Editor's Blog: Erich Bergen, Jordan Lee Davies, Wicked Young Writers Award + more

Erich Bergen makes his London debut

Photo Credit: Darren Bell

Earlier this week U.S. performer Erich Bergen made his London debut with two solo shows at the London Hippodrome. The show featured music that inspired Bergen growing up, some material from his albums, as well as a tribute to his theatrical career which most notably saw him play Bob Gaudio in the U.S. touring and Las Vegas productions of Jersey Boys, before reprising his performance for the film adaptation.

Bergen put on a wild evening; he let loose on stage and gave us a taste of what he's all about. Bergen certainly knows how to tell a story and brought all the material together smoothly. Special guests Cassidy Janson and Charl Brown set the stage alight, but the highlight of the evening was when Bergen was joined by former UK Jersey Boys stars Stephen Ashfield, Tim Driesen and Michael Watson to form a Jersey Boys supergroup - many were brought to their feet. Bergen put on a superb evening with a terrific band - let's hope he returns to the UK again soon.

★★★★ | Read our interview with Erich | Visit www.club11.london for information about upcoming concerts at the London Hippodrome.

Wicked Young Writers Award restores faith 

Photo Credit: Matt Crockett

Hours after the EU referendum result was announced, my faith in this country was restored after attending the 2016 Wicked Young Writers Award at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. Now in its 6th year, the Awards are all about inspiring young people to use writing to express themselves by producing unique and original pieces of prose and poetry. Over 100 shortlisted finalists and their families and teachers attended the ceremony, creating an extraordinary buzz in the theatre.

Stagey Catch Up: Jake Gyllenhaal lands another musical role, Declan Bennett set for final Made In LDN & Woman in Black to tour UK

Here are some stagey stories to keep you up-to-date with theatreland!

Jake Gyllenhaal to star in Sunday in the Park With George

Having starred in Little Shop of Horrors last year, Jake Gyllenhaal is taking on another musical. The Hollywood actor will play the title role in Sunday in the Park with George for a one-night-only benefit performance for New York City Center on 14th October 2016. Gyllenhaal has previously appeared in If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet on Broadway and This Is Our Youth in the West End. Surely he has to take on a major Broadway/West End musical soon..?!

Declan Bennett, Jamie Muscato and Tori Allen-Martin to star in final Made In LDN

Interval Productions will present the final Made In LDN at the Cockpit Theatre on 12th June. Showcasing new British musical theatre writing, Declan Bennett will perform An Innocent Evening of Drinking which is a musical he co-write with Phil Griffin. The cast will also include Interval's Tori Allen-Martin as well as Jamie Muscato and Callum Fitzgerald. Interval will also share an excerpt from a work in development, Boxed.

Big Interview: Nadim Naaman & Celinde Schoenmaker

Nadim Naaman and Celinde Schoenmaker are currently starring as Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny and Christine Daaé in the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre.

Whilst appearing in Phantom, Nadim is working on his second solo album Sides which follows his 2013 debut album We All Want The Same. Sides features nine self-penned songs by Nadim as well as nine musical theatre tracks, including the title song from Phantom featuring Celinde.

Having understudied Raoul between 2010 and 2012, last year Nadim returned to The Phantom of the Opera to play the role full-time. His theatre credits include: Anthony in Sweeney Todd (Harrington Pie & Mash Shop), Rolf in The Sound Of Music (Palladium), Jamie in The Last Five Years (Pleasance), Charles Clarke in Titanic (Southwark Playhouse/Toronto), Anatoly in Chess (Union), understudy Alan/Alfie in One Man Two Guvnors (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Armand in Marguerite (Tabard), Andrei in Thirteen Days & Sam in Goodbye Barcelona (both Arcola) and James in James and The Giant Peach (Watermill).

Born in the Netherlands, Celinde made her West End debut as Fantine in Les Misérables (Queen’s Theatre) and went on to play Jenny in Love Story in Holland. Before joining The Phantom of the Opera, Celinde reprised her performance in Les Misérables for a second run. She was cast as Molly in the Dutch production of Ghost , but sadly the show was later postponed.

Through the wonders of FaceTime, I recently spoke to Nadim and Celinde live in the recording studio. We discussed what people can expect from Nadim’s new album and why people might be surprised by their version of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’. We also spoke about life behind the scenes in Phantom, their daily routines and whether we can expect any solo shows/albums from Celinde in the near future…

Nadim, this is album number two! Following the success of We All Want The Same, what did you set out to do with Sides?

Nadim: So We All Want The Same was as much of an experiment as anything else – it was the first time I had the balls to do something with songs I’d written. All the songs were written very independently from one another over a ten year period, whereas all of the original songs on this album have been written over the last eighteen months. The main difference is that this one is a combination of originals and covers. I wanted to reflect both sides of my musical personality because I’m a musical theatre performer, but I’m also very passionate about songwriting and creating new things. That’s how we came up with the concept of an album called Sides – there are nine new songs and nine musical theatre covers.

Nadim Naaman confirms details for second album and solo concert

West End star Nadim Naaman has announced further details for his second album and revealed plans for an album launch concert.

Entitled Sides, Naaman's new album will be released with independent label Auburn Jam Records on 20th June 2016.

There are collaborations on the album with: Rob Houchen (Titanic/Les Mis), Eva Noblezada (Miss Saigon/Les Mis), Jeremy Secomb (Sweeney Todd/Les Mis), Celinde Schoenmaker (Phantom/Les Mis) and Laura Tebbutt (Forbidden Broadway/Love Me Tender). Sides will also feature a bonus track of the previously released ‘A Soldier’s Christmas’, written by Naaman and performed with former Phantom Gerónimo Rauch.

Nadim Naaman announces solo concert

It has been announced that Nadim Naaman will play a solo concert at Above The Arts Theatre on Sunday 25th October 2015 as part of the Sunday In The Arts With... season.

Naaman is currently starring as Raoul in the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre, a role he previously understudied. 

He most recently played Charles Clarke in Titanic at the Princess of Wales in Toronto and Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd at the Harrington’s Pie & Mash Shop.

Naaman's theatre credits also include: One Man, Two Guvnors (Theatre Royal Haymarket), The Sound of Music (London Palladium), Titanic (Southwark Playhouse), Chess (Union), Marguerite (Tabard), Thirteen Days (Arcola), Knight Crew (Glyndebourne), James and The Giant Peach (Watermill) and The Last Five Years (Pleasance).

The Phantom of the Opera announces new West End cast

The West End production of The Phantom of the Opera will welcome a new cast at Her Majesty’s Theatre from Monday 7th September 2015, 

John Owen-Jones is returning as The Phantom for a limited run from Monday 7th September 2015 until Saturday 30th January 2016, having most recently played the part in the show's UK tour. He has played the role more times than any other actor in the West End production’s history.

Owen-Jones has also played the role of Jean Valjean in Les Misérables in the West End, on the 25th anniversary tour and on Broadway. He was the first British actor to play the role in the West End and on Broadway. He most recently appeared as Pirelli in the English National Opera production of Sweeney Todd. 

Scott Garnham, Cameron Blakely, Nadim Naaman & Sabrina Carter to star in How To Succeed in Business concert

Casting has been announced for an upcoming concert staging of How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert's musical will play the Guildhall Great Hall (nearest station: Bank) on Thursday 9th July 2015 at 7.30pm.

The cast includes Scott Garnham (Finch), Cameron Blakely (Twimble/Gatch), Nadim Naaman (Bud Frump), Simon Green (Bert Bratt), Sabrina Carter (Hedy La Rue) and Amanda Goldthorpe-Hall (Miss Jones). Best known for appearing on The Apprentice, Nick Hewer will guest star as the voice of the book.

West End star Nadim Naaman running the London marathon!

By night, West End star Nadim Naaman inhabits the dark world of Sweeney Todd’s London but each day before the show he dons his trainers to fulfil his final training preparation for this year’s Virgin Money London Marathon, so he will be ready for the challenge of the 26-mile course on Sunday 26th April 2015. 

Nadim’s marathon place is extra-special as he is The Make A Difference Trust’s first ever “official” runner (charities are allocated fundraising places). Originally founded as West End Cares in 1990 and later becoming Theatrecares, The Make A Difference Trust (MAD Trust) raises funds for HIV and AIDS Projects that raise awareness and provide care, support and education in the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa. 

A Londoner born and bred, 29-year old Nadim currently lives in Southfields, and studied Drama at The University of Warwick before training professionally in Musical Theatre at The Royal Academy of Music. Currently starring as Anthony in Sweeney Todd (West End pop-up transfer of the Tooting Arts Club production), his numerous West End credits include One Man, Two Guvnors and The Phantom of The Opera.

Review: Playing Our Part at Cadogan Hall

Playing Our Part 
Cadogan Hall
Reviewed on Sunday 1st March 2015
★★★★

Raising money for Comic Relief, last Sunday the West End came together for the second Playing Our Part concert which looks set to become one of the top events in the theatrical calendar. Dressed in red and black, performers from some of the West End's top shows took to the stage to perform with an incredible orchestra under the direction of Alex Parker.

Nadim Naaman returns to The Phantom of the Opera

Last night Nadim Naaman  (pictured right) made a last minute return to the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera as Raoul.

The performer will once again play the role tonight (due to the indisposition of Sean Palmer and his understudies), nearly two years after he left the production.

Writing on Twitter yesterday afternoon, Nadim said, "Erm... So... I'm on my way to Her Majesty's. Due to illness, I am playing Raoul tonight in Phantom! It's been nearly two years. Gulp." 

After the performance he wrote, "Speechless. Have just had the most incredible night back at Phantom. Thank you to every single person who helped, onstage and off. Literally the best building I've ever worked in. And even a two year gap, it was a joy. Love. It."

Nadim Naaman to play The Pheasantry

Following a sell-out launch gig for his debut album We All Want The Same last September, West End performer Nadim Naaman will play another solo gig at the The Pheasantry on Sunday (30th March 2014).

Nadim will once again be accompanied by his 5-piece live band and led by music producer and MD Joe Davison. The evening will feature special guest appearances from fellow West End stars Will Barratt (Jersey Boys) and Siubhan Harrison (From Here To Eternity). Nadim will be supported with a set from cross-over jazz singer-songwriter Nazneen whose debut album will be released in July. 

Nadim said: "I will be playing songs from my album and sharing some of my influences and favourite tracks that inspired my own writing. I’m delighted to have fantastic guests and support. Pizza, wine and live music – it’s my perfect evening!"