Review: Romeo and Juliet at the Garrick Theatre

Romeo and Juliet 
Garrick Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 25th May 2016
★★★

Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet continues the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company's Plays at the Garrick season, reuniting Branagh with Lily James and Richard Madden who he previously directed in Disney's live action remake of Cinderella. 

This House transferring to Garrick Theatre

James Graham’s political drama This House will transfer to the Garrick Theatre, following its upcoming run at Chichester’s Minerva Theatre. 

Having originally played two sell-out seasons at the National Theatre, directed by Headlong Artistic Director Jeremy Herrin, This House opens in the West End on 30th November 2016 (previews from 29th November). Design is by Rae Smith with lighting by Paule Constable, sound by Ian Dickinson and choreography by Scott Ambler.

Review: The Painkiller at the Garrick Theatre

The Painkiller
Garrick Theatre
Reviewed on Thursday 17th March 2016
★★★★

Marking the fifth show in Kenneth Branagh's season at the Garrick Theatre, The Painkiller is a slick new comedy. Set in a hotel, Branagh takes to the stage as a hitman on a mission who is staying next door to a Swindon newspaper photographer, played by Rob Brydon, struggling to cope with separating from his wife (and of course there's an adjoining door between their rooms).

Full casting announced for Romeo and Juliet starring Lily James & Richard Madden

Full casting has been announced for Romeo and Juliet which opens in the West End this May as part of Kenneth Branagh's Plays at the Garrick season.

Romeo and Juliet opens at the Garrick Theatre on 25th May (previews from 12th May) and runs until 13th August 2016 with a live cinema broadcast set for 7th July.

As previously announced, Cinderella stars Lily James and Richard Madden will reunite with Branagh to star as Juliet and Romeo alongside Derek Jacobi as Mercutio. Branagh and Rob Ashford will co-direct the show.

Review: Red Velvet at the Garrick Theatre

Red Velvet
Garrick Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 2nd February 2016
★★★★

Having premiered at the Tricycle Theatre in 2012, Lolita Chakrabarti's debut play Red Velvet has arrived in the West End as part of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company's Plays At The Garrick season.

Big Interview: Lee Mead

Lee Mead is currently touring the UK with his Some Enchanted Evening concert.

Marking his fourth UK concert tour, the show turns back the musical clock to the golden age of Hollywood and celebrates some of the classic songs that that have become a part of our musical heritage. 

In 2007 Lee won the BBC1 programme Any Dream Will Do and went on to star as the title role in the West End revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Adelphi Theatre.

His theatre credits also include: title role in Lord Arthur Savile's Crime (UK tour), Fiyero in Wicked (Apollo Victoria), Emmett in Legally Blonde (Savoy), The West End Men (Vaudeville/UK tour), Levi and the Pharaoh in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (UK tour), understudy Tommy in Tommy (UK tour), understudy Chris in Miss Saigon (UK tour) and understudy Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty's).

Lee is currently playing Lofty in BBC1's Casualty and will return to musical theatre next year when he stars as Caractacus Potts in the UK tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang between 4th May and 18th September 2016.

Earlier this year Lee was nominated for a NTA Award for favourite newcomer. He won a West End Frame Award in April 2012 for Most Wanted West End Return. Lee is currently recording a new studio album to be released Spring 2016.

I recently spoke to Lee about how he put together his Some Enchanted Evening tour, how Casualty has re-launched his career and what it’s like to look back at everything that’s happened over the past few years…

How are you finding your Some Enchanted Evening tour so far?

It has been great, actually! There are just ten dates on this tour because I’m filming in Cardiff during the week. The concerts have been every two weeks since July and go through until the end of the year. It’s a shame because I usually go out and do twenty or twenty-five dates on tour when I’ve put a new show together so I think the plan is to tour next year as well. It took five months to put the show together with band calls and finding the right songs. 

Review: Horrible Histories Barmy Britain - Part Three at the Garrick Theatre

Horrible Histories Barmy Britain - Part Three
Garrick Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 29th July 2015
★★★★

Who knew rhinos used to roam the fields of Britain? Who knew 600 people in Soho died of cholera by drinking water from one mangy tap? I certainly didn't!

Competition: Win a pair of tickets to Let It Be!

We are giving away a pair of tickets to Let It Be at the Garrick Theatre. To enter the competition, simply sign up to West End Frame's mailing list below.

The winner will be randomly selected at 10am on Wednesday 15th April 2015 (entries after this time will not be included). The prize is valid until 29th May 2015.

Even if you already subscribe to West End Frame's newsletter you still have to input your details below to enter this particular competition. You will not receive our newsletter twice (assuming you enter the same email address). Please read the terms and conditions below.

International sensation Let It Be is now playing at London’s Garrick Theatre. Seen by over 1 million people worldwide, Let It Be is jam-packed with over forty of The Beatles’ greatest hits.

Review: My Lifelong Love at the Garrick Theatre

My Lifelong Love 

Garrick Theatre

Reviewed on Sunday 26th October 2014

★★★★

“Every good theatre song tells an individual story” said Georgia Stitt at the start of her My Lifelong Love concert, and this really did ring true throughout the whole evening. 

The audience developed a wonderful relationship throughout the course of the show with the incredibly talented singer, composer, lyricist and musician. Stitt opened the show with 'The Me Of The Moment', a song beautifully written about the reality of life. An informal chat followed from the slightly nervous yet playfully excited Stitt.

Review: The Scottsboro Boys at the Garrick Theatre

The Scottsboro Boys
Garrick Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 20th October 2014
★★★★★

Last year The Scottsboro Boys took theatreland by storm when it received its UK premiere at the Young Vic. Word of mouth couldn't have been stronger and people were doing anything they could to get tickets. I smugly had mine pinned up on the noticeboard, but sadly something unavoidable came up at the last minute which meant I was no longer able to see the show. Therefore, along with all those who couldn't see The Scottsboro Boys first time around, I was thrilled when producers confirmed that Kander and Ebb's final musical, which premiered off-Broadway in 2010, would be transferring to the West End.

Georgia Stitt makes West End debut with new concert

US composer and lyricist Georgia Stitt is set to make her West End debut in a welcome return to London following her sell-out concerts at St Paul’s Church in 2007 and The Hippodrome in 2012.

In her new show, My Lifelong Love, she will perform some of her best known songs from her albums This Ordinary Thursday, Alphabet City Cycle and, of course, My Lifelong Love, as well as from her shows Big Red Sun, The Danger Year, Mosaic and Samantha Spade: Ace Detective. 

The evening will feature performances from Simon Bailey (I Can’t Sing!), Norman Bowman (Mack & Mabel), Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple), Jamie Muscato (Dogfight), Eva Noblezada (Miss Saigon) and Caroline Sheen (Putting It Together).

Casting announced for West End transfer of The Scottsboro Boys

The Daily Mail has announced casting for the West End transfer of the Young Vic's production of The Scottsboro Boys.

Brandon Victor Dixon will reprise his performance as Patterson, a role he played during the musical's run at the Vineyard Theatre in New York. 

Colman Domingo, who starred in the show's US and Young Vic productions, will feature in the cast alongside Julian Glover, Forrest McClendon and James T. Lane.

The Scottsboro Boys confirms details of West End transfer

The Young Vic's production of The Scottsboro Boys has confirmed the details of its previously rumoured West End transfer.

The musical will open at the Garrick Theatre, replacing Twelve Angry Men, on Monday 20th October 2014 (previews from 4th October). Directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman, tickets go on general sale today (30th April 2014).

Kander and Ebb's final musical premiered Off-Broadway in 2010. It tells the true story of nine young black men, aged between 12 and 19, who were falsely accused of rape by two white women while travelling on a train through Scottsboro, Alabama in the 1930s. Their subsequent trials and appeals, lasting seven years, deeply divided the nation.

Tom Conti joins Twelve Angry Men

It has been announced that Tom Conti is joining the West End production of Twelve Angry Men.

The Olivier, Tony and Variety Award winner joins the production from Monday 31st March as juror number 8,  the role made famous by Henry Fonda. The show has once again extended its run to 14th June 2014. 

Tom Conti joins Robert Vaughn and Jeff Fahey in the production directed by Christopher Haydon. Twelve Angry Men originated as a television play and has been successfully adapted for film, radio and stage. The 1957 Academy Award nominated film version starred and was produced by Henry Fonda.

Review: Twelve Angry Men at the Garrick Theatre

Twelve Angry Men

Garrick Theatre

Reviewed on Tuesday 12th November 2013

Originally a television play, Twelve Angry Men has been adapted for film (the 1957 film starred Henry Fonda and was nominated for an Academy Award), radio and of course stage. There is more to Bill Kenwright's production of Reginald Rose's play than first meets the eye. Twelve jurors have to decide the fate of a young man accused of killing his father. The jury begin with an almost unanimous vote, but is isn't long before the tables are turned (quite literally).

Review: Horrible Histories Barmy Britain - Part Two at the Garrick Theatre

Horrible Histories Barmy Britain - Part Two

Garrick Theatre 

Reviewed on Saturday 11th October 2013

Everyone loves gruesome and disgusting facts, especially when it makes us see a different side to a well-known story. This time, it's the history of Britain that comes under attack as The Birmingham Stage Company invites us to see the bloody and barmy side of history.

Guest Blog: "Do You Mind If I Hit You With A Lobster?"

Lauryn Redding

'I can't climb the tree then, I’m changing into a weasel', 'Do I smash the ukulele now or later?' and 'Do you mind if I hit you with the lobster?' These are just some examples of sentences that I have uttered in a rehearsal room. I've heard MANY sentences in these rooms that out of context sound completely ludicrous and the first day in the 'Barmy Britain Part Two' rehearsal room I was looking forward to hearing many more, and of course I wasn't disappointed. 'Lauryn...Can I cling film your head?' was one that particularly stood out. 

Day one. We read through the play, along with the creatives. We also saw the wonderful costume and set designs presented to us by our designer Jackie Trousdale. The first few days on a new job can be a little unsettled and basically about saying 'hello' to lots of people and drinking tea... but before I knew it, we were 8 pages down, 2 songs taught and my French accent had stretched it legs. I don't want to spoil anything for you, but it was already apparent that some unusual and hilarious sound effects were going to feature, along with enough accents to shake your stick at. For those who don't know the concept of 'Barmy Britain Part Two' it is a two hander, which means there are only two people in it. Myself and the lovely Anthony Spargo are in this production. It is an hour long romp with elaborate costumes, original songs and even a talking crow. Between Anthony and myself we play about 30 characters. As you can imagine, it will be pretty chaotic and currently makes for a very sweaty rehearsal room!

Rock of Ages confirms move to the Garrick Theatre

The West End production of Rock of Ages will transfer to the Garrick Theatre from January 18th. The production is booking until 2nd November 2013. Rock Of Ages closes at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 6th January 2013. 

Loserville to close 5th January

Loserville, the new British musical by Elliot Davis and James Bourne, has posted early closing notices at the West End’s Garrick Theatre. The production will close on 5th January 2013 after a run of over three months. It had its London premiere on 17th October 2012 with previews from 1st October. The show was originally booking until 2nd March 2013. 

Producers Teresa and Craig Beech said: “We are incredibly proud of Loserville. The creative team worked tirelessly to deliver an imaginative show, full of heart, which is fun for the whole family. Our young cast are immensely talented, energetic, passionate, and dedicated, delivering vibrant performances every single show. Our exceptional band consistently rocks the house. We consider ourselves extremely lucky to have them all.

Review: Loserville at the Garrick Theatre "different to anything else you will have ever seen before"

Loserville
Garrick Theatre
Performance: Tuesday 30th October 2012

Loserville is a new British musical by Elliot Davis and James Bourne. The show recently received its London premiere at the Garrick Theatre following the show's successful run at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

Loserville is set in 1971 and follows computer geek Michael Dork and his misfit friends Lucas, Marvin and Francis who are about to change the world... it's just that no-one knows it yet. But, when new girl Holly arrives in town, all of Michael’s dreams seem to be coming true – at last a girl with looks and brains that actually notices him. But when rich kid Eddie discovers Holly’s dark secret, he turns his back on girlfriend Leia and sets out to ruin Michael’s future dreams.

Loserville is a fantastic new show which breaks all the rules. I love how Loserville takes risks which certainly pay off.  Francis O'Connor's design is incredibly unique making Loserville different to anything else you will have ever seen before.