Feature: The Pride’s Stonewall Gala provides refreshing, thought provoking evening

Despite having heard incredible things about Jamie Lloyd’s production of The Pride, as I took my seat for the preshow discussion on the evening of the Stonewall Gala, I had yet to actually see the play. About a complex love triangle, The Pride delves into the attitudes towards homosexuality in both 1958 and the present day. The play is in the middle of its run at Trafalgar Studios as part of Jamie Lloyd’s season Trafalgar Transformed which has so far also seen critically acclaimed productions of Macbeth and The Hothouse. If the talk made anything instantly clear, it was that The Pride is a piece to which there is a great deal of passion and meaning attached.

The Pride's cast and creative team during rehearsals

The panel for the discussion was made up of Alexi Kaye-Campbell (playwright), Will Young, Layton Williams and comedienne Suzi Ruffell. The main angle of the discussion was directed towards how homophobic bullying could be tackled within our schools. Each guest was given the opportunity to share their own, often moving stories which brought a lovely touch of sentimentality and reality to the event.

Review: Cabaret (UK Tour) at the New Wimbledon Theatre

Cabaret (UK Tour)
New Wimbledon Theatre
Reviewed on Thursday 29th August 2013

First performed on Broadway in 1966, Cabaret has become one of the most iconic pieces of musical theatre of all time. Last year the musical received a West End revival at the Savoy Theatre and now the production is once again embarking on a UK Tour. Cabaret is set in 1931 Berlin as the Nazis are rising to power, the show focuses on nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub and revolves around the 19-year-old English cabaret performer Sally Bowles and her relationship with the young American writer Cliff Bradshaw.

Siobhan Dillon to star as Sally Bowles in Cabaret UK Tour alongside Will Young!

It has been confirmed that Siobhan Dillon will play Sally Bowles in the upcoming UK Tour of Cabaret. She will star alongside Will Young who is reprising his role as the Emcee.

Following a successful West End run at the Savoy Theatre last year, the UK tour of Cabaret will open at the New Wimbledon Theatre on Wednesday 28th August 2013.

Siobhan Dillon previously played Sally Bowles during Cabaret's 2009 UK Tour. She was a finalist in Andrew Lloyd Webber's first reality TV show, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? and went on to make her West End debut as Patty in Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre. She subsequently toured the UK in Can't Smile Without You, playing Mandy.

Siobhan's most recent West End credits include playing Vivienne in Legally Blonde The Musical at the Savoy Theatre and Molly in Ghost The Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre.

Writting on Twitter, Siobhan said "Good news! I'll be playing my favourite metal beauty Sally Bowles alongside Will Young (in Cabaret). Very excited about this one!"

Will Young to star in Cabaret UK Tour

It has been announced that Will Young will reprise his role in Rufus Norris’ acclaimed production of Cabaret. Following a successful West End run at the Savoy Theatre last year, the UK tour of Cabaret will open at the New Wimbledon Theatre on Wednesday 28th August 2013.

Ever since winning the inaugural series of Pop Idol in 2002, Will Young has been one of the UK’s most popular and successful music artists and holds the record for the fastest selling debut single in British chart history. Will has also enjoyed a successful acting career which saw him appear alongside Dame Judi Dench in the film Mrs Henderson Presents, and it is the combination of these talents which has led him to star in Cabaret.

Olivier Awards 2013: Theatre stars storm the red carpet

Take a look at the stars as they arrived at the Royal Opera House for the 2013 Olivier Awards. Click on image to enlarge.

 Idina Menzel (left) performed while Alex Gaumond (right) stars in Top Hat which won Best New Musical.

 Imelda Staunton (left) won Best Actress in a Musical and James McAvoy (right) was nominated for Best Actor

Review: Cabaret at the Savoy Theatre

Cabaret
Savoy Theatre
Performance: Wednesday 31st October 2012 (Matinee)

Cabaret is a musical based on a book written by Christopher Isherwood, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The original production opened on Broadway in 1966. Set in 1931 Berlin as the Nazis are rising to power, it focuses on nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub and revolves around the 19-year-old English cabaret performer Sally Bowles and her relationship with the young American writer Cliff Bradshaw.

Cabaret is one of the most iconic musicals of all time. The show contains many classic songs including Money Makes The World Go Round, Two Ladies, Maybe This Time and of course Cabaret. The production is entertaining and very stylised as well as extremely powerful.

Further casting announced for Cabaret revival

Further casting has been announced for the upcoming revival of Cabaret. It was previously announced that Will Young and Michelle Ryan would lead the cast as the Emcee and Sally Bowles. 

Sian Phillips, Harriet Thorpe and Matt Rawle will also star in the production, which will have a brief UK tour  before opening at the Savoy from 3 October 2012.

Michelle Ryan to join Will Young in Cabaret - another musical theatre debut

After the announcement that Will Young would be making his Musical Theatre debut in Cabaret as the Emcee it has now been revealed that ex-Eastenders actress Michelle Ryan will be joining him to play Sally Bowles! This is a big risk as Michelle has never sung professionally before, apart from some singing lessons for one of her recent films. I hope she pulls it off or it could be a bit of a disaster! Previous actresses to play Sally Bowles include the likes of Judi Dench, Samantha Barks and Siobhan Dillon.

This is what Michelle had to say  "Sally is quite delusional. She’s not the best singer, she’s not a performer, but she has this kind of spirit that takes her through it all ... I’ve been working with a voice coach for two years (on new film The Man Inside), so you could say that when Cabaret came along I was ready."

Besises Eastenders, Michelle 's TV credits include Jekyll, Bionic Woman, Merlin and Doctor Who, while her stage acting credits include Toby Young's Who's the Daddy? at the King's Head (2005) and The Talented Mr Ripley at the Royal and Derngate, Northampton (2010).

The production will start with a short UK tour before settling at The Savoy Theatre. Click here to find out more information about the production one of our previous blog posts.

On 10/08/12 further casting was announced for the production. Click here to find out more.

Follow us on Twitter to keep up to date with all the latest theatre news, reviews and interviews: @West_End_Frame

Will Young to make West End Debut in Cabaret

After recent speculation it has now officially been confirmed that Will Young will be making his West End debut  in a brand new revival of Cabaret! The production will start off with a short tour consisting of these dates:

• 3rd-8th September 2012 - Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
• 10th-15th September 2012 -  Theatre Royal, Nottingham 
• 17th-22nd September 2012 - Theatre Royal, Norwich
• 24th-29th September 2012 -  The Lowry, Salford 

Then the production will settle in the West End at The Savoy Theatre (my favourite theatre in the world) from 3rd October 2012 where The Sunshine Boys is currently on until 28th July 2012. Will Young will be playing the Emcee. This is what Will had to say:

"I am very excited about the challenge of choosing Cabaret as my first musical theatre role. The role of the Emcee is a part I have wanted to play since before I started training at Arts Education in Chiswick when I first moved to London. With Rufus and Javier I couldn’t wish for better people to be surrounded by."

The rest of the casting is yet to be announced - watch this space!

Not going to lie, I am delighted to have an excuse to go back and visit my favourite theatre, The Savoy, after seeing Carousel, Legally Blonde and The Sunshine Boys there over the last few years... exciting times for West End Theatre!

Olivier Awards: Who Will Be Presenting Awards

The presenters for this years awards have been announced. It has not been revealed which award each person will be presenting.


The presenters will include:

• Hayley Atwell 
• Douglas Booth 
• Zach Braff 
• Jim Carter
• Tom Chambers 
• Tyne Daly
• Jack Davenport 
• Agyness Deyn 
• Jonathan Edwards 
• Susannah Fielding 
• Vittorio Grigolo 
• Lenny Henry
• Ronan Keating 
• Katherine Kelly 
• Harry Lloyd
• James McAvoy
• Natascha McElhone 
• Laurie Metcalf 
• Elaine Paige 
• Dan Stevens
• Sir Patrick Stewart 
• David Suchet 
• Kara Tointon 
• Will Young,
• Zoe Wanamaker
• Jodie Whittaker 
• Barbara Windsor