Sunday 29 April 2012

West End Eurovision

Every year casts of the West End join together to create the West End Eurovision. Each different cast from a different show take on previous Eurovision songs and this year it was the cast of Sweeney Todd who won...
It's all a good laugh!!!

Wednesday 25 April 2012

How Will The Olympics Affect The West End...

With the lead up to the Olympic Games in London this year the theatre land feel that they are under threat with some people suggesting that theatres may shut throughout the summer. Regular tourists are expected to keep away from the city and some shows are already offering special enticements or not taking bookings at all.
Top-price musicals like The Jersey Boys are being offered at £20.12 for each performance during the Olympic summer. Sweeney Todd, starring Imelda Staunton and Michael Ball, opened in the West End in March but will be taking a short break in the summer.
This news disappoints me because it will affect shows in different ways. Family shows like The Lion King and Matilda may be more popular with tourists from other countries as they may have brought there families over and the stories are well known across the world. Whereas, newer unknown shows like Top Hat may be affected as people may not necessarily know the story well enough to go and see it.
Only time will tell, but I hope musicals aren't completely cancelled during this period as I am planning on spending most of my Summer in London, watching musicals. Not everyone is that obsessed with the Olympics!!!

Thursday 19 April 2012

Matilda scoops Olivier Awards



The new musical production by Dennis Kelly and lyrics by the comedian Tim Minchin managed to be nominated in 10 categories. In a record breaking awards ceremony the new musical managed to win 7 Olivier awards with all 4 Matilda's winning best actress in a musical.
Book Tickets Here

Friday 13 April 2012

JukeBox Musicals Taking Over The West End

I have noticed recently that the West End is filling up with the JukeBox Musical, from the likes of Mamma Mia to We Will Rock You These musicals take songs from successful artists throughout their career and write a storyline around the songs. Mamma Mia has a very basic plot line with nothing really being resolved however, this musical makes people feel good. When I went to see Mamma Mia by the end of the musical everyone was up on their feet singing 'Dancing Queen.' Cheesy, but it made you feel good! However, with the JukeBox musical taking over the West End have we fallen into the trap of cheesy Americanised musicals or will we ever get a new musical that is authentic and original, something like Chicago, and not copied from a film or well loved songs by well known bands. The deaths of popular celebrities have sparked new musicals to be written. After Michael Jackson's death Thriller was created and now there are ongoing talks in creating 'The Body Guard Musical' after Whitney Houston's death. Where are the Andrew Llyod Webbers or Cameron Mackintosh's of this day and age!!!! Anyone?

Thursday 12 April 2012

Bridget Jones The Musical

I am always up for a good new musical and I am intrigued as to how Bridget Jones will work on the stage. The film has a great soundtrack don't get me wrong but the only song I can see the character of Bridget singing is 'All By Myself' with a bottle of wine in hand. The musical is set to open at the Savoy Theatre later this year and it is rumored that Sheridan Smith was set to play the role of Bridget however, due to television commitments she was unable to take on the role.
Click here to read the Daily Mail's article on Sheridan leaving the show.

Monday 9 April 2012

Me and Ramin Karimloo

Ramin visited a musical theatre summer school I attended in 2009. He has played The Phantom in both The Phantom of the Opera and Love Never Dies, Jean Valjean in Les Miserables and featured in both the 25th Anniversary of Les Mis and Phantom. He has become a global superstar and is currently bringing out a new album. I was fortunate to meet him before he became so famous. He gave great advice and told me he was a massive fan of my voice which I blushed at. Such a lovely man!

Wednesday 4 April 2012

Seriously?

Susan Boyle 'I Dreamed A Dream'- not only have the writers/producers/directors stolen the title of a very famous song in Les Mis they have also bought the musical genre to a new level. It follows Susan Boyle's life story from her difficult childhood to her life changing Britain's Got Talent audition and her life after the show. Elaine C Smith plays Susan Boyle throughout the length of the show however, Boyle herself comes on for an enc-our at the end of the show and sings two songs. I feel that this musical is just an excuse to rapture Susan Boyle with more media coverage and for her to get more money. Even though the critics have loved it I cannot see myself taking this musical seriously. They may as well make a musical about Mary Byrne from the XFactor, someone who isn't necessarily a typical looking pop star but has used this to become famous.

Monday 2 April 2012

Vote for Les Misérables in the 2012 Olivier Audience Award!



Its the time of the year again when theatre joins fores for the Olivier Awards. Les Miserables is among Wicked, Jersey Boys and Billy Elliot in the shortlist for the audiences favourite show. Les Miserables should win this award as it has remained popular with audiences for the last 25 years. Plus Ramin Karimloo is playing Jean Valjean. So if you have a spare minute vote for Les Mis to win here!

Sunday 18 March 2012

Love Never Dies


I was absolutely gutted that I never got to see Love Never Dies in the West End. However, it has just been released on DVD and I am going to buy my copy as soon as possible. It has stormed the UK film dvd charts so maybe thats an insentive for Andrew Lloyd Webber to rethink his decision of taking it off the West End...we can hope!

Tuesday 14 February 2012

Where My Love For Musicals Began...



Ever since I remember I have always been surrounded by musicals, in particular 'My Fair Lady.' It was always on when I was little and I grew up knowing the songs. So, for my 12th birthday my parents took me to see the musical on stage at The Drury Lane Theatre; I fell in love again with the music and story. After seeing this musical I went away and began singing lessons, I wanted to be able to sing 'I Could Have Danced All Night.' This became possible and I sang this song for my Grade 5 and received a distinction. After doing this I wanted to study for a career in musical theatre!

Wednesday 18 January 2012




This musical is a collaborative musical with songs such as 'Your Song' by Elton John and 'Roxanne' by The Police. The story consists of flash backs from the perspective of Christian and follows the love affair of himself and Satine (a dancer from the Moulin Rouge) They try to conquer every obstacle in their way to be together but there are some twists and turns throughout. I won't spoil it for you.
It would be an amazing show on the West End and would be so popular due to the success of the film in 2001. The film features a complex set however you could have the main elephant house centre stage with the actors working around it. The classic windmill in the distance could be shown as a projection to symbolise the location of the musical. If I had the funds to put it on in the future this would be my first project.

Monday 16 January 2012

The Phantom Of The Opera

...is my favourite musical of all time! EVER!
For my 18th birthday my parents paid for me to go and see 'The Phantom Of The Opera' on the West End! It was truly magical. The staging, the music, the costume, the song lyrics were all beautiful! I couldn't fault it. It's honestly my favourite musical.



I went to see it when John Owen Jones and Sofia Escobar played The Phantom and Christine and I was amazed at their talent. It made me want to get up and be in the show myself and I hope one day I will be!

At this point in the musical The Phantom has written his own Opera for the company to perform and has given the lead role to Christine. He himself is performing in it, he has just killed the lead male backstage and emerged in a black cloak covering his face. He is trying to capture his moment with Christine as he has fallen in love with her. Without Christine knowing she is singing about her undying passion for The Phantom (she thinks its part of her role but The Phantom is under the cloak) She realises that The Phantom is under the cloak when he becomes very touchy feely with her within his role. She takes off the cloak hood to reveal the mask and then he breaks into the classic 'All I Ask Of You' which bought me to tears and then she pulls of his mask to reveal his true self!
Its an amazing moment in the show as you see The Phantom's love for Christine but you also see how scared Christine is of the Phantom when she realises who is under the cloak but she does care for him when he sings the reprise of 'All I Ask Of You.' I believe she takes off the mask to see who The Phantom really is as she herself has fallen in love with him at this point! A touching moment indeed.
Its just amazing :)!!!!