Review: Julia Murney Live at the London Hippodrome

Julia Murney Live
London Hippodrome
Reviewed on Monday 2nd November 2015 (11pm show)
★★★★

Last night Broadway actress Julia Murney made her London solo concert debut, playing two shows at the Hippodrome in Leicester Square. There aren't many people who can own a room like Julia Murney; as well as falling in love with her voice I found myself howling with laughter at her stories and quick wit. 

Big Interview: Tim Driesen

Tim Driesen is currently starring as Frankie Valli in the first UK Tour of Jersey Boys, having previously played the role in the original Dutch production and for a short stint in the West End production. 

Jersey Boys has been seen by over 19 million people worldwide and is firmly established as one of the West End's longest running and most popular shows. It tells the true story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and their rise to stardom from the wrong side of the tracks.

In 2013 Tim was nominated for West End Frame’s Understudy of the Year Award for alternating the role of Drew in Rock Of Ages (Garrick). His West End credits also include: Adrian Banks/Mark Owen in Never Forget (Savoy/UK Tour), Mark in Rent In Concert (Garrick), Bat Boy The Musical (Shaftesbury) and Mamma Mia (Prince Edward).

Tim’s theatre credits also include: Young Ken Barlow in Coronation Street Of Dreams (MEN Arena), Galileo in We Will Rock You (Antwerp), Phoebus and Gringoire in Notre Dame de Paris (Antwerp/Asian Tour), Starlight Express (UK Tour), The Rocky Horror Show (European Tour), Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (UK Tour) and David Cassidy/Donny Osmond in Thank You For The Music (UK Tour).

As a passionate writer, Tim recently produced and released his debut album In My Corner. The album includes four songs written by Tim as well as three covers including Uptown Girl (Billy Joel), You Keep Me Hangin' On (The Supremes) and a medley of two Frankie Valli songs (My Eyes Adored You/Fallen Angel) from Jersey Boys.

I recently caught up with Tim to discuss his whirlwind year, how he looks after himself whilst playing Frankie and how he relates to the role, as well as why he’s proud of his debut album and which three songs he would take with him to a desert island…

Last time we spoke you were in Rock Of Ages about to go off to Holland to play Frankie for the first time. A lot has happened since then! Have you had a chance to take it all in?

Oh god yes, in our business you spend your life auditioning and when you get a job there is a period of time where you just have to enjoy it – when you just get a job you can’t start worrying about what is next. So when I went off to Holland to play Frankie for the first time I was like, ‘My life is pretty good right now’ but then the time came around to start auditioning again and I started panicking thinking, ‘Oh my god what am I going to do after Jersey Boys finishes in Holland?!’ But then they offered me the UK Tour which was amazing. It’s so important to enjoy it when something like this comes along! Anyone who has played Frankie will probably tell you that it is the best job for a male in musical theatre – it’s basically the male Elphaba!

Review: Jersey Boys (UK Tour) at the Milton Keynes Theatre

Jersey Boys (UK Tour) 

Milton Keynes Theatre

Reviewed on Wednesday 4th February 2015

★★★★

Whilst continuing to dazzle audiences in the West End and on Broadway, Jersey Boys is currently touring the UK for the first time. Known as one of the slickest West End musicals, the standard is equally as high in this touring production which is almost identical to its London counterpart.

Full casting announced for Jersey Boys UK Tour

Full casting has been announced for the Jersey Boys UK Tour.

Joining the previously announced Tim Driesen as Frankie Valli is: Stephen Webb, Sam Ferriday and Lewis Griffiths as Tommy DeVito, Bob Gaudio and Nick Massi. Matt Corner will play the role of Frankie Valli at certain performances.

 Stephen Webb, Sam Ferriday & Lewis Griffiths

The cast also includes Sean Kingsley as Gyp DeCarlo, Matt Gillett as Bob Crewe, Nathaniel Morrison as Barry Belson, Dominic Smith as Norm Waxman, Damian Buhagiar as Joey Pesci, Henry Davis as Hank Majewski, Leanne Garretty as Lorraine, Amelia Adams-Pearce as Mary Delgado and Sinead Long as Francine. Dan Krikler, Dayle Hodge, Luke Morton and Charlie Allen complete the cast.

Tim Driesen to star as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys UK Tour; further tour dates announced

West End star Tim Driesen (pictured right) has been cast as Frankie Valli in the UK Tour of Jersey Boys. 

Driesen is currently playing the role in the Dutch production of Jersey Boys, and previously played Frankie Valli for a short season at the Prince Edward Theatre in the West End. Click here to read West End Frame's review of his performance. 

Speaking to West End Frame about playing the role during an interview last year, Tim said: "Ever since I saw the show and heard the cast album I have wanted to play Frankie. It is such a great musical to be part of!" Click here to read the full interview.

Tim recently appeared in the West End playing Joey Primo, alternating Drew and understudying Stacee Jaxx in Rock Of Ages at the Garrick Theatre. 

Review: Tim Driesen stars in Jersey Boys at the Prince Edward Theatre

Jersey Boys

Prince Edward Theatre

Reviewed on Thursday 13th February 2014

Since its West End premiere in February 2008, Jersey Boys has enjoyed six triumphant years at the Prince Edward Theatre. As the musical enters its final weeks at the Prince Edward, ahead of its transfer to the Piccadilly, it came as no surprise to see the show in tip-top shape as usual. Jersey Boys has a strong reputation for always being slick and smooth; I have never heard one report of a half-hearted, sloppy performance.

Tim Driesen to star in West End production of Jersey Boys for one week only!

It has been announced that Tim Driesen (pictured right) will star as Frankie Valli in the West End production of Jersey Boys for one week only. The actor, who currently plays the role in Jersey Boys Holland, will star as Frankie at the Prince Edward Theatre from Tuesday 11th until Sunday 16th February 2014.

Speaking to West End Frame about playing the role during an interview last year, Tim said: "Ever since I saw the show and heard the cast album I have wanted to play Frankie. It is such a great musical to be part of!" Click here to read the full interview.

Jersey Boys has now been seen by over 19 million people worldwide and is firmly established as one of the West End's longest running and most popular shows.

Tim was last seen in the West End playing Joey Primo, alternating Drew and understudying Stacee Jaxx in Rock Of Ages at the Garrick Theatre. 

Interview: Tim Driesen

Tim Driesen is currently playing Joey Primo as well as alternating Drew and understudying Stacee Jaxx in the West End production of Rock Of Ages at the Garrick Theatre. After leaving the musical on 27th July, Tim will originate the role of Frankie Valli in the Dutch production of Jersey Boys. He was recently nominated for West End Frame’s Understudy of the Year Award.

Tim’s theatre credits include: Young Ken Barlow in “Coronation Street Of Dreams” (MEN Arena), Galileo in “We Will Rock You” (Antwerp, Nominated VMP Best Actor in a Musical), Phoebus and Gringoire in “Notre Dame de Paris” (Antwerp & Asian tour, winner VMP Best Supporting Actor in a Musical), creating the part of Adrian Banks/Mark Owen in “Never Forget” (Savoy Theatre and UK tour), Mark in “Rent in Concert” (Garrick Theatre), “Starlight Express” (UK tour), “The Rocky Horror Show” (European Tour), “Bat Boy- the musical” (Shaftesbury Theatre), “Mamma Mia” (Prince Edward Theatre), Joseph in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” (UK tour) and David Cassidy/Donny Osmond in “Thank You For The Music” (UK tour).

Last week I caught up with Tim between shows to discuss his time in Rock Of Ages, how he’s been preparing to play Frankie Valli and his favourite shows in London...

You only have a couple of weeks left in Rock Of Ages, what will you miss most about the show?

Whenever you leave the show it’s always the people you miss the most, regardless of how long you’ve been in it for. It sounds cliché, but over the past ten months we’ve become a family. It’s funny because you don’t choose to be together, everyone’s thrown together by chance, yet everyone still gets on and we’ve had an amazing time together. I see more of my colleagues than I do of my real family so to suddenly not see everyone every day will be very strange!

Review: Rock Of Ages at the Garrick Theatre

Rock Of Ages
Garrick Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 19th June 2013

Featuring the greatest 80s rock songs, Rock Of Ages provides a night like no other. The show is most certainly the loudest, sexiest and hottest musical in London. Following a 16 month run at the Shaftesbury Theatre, earlier this year Rock of Ages transferred to the slightly smaller Garrick Theatre. The Garrick is the perfect home for Rock of Ages as the show's design is fairly simple and it provides a slightly more intimate experience which works with the tongue-in-cheek humour.

Interview: Tim Driesen, currently playing Joey Primo/alternate Drew in Rock Of Ages

Tim Driesen is currently playing Joey Primo/alternate Drew in the West End production of Rock Of Ages at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Tim's theatre credits include Young Ken Barlow in “Coronation Street Of Dreams” (MEN Arena), Galileo in “We Will Rock You” (Antwerp, Nominated VMP Best Actor in a Musical), and Mark in “Rent in Concert” (Garrick Theatre). He also created the part of Adrian Banks/Mark Owen in “Never Forget” (Savoy Theatre and UK tour). Tim chats to West End Frame about Rock Of Ages, the show he is currently writing and what roles he would like to play in the future...

How are you enjoying Rock Of Ages so far? 

It’s a total joy of a show to be working on. I get to work with great colleagues on and off stage, sing songs I’ve enjoyed listening to for years every night and get away with wearing outlandish wigs… what’s not to like?!

Why do you think the show is so popular? 

It must be because it’s just pure fun. The show doesn't take itself seriously at all and takes the mickey out of musical theatre in an endearing way. It’s a high energy show with lots of humour and popular songs. It’s the kind of show girls can take their boyfriends to and it’ll be the boyfriend that will book tickets to come and see the show again (80/90’s songs and scantily clad girls may have something to do with it). 

Louise Dearman, Tim Driesen, Gerard Carey & Lucy Sinclair to workshop a brand new musical version of Peter Pan

West End stars Louise Dearman (Wicked), Tim Driesen (Never Forget), Gerard Carey (Masterclass) and Lucy Sinclair (We Will Rock You) will lead a workshop presentation of a brand new musical comedy version of JM Barrie's Peter Pan.

The workshop, which will take place in front of an invited audience at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue at 1.00pm on Thursday 28th June, will feature Louise Dearman as Tinker Bell, Tim Driesen as Peter Pan, Gerard Carey as Captin Hook and Lucy Sinclair in the role of Wendy.

7 other actors will take on the 35 other characters in the show. She script has been described as fast-paced, frantically funny.

The workshop of Peter Pan is directed by Christian Durham (Chicago, We Will Rock You), with movement by Lucie Pankhurst, musical direction by Dean Austin (Taboo, Zorro, Spamalot), casting by Anne Vosser and orchestrations by Tom Curran. Music, book and lyrics are by Jimmy Jewell, with additional book and lyrics by Nick Stimson. This is incredibly strong cast for a workshop and the production sounds quite interesting! 

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