Review: Jesus Christ Superstar at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

Jesus Christ Superstar 

Open Air Theatre

Reviewed on Thursday 21st July 2016

★★★★

Timothy Sheader and Drew McOnie have successfully reinvented one of my all-time favourite musicals. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock opera has been staged to give it the feel of a live gig; the whole experience certainly feels like an event, completed with simplistic yet highly effective design from Tom Scutt.

Evelyn Hoskins, Tyrone Huntley & Jodie Steele to star in West End Switched Off concert

It has been announced that Evelyn Hoskins (ITV's Sound of Music Live/Carrie), Tyrone Huntley (Memphis/The Book of Mormon) and Jodie Steele (Jesus Christ Superstar/Fame) will star in the next West End Switched Off concert.

The intimate concert, produced by Parallel Productions, will take place at the St James Studio on Sunday 20th March at 7pm. Further performers, who will be accompanied by a live band under the direction of West End Switched Off creator Kris Rawlinson, will be announced over the coming weeks. 

Review: Matt Cardle joins Beverley Knight in Memphis at the Shaftesbury Theatre

Memphis The Musical

Shaftesbury Theatre

Reviewed on Thursday 16th July 2015

★★★★★

Last October I was blown away when Memphis The Musical first opened its doors at the Shaftesbury Theatre. 

David Bryan and Joe DiPietro's musical - which is inspired by true events from the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee - came to London following a three year run on Broadway, during which it won the Tony Award for Best Musical. 

Telling a story of forbidden love, the casting of the two leads is vital to the show's success. Producers struck gold by casting soul queen Beverley Knight, fresh from her West End debut in The Bodyguard, as aspiring singer Felicia Farrell alongside renowned West End actor Killian Donnelly as radio DJ Huey Calhoun. The duo set the stage on fire and received Olivier Award nominations for their performances. 

As Memphis enters its final months, Donnelly has departed the production to prepare for his new role in Kinky Boots. Therefore Knight has handpicked Matt Cardle, the latest X Factor winner to make his West End debut, as her new Huey. 

Full casting announced for Memphis

It has been announced Rolan Bell (Delray), Tyrone Huntley (Gator), Claire Machin (Gladys), Jason Pennycooke (Bobby) and Mark Roper (Mr Simmons) will star in the West End premiere of Memphis.

The join the previously announced Beverley Knight (Felicia Farrell) and Killian Donnelly (Huey Calhoun).

Memphis, winner of four 2010 Tony Awards® including Best Musical, has Grammy® Award-winning original score by Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan and book by Joe DiPietro.

The cast also includes: Keisha Atwell, Arielle Campbell, Mark Carroll, Joseph Davenport, Momar Diagne, Carly Mercedes Dyer, Kimmy Edwards, Hillary Elk, Laura Ellis, Charlotte Gorton, Benjamin Harrold, Waylon Jacobs, Rachel John, Dean Maynard, Devon McKenzie-Smith, Tim Newman, Simon Ray-Harvey, Jon Robyns, Ashley Rumble, Kyle Seeley, Helen Siveter, Dawnita Smith and Alex Thomas.

Inspired by true events from the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee, Memphis follows the fame and forbidden love of a radio DJ who wants to change the world and a club singer who is ready for her big break.