion; it’s about how people deal with the story. When writing the music it was hard to not wallow in the emotion, it has to be more of a commentary. The score is really, really tricky – the cast have done a phenomenal job. It’s been hard but rewarding work!

Full casting announced for new musical Thérèse Raquin at the Finborough Theatre

Ben Lewis & Julie Atherton

Full casting has been announced for the world premiere of a new musical adaptation of the classic French novel  Thérèse Raquin. The production opens next month at the Finborough as part of the theatre's Celebrating British Music Theatre series.

Thérèse Raquin opens on Thursday 27th March 2014 (previews from 25th March) and runs until Saturday 19th April starring Julie Atherton, Ben Lewis and Olivier Award nominee Tara Hugo.

The full cast includes: Julie Atherton (Thérèse Raquin), Lila Clements (Suzanne), Claire Greenway (River Woman), Tara Hugo (Madame), Ellie Kirk (River Woman), Jeremy Legat (Camille), Ben Lewis (Laurent), Gary Tushaw (Grivet), Verity Quade (River Woman) and Matt Wilman (Oarsman). Click here to meet the cast.

Thérèse Raquin has music by Craig Adams and book and lyrics by Nona Shepphard who is also directing the production.

19th Century Paris. Behind the counter of a small dusty haberdasher’s shop near the Seine in the dank, narrow Passage du Pont Neuf, sit Madame Raquin and her beautiful niece Thérèse whom she has married off to her sickly son Camille in a loveless match. While he is out working, Thérèse serves in the shop and the monotony is only broken on Thursday nights, when Madame plays dominoes with a strange assortment of old friends.

West End Stars including Katie Paine, Jennifer Tierney & Robbie Durham to perform in special Charity Gala

On Sunday 18th November 2012 at 7:30pm, West End Stars will perform in a charity gala at the Good Ship pub in Kilburn. The event is called 'Sunday In The Ship With...' and is raising money for the charity 'Love 146'. Love146 works toward the abolition of child sex slavery and exploitation in Europe through practical solutions while contributing to a growing abolition movement. The charity do so much amazing work.