Victoria Hamilton-Barritt joins Kerry Ellis in Murder Ballad

She's back! West End icon Victoria Hamilton-Barritt will star in Murder Ballad at the Arts Theatre.

Baz Bamigboye has announced that Hamilton-Barritt will appear in the off-Broadway musical's UK premiere alongside the previously announced Kerry Ellis. 

Hamilton-Barritt most recently played Daniela in In The Heights (Southwark Playhouse/King's Cross Theatre) and Diana Morales in A Chorus Line (London Palladium).

Murder Ballad will open at the Arts Theatre on 5th October (previews from 29th September) and run until 3rd December 2016.

Victoria Hamilton-Barritt announces In The Heights maternity leave

Victoria Hamilton-Barritt has announced that she is now on maternity leave from In The Heights. 

The stand out star, who won tremendous acclaim for her portrayal of Daniela, played her final show this week at eight months pregnant.

Writing on Twitter, Hamilton-Barritt said: "A beautiful time I had returning to In The Heights for the King's Cross Theatre run! I am officially on maternity leave folks at eight months #notlong. 

"Thanks to all who came to support me and the show whilst I've been pregnant, you've all made the experience so special! Will miss all at In The Heights impossible to forget the best experience of my life... now new memories, doing what's best for the babe."

Feature: October round-up

Star of the Month
Victoria Hamilton-Barritt

Victoria Hamilton-Barritt in In The Heights / Photo Credit: Johan Persson

In The Heights is back with an astoundingly brilliant cast. Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, who reprises her portrayal of gossiping salon owner Daniela, is beyond exceptional. Her performance is scene stealing; Hamilton-Barritt - who is very heavily pregnant - has such effortless comic timing and brings the house down with the superb delivery of her one-liners. Her powerful vocal tones are to die for, but most importantly she goes above and beyond to convey her sheer dedication to the piece. Hamilton-Barritt is an absolute star. Read our 5* review of In The Heights.

Show of the Month

Mary Poppins (UK Tour)

Zizi Strallen in Mary Poppins / Photo Credit:  Johan Persson

Review: In The Heights at the King's Cross Theatre

In The Heights
King's Cross Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 13th October 2015
★★★★★

Jade Ewen

Last May In The Heights set theatreland on fire when it made its UK premiere at the Southwark Playhouse. 

Seventeen months later Luke Sheppard's production has returned to London, playing in rep with The Railway Children at the newly built King's Cross Theatre. 

In The Heights is quite simply a musical like no other. With his new show Hamilton currently revolutionising Broadway, it seems audiences on both side of the pond can't get enough of Lin-Manuel Miranda. His writing hits you like a breath of fresh air and makes an almighty impression.

In The Heights, which premiered off-Broadway in 2007 before moving to the Great White Way for a triumphant three year run, provides a snapshot into the lives of an ensemble of characters living in the Washington Heights. Sacrifices are made, dreams are achieved and hearts are at risk of being broken. In The Heights is brought to life with energy and culture, introducing characters who aren't usually represented in musical theatre.

Willemijn Verkaik announces special guests for London concert

Special guests have been announced for Willemijn Verkaik's one-off solo concert at the West End's Ambassadors Theatre on Tuesday 25th August 2015. Verkaik will be joined by Victoria Hamilton-Barritt and James Fox.

Hamilton-Barritt is well known for her many stage roles including Daniela in the London Premiere of In The Heights at Southwark Playhouse, Diana in the Broadway revival production of A Chorus Line at the London Palladium, Gypsy Rose Lee in Gypsy at Leicester Curve, Alex in Flashdance at the Shaftesbury Theatre and Rizzo in Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre.

Fox’s many theatre credits include Judas in the UK Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, Piano Man in Movin’ Out on Broadway and in the West End, The American in the UK, European and Canadian tour of Chess andPaul McCartney in Let it Be on Broadway and in the West End. James first came to prominence on the BBC’s Fame Academy, going on to represent the UK at the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest and performing to a television audience of over 300 million. Signing to Sony Music that year, his debut single ‘Hold on to Our Love’ reached number 13 in the UK singles chart. His follow-up album included a collaboration with Sir Tim Rice for 2012’s official Poppy Appeal single, ‘Landlocked’.

Editor's Blog: Top 10 performances of 2014

2014 has been an incredible year for theatre. Established stars have reminded us why they are known as theatrical legends whilst some new faces have stepped into the limelight for the first time. After looking back at every single show I have seen this year (including West End, Broadway, off-West End, fringe and regional theatre), below I have highlighted ten performances which particularly stood out for me...

10

Angela Lansbury

Blithe Spirit

Gielgud Theatre

Photo Credit: Johan Persson

In March Angela Lansbury returned to the West End stage for the first time in over thirty years to reprise her role as Madame Arcati in Noel Coward's masterpiece, Blithe Spirit. She didn't hold back one bit, I have never seen a performance like it! A true legend, Lansbury received huge applause each time she entered and exited the stage - she was utterly sensational.

Editor's Blog: "Keep supporting theatre, it's where we still have magic!"

Michael Xavier & Joanna Riding
Photo Credit:  Tristram Kenton

The last few weeks have been a little quieter in terms of openings so I've had the chance to catch up with some new faces in familiar shows.

Last week I saw Gary Wilmot in The Pajama Game at the Shaftesbury Theatre who has taken over from Peter Polycarpou as Vernon Hines. It was fantastic to see how Wilmot has put his own stamp on the role, performing with great charm and striking stage presence. The Pajama Game is such a fun show and I enjoyed it even more second time round.

Joanna Riding continues to shine as Babe whilst relishing every moment. Michael Xavier was unwell meaning Understudy of the Year nominee Dan Burton stepped into the role of Sid. Burton played the part very differently but is equally as strong as Xavier. He really stood out for being an incredible dancer and belted out a tremendous rendition of 'Hey There'.

Those thinking of booking a trip to see The Pajama Game must sort out their tickets soon as the musical's limited run ends on Saturday 13th September 2014 to make way for the West End premiere of Memphis starring Beverley Knight (more on her shortly!).

Last week I finally caught up with Imelda Staunton's phenomenal performance in Good People at the Noel Coward Theatre. The play, which transferred to the West End from the Hampstead Theatre and closes tomorrow, gets off to a slow start. The first act is good, whilst the second half is hysterically funny yet also very moving. Staunton doesn't leave the stage at all throughout the play's entirety but showed no sign of tiredness; she gives the performance of a lifetime! I'm now even more excited to see her star in Chichester’s production of Gypsy later this year!

Review: In The Heights at the Southwark Playhouse

In The Heights
Southwark Playhouse (The Large)
Reviewed on Thursday 15th May 2014

A musical like no other, Lin-Manuel Miranda (music and lyrics) and Quiara Alegria Hudes' (book) musical In The Heights has finally found its way to London following its 2007 off-Broadway premiere which was followed by a three year Tony Award winning run on Broadway. 

The show provides a snapshot into the lives of an ensemble of characters living in the Washington Heights. There are sacrifices made, dreams in sight and hearts at risk of being broken. In The Heights is kept alive with culture - it's about time London audiences saw these characters represented in musical theatre! 

Those who can relate to the piece will find themselves in a new kind of theatrical bliss, others will become fully engrossed whilst discovering a new, vibrant world. In The Heights is the most refreshing piece of theatre I have seen for a long time, every element of this production has been injected with such passion and I don't think I've ever witnessed or been part of such a quick standing ovation.

Big Interview: Victoria Hamilton-Barritt

Victoria Hamilton-Barritt is currently starring in the UK premiere of In The Heights which is in previews at the Southwark Playhouse ahead of its official opening on Thursday (15th May).

In The Heights opened on Broadway in February 2008 and was nominated for thirteen Tony Awards, winning Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Choreography and Best Orchestrations. 

With music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and book by Quiara Alegría Hudes, the UK premiere is directed by Luke Sheppard (Matilda’s Associate Director) and choreographed by Drew McOnie (Drunk/Curve’s Chicago).

Victoria was most recently seen starring as Diana in the West End revival of A Chorus Line at the London Palladium. During her time in the show she was nominated for West End Frame’s Best Performance of a Song Award for her rendition of ‘What I Did For Love’, finishing fourth place.

She made her West End debut understudying and playing Lisa in Mamma Mia, before going on to play Stephanie Mungano/Connie in Saturday Night Fever (UK Tour/Scandinavian Tour) and Carmen Diaz in Fame (Aldwych). Victoria was chosen by Broadway company Sundance Productions New York to play Anita in West Side Story directed by Joey McKneely (International Tour). 

Her theatre credits also include: Maria and understudy Susan in Desperately Seeking Susan (Novello), Alex in Flashdance (Tour and West End), Gypsy Rose Lee in Gypsy (Leicester Curve), Bohemian Rhapsody (International Tour), Cat in Oh What a Night (UK Tour/Hamburg) and Rizzo in Grease (West End).

I recently spoke to Victoria about why In The Heights is a particularly special show for her, what it’s like to be working alongside such an incredible cast and creative team, as well as why A Chorus Line was such an emotional show to be a part of and which three musical theatre songs she would take with her to a desert island…

How much did you know about In The Heights before you found out it was coming to the Southwark Playhouse?

I really didn’t know all that much about the show. I knew it had won four Tony Awards and was very popular, I also knew a few people who saw it on Broadway and spoke very highly of it. Andy Blankenbuehler, who I did Desperately Seeking Susan with, also choreographed In The Heights (winning him a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award) and I knew it was going to be amazing!

Editor's Blog: "This is what we do for love" - the final performance of A Chorus Line

"THIS IS WHAT WE DO FOR LOVE" were the final worlds Leigh Zimmerman screamed over the standing, cheering audience after the emotional, final performance of the London revival of A Chorus Line at the London Palladium last night (31st August 2013). After the final bows, during which the performing cast members were joined by the swings and understudies, Scarlett Strallen thanked the unsung heroes who worked behind the scenes as well as the front of house crew and the orchestra who played from underneath the stage. 

The microphone was then passed to Leigh Zimmerman who made the very valid point about how incredible it is that the producers decided to put on such an iconic show at such an iconic venue in 2013, as it is simply something which does not happen any more. After opening on Broadway in 1975, A Chorus Line went on to become the longest running Broadway show of all time (until it was surpassed by Cats in 1997). The show requires the entire cast to be ridiculously talented triple threats, something which is now rarely required of an entire cast as theatre-land is slowly invaded by celebrity culture and 'from screen to stage' adaptations (something I am not against if done well). However, how incredible that for six golden months, a 'hardcore' (as I call it) piece of musical theatre played to adoring theatre goers at one of London's oldest, most special theatres. 

When the London revival of A Chorus Line was announced, I must admit I didn't know much about the musical at all, other than that it featured the song 'One Singular Sensation' and was about a group of performers auditioning for a show. But there was so much hype surrounding the show that media night couldn't come sooner. 

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)".