Review: The Nutcracker On Ice at the London Palladium

The Nutcracker On Ice

London Palladium

Reviewed on Friday 25th October 2013

Never in a million years did I ever think I would find myself writing The Nutcracker On Ice, Keith Chegwin and The London Palladium in the same sentence. Yet here we are! I must admit, I wasn't too sure what to expect, but was delighted to discover that this production provides an enchanting, magical and (dare I mention this word in October) Christmassy evening at one of London's most prestigious theatres.

Keith Chegwin and Olga Sharutenko to star in The Nutcracker on Ice at the London Palladium

It has been announced that the Imperial Ice Stars will bring their new production of The Nutcracker on Ice to the heart of the West End this autumn. Starring ITV’s Dancing on Ice duo Keith Chegwin and Olga Sharutenko, The Nutcracker on Ice will open at the London Palladium on Thursday 24th October for a strictly limited season of 14 performances only until Sunday 3rd November. Press night will be held on Friday 25th October.

Earlier today it was announced that Barry Humphries's Farwell Tour will transfer to the London Palladium from 13th November until 8th January. Simon Cowell's I Can't Sing! The Musical will begin previews at the iconic theatre in February. 

The Palladium is no stranger to ice; the iconic London venue was once the site of The National Skating Palace in the late 1890s, and hosted the World Figure Skating Championships in 1898. The Nutcracker on Ice marks the first time almost 36 years that the London Palladium stage will be transformed into an ice rink.

Over the last nine years, The Imperial Ice Stars have performed to almost four million people across five continents, at some of the world’s most prestigious venues – London’s Royal Albert Hall and Sadler’s Wells, Singapore’s new Marina Bay Sands Grand Theatre, Montreal’s Place des Arts and Moscow’s Red Square.

Barry Humphries's Farwell Tour to transfer to the London Palladium

It has been announced that global star and legendary entertainer Barry Humphries is to transfer his Farewell Tour to the London Palladium. The production will open on Friday 15th November (previews from 13th November) and will run until Saturday 8th January.

EAT PRAY LAUGH! will give audiences the chance to bid farewell to Humphries, arguably Australia’s greatest entertainment export, whose creations have brought him international acclaim and adoration: cultural attaché the Honorable Sir Les Patterson, Sandy Stone and, of course, the incomparable Dame Edna Everage.

The London Palladium has played host to the greatest stars that Variety entertainment has known, including Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Judy Garland, Danny Kaye and Sir Bruce Forsyth. Now Dame Edna Everage – the Gigastar of Variety! – will take her final bow at the iconic London venue.

Dame Edna today said, "I've been away from home too long possums, and my true home is the London Palladium. Book now for the housewarming party of the century!" 

Humphries, one of the world’s sharpest wits and finest comic talents, has already taken his final triumphant bow to audiences throughout Australia and New Zealand where additional performances were added across the tour to satisfy the demand of more than a quarter of a million adoring fans.

Sneak Peek at... A Chorus Line at the London Palladium

Michael Bennett's production of A Chorus Line will be revived in London for the first time next year. The show will open at the West End's London Palladium on 19th February 2013 with previews from 2nd February 2013. Full casting was recently announced. Below are some pictures of the cast in action!

Full casting announced for A Chorus Line at the London Palladium

Full casting has been announced for the upcoming West End production of A Chorus Line at the London Palladium! The full cast includes: Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (Diana), John Partridge (Zach), Scarlett Strallen (Cassie) and Leigh Zimmerman (Sheila) will be joined by Lucy Adcock (Judy), Georgie Ashford (Trisha), Ed Currie (Bobby), Frances Dee (Kristine), Segun Fawole (Butch), Harry Francis (Mark), Simon Hardwick (Al), Rebecca Herszenhon (Val), James T Lane (Richie), Marc Leslie (Roy), Vicki Lee Taylor (Maggie), Daisy Maywood (Bebe), Alice Jane Murray (Lois), Alastair Postlethwaite (Larry), Andy Rees (Greg), Adam Salter (Mike), Alexzandra Sarmiento (Connie), Michael Steedon (Tom), Gary Watson (Don) and Gary Wood (Paul). Further casting includes Rebecca Giocopazzi, Genevieve Nicole and Ashley Nottingham. 

Alice Jane Murray and Marc Leslie were selected to join the cast of A Chorus Line from the open auditions that were held at the London Palladium back in September 2012. Selected from 2000 hopefuls, 19 year old Alice will be making her West End debut. 

John Partridge & Scarlett Strallen to star in revival of A Chorus Line at the London Palladium

Principal casting has been announced for the forthcoming West End transfer of the Tony Award-winning revival of A Chorus Line, which opens at the London Palladium on 19th February 2013 with previews from 5th February. 

The cast will feature John Partridge as Zach, Scarlett Strallen as Cassie, Leigh Zimmerman as Sheila and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as Diana.

The show takes a behind-the-scenes look at 17 hopefuls auditioning for just eight places in a new Broadway musical. A Chorus Line has a book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Date, with music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban. Its famous score includes numbers such as "I Hope I Get It", "Sing!" and, most memorably, "One (Singular Sensation)".

Barry Howard, Sarah Earnshaw & James Head join cast of Scrooge

Full casting has been announced for Scrooge, which returns to the London Palladium next month  starring Tommy Steele in the title role. The show runs from 6th November 2012.

Joining Tommy Steele in the principal cast are Barry Howard as Jacob Marley, Sarah Earnshaw as the Ghost of Christmas Past and James Head as the Ghost of Christmas Present.

Completing the cast are: Craig Whitely, Leonie Heath, Halcro Johnston, Edward Handoll, Robbie Towns, Tessa Vale, Leon Kay, Anna McGarahan, Louisa Maxwell, Ian Caddick, Steven Sparling, Johnathan Dudley, Nikki Gerrard, Roisin Sullivan, Natalie Moore Williams and Kieron Harris.

Scrooge tells Dickens’ story of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge who - after a night facing the ghosts of his past, present and his frightening future - is transformed, his Christmas spirit restored. The score includes "I Hate Christmas", "It's Not My Fault", "I'll Begin Again" and "Better Life".

Scrooge The Musical begins previews 24th October 2012 at the London Palladium

Tommy Steele is returning to the London Palladium from Wednesday 24th October 2012 for a strictly limited season, to play the title role in Bill Kenwright’s spectacular production of festive musical Scrooge.  

Based on Charles Dickens’ heartwarming story A Christmas Carol, Scrooge The Musical is the perfect family treat: with stunning sets and costumes, specially created illusions by magician Paul Kieve (acclaimed for the magic effects in the Harry Potter films) and a fantastic musical score which features Leslie Bricusse’s Oscar nominated hit Thank You Very Much. And Scrooge wouldn’t be complete without Ebenezer, Bob Cratchit, the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, and of course Tiny Tim! 

A Chorus Line Open Auditions: A success?

Last month is was announced that Michael Bennett's production of A Chorus Line will be revived in London for the first time next year! The show will open at the West End's London Palladium on 19th February 2013 with previews from 2nd February 2012.

The revival is being directed by Bob Avian, who also directed the 2006 Broadway production. Avian was Bennett’s long-term collaborator and his co-choreographer on the original production. A Chorus Line won nine Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama when it opened on Broadway in 1975 and went on to become the then longest-running musical on Broadway, reaching 6,137 performances. It transferred to the West End the following year, winning the Olivier Award for Best New Musical.

A Chorus Line to hold open auditions

You could star in the upcoming first London revival of A Chorus Line! Open auditions will commence on Monday 1st October at 10am – 6pm at the London Palladium (main entrance on Argyll Street) with registration from 9am – 12noon.

The producers are looking for superb male and female dancers/singers aged 18 to 35 to appear in the revival of this multi-award winning musical directed and staged by the original creative team Bob Avian and Baayork Lee.

Shrek The Musical to close, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory moves to Drury Lane

Shrek The Musical will close at the West End’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane, giving its final performance on Sunday 24 February 2013. It makes way for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which was originally going to open at the London Palladium.

The musical of Roald Dahl’s children’s classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, directed by Neal Street founder and former Donmar Warehouse artistic director Sam Mendes, will now premiere at Drury Lane in June 2013, following previews from 18 May.

First seen on Broadway in 2008, Shrek had its West End premiere at Drury Lane on 14 June 2011 (previews from 6 May 2011 and a lengthy get-in). Commenting on it’s closure, Bill Damaschke from Dreamworks Theatricals, said: “When we moved in to Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in March 2011, we knew that it would be the perfect home for Shrek The Musical and so it has proved to be. Joining an illustrious list of new musicals that have played this venue is a source of pride for me personally, and for the whole transatlantic team that works on the show every day.

Charlie & the Chocolate Factory musical to open at the London Palladium June 2013

Today it has been confirmed that a new musical version of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will premiere at the London Palladium in June 2013. The new stage musical will be directed by Sam Mendes, with a book by David Greig and new songs from Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, whose credits include the Tony Award-winning Hairspray.

The production joins Matilda as the second Dahl adaptation playing in London. Tickets go on sale in October, with exact dates and casting still to be announced.

The Wizard Of Oz to close this September & Des O'Connor to take over the title role this month

After much speculation it has been officially announced that The Wizard Of Oz at The London Palladium is closing.  The Final performance will be on 2 September 2012. However, it is not all bad news as it has also been announced that the wonderful Des O'Connor will be joining the show in the title role from the 22nd of May until the end of the show's run. Sophie Evans will also stay with the show until it closes playing Dorothy.

I saw this production last summer and saw Sophie Evans as Dorothy, when she was understudying the role. I have to say I thought she was incredible and gave a faultless performance as Dorothy, she performed the part as if it was written for her! And of course, her Somewhere Over The Rainbow was completely perfect. 

Des O'Connor, who turned 80 earlier this year is no stranger to The London Palladium as he has performed there as a solo artist over 1,000 times. He made hiss West End debut last year in Dreamboats & Petticoats at the Playhouse Theatre.

I wish Des a successful run with show and hope that the cast of The Wizard Of Oz enjoy their final few months in the emerald city!

Watch Sophie Evans perform Somewhere Over The Rainbow at the Olivier Awards below

Click here to read our recent review 4 star review of The Wizard Of Oz