Review: Priscilla Queen of the Desert (UK Tour) at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

Priscilla Queen of the Desert (UK Tour) 
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 26th October 2015
★★★

Priscilla Queen of the Desert is possibly the greatest party musical ever created. Bringing out the wild side of Aylesbury audiences, the show provided perfect Monday evening escapism. This was my second time seeing the show and, once again, the experience was unforgettable.

Jason Donovan returns to Priscilla Queen of the Desert for UK tour!

It has been announced that Jason Donovan will once again reprise his performance as Tick in the upcoming UK tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

Donovan will play selected venues, including  Hull, Wimbledon, Bradford, Birmingham, Aylesbury, York, Edinburgh, Wales, Nottingham and Liverpool.

As previously announced, Duncan James will star as Tick at other venues. The tour opens at the Manchester Opera House on Friday 14th August 2015.

Review: The King's Speech (UK Tour) at the Milton Keynes Theatre

The King's Speech (UK Tour)
Milton Keynes Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 5th May 2015
★★★★

Set in 1936 with the world on the brink of war, David Seidler's play The King's Speech - which was adapted into a hugely popular film starring Colin Firth in 2010 - follows Bertie (who is to be crowned King George VI of England) as he attempts to cope with his stammer and conquer his fear of public speaking.

Further casting announced for The King's Speech 2015 UK Tour starring Jason Donovan

Further casting has been announced for the 2015 UK Tour of The King's Speech.

Joining the previously announced Raymond Coulthard as King George VI and Jason Donovan as Lionel Logue are: Nicholas Blane, Jamie Hinde, Felicity Houlbrooke, Claire Lams, Katy Stephens and Martin Turner.

The play, which is adapted from the Oscar-winning movie, has previously toured the UK and run in the West End.

Jason Donovan stars in 2015 UK Tour of The King's Speech

Jason Donovan has been cast as Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue in the upcoming UK tour of The King's Speech.

Roxana Silbert will direct the production which was staged in the West End in 2012. The new tour opens at the Chichester Festival Theatre on Thursday 5th February 2015.

The play tells the iconic story of King George VI's relationship with his speech therapist, as the country stands on the brink of World War II. 1936: King Edward VIII has abdicated for the love of Wallis Simpson. Bertie, his brother, is crowned King George VI of England.

Annie Get Your Gun cancels final tour venues

According to The Stage, the current touring production of Annie Get Your Gun starring Jason Donovan and Emma Williams (pictured right) has cancelled its final two venues.

The newspaper suggests the musical's final week of performances at the Princess Theatre in Torquay have been cancelled and that the show’s run at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen has also been cancelled.

According to reporter Nicola Merrifield, Annie Get Your Gun will now finish its tour at the New Wimbledon Theatre on Saturday 13th September 2014. 

Big Interview: Emma Williams

Emma Williams is currently starring as Annie Oakley in the UK Tour of Irving Berlin’s classic musical Annie Get Your Gun. 

Ian Talbot’s production also stars Jason Donovan as Frank Butler and Norman Pace as Buffalo Bill.

With timeless classic songs including ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business’ and ‘Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better’, Annie Get Your Gun tells the legendary story of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West female sharpshooter, Annie Oakley, and her romance with fellow sharpshooter, Frank Butler. 

Emma made her stage debut aged 18 as Truly Scrumptious in the original cast of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium opposite Michael Ball. She has been nominated for two Olivier Awards for Best Actress in a Musical for her performances as Jenny in Love Story (Chichester/Duchess) and Luisa in Zorro (Garrick).

Just a few of Emma’s other countless theatre credits include playing: Johanna in Sweeney Todd (Royal Festival Hall), Susan in Desperately Seeking Susan (Novello), Melinda in The Recruiting Officer (Salisbury Playhouse) and Shelley Parker in Bat Boy: The Musical (West Yorkshire Playhouse/Shaftesbury).

I recently spoke to Emma about how it feels to be playing such an iconic role, her first impressions of touring life and her incredible journey to the West End stage… 

Annie Oakley is such an iconic role, but was it a part you have always had your eye on?

I saw the show as a kid when it was done by a local amateur society and I loved it. She’s one of those incredible female roles in musical theatre because she’s strong and she’s feisty! So often I think leading ladies, particularly the roles I sometimes play, are a little weak or drippy. She’s a role I thought I would love to play one day but, as an actor, the problem is you’re relying on other people to put on the production and to give you the job! You hope that at some point in your career the role will turn up and you’ll still be the right age to play it, and I’m just grateful it did and that the producers thought I was the right choice! She’s pretty far removed from the sort of stuff I usually do so I was absolutely thrilled when the phone call came through! It was absolutely amazing [laughs]! I’m loving every minute of it! 

Annie Get Your Gun starring Emma Williams & Jason Donovan confirms tour dates

As previously reported by West End Fame, a major new production of Annie Get Your Gun will embark on a UK Tour later this year starring Emma Williams as Annie Oakley, Jason Donovan as Frank Butler and Norman Pace as Buffalo Bill.

As part of The Ambassador Theatre Group’s ‘Manchester Gets It First’ initiative, this production will receive its premiere at Manchester Opera House on 12th May 2014 prior to a National Tour, ending on 4th October at Torquay's Princess Theatre.

A star of stage and screen, and having performed on the musical theatre stage across the globe, Jason Donovan has appeared in hit musicals including Priscilla Queen of the Desert, The Sound of Music, War of the Worlds and Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. 

Jason Donovan & Emma Williams to star in Annie Get Your Gun UK Tour

Jason Donovan and Emma Williams will star in a major new touring production of the Tony award-winning version of Irving Berlin’s musical Annie Get Your Gun. 

Jason Donovan, who is currently starring in Priscilla Queen of the Desert, will play as Frank Butler opposite West End regular Emma Williams as Annie Oakley. Norman Pace will play Buffalo Bill until September when he joins the cast of One Man Two Guvnors.

When Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show comes to town, it only takes one glance for sharp-shooting country girl Annie Oakley to fall head over heels for its star marksman, Frank Butler. Both have truly met their match, revealing their competitive natures as they vie for best shot - and each other’s hearts.

Priscilla Tour Details Announced

More details for the Priscilla Queen Of The Desert UK Tour, opening at the Manchester Opera House on Saturday 9th February 2013, have been announced. 

Based on the smash-hit movie, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert is the heart-warming, uplifting adventure of three friends who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship and end up finding more than they could have ever dreamed of. With a dazzling array of outrageous costumes and a hit parade of dancefloor favorites including ‘It’s Raining Men’, ‘Say a Little Prayer’, ‘Go West’, ‘Hot Stuff’ and ‘Always on My Mind’, this wildly fresh and funny new musical is a journey to the heart of FABULOUS!   

Jason Donovan, Richard Grieve and Graham Weaver return to Priscilla for UK Tour

After a successful three years in London, Priscilla Queen of the Desert is set to tour the UK starring Jason Donovan, Richard Grieve and Graham Weaver.

Based on the Australian movie, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is the uplifting adventure of three friends who hop aboard a battered bus searching for love and friendship and end up finding more than they could have ever dreamed of. With a dazzling array of outrageous costumes and a hit parade of dance floor favorites including ‘It’s Raining Men’, ‘Say a Little Prayer’, ‘Go West’, ‘Hot Stuff’ and ‘Always on My Mind’. 

Jason Donovan will reprise the role of Tick, the role he originated in the West End. As well as Priscilla Queen of the Desert his other West End credits include the title role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. 

ITV Superstar Gossip: Mel C may become permanent judge!

I would like to point out that this has not yet been officially confirmed but there are rumors that ex-Spice Girl Mel C may become a permanent judge on the ITV search to find a an actor to play Jesus in the upcoming arena tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar. 

'Superstar' - the search to find Jesus begins 7th July on ITV

Andrew Lloyd Webber's hunt to find an actor to play Jesus in his forthcoming stadium tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, will begin broadcasting Saturday 7th July 2012 on ITV1. The new reality show is named 'Superstar'.

The judging panel includes Dawn French, Jason Donovan and of course the one and only Andrew Lloyd Webber. To make the programme a little more stagey, Amanda Holden will present the live shows.

The tour kicks off at London’s O2 Arena on 21/22 September, before visiting: Glasgow SECC (25 September), Newcastle Metro Radio Arena (28 September), Manchester Arena (30 September), Cardiff Motorpoint (2 October), Birmingham NIA (4 October), Belfast Odyssey (9 October), Dublin O2 (12 October), Liverpool Echo Arena (16 October) and Sheffield Motorpoint (21 October).

Initial auditions took place across the country from February to March in London, Dublin, Belfast, Manchester, Glasgow and Cardiff. Applicants performed on stage in the hope of impressing the casting panel for a place in the final live shows.

The first episode of Superstar will air on 7 July at 7:25pm on ITV1.