Review: Little Shop Of Horrors (UK Tour) at the New Wimbledon Theatre

Little Shop Of Horrors (UK Tour)

New Wimbledon Theatre

Reviewed on Tuesday 23rd August 2016

★★★★

Despite knowing half the score inside out, last night was my first time seeing Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's cult musical Little Shop of Horrors onstage.

Review: Chicago (UK Tour) at the New Wimbledon Theatre

Chicago (UK Tour) 
New Wimbledon Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 22nd February 2016
★★★

With the Broadway production having celebrated its 8,000th performance over the weekend, Chicago has made its long awaited return to the UK for a new tour. Revolving around jailbirds Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly and their hunger for fame, the show - which was famously adapted into a film in 2002 - still feels very relevant in 2016.

Review: Last Night A DJ Saved My Life (UK Tour) at the New Wimbledon Theatre

Last Night A DJ Saved My Life (UK Tour)

New Wimbledon Theatre 

Reviewed on Wednesday 3rd February 2016

★

Featuring bucket loads of fake tan, fake accents and fake enthusiasm - as well as an appalling storyline and some very odd mash-ups - Last Night A DJ Saved My Life has embarked on a UK tour following its premiere last year with David Hasselhoff and Shane Richie Jr reprising their performances.

Review: Shrek (UK Tour) at the New Wimbledon Theatre

Shrek (UK Tour) 
New Wimbledon Theatre
Reviewed on Thursday 21st January 2016
★★★★

As its UK tour comes to an end, Shrek The Musical has returned to London for a short run at the New Wimbledon Theatre. Based on the 2001 DreamWorks film, Shrek translates terrifically well on stage; it is a charming musical with greater appeal than some might think.

Big Interview: Bronté Barbé

Bronté Barbé is currently starring as Princess Fiona in the UK and Ireland tour of Shrek The Musical.

Following two year runs on Broadway and in the West End, Shrek has been touring the UK and Ireland since 2014 and is about to play its final engagements in Wimbledon and Salford.

Bronté originally played Little Red Riding Hood when the tour began before taking over as Fiona last spring for the production’s second year. 

Bronté’s theatre credits include: Sharon in Cool Rider In Concert (Lyric/Duchess), Odette in Carnival of the Animals (Riverside Studios), vocalist in Momentous Musicals (UK tour) and Penny in Hairspray (Kuala Lumpur/Singapore). 

In 2010 Bronté entered Andrew Lloyd Webber’s BBC programme Over The Rainbow and was selected as one of the final ten. She also participated in the workshop for But I’m a Cheerleader The Musical directed by Jerry Mitchell and features on the Cool Rider’s original West End cast recording. 

I recently spoke to Bronté about taking over as Princess Fiona, her favourite parts of the show and what makes Shrek such a fantastic piece of theatre. We also geeked out over Hamilton and The Bridges of Madison County, discussed Cool Rider plus much, much more…

Can you believe you’re entering the final few weeks of the tour? Has it flown by?

It has been a whirlwind! I think I found out I had been cast as Little Red Riding Hood in November 2013 and then we started the following June. Then four months before the end of our first contract I found out I was going to be taking over as Fiona, and since then I can’t believe how quickly the second half of the tour has gone! It’s bonkers!

Review: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (UK Tour) at the New Wimbledon Theatre

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (UK Tour)
New Wimbledon Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 20th October 2015
★★★★

Following a year-long West End run, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is now dazzling audiences around the UK. Set in the French Riviera, the musical - which opened on Broadway in 2005 - follows two conmen as they go head to head to pull off their biggest con, whilst fighting for the affections of millionaire soap heiress Christine Colgate.

Review: The Sound of Music (UK Tour) at the New Wimbledon Theatre

The Sound of Music (UK Tour)

New Wimbledon Theatre

Reviewed on Wednesday 1st April 2015

★★★★

I have seen The Sound of Music so many times on stage and screen over the past couple of years that I feel I could jump up and step into any role if a member of the cast was taken ill. Sometimes seeing the same show produced again and again can become tiresome, but The Sound of Music never fails to warm the heart.

Review: Return to the Forbidden Planet (UK Tour) at the New Wimbledon Theatre

Return to the Forbidden Planet (UK Tour)

New Wimbledon Theatre 

Reviewed on Monday 23rd March 2015

★★

Twenty-five years ago, when Return to the Forbidden Planet first appeared on the scene, I'd never even heard of Shakespeare. In fact I hadn't even started school. A quarter of a century on and I am a huge fan of the bard, having watched and/or been in almost all of his plays. The Tempest, which this production is loosely based on, remains one of my favourites - and not just because I played Miranda a few years ago but because of its dreamlike, surreal quality and its poetic words.

Strictly's Pixie Lott & Trent Whiddon to star in Puttin’ On The Ritz

It has been announced that pop star and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Pixie Lott will star in a new production of  Puttin’ On The Ritz later this year.

The show runs at the New Wimbledon Theatre between 27th and 30th May and at the Theatre Royal Newcastle between 2nd and 6th June 2015.

Pixie will be joined by her Strictly Come Dancing partner Trent Whiddon along with fellow dance champion professionals Kristina Rihanoff and Robin Windsor. 

Puttin’ On The Ritz takes you on a wonderful musical journey and features music from George Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Cole Porter. Songs include Cheek to Cheek, Alexander’s Rag Time Band, Birth of the Blues, Swanee, Night and Day, I Got Rhythm, Easter Parade and Puttin’ On The Ritz

Review: Anything Goes (UK Tour) at the New Wimbledon Theatre

Anything Goes (UK Tour) 
New Wimbledon Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 2nd February 2015
★★★★

Following its Christmas run in Sheffield, Daniel Evans' revival of Cole Porter's Anything Goes has set sail around the UK. The musical follows a soppy love triangle, features various eccentric characters and is set aboard a luxurious transatlantic liner; what more could you want from an old school musical of song, dance and romance?!

Panto Review: Linda Gray stars in Cinderella at the New Wimbledon Theatre

Cinderella
New Wimbledon Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 9th December
★★★★

Known for staging the greatest pantomimes in all the land, this year's New Wimbledon Theatre panto is bigger and crazier than ever before. I must admit I had forgotten just how bizarre panto is; Ian Talbot's production ticks all the right boxes and provides a fun family experience.

Review: West End Women at the New Wimbledon Theatre starring Joanna Ampil, Kerry Ellis & Ria Jones

West End Women (UK Tour)
New Wimbledon Theatre

Reviewed on Thursday 27th November 2014

★★★

Starring three of theatre's most renowned leading ladies, West End Women is a celebration of all things theatre. Featuring more classic musical theatre songs than you could possibly wish for, West End Women provides an evening of theatrical joy. 

Review: Rock Of Ages (UK Tour) at the New Wimbledon Theatre

Rock Of Ages (UK Tour)

New Wimbledon Theatre

Reviewed on Tuesday 18th November 2014

★★★★

Ok I'll admit it... Rock Of Ages is one of my biggest theatrical guilty pleasures! It is quite possibly the loudest, sexiest and wildest musical of all time and audiences cannot get enough of it! 

Set in 1987(ish), Rock Of Ages follows Sherrie who moves to Los Angeles with big dreams. She ends up meeting an aspiring rock star Drew and the pair fall in love before their careers begin to head in very different directions. However, you don't need to know too much about the story as the show makes no apologies for being the best excuse ever to put some of the greatest songs of all time into one show.

Linda Gray, Matthew Kelly, Amy Lennox & Liam Doyle star in New Wimbledon Theatre's panto

It has been announced that Linda Gray (Sue Ellen Ewing in Dallas) will make her panto debut as the Fairy Godmother in the New Wimbledon Theatre’s pantomime, Cinderella! 

Linda said: “I am so delighted to be making my pantomime debut in Cinderella at the beautiful New Wimbledon Theatre. I have heard such great things about British pantomime and I am very excited to get started! I am especially looking forward to working with such a brilliant and talented cast; the script is hilarious, my costume is sensational and I am looking forward to spending Christmas in the wonderful city of London”.

Linda will be joined by comedian Tim Vine (Not Going Out) as Buttons, Matthew Kelly (Lend Me A Tenor/Legally Blonde) and Matthew Rixon as the Ugly Sisters and Wayne Sleep (I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here/Celebrity Masterchef) in the role of Dandini.

Review: Barnum (UK Tour) at the New Wimbledon Theatre

Barnum (UK Tour) 

New Wimbledon Theatre

Reviewed on Tuesday 14th October 2014

★★★★

Centring around the life of 'America’s Greatest Showman' P. T. Barnum as he puts together the world's first travelling circus, Barnum is the the most spectacular touring show I have seen all year.

This was my first time seeing Cy Coleman, Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble's musical, which is now under the direction of Jean-Pierre Van Der Spuy. Barnum is a colourful extravaganza of a musical, before the show has even begun the cast bounce into the auditorium showcasing tremendous character and circus tricks. There are impressive acrobatics as well as cast members juggling over audience members' heads. The buzz in the air was joyous. 

Choreographer Andrew Wright is unstoppable! The ensemble are ridiculously talented, bringing each and every musical number to life. I didn't know where to look as every inch of the stage was filled with such talent, Wright's choreography can not be faulted. Shockingly I didn't know the score at all, but found myself tapping my foot along. The big numbers are simple but catchy while the ballads were wonderful. My personal highlight was 'Black and White'. 

Review: Brazouka at the New Wimbledon Theatre

Brazouka 
New Wimbledon Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 16th September 2014
★★★

Arlene Phillips’ brand new dance show brings a totally fresh style of dance to the stage. Brazouka was born when former Strictly contestant Pamela Stephenson-Connolly came across LambaZouk and fell in love with it. During a trip to Brazil, Stephenson-Connolly - who is the show's writer and producer - discovered other authentic Afro-Brazilian dances which are all incorporated into the energetic piece. 

Interview: Pamela Stephenson-Connolly

Known for her varied career, Pamela Stephenson-Connolly is currently busy with her brand new dance show entitled Brazouka. She is the writer, lead-producer and “driving force” behind the production. The show is directed by Arlene Phillips and has narration from Pamela’s husband, Billy Connolly.

Following its successful world premiere at this year’s Edinburgh Festival, Brazouka is set to make its London debut at the New Wimbledon Theatre later this month for a limited run between Tuesday 16th and Saturday 20th September 2014. The show will then launch an international tour, visiting South Africa and Australia.

Brazouka stars Brazil's most thrilling new troupe, who introduce the sensational dance language of LambaZouk and other authentic Afro-Brazilian dances in a stunning variety of styles.

Pamela Stephenson-Connolly began her career performing leading stage, film and television roles throughout Australia. In the mid 70’s, Pamela left Australia to study theatre worldwide. After arriving in London she was cast in new BBC topical comedy show Not The Nine O’Clock News. She has appeared in international films and worked as a stand-up comedian. She spent a year starring as Mabel in the West End production of Pirates of Penzance at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

After moving to the United States with her husband Billy Connolly, Pamela trained as a psychologist and received her doctorate in 1996. As an author, four million copies of her best-selling biography about her husband were sold worldwide. In 2008 Pamela returned to TV to present Shrink Rap and in 2012 she became a finalist on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing which saw her rediscover her passion for dance. 

I recently spoke to Pamela about the inspirations behind Brazouka, taking her career in a new direction and Brazouka’s international success… 

So let’s start with Strictly Come Dancing. Everybody told you not to do it…

Not just don’t do it… it was more like, “Don’t do it because you will make a total arse of yourself!”

Review: Avenue Q (UK Tour) at the New Wimbledon Theatre

Avenue Q (UK Tour)

New Wimbledon Theatre

Reviewed on Tuesday 26th August 2014

★★★★

This was my fourth time seeing Avenue Q over the past year. Showing no signs of growing tired, I can't get enough of Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx and Jeff Whitty's musical. Sell A Door's UK touring production has improved significantly since I last saw it four months ago when I left the theatre with a sore throat from laughing so hard.

Review: Top Hat (UK Tour) at the New Wimbledon Theatre

Top Hat (UK Tour) 
New Wimbledon Theatre
Reviewed on Thursday 14th August 2014
★★★★★

Following its triumphant Olivier Award winning West End run, Top Hat is back on tour bringing the West End to your doorstep. Taking the audience back to Hollywood’s golden age, Top Hat follows famous American tap dancer Jerry Travers as he travels to London to make his West End debut, but becomes distracted when he meets the girl of his dreams, Dale Tremont.

Review: 20th Century Boy (UK Tour) at the New Wimbledon Theatre

20th Century Boy (UK Tour)

New Wimbledon Theatre

Reviewed on Monday 23rd June 2014

Charting Marc Bolan's life story, Gary Lloyd's new touring production of 20th Century Boy is wild and loud, but also interesting. Those thinking 'Marc who?' will be pleasantly surprised when they realise just how many T.Rex songs they're already familiar with.

Unexpectedly I found myself really drawn to Marc's story. The star, who died in 1977 days short of his 30th birthday, lived a fascinating life. The audience are shown what life was like inside and out of Marc's crazy bubble and eccentric mindset. The journey is huge and I grew protective of Marc who we first meet as a child with dreams of one day being bigger than Elvis. The show follows his story right up until the aftermath of his tragic death.

Warren Sollars steps into the spotlight and delivers the performance of a lifetime as Marc Bolan. I've seen Sollars pop up in various productions over the years, but until now he has never had the chance to show what he is capable of. His talents are astounding! The truth and strength in his performance is utterly mesmerising, he captures every essence of Marc as he grows and faces the troubles of fame and love.