Sitting In The Cheap Seats

The wonderful   Willemijn Verkaik has announced a solo concert next month and we’re very excited! Read on for more details…

Full casting is announced for the Swan Theatre production of Marina Carr’s new play based on the epic tale of Hecuba, directed by RSC Deputy Artistic Director Erica Whyman with Derbhle Crotty in the title role, opening on Thursday 24 September 2015.

It won’t shock any of our readers to hear we’re very excited about The RSC  presenting Henry V as part of their winter season. Their Henry IV was a highlight of 2014 and both productions, alongside the acclaimed Richard II from a few years back, head to London for an exciting run of the “Henries” cycle!

Richard II is one of Shakespeare’s great treats and, for this writer at least, contains some of his most beautiful writing as well as one of the more fascinating storylines in the canon. Somehow though, this is my first experience of seeing it performed live. I’ll confess to having trouble picturing Charles Edwards as Richard.  I’ve always enjoyed Edwards’ work but this is a little bit different to his recent roles.

Mack & Mabel has long been known as a troublesome musical, various reasons have been given for why it has repeatedly failed to secure itself a spot as a permanent favourite of the theatregoing masses. After repeated successes with their big summer musicals, the team at Chichester Festival Theatre are setting out to change that!

It has become painfully clear to me in recent years that while I’ve visited the majority of West End theatres, I’ve only really scratched at the surface of London’s ever-vibrant theatrical scene. One venue is repeatedly at the top of peoples lists for atmosphere… indeed when I posted on Facebook that I’d never been Mark Shenton was aghast as he has long championed Union Theatre !

Take a blockbuster movie, add a bunch of songs and some sparkly costumes and stick it on a stage… A tried and tested recipe for success and one that seems to be a guarantee of success. It certainly didn’t hurt Shrek when that landed in the West End and tickets flew out of the box office. Now the show is heading out on tour around the UK and we made our way to the Mayflower to check it out.

Check out this gorgeous take on “Girl In The Mirror” from Grand Hotel . A lovely vocal from Victoria Serra !

Measure For Measure is one of Shakespeare’s problematic plays, a comedy that can be difficult to come to terms with for modern audiences. The mix of bawdy banter and religious fervour is a heady one and Dominic Dromgoole , in his last directorial outing as Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe , gives both sides of the argument equal time.