Details confirmed for 2016 Les Mis v Phantom

Charity football match Les Misérables V The Phantom Of The Opera is returning for 'The Decider'. 

Having each won two matches in recent years, the two titans of the West End will battle it out for the title of Ultimate Champions at Bromley Football Club on Sunday 7th August 2016.

Raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support and the road safety charity Brake, the West End teams will be joined on the day by celebrities and professional footballers. The afternoon will open with a concert at 1.30pm, with performances from West End and Broadway stars including Daniel Boys, Fallen Angels, Kerry Ellis, Rob Houchen, Lucie Jones, Eva Noblezada, Lauren Samuels and VOX. 

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.

Les Miserables announces new West End cast

The West End production of Les Miserables has announced some upcoming casting changes.

Joining the cast from Monday 15th February 2016 are Patrice Tipoki (pictured) as ‘Fantine’; Craig Mather as ‘Marius’ and Danielle Hope as ‘Eponine.’ From Monday 4th April Eva Noblezada will star as ‘Eponine’.

Peter Lockyer will continue to star as ‘Jean Valjean’, Jeremy Secomb as ‘Javert’, Phil Daniels as ‘Thénardier’, Katy Secombe as ‘Madame Thénardier’; Zoë Doano as ‘Cosette’ and Bradley Jaden as ‘Enjolras’.   

Rachelle Ann Go’s final performance as ‘Fantine’ in London is on Saturday 30th January 2016 before she continues the role in Manila, where the new Asian tour begins. She will return to the role at the Queen’s Theatre on Monday 9th May 2016. 

Patrice Tipoki will play Fantine from Monday 15th February until Saturday 23rd April 2016. Rob Houchen and Carrie Hope Fletcher’s final performance as ‘Marius’ and ‘Eponine’ is on Saturday 13th February 2016 at the end of their contracts and over two and half years with the show.

Rob Houchen, Bradley Jaden & Liam Tamne join Boys of the Barricade line-up

Rob Houchen (Marius in Les Mis), Bradley Jaden (Enjolras in Les Mis) and Liam Tamne (Raoul in Phantom) have joined the line-up for Boys of the Barricade's debut concert at the Charing Cross Theatre on 26th July at 7pm. 

Described as "the world's first musical super group", the Boys of the Barricade line-up (all of whom have appeared in Les Miserables) includes the previously announced: Craig Mather, Kieran Brown, Andy Coxon, Simon Schofield and James Charlton.

Jonathan Dudley (Titanic) and John Addison (Ghost) will also perform in the show. Simon Bailey and Scott Garnham will make special guest appearances. Boys of the Barricade has been created by Garnham and Schofield.

Review: Hundred Story City at the Delfont Room

Hundred Story City

Delfont Room

Reviewed on Friday 5th September 2014

★★★★

Hundred Story City in the sumptuous Delfont Room at the Prince Of Wales theatre provided a great showcase for its wickedly talented cast. Dubbed 'A Concert of Stories Set in New York City', the show opened with 'Rewrite This Story' from Hit List, one of the shows within the show featured on TV series 'Smash'. Alice Fearn and Rob Houchen (pictured above) provided the powerhouse vocals for this number and set the tone for the rest of the night: great songs, great harmonies and a great blend of voices. These two provided the winning combination of the evening.

Review: Hamlisch at the St James Theatre

Hamlisch 
St James Theatre
Reviewed on Sunday 24th August 2014
★★★★

Alex Parker's latest concert saw a cast of fresh and established West End talent take to the St James Theatre alongside a sublime orchestra to celebrate the career and music of Marvin Hamlisch. Prior to seeing last year's West End revival of A Chorus Line I was unfamiliar with Hamlisch's work; however, after falling in love with the show I soon discovered just how extraordinarily varied his career was.

Alice Fearn, Celinde Schoenmaker, Rob Houchen & Rob Castell cast in Hundred Story City

It has been announced that Alice Fearn (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Celinde Schoenmaker (Les Misérables), Rob Houchen (Les Misérables, pictured right) and Rob Castell (We Will Rock You) will star in Hundred Story City at the The Delfont Room in the Prince of Wales Theatre.

Produced by New Bard Productions, Hundred Story City will be staged for one night only at 11pm on Friday 5th September 2014. The show has musical direction by Simon Lambert.

The concert is made up of stories set in New York City with music by Broadway and off-Broadway composers, such as Jonathon Larson, Joe Iconic, Jeanine Tesori, Adam Gwon and many more. 

Interview: Rob Houchen, starring as Marius in Les Miserables

Rob Houchen is currently starring as Marius in the West End production of Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre, marking his West End debut.

Rob has appeared in many one-off concerts including Scott Alan Live (Hippodrome), The Twelve Tenors, Anderson & Petty Live (Delfont Room) and West End Fest (Actors Church) as well as the recent one-off charity gala West End performance of Godspell (Lyric).

On Sunday (24th August) Rob will star alongside Louise Dearman and his Les Mis co-star Michael Colbourne in Hamlisch at the St James Theatre for two performances only. 

The show will celebrate the work of composer Marvin Hamlisch, featuring songs from his musicals including ‘A Chorus Line’, ‘Sweet Smell Of Success’, ‘They’re Playing Our Song’, ‘The Nutty Professor’ and ‘Smile’, as well as music written especially for Barbra Streisand.

I recently spoke to Rob about the pressures of playing such an iconic musical theatre role, Les Mis’ new cast and the beauty of Marvin Hamlisch’s music…

Marvin Hamlisch had such an incredible career, what drew you to this concert?

His music is so beautiful. I was told I would be doing ‘I Cannot Hear the City’ (from Sweet Smell of Success) and I really like that song, it really interested me. And then I wanted to work with Alex (Parker, producer/musical director) who I already knew. The cast and set up are great and I love the venue so I thought it would be a great concert!

Louise Dearman stars in Marvin Hamlisch concert

It has been announced that West End star Louise Dearman (pictured right) will lead the cast of Hamlisch at the St James Theatre for two performances only.

Dearman is joined by: Christina Bennington, Michael Colbourne, Andy Conaghan, Cellen Chugg Jones, Emma Harrold, Rob Houchen, Claudia Kariuki, Laura Tebbutt, Laura Sillett and Joe Vetch.

Taking place in the main theatre at the St James at 3.30pm and 7.30pm on Sunday 24th August, Alex Parker is behind the concert which will showcase the music of the Oscar, Tony, Grammy, Emmy and Pulitzer prize-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch.

The show will feature songs from his musicals including ‘A Chorus Line’, ‘Sweet Smell Of Success’, ‘They’re Playing Our Song’, ‘The Nutty Professor’ and ‘Smile’, as well as music written especially for Barbra Streisand.