Review: A Wolf in Snakeskin Shoes at the Tricycle Theatre

A Wolf in Snakeskin Shoes 
Tricycle Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 14th October 2015
★★★★

Hot on the heels of the success of The House That Will Not Stand, Marcus Gardley's play A Wolf in Snakeskin Shoes has been staged at Kilburn's Tricycle Theatre. It's an interesting piece, performed with huge in-your-face satirical style. 

Sharon D. Clarke & Lucian Msamati to star in world première of A Wolf in Snakeskin Shoes

Full casting has been announced for the world première of A Wolf in Snakeskin Shoes by American playwright Marcus Gardley.

Directed by Indhu Rubasingham, the production opens at the Tricycle Theatre on 14th October (previews from 8th October) and runs until 14th November 2015.

Sharon D. Clarke and Lucian Msamati (pictured right) lead the company which also includes Adjoa Andoh, Ayesha Antoine, Michelle Bonnard, Wil Johnson, Karl Queensborough and Angela Wynter.

Design is by Tom Piper with lighting by Paul Anderson, sound by David McSeveney, musical direction by Nigel Lilley, compositions by Ben & Max Ringham, arrangements by Nigel Lilley, Ben & Max Ringham and movement direction from Coral Messam.

Sharon D. Clarke & Giles Terera to star in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at the National Theatre

According to the Daily Mail, Sharon D. Clarke and Giles Terera will star in a revival of August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at the National Theatre in January 2016. Dominic Cooke will direct the play which originally opened at the National in 1989. 

Last year Sharon D. Clarke won her first Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in The Amen Corner at the National. Her credits include: Nurse in Romeo and Juliet (Rose Kingston), Killer Queen in We Will Rock You (Dominion), Oda Mae Brown in Ghost (Piccadilly) and Porgy and Bess (Regents Park Open Air).

Big Interview: Sharon D. Clarke

Known for her immense diversity, Sharon D. Clarke is one of theatre’s most respected performers. She is currently playing the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet at the Rose Theatre Kingston.

Sharon’s West End credits include playing General Cartwright in Guys and Dolls, Joanne in Rent, Miss Sherman in Fame, Rafiki in The Lion King, Matron Mama Morton in Chicago, Mama Winter in Mama I Want to Sing and Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray. 

She famously created the role of Killer Queen in We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre as well as Oda Mae Brown in Ghost the Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre, and for both roles she was nominated for Olivier Awards. Last year Sharon won her first Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in The Amen Corner at the National Theatre.

Just a few of Sharon’s further theatre credits include: Porgy and Bess (Regents Park Open Air), Mother Goose, Blues in the Night and Vagina Monologues (all Hackney Empire), Once On This Island (Nottingham Playhouse), Lift Off (Curve), Stepping Out (Albery), Once on this Island (Olivier nomination/Birmingham Rep) and Little Shop of Horrors (Leicester Haymarket). 

As well as playing Lola Griffin in Holby City, Sharon’s screen credits include: You, Me &Them II, Death in Paradise, New Tricks, Psychobitches, The Shadow Line, Casualty, Boo!, The Crust, Waking the Dead, Stop, Look, Listen, The Singing Detective, Sugarhouse, Secret Society and Beautiful People.

I recently spoke to Sharon about taking on her first Shakespeare, the diversity of her career, which role she always had her eye on, winning her first Olivier Award and her dream of working with Quincy Jones…

You constantly surprise people by playing completely different roles. What was it that drew you to Sally Cookson's production of Romeo and Juliet?

It’s my first Shakespeare – my first legitimate Shakespeare! I did some Shakespeare workshops at Battersea Arts Centre in my early twenties, but I’ve never been asked to do a Shakespeare! So that was a big, big draw and the Nurse is such a fantastic role that everyone talks about so I was so pleased to be able to do it.

Full casting announced for Romeo and Juliet at the Rose Theatre Kingston starring Sharon D Clarke

Full casting has been announced for Sally Cookson's production of Romeo and Juliet which runs at the Rose Theatre Kingston between 28th February and 21st March 2015.

The cast includes: Sharon D Clarke (Nurse), Matt Costain (Paris/Prince), Chris Bianchi (Friar Lawrence/ Montague), Audrey Brisson (Juliet), Joseph Drake (Romeo), Laura Elphinstone (Mercutio), Felix Hayes (Tybalt), Javier Marzan (Peter), Maureen Beattie (Lady Capulet) and Daniel Ezra (Benvolio)

Review: Porgy and Bess at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

Porgy and Bess

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

Reviewed on Saturday 26th July 2014

★★★★

Regarded as "a landmark piece of American theatre," I knew very little about the Gershwins' Porgy and Bess prior to seeing this production. I relished every moment of discovering this uniquely iconic piece of theatre for the very first time.

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre announces first casting for Hobson’s Choice and Porgy and Bess

The Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has confirmed lead casting for Hobson’s Choice and the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess.

Mark Benton will play Henry Hobson in Hobson’s Choice, with Jodie McNee (pictured right) as his daughter Maggie. Rufus Bonds Jr and Nicola Hughes play the title roles in Porgy and Bess with Phillip Boykin re-creating his Tony Award nominated performance as Crown, and Sharon D Clarke as Mariah.

Hobson’s Choice will run from 12th June until 12th July and will be directed by Nadia Fall with set and costumes by Ben Stone.

Review: Ghost The Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre

Ghost The Musical

Piccadilly Theatre

Performance: Monday 20th August 2012

I think Ghost is a massively underrated musical. It is an incredible show. The score is amazing, some of the songs are stunning and others are extremely powerful. While some tweaks do need to be made there is no doubt that Ghost is a special show and should not be closing in October.

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!

Poll Result: Rachel Tucker wins 'Best Performance Of A Song In A Musical' for her performance of 'Defying Gravity'

Hundreds of you have voted and decided that Rachel Tucker is the winner of our 'Best Performance Of A Song In A Musical' poll. She won for her performance of the incredible song 'Defying Gravity' in long running West End Show Wicked!!

Below is a countdown of the result:

8th Place 

Joanna Monro 

Take A Chance On Me

Mamma Mia

Votes - 1%

7th Place 

Sharon D Clarke

Believer

Ghost The Musical 

Votes - 2%

6th Place 

Carley Stenson

So Much Better

Legally Blonde The Musical 

Votes - 4%

5th Place 

Dean Chisnall

Who I'd Be

Shrek The Musical 

Votes - 9%

4th Place 

Caroline Sheen

I Dreamed A Dream

Les Misérables

 Votes -10%

click here to find out who the top 3 are...

Poll: Best Performance Of A Song In A Musical

In shows actors come and go all the time. The best thing about theatre is that you will never see the same thing twice. We have some outstanding performers in the West End. All people in this poll are extemely talented people. You watch shows like X Factor and then go and see a West End Show and to me it is pretty obvious where this country's best singers can be found...

Vote below for which performer you think gives the best performance of a song, think about they way ther indervidual performs it. Will give this poll longer before anouncing the results! Thanks guys!

Best Performance Of A Song In A Musical
	Rachel Tucker - Defying Gravity - Wicked
	Carley Stenson - So Much Better - Legally Blonde
	Lauren Samuals - Somebody To Love - WWRY
	Oliver Tompsett - I Wanna Rock - Rock Of Ages
	Sharon D Clarke - Believer - Ghost
	Joanna Monro - Chance On Me - Mamma Mia
	Caroline Sheen - I Dreamed A Dream - Les Mis
	Dean Chisnall - Who I'd Be - Shrek