Review: Eugenius! at the London Palladium

Eugenius! In Concert

London Palladium

Reviewed on Wednesday 29th June 2016

★★★★

Three days after Eugenius! was staged at the London Palladium and I still can't get the music out of my head! Ben Adams and Chris Wilkins' new musical is infectiously fun; at a time when you can't open a newspaper or switch on the radio without feeling depressed, Eugenius! provided an evening of much needed ridiculous escapism. 

Review: Rob Houchen EP launch at Underbelly @ Hoxton Square

Rob Houchen EP Launch

Underbelly @ Hoxton Square

Reviewed on Sunday 5th June 2016

★★★★★

Fresh from completing a two and a half year stint as Marius in the West End production of Les Miserables, Rob Houchen is the latest musical theatre performer to turn his attention to music. As well as rehearsing for Titanic at the Charing Cross Theatre (which opens to press tonight), Houchen has been preparing to release his debut EP entitled RH. To celebrate the EP officially going on sale, last night Houchen played a one-off show at Underbelly @ Hoxton Square.

Review: Musicals Unsung at the St James Studio

Musicals Unsung
St James Studio
Reviewed on Tuesday 24th May 2016
★★★★

Hot off the heels of the latest West End Switched Off, earlier this week Parallel Productions returned to the St James Studio with a new concert entitled Musicals Unsung. Often at musical theatre concerts the same old favourites are whipped out again and again, but Musicals Unsung shone the spotlight on musical numbers which were cut from the shows they were written for - many songs featured have been lying in the musical theatre graveyard for years. 

Review: West End Fest at St Paul's Church

West End Fest
St Paul's Church
Reviewed on Sunday 15th May 2016
★★★★

Founded by Sabrina Aloueche and Parnell Page, West End Fest has become firmly established as a must-see concert series for theatre lovers. The event sees musical theatre actors, who have starred and appeared in many of the West End's biggest shows, come together on their night off from their gruelling schedule to raise money for some incredible charities.

Review: Emma Hatton Live at The Pheasantry

Emma Hatton Live 
The Pheasantry
Reviewed on Sunday 1st May 2016
★★★★★

On her day off from playing the most demanding female role in the West End, last night Emma Hatton showed off a whole different side to her talents at the Pheasantry. The show was constructed around singer-songwriters that have heavily influenced her over the years; she put her own spin on everything and had clearly put the set list together carefully because nothing felt out of place.

Review: West End Switched Off at the St James Studio

West End Switched Off 

St James Studio

Reviewed on Sunday 20th March 2016 

★★★★

Marking the third concert in the West End Switched Off series, on Sunday evening musical director Kris Rawlinson took to the stage at the St James Studio with a bunch of West End stars and a terrific band to reinvent a plethora of showtunes. 

Review: An Evening With Jodie Jacobs at the Chapel of St Barnabas

An Evening With Jodie Jacobs
Chapel of St Barnabas
Reviewed on Thursday 18th February 2016
★★★★★

Last night West End actress Jodie Jacobs made a rare solo concert appearance at the stunning Chapel of St Barnabas. Whilst the set list was perfection, it was Jacobs' between song speeches that brought the house down. She is an absolute dream. 

Review: Muted Rehearsed Reading at the Actors' Church

Muted: Rehearsed Reading
Actors' Church
Reviewed on Thursday 4th February 2016
★★★

Having premiered at the Courtyard Theatre four years ago (under its previous title 'After The Turn'), last week Interval Productions staged an updated version of Muted. A raw and honest new musical about family, love, loss, guilt and moving forward, Muted tells its story with great humanity.

Review: Ferris & Milnes - Let’s Go On With The Show at the St James Studio

Ferris & Milnes: Let’s Go On With The Show
St James Studio
Reviewed on Sunday 31st January 2016
★★★

Last year Dominic Ferris and Martin Milnes took to the stage at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, performing as part of Sondheim’s 85th Birthday Gala, to "polite applause". However, five minutes and thirty-three Sondheim numbers later the audience were on their feet. Following the release of a filmed version of the medley which has already been watched by thousands, last weekend the duo took to the St James Studio for a two night residency.

Review: An Evening With Ramin Karimloo at Islington Assembly Hall

An Evening With Ramin Karimloo 
Islington Assembly Hall
Reviewed on Wednesday 20th January 2016
★★★★

Over the past couple of years Ramin Karimloo has been busy kicking up a storm on Broadway; it had been far too long since his talents graced a London stage, but this week all has been rectified. Having played Union Chapel on Tuesday, last night Karimloo performed a second sold out concert at Islington Assembly Hall.

Review: Audra McDonald Live In Concert at the Leicester Square Theatre

Audra McDonald Live In Concert
Leicester Square Theatre
Reviewed on Sunday 17th January 2016 (evening performance)
★★★★★

Before taking to the stage at the Leicester Square Theatre yesterday for two sold out shows, it had been over fifteen years since six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald had performed a solo concert in London. It's safe to say McDonald made up for lost time, performing a plethora of music from the Great American Musical Theatre Songbook. 

Review: Kings Of Broadway at the Palace Theatre

Kings Of Broadway 
Palace Theatre
Reviewed on Sunday 29th November 2015
★★★★★

On Sunday evening musical director Alex Parker and director Alastair Knights (aka the dream team) returned to the Palace Theatre with their latest concert Kings Of Broadway. The show celebrated music by three Broadway Gods: Jerry Herman, Stephen Sondheim and Jule Styne.

Review: Jacqueline Hughes Live at Above The Arts

Jacqueline Hughes Live 
Above The Arts
Reviewed on Sunday 29th November 2015
★★★★★

On Sunday afternoon Jacqueline Hughes - winner of West End Frame's 2015 Understudy of the Year Award for standing by as Elphaba on the UK tour of Wicked - made her London solo concert debut at Above The Arts. Long before the sold out show had even begun there was an excited buzz as audience members, who had traveled from all around the UK, took their seats.

Review: The Winter's Tale Live Cinema Broadcast

The Winter's Tale 

Live Cinema Broadcast

Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company

Reviewed on Thursday 26th November 2015

★★★★

I have seen quite a few live theatrical broadcasts since the tradition began with the inception of NT Live back in 2009 and, although the jury is still out over whether or not they are in essence a ‘good thing’, it must be said that the live broadcast of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company’s production of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale is a surprisingly powerful stage to screen translation.

Review: Julia Murney Live at the London Hippodrome

Julia Murney Live
London Hippodrome
Reviewed on Monday 2nd November 2015 (11pm show)
★★★★

Last night Broadway actress Julia Murney made her London solo concert debut, playing two shows at the Hippodrome in Leicester Square. There aren't many people who can own a room like Julia Murney; as well as falling in love with her voice I found myself howling with laughter at her stories and quick wit. 

Review: Gregory Hazel - What Am I Doing? at the Union Theatre

Gregory Hazel: What Am I Doing?
Union Theatre
Reviewed on Sunday 11th October 2015
★★★★

Marking his third solo show, in What Am I Doing Gregory Hazel played 'the worrying actor'. Offering an insight into how he sees the world through his eyes, Hazel guided the audience through an endearing evening with charm and plenty of stagey humour. 

Review: Sam Bailey Live at the Lyric Theatre

Sam Bailey Live
Lyric Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 12th October 2015
★★★★

Since winning The X Factor two years ago, Sam Bailey has enjoyed a varied career. As well as topping the UK singles and album charts, Bailey has toured the UK, released her autobiography and dabbled in presenting. Now the singer has turned her attention to the world of musical theatre. As a self-confessed super fan of blockbuster musicals such as Les Miserables and Wicked, Bailey took to the West End's Lyric Theatre to show her dedicated supporters and casting directors a different side to her talents.

Album Review: The Light Princess Original Cast Recording

The Light Princess (Original Cast Recording)

Mercury Classics

Released on Friday 9th October 2015

★★★★

Marking two years since Tori Amos and Samuel Adamson's musical The Light Princess premiered at the National Theatre, Amos has reunited the original company to release a cast album. I have fond memories of being swept away by the production; not only was it visually breathtaking and courageously creative, but I adored Amos' score which captures the beauty of the sweetest fairy tale as well as the pain of the darkest nightmare.

Review: Shoshana Bean Live at the Singer's Lounge

Shoshana Bean Live

The Singer's Lounge

Reviewed on Friday 2nd October 2015

★★★★★

Last weekend singer, songwriter, actress, Broadway icon and YouTube phenomenon Shoshana Bean returned to London for another run of sold out concerts. 

Review: Kerry Ellis & Louise Dearman In Concert at the Prince Edward Theatre

Kerry Ellis & Louise Dearman In Concert 

Prince Edward Theatre

Reviewed on Sunday 27th September 2015

★★★★

After meeting and training together at Laine Theatre Arts over twenty years ago, Kerry Ellis and Louise Dearman went their separate ways and became two of the biggest stars of musical theatre. Between them they have played some truly iconic roles, but both of their careers were changed for good after being cast in smash hit musical Wicked. Ellis was the first British actress to play Elphaba in the West End and on Broadway whilst Dearman became the first actress to have ever played both Glinda and Elphaba.