Review: Jest End at the Waterloo East Theatre

Jest End
Waterloo East Theatre
Reviewed on Thursday 26th November 2015
★★★

Jest End is back! Known as 'the British Forbidden Broadway', the satirical show lovingly makes fun of the West End's most popular shows and biggest stars. 

A show like Jest End simply would not work without the right cast - and we're certainly in safe hands with Simon Bailey (I Can't Sing/The Phantom of the Opera), Lizzy Connolly (Xanadu/Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Scott Garnham (Grand Hotel/Les Miserables) and Jodie Jacobs (Legally Blonde/Rock Of Ages).

Simon Bailey, Lizzy Connolly, Scott Garnham & Jodie Jacobs to star in Jest End

BroadwayWorld have announced that Simon Bailey (I Can't Sing/The Phantom of the Opera), Lizzy Connolly (Xanadu/Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Scott Garnham (Grand Hotel/Les Miserables) and Jodie Jacobs (Legally Blonde/Rock Of Ages) will star in the upcoming revival of Jest End.

The satirical musical which "exposes the hits, flops and gossip of theatreland" opens at the Waterloo East Theatre on 26th November (previews from 24th November) and runs until 6th December 2015. 

Craig Mather, Kieran Brown, Andy Coxon + more set for first Boys of the Barricade concert

The line-up has been announced for the first ever Boys of the Barricade concert. 

Described as "the world's first musical super group", the Boys of the Barricade will perform at the Charing Cross Theatre on 26th July at 7pm.

The line-up (all of whom have appeared in Les Miserables) includes: Craig Mather, Kieran Brown, Andy Coxon (pictured right), Simon Schofield and James Charlton.

Simon Bailey and Scott Garnham will make special guest appearances. Boys of the Barricade has been created by Garnham and Schofield.

Review: Playing Our Part at Cadogan Hall

Playing Our Part 
Cadogan Hall
Reviewed on Sunday 1st March 2015
★★★★

Raising money for Comic Relief, last Sunday the West End came together for the second Playing Our Part concert which looks set to become one of the top events in the theatrical calendar. Dressed in red and black, performers from some of the West End's top shows took to the stage to perform with an incredible orchestra under the direction of Alex Parker.

Gina Beck, Louise Dearman, Simon Bailey & Killian Donnelly + more star in Playing Our Part at Cadogan Hall

Following the success of last year's concert, Playing Our Part is returning in March to raise money for Comic Relief. Directed by Nadim Naaman, Playing Our Part takes place at Cadogan Hall on Sunday 1st March 2015.

The exciting line-up of top West End talent includes: Gina Beck (Wicked), Louise Dearman (Wicked), Wendy Ferguson (Les Mis), Chloe Hart (Hairspray), Laura Jane Matthewson (Dogfight), Steph Parry (Billy Elliot), Laura Pitt-Pulford (The Sound of Music), Laura Tebbutt (The Wizard of Oz), Simon Bailey (I Can't Sing), Killian Donnelly (Memphis), Chris Howell (Made in Dagenham), Adam Linstead (Les Mis), Jamie Muscato (Dogfight), Nadim Naaman (Titanic) and Jeremy Secomb (The Phantom of the Opera).

Full casting announced for Bat Boy at the Southwark Playhouse

Full casting has been announced for Bat Boy at the Southwark Playhouse. 

Rob Compton (right) will take on the title role of Bat Boy. The cast also includes: Georgina Hagen as Shelley Parker, Russell Wilcox as Sheriff, Nolan Frederick as Bud, Simon Bailey as Reverend Hightower, Andy Rees as Rick, Pepper Harrison as Ruthie and Lindsay Scigliano as Maggie. 

They join the previously announced Lauren Ward as Meredith Parker and Matthew White as Dr Parker. The production opens on 14th January (preview from 9th January) and runs until 31st January 2015. It is directed by Luke Fredericks with choreography by Joey McKneely and set and costume design by Stewart Charlesworth.

A Little Night Music to be staged at the Palace Theatre for one night only

Sondheim's A Little Night Music will be staged for one night only at the West End's Palace Theatre next year. The concert, which marks the show's 40th anniversary, takes place on Monday 26th January 2015.

The cast will be led by Anne Reid (Madame Armfeldt), Janie Dee (Desiree Armfeldt, pictured right), David Birrell (Fredrik Egerman), Joanna Riding (Countess Charlotte) and Simon Bailey (Count Carl-Magnus).

The company will also feature: Anna O'Byrne (Anne Egerman), Fra Fee (Henrik Egerman), Laura Pitt-Pulford (Petra), Bibi Jay (Fredrika Egerman), Joe Vetch (Frid), Nadim Naaman (Mr Erlanson), Scott Garnham (Mr Lindquist), Laura Tebbutt (Mrs Nordstrom), Emma Harrold (Mrs Anderssen) and Jenna Boyd (Mrs Segstrom). 

Georgia Stitt makes West End debut with new concert

US composer and lyricist Georgia Stitt is set to make her West End debut in a welcome return to London following her sell-out concerts at St Paul’s Church in 2007 and The Hippodrome in 2012.

In her new show, My Lifelong Love, she will perform some of her best known songs from her albums This Ordinary Thursday, Alphabet City Cycle and, of course, My Lifelong Love, as well as from her shows Big Red Sun, The Danger Year, Mosaic and Samantha Spade: Ace Detective. 

The evening will feature performances from Simon Bailey (I Can’t Sing!), Norman Bowman (Mack & Mabel), Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple), Jamie Muscato (Dogfight), Eva Noblezada (Miss Saigon) and Caroline Sheen (Putting It Together).

Sondheim’s Marry Me a Little returns to the St James Studio starring Simon Bailey & Laura Pitt-Pulford

It has been announced that Stephen Sondheim’s Marry Me a Little will return to the St James Studio for a week of performances following its recent sold out run. 

West End stars Simon Bailey and Laura Pitt-Pulford will both reprise their acclaimed performances for the limited run between Monday 6th and Saturday 11th October 2014.

The story is told entirely through songs written early in Sondheim’s career or previously intended for his ground-breaking Broadway musicals including: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Company, Follies and A Little Night Music

The show pieces together a selection of songs by the undisputed master of the contemporary Broadway musical to tell a charming and bittersweet tale of love, loneliness and survival as a modern singleton. Marry Me a Little is described as a "funny, moving and sophisticated" musical as well as a "fascinating look at the songs that got away”.

Big Interview: Simon Bailey

Simon Bailey is currently starring in Stephen Sondheim’s Marry Me A Little which runs at the St James Studio for 16 performances only until Sunday 10th August 2014.

Simon was most recently seen starring as Liam O'Deary in I Can’t Sing (London Palladium). His West End credits also include: Romeo and Juliet The Musical (Piccadilly), Pharaoh in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (New London), Brit in We Will Rock You (Dominion) and Enjolras in the 21st Anniversary cast of Les Miserables (Queen’s).

As well as playing Lieutenant Torrasso/Count Ludovic in Passion (Donmar Warehouse) and Officer Starnes/Tom Watson in Parade (Southwark Playhouse), Simon is best known for starring as Raoul in the West End and brand new touring production of The Phantom of the Opera. He is a renowned singer/songwriter, realising his debut album Looking Up in December 2012.

I recently spoke to Simon about what first attracted him to Marry Me A Little, the beauty of Sondheim’s score, his varied career and future music plans…

What were your first thoughts when this production of Marry Me A Little popped up? Did you know anything about the show?

I was excited that it was this Sondheim production which hasn’t been seen in London for the best part of twenty years, but initially I didn’t know too much about it. I read up about it, the show is basically made up out of all the things which didn’t make it into other big shows and I thought that was a really exciting prospect. When I started to listen to the material, which didn’t make it into these other shows, I realised just how amazing these other shows are because the material is… incredible [laughs]! This music is so beautiful and I guess it is slightly shocking they didn’t make it into the original shows! But luckily for us they didn’t and we get to do them.

Sneak peek at... Simon Bailey & Laura Pitt-Pulford in Marry Me A Little

Ahead of tonight's press night, check out Marry Me A Little production images below (click picture to enlarge). The show runs at the St. James Studio for 16 performances only starring Simon Bailey as Man and Laura Pitt-Pulford as Woman.

Marry Me a Little was co-created by Craig Lucas, who met Sondheim whilst performing in the ensemble of the original Broadway production of Sweeney Todd. In discussions at rehearsals and parties, Sondheim mentioned to Lucas the large number of songs he had written that hadn’t been performed or published. 

Simon Bailey & Laura Pitt-Pulford to star in Marry Me A Little at the St James Studio

Casting has been announced for Stephen Sondheim’s Marry Me A Little.

The show returns to the London stage for the first time in 17 years in a brand new production at St. James Studio for 16 performances only from Tuesday 29th July. Simon Bailey will star as Man and Laura Pitt-Pulford will star as Woman.

Marry Me A Little pieces together a selection of songs by the undisputed master of the contemporary Broadway musical to tell a charming and bittersweet tale of love, loneliness and survival as a modern singleton.

Two single strangers, left alone in their studio apartments on a Saturday night, pass their time with sweetly secret, unshared fantasies, never knowing that they’re just a floor away from each other and the end of their lonely dreams. 

Rebecca Trehearn & Simon Bailey join West End Switched Off album launch

It has been announced that Rebecca Trehearn (Ghost, pictured right) and Simon Bailey (I Can't Sing) will perform at the album launch of West End Switched Off at the St James Studio on Sunday 27th April at 6.30pm.

Press material states that audiences will be given "the chance to have an up-close and personal experience of some of the never before heard tracks on the album before the official release." 

Trehearn and Bailey join Alice Fearn (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Sophie Linder-Lee (Wicked), Emma Hatton (We Will Rock You), Chlöe Hart (Hairspray), Adrian Hansel (Hairspray), Dean John-Wilson (Sister Act) and Dale Evans (From Here To Eternity), as well as Jordan Lee Davies (Molly Wobbly), Tori Allen-Martin (Hair), Thomas Sutcliffe (Wicked) and Ambra Caserotti (Streets). 

Review: [title of show] at the Landor Theatre

[title of show]

Landor Theatre

Reviewed on Monday 12th August 2013

It was a very brave decision for the Landor Theatre to stage the London premiere of [title of show] at the same time as the musical is receiving its UK premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Having seen the show in Edinburgh just two days earlier, it felt a little strange to be reviewing another production of [title of show] so soon. Of course it would be impossible not to compare the two productions. 

The Phantom of the Opera continues to wow audiences all over the UK

Photo Credit: Michael Le Poer Trench
and Robin Savage.

The Phantom of the Opera has won over 60 major theatre awards, including seven Tonys on Broadway and three Olivier Awards in the West End. It won the ‘Most Popular Musical Audience Award’, voted by the public, in the 2002 Laurence Olivier Awards. The show opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre on 9 October 1986 starred Michael Crawford as ‘The Phantom’ and Sarah Brightman as ‘Christine.’ It is produced by Cameron Mackintosh by arrangement with The Really Useful Group.

The show is currently in the middle of its current UK tour. Upcoming stops on the tour include Milton Keynes, Cardiff, Southampton, Liverpool and Birmingham. The tour stars Earl Carpenter as 'The Phantom' and Katie Hall as 'Christine'.