Casting announced for Devilish! at the Landor Theatre

Casting has been announced for new musical Devilish! at the Landor Theatre.

The show opens on 10th May (previews from 4th May) and runs until 29th May 2016. 

The cast will be led by Alex Green as Angel whose credits include The Goodbye Girl at Upstairs at the Gatehouse and Singin’ in the Rain at the Cork Opera House.

Completing the cast are: Gareth James, Victoria Hope, Katie Ann Dolling, Louie Westwood, George Longworth, Helen Ward-Jackson, Laura Hyde, Alice Baker and Benedikt de la Bédoyère. Devilish! has music by BB Cooper and book & lyrics by Chris Burgess. The show was inspired by John Ruskin’s comment that an angel appearing on earth would be shot on sight.

Casting announced for London revival of Thoroughly Modern Millie

Casting has been announced for Thoroughly Modern Millie at the Landor Theatre. The show opens on 26th August (previews from 18th August) and runs until 13th September 2015. 

Francesca Lara Gordon will play the title character, starring alongside Ben Stacey as Jimmy Smith, Sarah Marie Maxwell as Miss Dorothy, Steph Parry as Mrs Meers, Samuel Harris as Mr Trevor Graydon III, Chipo Kureya as Muzzy, Anthony Starr as Bun Foo, Alex Codd as Ching Ho and Christina Meehan as Miss Flannery. The ensemble includes: George Hinson, Thomas Inge and Charlie Johnson.

Design is by Andrew Riley with choreography by Sam Spencer Lane, direction by Matthew Iliffe, musical direction by Chris Guard, lighting by Sam Waddington and casting by Anne Vosser.

Casting announced for The Clockmaker’s Daughter at the Landor Theatre

Casting has been announced for new musical The Clockmaker’s Daughter which premieres at the Landor Theatre on 1st June (previews from 27th May) for a limited run until 4th July 2015. 

Described as an "original musical fairytale", The Clockmaker’s Daughter is by new writers Daniel Finn and Michael Webborn. Set in the Irish town of Spindlewood, The Clockmakers Daughter is built around themes of prejudice, discrimination, animosity and a fear of the unknown.

The cast will be led by Jennifer Harding (Copacabana) as Constance,  Alan McHale (The Beautiful Game) as Will and Lawrence Carmichael (South Pacific) as Abraham.

Landor Theatre to stage Thoroughly Modern Millie

It has been announced that Thoroughly Modern Millie will be revived at the Landor Theatre this summer.

The musical comedy will open on 26th August (previews from 18th August) and run until 3rd September 2015.

This new production of Thoroughly Modern Millie marks the show’s return to London eleven years after it was first seen at the Shaftesbury Theatre, where it opened in 2003 starring Amanda Holden. The show premiered on Broadway in 2002, winning six Tony Awards (including Best New Musical) and five Drama Desk Awards.

In the Dead of Night by Claudio Macor to be staged at the Landor Theatre

It has been announced that a new production of In the Dead of Night by Claudio Macor will be staged at the Landor Theatre between 22nd April and 16th May 2015. The play will be directed by Macor, with casting to be confirmed.

In the Dead of Night brings the classic dark, steamy atmosphere of film noir to the stage in this tale of eroticism, murder, and power. In a shady South American town at the end of World War II, a gloomy underworld of crime and corruption pulses to a Latin rhythm. 

Set in a dockside bar, a black and white world of life and death bursts into colour with its coterie of characters - both gay and straight - under the watch of femme fatale, Elvira. Unencumbered by the strict censorship of the original 1940s film noir genre, and with the addition of sensual dance sequences, In the Dead of Night expresses desires and deeds never allowed on screen at that time.

Review: She Loves Me at the Landor Theatre

She Loves Me 
Landor Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 9th February 2015
★★★

A classic musical telling a story of unexpected love and mistaken identity, She Loves Me is a delightful little show with fire in its belly. Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick and Joe Masteroff's musical, which premiered on Broadway in 1963, is a lot of fun with heart-warming moments.

Casting announced for She Loves Me at the Landor Theatre starring Charlotte Jaconelli

It has been announced that 2012 Britain’s Got Talent runner-up Charlotte Jaconelli will play Amalia Balash in the Landor Theatre’s revival of She Loves Me next month.

Having trained at Arts Educational School, this is her musical theatre debut. Charlotte’s classical-crossover duo (with Jonathan Antoine) was signed to Syco and went on to release two Gold certified albums. As a solo artist, Charlotte recently released her debut album Solitaire.

Charlotte said: "I'm absolutely thrilled to be making my debut at the fabulous Landor Theatre. And I'm so excited that I get to be a part of She Loves Me with such a talented team of cast and creatives!"

Landor Theatre to stage revival of She Loves Me

It has been announced that the Landor Theatre are staging a revival of She Loves Me. The production will open on Monday 9th February (previews from 4th February) and run until Saturday 7th March 2015. 

Robert McWhir directs with musical direction by James Cleeve, choreography by Robbie O’Reilly, lighting by Richard Lambert, design by David Shields and casting by Ben Newsome. She Loves Me has a book by Joe Masteroff, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and music by Jerry Bock. It originally opened on Broadway in 1963.

Review: Damn Yankees at the Landor Theatre

Damn Yankees
Landor Theatre

Reviewed on Wednesday 8th October 2014

★★★

Damn Yankees is an odd show, not to mention that the sport of baseball makes a bizarre choice of subject matter for a musical. The addition of a Faustian pact from a devil (Jonathan D Ellis), who does a (hilarious) song and dance number in act two, results in a piece which at times feels more like a bad trip than a night at the theatre. Undeterred, the powers that be at the Landor have decided to revive this old curiosity for 4 weeks at their bijou venue. 

The show originally opened on Broadway in 1955. It's common that musicals of this era combine dialogue, song and dance in equal measure, requiring a cast full of triple-threats; that's a pretty big ask for a profit-share contract which certainly shows in this production. 

Although the dance numbers are universally slick (with dynamic choreography from Robbie O'Reilly) and singing is consistently good, the cast of twenty fare less well when it comes to the implementation of believable dialogue. Some cast members are nearly impossible to understand, some speak in such monotone as to make them totally disinteresting and the accents, in general, are all over the place. If the characters are nearly all supposed to be in Washington, you'd never guess it from the way they talk!

Full casting announced for Landor's revival of Damn Yankees

Full casting has been announced for the Landor Theatre's revival of Damn Yankees.

The production opens on Tuesday 7th October 2014 (previews from 1st October) and runs until Saturday 8th November 2014.  Damn Yankees is written by Richard Adler (music), Jerry Ross (lyrics) and George Abbott and Douglass Wallop (book). 

Jonathan D Ellis (Les Misérables, Blood Brothers) will star as the Mephistophelean Applegate. He will be joined by Poppy Tierney (The Witches of Eastwick) as Lola and Alex Lodge (Saturday Night Fever) as Joe Hardy. Tony Stansfield will play Van Buren, the role he first played in the 1990s West End run!

Damn Yankees to be staged at the Landor Theatre

It has been announced that Damn Yankees is being staged at the Landor Theatre. The production opens on Tuesday 7th October 2014 (previews from 1st October) and runs until Saturday 8th November 2014. 

The show is written by Richard Adler (music), Jerry Ross (lyrics) and George Abbott and Douglass Wallop (book). Press material suggests the show has "enduring heart".

Review: Zanna, Don't at the Landor Theatre

Zanna, Don't!

Landor Theatre

Reviewed on Thursday 5th June 2014

Zanna, Don’t really lives up to its “A Musical Fairy Tale” subtitle. Colourful, camp and totally unbelievable, the story concerns itself with the exploits of Zanna (played by the very likeable David Ribi), an uber-gay quasi-cupid who makes loves happen in Heartsville, USA, where the story is set. In this alternate universe, homosexuality is ubiquitous: straights are subjected to castigation and prejudice, the ‘football’ jocks worship the chess team and the pretty girls ride mechanical bulls in synchronised routines.

Review: Best Of Friends at the Landor Theatre

Best Of Friends
Landor Theatre
Reviewed on Saturday 26th April 2014

Nick Fogarty's musical The Golden Voice was supposed to premiere at the Arts Theatre last June, but following a financial drama which resulted in the show’s producer being arrested on suspicion of fraud the entire run was delayed and then cancelled. Determined to succeed, Fogarty has adapted the show for a fringe venue and renamed it Best Of Friends.

The Golden Voice renamed Best Of Friends & receives run at Landor Theatre

New British musical Best Of Friends, with book, music and lyrics by Nick Fogarty, will finally get its London premiere at the Landor Theatre.

Directed by the venue’s artistic director, Robert McWhir, Best Of Friends opens on Saturday 26th April (previews from 23rd April) and runs until Saturday 10th May 2014.

Best of Friends was supposed to premiere in London last summer as The Golden Voice, starring Darren Day. Scheduled to open at the Arts Theatre, it was delayed multiple times before it was eventually cancelled. Actors’ union Equity then launched legal action in an attempt to claim back unpaid cast wages. The show’s producer, Rob Hewitt, was recently arrested on suspicion of fraud and he is not be involved in Best of Friends.

Review: The Man Inside at the Landor Theatre

The Man Inside

Landor Theatre

Reviewed on Thursday 13th March 2014

The Man Inside is a new take on the classic novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson: many will be familiar with Leslie Bricusse and Frank Wildhorn's musical adaptation, Jekyll and Hyde. It was with some trepidation that I took my seat for this performance at the Landor, then, having endured more than one performance of it's better-known equivalent. This version by Tony Rees and Gary Young is a far smaller affair - a chamber piece with just three actors and two musicians.

Review: The Mistress Cycle (From Page To Stage) at the Landor Theatre

The Mistress Cycle (From Page To Stage)

Landor Theatre

Reviewed on Wednesday 5th March 2014

Described as a 'musical tale of sacrifice, destruction and renewal', The Mistress Cycle is the final musical to run as part of Aria Entertainment's season of new musical theatre writing at the Landor Theatre, From Page To Stage. The musical has book and lyrics by Beth Blatt and music by Jenny Giering.

Review: Before The Night Is Through (From Page To Stage Festival) at the Landor Theatre

Before The Night Is Through (From Page To Stage Festival)
Landor Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 19th February 2014

Before The Night Is Through is a new British musical  receiving its world premiere this week at the Landor Theatre as part of Aria Entertainment's season of new writing, From Page To Stage. The murder mystery musical (with a twist) has book and lyrics by Olivia Thompson and music by Chris Whitehead.

Dave Willetts to star in world premiere of new musical The Man Inside at the Landor Theatre

It has been announced that Dave Willetts (pictured right) will star in the world premiere of new British musical The Man Inside. The production will open on Thursday 13th March (previews from 12th March) and run until Saturday 29th March 2014 at the Landor Theatre. The Man Inside will also preview at the Cheltenham Everyman Theatre.

The musical is a contemporary re-imagining of Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and is described as "provocative, disturbing and unexpected set between two conflicting worlds; reality or imagination, good or evil, victim or madman?"

Final casting announced for Aria Entertainment's From Page To Stage Festival

Jenny Gayner

Final casting has been announced for Aria Entertainment's second annual From Page To Stage Festival, a season of new musical theatre writing at the Landor Theatre. From Page To Stage kicks off on Monday 10th February and runs until Sunday 9th March 2014. 

Full casting is now confirmed for the Season’s two Headline Musicals Before the Night is Through and The Mistress Cycle, which will each receive full weeklong productions.

Before The Night Is Through

Tuesday 18th - Sunday 23rd February

Press Night: Wed 19th

A new British musical with Book and Lyrics by Olivia Thompson and Music by Chris Whitehead

The cast includes: Kate Brennan (West Side Story, Southbank Centre), Abigail Jaye (Rocky Horror Show UK Tour, Eva Peron in Evita UK Tour), Richard Colvin (The Hired Man Off Broadway), Amelia Adams-Pearce (Hairspray UK Tour, Spamalot), Tom Sankey, Kieran Brown (Wicked, Love Never Dies), Ian Mowat (Evita UK Tour), Jenny Gayner (Chicago, Spamalot), Louisa Lydell (Love Never Dies, Mamma Mia!) and James Robert-Moore (Meet Me in St. Louis).

Review: No Way To Treat A Lady at the Landor Theatre

No Way To Treat A Lady 
Landor Theatre
Reviewed on Friday 24th January 2014

Based on William Goldman's best selling novel that became an Academy Award-winning movie, the Landor Theatre have staged No Way To Treat A Lady as their first production of 2014. The show is a musical delight and the Landor, a pub theatre in Clapham North, makes the perfect home for this revival.