Review: Guys and Dolls (UK Tour) at the Milton Keynes Theatre

Guys and Dolls (UK Tour)

Milton Keynes Theatre

Reviewed on Tuesday 14th June 2016
★★★★

I thoroughly enjoyed Gordon Greenberg's revival of Guys and Dolls in Chichester and again in the West End, but it seems even more glorious on tour thanks to the most thrilling of casts. Regarded by many as one of the greatest musicals of all time, Guys and Dolls is a legendary show which bursts with old school charm.

Louise Dearman & Richard Fleeshman to star in UK tour of Guys and Dolls

It has been announced that the UK tour of Guys and Dolls will star Richard Fleeshman as Sky Masterson, Maxwell Caulfield as Nathan Detroit, Louise Dearman as Miss Adelaide (at Liverpool, Newcastle, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Sheffield and Dublin) and Anna O’Byrne as Sarah Brown!

The tour will also star Jack Edwards as Nicely Nicely Johnson, Peter Harding as Arvide Abernathy, Anthony McGill as Lt Brannigan, Mark Sangster as Benny Southstreet, Melanie Marshall as General Cartwright, Craig Pinder as Harry the Horse/Joey Biltmore, Cameron Johnson as Big Julie and Christopher Howell as Rusty Charlie.

Completing the cast are: Eamonn Cox, Jamal Crawford, Jonny Godbold, Ross Lee Fowkes, Aron Wild, Kiel Payton, Matthew Whennell-Clark, Ruthie Stephens, Bethany Linsdell, Hannah Cauchi, Chloe Chambers, Danielle Stephen, Abigayle Honeywill and Lucy Ashenden.

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: A Damsel in Distress at the Chichester Festival Theatre

A Damsel in Distress 
Chichester Festival Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 17th June 2015
★★★

Based on the novel by P.G. Wodehouse and featuring songs by George and Ira Gershwin, director and choreographer Rob Ashford has brought A Damsel in Distress to the stage. 

Richard Fleeshman plays George, an American composer who meets Maud, a beautiful English socialite (played by Summer Strallen) and - in true theatrical fashion - it doesn't take long for the pair to fall madly in love. However, hurdles stand in their way, including Maud's not-to-be messed with aunt (played spectacularly by Isla Blair) who locks her niece in a tower... but can love prevail..?

Production images released for A Damsel in Distress starring Richard Fleeshman & Summer Strallen

Production images have been released for A Damsel in Distress at the Chichester Festival Theatre starring Richard Fleeshman (Ghost), Summer Strallen (Top Hat) and Sally Ann Triplett (Viva Forever). Check out the pictures below (click image to enlarge).

Running until 27th June, A Damsel in Distress is based on a novel by P.G. Wodehouse. With songs by George and Ira Gershwin, A Damsel in Distress is well-known from the popular 1937 comedy film. Rob Ashford directs.

The cast also includes: Desmond Barrit (Wicked), Isla Blair (Made in Dagenham), Nicholas Farrell (South Downs, The Browning Version), Richard Dempsey (A Midsummer Night's Dream) and Melle Stewart (Assassins).

Richard Fleeshman & Summer Strallen to star in Chichester's A Damsel in Distress

Richard Fleeshman and Summer Strallen will star alongside the previously announced Sally Ann Triplett in A Damsel in Distress at the Chichester Festival Theatre.

The show is based on a novel by P.G. Wodehouse. With songs by George and Ira Gershwin, A Damsel in Distress is well-known from the popular 1937 comedy film. The production runs between 30th May and 27th June 2015.

Fleeshman starred in Ghost the Musical in the West End and on Broadway. His credits also include: Legally Blonde (Savoy), Urinetown (St James) and Bend It like Beckham (workshop). Strallen's credits include The Sound of Music (Palladium) and Top Hat (Aldwych) whilst Triplett's include Viva Forever (Piccadilly) and The Last Ship (Broadway).

Review: Urinetown at the St James Theatre

Urinetown
St James Theatre
Reviewed on Friday 7th March 2014

The London Underground is famously bombarded with theatre posters, but with the hustle and bustle of day to day life busy commuters rarely take much notice. However, for the past few weeks I have witnessed Londoners stopping and starring at posters for the London premiere of Urinetown. "Urine as in wee?" and "A musical? Surely not?" are just a couple of the questions I have overheard, but what is Urinetown about? Well it's simple really, musicals often explore love, relationships, dreams and ambitions. However, how would the world cope if we lost the right to urinate? Urinetown is set in a world where humans have to pay to use the toilet, and if they don't or can't afford to they are taken to Urinetown...

Marc Elliot joins Urinetown, further casting announced: Meet The Cast

Further casting has been announced for the West End premiere of Urinetown directed by Jamie Lloyd. Ex-Eastenders actor Marc Elliot will play Mr. McQueen. He joins a cast led by the previously announced Richard Fleeshman as Bobby Strong, Jenna Russell as Penelope Pennywise and Jonathan Slinger as Officer Lockstock.

It has also been announced that the cast will feature: Chris Bennett (Swing), Alasdair Buchan (Swing), Karis Jack (Little Sally), Aaron Lee Lambert (Billy Boy Bill), Jeff Nicholson (Tiny Tom), Adam Pearce (Officer Barrel) and Charlotte Scott (Swing).

Photo Feature: Richard Fleeshman at the Hippodrome with Cynthia Erivo

Last night West End star Richard Fleeshman (pictured right) played a late-night show at the Hippodrome with special guest star Cynthia Erivo. 

In a couple of months Richard will climb Kilimanjaro with some friends for charity. All proceeds from the gig will be added to the money he is raising for the Calvert Trust Kielder. Take a look at pictures from the event below (click on an image to enlarge).

Last week it was announced that Richard will star in the West End premiere of Urinetown directed by Jamie Lloyd at the St. James Theatre. His stage credits include: Ghost The Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre and on Broadway and Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre. Richard is best known on screen as Craig Harris in Coronation Street. His other screen credits include: Moving On, Midsomer Murders, All The Small Things, Reading Bedtime Stories, Monday Monday, Blue Murder IV and An Angel For May. 

More Urinetown casting announced: Meet The Cast

Late last night we revealed that Richard Fleeshman, Jenna Russell, Cory English and Jonathan Slinger will star in the West End premiere of Urinetown at the St James Theatre. Richard will play Bobby Strong, Jenna will play Penelope Pennywise while Cory has been cast as Old Man Strong/Hot Blades Harry and Jonathan as Officer Lockstock

It has now been announced that the cast will also feature: Katie Bernstein (Little Becky Two Shoes/Mrs Millennium), Madeleine Harland (Soupy Sue/Cladwell’s Secretary), Rosanna Hyland (Hope Cladwell), Julie Jupp (Old Woman/Josephine Strong), Mark Meadows (Senator Fipp), Joel Montague (Male Swing 1), Jo Napthine (Female Swing 2) and Matthew Seadon-Young (Robbie The Stockfish/UGC Executive 1).

The role of Caldwell B. Cladwell and further casting will be announced shortly.

Theatre Gossip: Samantha Barks leads Bend It Like Beckham The Musical workshop alongside Frances Ruffelle & Richard Fleeshman

The Daily Mail has revealed that the creative team behind the musical adaptation of Bend It Like Beckham held a workshop performance last week. Samantha Barks, who recently starred in the Les Miserables film, played Jules (the role Keira Knightley famously played in the 2002 film).

Tara Divina starred alongside Samantha as Jess. The cast also included: Frances Ruffelle, Shobna Gulati, Ex-Eastenders actress Preeya Kalidas and Richard Fleeshman (pictured above with Samantha during rehearsals). Baz Bamigboye reports that no cast deals went beyond the workshop. He claims that the company were instructed not to talk or tweet about their participation in the performance which was directed by Gurinder Chadha (who directed and co-wrote the film) as the producers do not want a repeat of Viva Forever which created too much hype too early on.

Richard Fleeshman, Jenna Russell, Cory English and Jonathan Slinger to star in Urinetown

The Daily Mail has announced that Richard Fleeshman (pictured right), Jenna Russell, Cory English and Jonathan Slinger will star in the West End premiere of Urinetown at the St James Theatre. The production, directed by Jamie Lloyd, opens next year on 11th March (previews from 22nd February) and runs until 3rd May 2014.

Richard Fleeshman, most recently seen in the West End and Broadway productions of Ghost The Musical, will lead the cast as Bobby Strong. Speaking to Baz Bamigboye about his role, Richard said: "He’s a municipal toilet clerk. He looks after a loo. He’s more downtrodden than the guy in Ghost, but the love story is just as strong."

Further casting and information has now been announced. Click here for more info.

'In a city of the future that has been inflicted with a terrible drought, business tycoon Caldwell B. Cladwell has made his fortune through bribery and the monopolisation of all public toilets. With a brutal police force maintaining law and order, it’s not a place to get caught short! Risk it and you will be sent off to a place no one returns from - the infamous Urinetown. The city needs a revolution and every revolution needs a hero... however unlikely.'

Review: Scott Alan Live at the indigO2

Scott Alan Live
indigO2
Reviewed on Sunday 4th August 2013

Scott Alan is a man who needs no introduction. At the age of thirty-five, the American composer is already a theatrical legend, his music is always so personal and relatable. While Scott's concerts are always the hottest ticket in town, this was my first time seeing one live. Also I had never been to the indigO2 which is a lovely venue, tucked away within the O2 Arena. Scott always invites the finest West End and Broadway talent to feature on his albums and perform at his concerts and last night was certainly no exception. In fact, it was the strongest line-up I have ever had the pleasure of seeing.

Olivier Awards: My Review 2012

So last Sunday 15th April saw the 36th annual Olivier Awards... debatably the biggest night of the year in theatre land... and what a night it was! I have to say I loved it, apart from the dodgy technical issues with the red button coverage which I found very frustrating. So the event was opened with the cast of We Will Rock You with the legend that is Brian May! I thought the performance was great and loved the chemistry between Lauren Samuels and Noel Sullivan. However I didn't think Noel's voice was as strong, although I cannot really judge as I haven't seen him live.

When Sheridan Smith won best supporting role in a play I couldn't help but give her a little clap from my living room (how sad). She thoroughly deserved that award as her performance in Flare Path was incredible. When Crazy For You won Best Costume Designer I loved  Peter McKintosh's face, it was hilarious!

Amazing performance from Sharon D Clarke sining 'I'm Outta Hear' from Ghost the Musical. It was great to hear her adding in a few extra rifts and enjoying herself so much. I also loved how the cameras kept showing her reactions throughout the event, she comes across as a genuinely nice, hilarious person. 


The incredible performances just kept on coming, it was lovely to see all the Matilda's performing together. There confidence is just incredible, looks like they have been doing it for years! I am really eager to see the show now. It was also strange to see Betty Blue Eyes perform after it closed quite a while ago however I have to sat it was an incredible performance and made me want to see it! What a shame it's gone.


It was great to be able to watch the performances from the Covent Garden event during the interval. It was amazing to watch Rachel Tucker perform the Wizard And I, her betrayal is just so fresh! She truely is an incredible actress and definitely deserved to win our 'Best Performance Of A Song' poll last month. I liked watching her putting her all into the song as it is one she normally holds back on. Her 'melt' rift gave me goosebumps. It was great to catch a glimpse of Nicola Brazil performing with Jersey Boys and I think Ryan Collinson is the best Billy Elliot I have ever seen perform Electricity - and I have seen a lot! It was also the first time I have ever scene a person translating the performances in sign language at a live music event!


Les Miserables winning the the audience award was well deserved although I was slightly surprised as I did think Wicked would win as they have such a massive fan base! Seeing their performance has really made me want to see the show again, before the film is released and it is impossible to get tickets. Derren Brown was very humble to win best entertainment show, and it looked like he felt really out of place.

I loved Crazy For You's performance, they had such a massive cast who put on such a massive performance! I also loved Singing In The Rain's performance of  'Good Morning' which was the complete opposite! I love that old fashioned comedy style of musical theatre. Sophie Evans's performance of Somewhere Over The Rainbow was completely perfect. I saw her play Dorothy while she was understudying the role and it is great she has now taken over full time.


South Pacific's performance was OK but was slightly ruined by the fact half the microphones weren't working. Will Young's story completely flopped when he presented an award. It was a shame Sharon D Clark, Sophie-Louise Dann AND Nigel Harmon couldn't all have won Best Performance In A Supporting Role In A Musical. I like how the category is both male and female. I also thought it was a shame some audience members could be seen rolling their eyes when Shrek won an Olivier, I bet they haven't even seen the show.

I also think it was ridiculous Richard Fleeshman and Caissie Levy weren't nominated in the best actor and actress in a musical categories. Matilda deserved every single one of it's awards and the Matilda's acceptance speech was so cute, not going to lie, my eyes did fill up with water.

I didn't like the performance of I Know Him So Well however Elaine Paige's performance of Don't Cry For Me Argentina was genuinely amazing. She acted and meant every single work she sung - simply incredible. The Olivier's was a massive success, and apart from Ghost not winning anything I thought all the winners well deserving.

OLIVIER AWARDS: Click here to view the winners list
OLIVIER AWARDS: Click here to refresh your memory of who was nominated

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I hope you are liking the new layout and sorry that it took me a while to write this review, I've had a very busy week. Would love you to comment with your views and opinions on the Olivier awards!