London Theatre Awards - Hairspray wins Best Musical November 27, 2007
Posted by admin in : Hairspray, Musicals, news , add a comment** book Hairspray theatre breaks **
Here’s some good news for those of us planning theatre breaks in London. The Evening Standard London Theatre Award winners were announced last night. The awards, voted for by theatre critics, were presented by actor Richard Wilson at London’s Savoy Hotel. The panel of critics were: Nicholas de Jongh of the Evening Standard, Georgina Brown of the Mail On Sunday, Susanna Clapp of The Observer, Benedict Nightingale of The Times and Charles Spencer of the Daily Telegraph. Evening Standard editor Veronica Wadley said the awards
“recognise the huge reservoir of theatrical talent in London, in directing, writing and design and perhaps especially in acting”
The title of Best Musical Award has been changed in honour of the broadcaster, director and playwright Ned Sherrin who died recently. It was presented by Sheila Hancock,
The Ned Sherrin Award for Best Musical.
Hairspray won Best Musical. As well as strong performances from Michael Ball and Mel Smith, the musical boast a great find in newcomer Leanne Jones, She plays the female lead, Tracy Turnblad, an overweight American “trailer trash” girl once played by Rickie Lake. Hairspray, which transferred to London’s Shaftesbury Theatre from Broadway. It beat strong opposition from nominees including Fiddler On The Roof and Parade.
Best Actor
Patrick Stewart has been named Best Actor for his title role in Macbeth The production of the Shakespeare play, which transferred from Chichester to London’s Gielgud Theatre, won great reviews when it opened earlier this year. Macbeth also gained Rupert Goold the Sydney Edwards award for best director. Macbeth was shortlisted in the design category, the judges said
“raised goose-pimples with its evocation of a hell’s kitchen experience”
Stewart said:
“It’s wonderful, we’re all aglow. All of us who believe the best possible theatre should be in London are thrilled.”
Goold said :
“They said it was a great year and it really is. Look at all the amazing people on the shortlist.”
Best Actress
Anne-Marie Duff, perhaps more widely known for her TV role in Shameless, won Best Actress. Her powerful performance in the title role Joan Of Arc in the National Theatre’s production of George Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan has been very well received. Nicholas de Jongh described Duff ’s performance as
“one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen - absolutely devastating”
.Best Play
In a year that showed what the judges felt was a resurgence of serious theatre on the London stage A Disappearing Number by Simon McBurney and production company Complicite, a mathematical mystery, won best play. Other nominees included Rafta, Rafta and The Reporter.
Best Design
The Best Design prize went to the Rae Smith and the Handspring Puppet Company production of War Horse, with its huge horse puppets, at the Olivier.
Other Awards
The Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright
Polly Stenham - That Face (Royal Court Upstairs)
The Milton Shulman Award for Outstanding Newcomer
Stephen Wright - Dealer’s Choice/Don Juan in Soho (Menier Chocolate Factory/Donmar Warehouse)
Special Award
Stephen Tompkins for innovative theatre architecture
So there you are, a feast of serious and not so serious theatre breaks in London ideas, with something for everyone.
** book Hairspray theatre breaks **
Never Forget November 27, 2007
Posted by admin in : Musicals , add a commentNever Forget is the title of a new musical based on the songs of 80’s boy band Take That, which opens at the Savoy theatre on the Strand on 21 May 2008.
Theatre Breaks in London - Chicago November 26, 2007
Posted by admin in : Musicals, cambridge, chicago , 1 comment so farMusicals make great theatre breaks in London and December marks the 10th Birthday of one of the best of them.
Facts and Figures
Chicago is the longest running Broadway musical on the West End. In London it has played to an audience of over 4.5 million people and more than 4,000 performances. The musical transferred from the Adelphi Theatre to the Cambridge Theatre in April last year. Based on a play by Maurine Dallas Watkins with a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse. The musicis by John Kander and the lyrics by Fred Ebb. The West End production is staged by the original Broadway creative team. The show is booking until 27 July 2008.
After it opened, almost 10 years ago, the show won the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for ‘Outstanding Musical Production’ and the 1998 Critics Circle Drama Award for ‘Best Musical’.
Cast Changes
One of the ways they keep the musical fresh is by bringing in interesting new cast members. This time a few people are revisiting familiar roles.
Frances Ruffelle plays the female lead, Roxy. Frances is a familiar face on the London musical stage. She was in Starlight Express and went on to star as Eponine. Though then unknown outside of the West End, she and Colm Wilkinson were invited took the show to its Broadway launch. She won multiple awards (including the Tony) for her role. We’ll quickly gloss over her 1994 Eurovision offering! She’s played Roxy before and it will be interesting to see how she tackles it this time.
Terence Maynard makes a welcome return as Billy Flynn. It’s a far cry from his role in EastEnders!
Sue Kelvin also returns as Mama Morton, the prison matron, the part taken by Queen Latifa in the film version. She’s played this role on stage before and is unlikely to suffer the sort of nerves that dogged Kelly Osbourne. On the other hand she’s unlikely to fit into Kelly’s glam costumes either! Kelly suffered from terrible stage fright and recently admitted that she was so scared on the first night she was almost sick on stage. She certainly looked trim and gorgeous in the publicity shots but some people have suggested these might have been airbrushed (shock horror!). Still I’ve long suspected that appearing nightly in a musical might be the ultimate weight loss regime so who knows!
How to get there
The Cambridge Theatre is on Earlham Street, London, WC2 9HU It is in the area near Covent Garden now known as Seven Dials. The best route is to walk from Tottenham Court Rd, if you have to use the tube, or Charing Cross station if you can get a train. Alternatively try to make sure you get a hotel within easy walking distance of the Covent Garden area. Actually that’s good advice anyway as the area is great 
There are lots of shops to browse, cafes and restaurants to eat in, it’s one of my favourite areas of London and deserves a section of theatre breaks in London all to itself!
Desperately Seeking Susan November 21, 2007
Posted by admin in : Musicals , add a comment“Desperately Seeking Susan” is at the Novello Theatre, London
Mousetrap still going strong November 21, 2007
Posted by admin in : Plays, The Mousetrap , add a commentThe Mousetrap, by Agatha Christie, now in its 55th year with over 21000 performances, still going strong at London’s St Martin’s Theatre.
Joseph booking until October 2008 November 21, 2007
Posted by admin in : Musicals, joseph , add a commentTickets for the musical at the Adelphi Theatre are now on sale until October 18th next year.
Theatre Breaks in London - ‘Joseph’ November 17, 2007
Posted by admin in : Musicals, joseph, theatre breaks in London , add a commentIf you are planning a theatre break in London, then “Joseph” is currently one of the ten most popular shows to see. The great thing about booking it as part of a package is that you are sure to get tickets for one of the best shows without paying over the odds. Knowing you have a comfy hotel room to wander back to after the show really adds to the sense of occasion as well. It’s just so much more relaxing than having to battle with trains, or even worse, driving through the London traffic.
Theatre breaks package
I was amazed by how reasonable the cost of tickets, hotel and train can be, with prices starting from around £118.
Rice and Webber
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was originally a 1970s musical by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. The pair conceived it as a 15 minute school production in 1968, and then brought it to the West End after their success with Jesus Christ Superstar. Based on the Biblical story, “Joseph” tells a tale of sibling rivalry followed by punishment, forgiveness and redemption. It has some super songs and set pieces. My favourite is “Close Every Door” but there are lots of others. It’s just classic Lloyd Webber genius really!
Any Dream Will Do
The BBC TV show Any Dream Will Do which made a reality game show out of searching for the main cast members for a London production has now made Joseph really popular all over again. I think most people who watched the BBC series feel like they’ve had a part in producing this show. Who could forget the wonderful (awful!) faces Lloyd Webber pulled? Now is the perfect time to go and see what it was all about. The TV was great but you cannot compare it to the experience of watching a live performance. Lee Mead has had good reviews for his portrayal of the star role but it’s by no means a one man show and the rest of the cast have all been highly praised as well.
London Theatre - the Adelphi
The show is on at the Adelphi Theatre, a lovely 1930’s Art Deco Grade 2 listed building on the Strand in the heart of the West End. Although it has a fairly plain exterior, it is richly decorated inside. The whole theatre was re-furbished in the 1990s and it has up to date facilities. There has been a theatre on this site since the early 1800s and in 1930 updated to accommodate larger audiences The main walls and the entrance at the back of the theatre are all that remains of the original building.
Theatre break extras
Travelling to the heart of London Theatre Land by train, staying in a nearby hotel, maybe adding an extra night or even two, to allow for a little gentle shopping Sounds just about perfect to me. Some of the deals even let you add on ‘afternoon tea’ at Fortnum and Masons. I’ve only ever done that once but it was just so English, so civilised and so delicious! A lovely addition to a short London hotel break with theatre included.
News - Joseph(Lee) takes a break. November 15, 2007
Posted by admin in : Musicals, joseph, news , add a commentJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
If you are booking tickets for a theatre break in London to see Joseph especially to see Lee you should note that :
Lee Mead winner of Any Dream Will Do contest to find a new Joseph will NOT be performing on the 14th-26th January 08, 10th-15th March 08 and 5th-10th May 08, Lewis Bradley will be taking Lee’s place as Joseph on these dates.
Bad Girls November 4, 2007
Posted by admin in : Musicals , add a commentIt’s not often that TV series make the transition from small screen to the stage but Bad Girls is almost unique having made the leap from TV drama to London theatre! Breaks to the West End musical can be booked for dates from now until March 2008. Following their good behaviour at the West Yorkshire Playhouse last summer the inmates of HMP Larkhall have been transferred to the Garrick Theatre for the West End premiere of Bad Girls - The Musical. “a big, popular, brassy show that pushes all the right buttons. Bad Girls is a riot in more ways than one” Guardian, Lyn Gardner
Bad Girls is not the American fantasy prison world of Chicago but a slightly more realistic take on female prisons. It celebrates warm, compassionate friendships and the fierce, angry humour of a female prison. The songs are fresh and funny, but there are sombre moments too and plenty of drama. Here’s a couple of tasters of what’s in store:
