Sitting In The Cheap Seats

Photo by Scott Rylander The 70s were a hotbed for edgy takes on musical theatre so it’s remarkable that some of the shows that have lingered with us the longest share a common source – the bible. From the Lloyd Webber one two punch of the twee Joseph and the ballsy rocking Jesus Christ Superstar to Stephen Schwartz ’s series of parables Godspell. It’s even stranger then when I realise Children of Eden is from 1991 as it shares so much with its predecessor.

I was lucky enough to see the  Royal Shakespeare Company ‘s production of Cymbeline in Stratford back in May and, for a play that has always seemed troublesome, it made for incredibly engaging viewing in large part due to a stunning cast of performers and a fascinating setting. Check out the trailer here and then go see it for yourself, it transfers to the Barbican later this year.

It’s a casting announcement mega day, with news released today on the performers who will bring some of the most exciting shows for Autumn to life! We’ve captured three of our favourites in one place for you below, so find out who will star in Ragtime , Moby Dick and The Greater Game .

The glitz and glamour of London theatre may appear to be in a bunch of beautiful buildings between The Strand and Oxford Street, but for me the most exciting and intriguing work goes on south of the river with Southwark Playhouse and the Union Theatre being focal points for new, exciting and impactful pieces. As such, I wanted the first interview on the site to be someone who is a key figure in this traditional theatre heartland (after all, Shakespeare himself lived in Southwark for a time). Michael Strassen is synonymous with exciting, engaging and high quality productions at the Union and after being blown away The Fix I couldn’t wait to give him a call and chat about the past, the future… and the one show he’s love to do if given the opportunity!