*Which new shows are coming to the West End?
*What are the latest special offers for theatre breaks in London?
*Who is leaving the cast and who is replacing them
*What might close and what has been extended
Just News from the world of London Theatre Breaks, extracted from the London Theatre Breaks blog. Subscribe to the LTB news RSS feed
Joseph gets a new lead - Gareth Gates! November 26, 2008
Posted by Linda in : cast changes, joseph, news , add a commentJoseph Has a Major Cast Change
Gareth Gates will take over the lead role in the musical Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat from February 9 2009 , after Lee Mead leaves on January 10. I know this slightly begs the question “who’ll play it for the missing month or so?” We’ll keep you posted.
Gareth Gates was a very popular runner-up in the first ever Pop Idol in 2002. He says:
“I have a lot to thank Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for as it is the reason I first started singing, after being chosen to play the lead in a school production when I was eight years old. Ever since then it’s been a dream of mine to appear in a West End musical….. I am really honoured to be appearing at the Adelphi, stepping into that famous coat, and really can’t wait to get stuck in!”
Should be interesting!
Evening Standard Theatre Awards - results November 24, 2008
Posted by Linda in : awards, news , add a commentWinners of this year’s Evening Standard Theatre Awards have been announced. The 54th Evening Standard Awards were hosted by Richard Wilson at the Royal Opera House.
Nominees and Winners
Best Actor:
Kenneth Branagh in Chekhov’s Ivanov.
Chiwetel Ejiofor - title role in Othello
David Calder - King Lear.
And the winner was:
Chiwetel Ejiofor for Othello
Best Actress:
Penelope Wilton- The Chalk Garden
Margaret Tyzack - The Chalk Garden.
Lesley Sharp -Harper Regan.
And the joint winners were:
Margaret Tyzack and Penelope Wilton for The Chalk Garden
Best Play:
Black Watch - based on interviews with former soldiers who served in Iraq
Now Or Later - an examination of a fictional American election
The Pitmen Painters-based on a real-life story of miners in the 1930s who were celebrated after taking up art.
And the winner was:
The Pitmen Painters
Ned Sherrin Award for Best Musical
Street Scene (The Opera Group and Young Vic)
There was also a special award for Kevin Spacey in recognition of his work at the Old Vic.
The Milton Shulman Award for best Newcomer:
Ella Smith in Fat Pig (Trafalgar Studios and Comedy Theatre)
Nicholas de Jongh (Evening Standard theatre critic and judge) said:
“It’s been an astonishing year in the London theatre.”
Calendar Girls in Richmond November 24, 2008
Posted by admin in : Calendar Girls, Plays, Richmond, dates , add a commentCalendar Girls opens tonight in the West London Richmond Theatre for six nights 24th - 29th November 2008 and two matinees as part of a UK tour before ending up at the Noel Coward Theatre, St Martin’s Lane, London for a twelve week run starting on 4th April 2009.
This is the same full cast who will be coming to the West End including Lynda Bellingham, Patricia Hodge, Sian Phillips, Gaynor Faye, Brigit Forsyth, Julia Hills and Elaine C Smith. So if anybody is going along to the opening night or during the week do let us know how what you think of the show as a taster for next spring.
Richmond Theatre is one of the most beautiful of all the Frank Matcham theatres, of which there are many in both central London and the outer boroughs.
Pic by Jim Linwood
Imagine This - critics reviews November 20, 2008
Posted by Linda in : Imagine This, news, press, reviews , 22commentsImagine This - what the press said:
Last night was press night for Imagine This, the new musical set in the Warsaw Ghetto. Despite our best wishes I’m afraid all did not go well.
Michael Billington in the Guardian was unimpressed
“They said it couldn’t be done: a musical about the Warsaw ghetto. And, now that I’ve seen it, I know that they were right
Oh dear 
Charles Spencer in the Daily Telegraph was a bit more encouraging:
“At one level, the show strikes me as not bad at all. There are big soaring anthems, a strong love interest and a plot that undoubtedly grips. The production values, though far from extravagant, are effective enough, and though there are no star names, the performances are impressive … Imagine This has a certain integrity about it.
So far so good, but it didn’t stay that way:
Except, of course, for one inconvenient, incontrovertible and unpalatable fact – this is a musical that attempts to turn the Holocaust into entertainment.
And it got even worse by the end of the review:
Imagine This must finally be judged a manipulative and morally dubious show. In the present harsh economic climate, however, it is unlikely to trouble the West End for long.”
Benedict Nightingale in The Times wasn’t impressed either. He didn’t seem to have the same level of distaste for the choice of subject but he still wasn’t happy. He found many of the lines ‘clunky’ and said this was “accompanied by a major loss of nerve on everyone’s part”
Evening Standard critic Nicholas DeJong felt that the musical should come with a bad taste warning. He didn’t like the book or the score much either. He said:
In any case, the music and songs of Imagine This never do justice to its terrifying theme.”
So how can it be that those arbiters of blogging taste The West End Whingers loved the show? The Whingers are not known for their patience with anything below their undoubtedly high standards. They found themselves enjoying the show and it seems they were not alone:
Judging by the cheers of the audience at the curtain call and several who awarded standing ovations (probably Americans too - they’re on a high at the moment so it’s excused this time) it could prove to be the next surprise hit.
If the crowds who turn out for Les Miz (and God knows there are enough of them) aren’t deterred by the credit crunch The Whingers imagine this could be the just the fare they’ve been looking for. Imagine that.
Imagine This - have your say.
So, dear readers, what do you think? Have you seen the show? Do you agree with the critics or have they misjudged the show? Leave us a comment and let us know what you think of Imagine This.
Imagine This - Good Luck November 19, 2008
Posted by Linda in : Imagine This, news , 1 comment so farImagine This finishes its preview run and opens to the critics tonight at the New London Theatre. Good luck to the cast and producers from London Theatre Breaks Blog.
Imagine This - Casting News August 27, 2008
Posted by Linda in : Imagine This, cast changes , add a commentThe cast of the new musical Imagine This has just been announced. Peter Polycarpou will continue his role as Daniel from the Plymouth production.
Leila Benn-Harris (The Phantom of the Opera, Fame and Evita.) will play Daniel’s daughter Rebecca. She falls in love with Adam.
Simon Gleeson will play Adam, the mysterious stranger. Gleeson is best known in the UK for his TV work (Neighbours, and Eastenders). However he has a great musical track record in his native Australia ( Fame and Mamma Mia!)
Other Cast members for Imagine This
- Bernard Lloyd - Adolph
- Richard Cotton - Blick
- Michael Matus - Izzy
- Gary Milner - Otto
- Steven Serlin - Jan
- Sevan Stephan - Max
- Sarah Ingram - Sarah
- Cameron Leigh - Lola
**Book Imagine This London Theatre Breaks **
Marguerite closing early - September 13th August 21, 2008
Posted by Linda in : dates, marguerite , 2commentsMarguerite will close early on September 13 th. The new musical was originally scheduled to run until November 1st.
Boublil and Schönberg have issued a statement:
“Despite high praise from audience members, critically acclaimed performances and the release of the much anticipated cast recording, we have made the difficult decision to close the show in London a few weeks earlier than originally planned. Both the knock on effect of the current economic climate, as well as disappointing ticket sales throughout the summer months have contributed to our decision to close early.”
They went on to express their gratitude to everyone from cast members to the loyal following the production has gained. the said they are very proud of what has been achieved.
Rehearsals for a Japanese production will start in January and the show will play the Akasaka ACT Theatre in Tokyo in February, followed by performances in Osaka. There are also plans for a Spanish production in 2009 and a French production in 2010.”
I am really sad about this. Marguerite was magnificent and Ruthie Henshall and the rest of the cast were stunning. I was really hoping it might find a new home in the West End after November but it just couldn’t survive the summer lull. What a shame!
I just like to send our commiserations and say Good Luck to all the cast and production team who worked so hard on Marguerite.
Jodie Prenger in Les Miz Chorus August 20, 2008
Posted by Linda in : Les Miserables, news , 5commentsIf you book Les Miserables theatre breaks for anytime in the next few weeks there could be a star bonus in store.
As a preparation for her part in Oliver! Jodie Prenger will be playing a variety of small parts in the London production of Les Miserables. The Stage confirmed today in an exclusive that Jodie will be in the show for some performances from August the 26th for three or four weeks.
Rumours of Jodie’s West End debut have been rife in various online theatre forums for the last couple of weeks so it is good to have it confirmed. It will be Jodie’s first chance to see what it’s like to perform as part of a huge cast in a hit West End show. She’ll see how the ensemble works together on a daily basis and get a feel for the way cast members have to pace themselves. This should help her tremendously in her preparations for playing Nancy.
Of course Jodie Prenger isn’t a complete novice. Still, her experience working on Disney cruise ships and in shows in her native Blackpool are on a different level to day to day life in a West End production. It seems like a very sensible idea to let her experience it in a fairly quiet way first before the spotlight falls on her Nancy.
I know some of our readers are going in the next few weeks so if you do spot Jodie please leave us a comment. We’d love to hear from you! I only hope ‘Jodie spotting’ won’t prove too much of a distraction for those of you who have Les Miserables theatre breaks booked for August or September!
Zorro - West End run extended August 14, 2008
Posted by Linda in : dates, zorro , add a commentZorro took £255,000 in the first week of August! Not surprising then that the producers have extended its booking period until September 2009. The Bristol Evening Post says:
Star of the show Matt Rawle has described the action packed musical as “a family show”. He said: “There are loads of little lads sitting there with Zorro hats and Zorro masks on. Sitting there, not breathing, trying to take it all in. And they love it, they absolutely love it and they come round to the stage door.”
This sounds about right to me. The evening we saw it as we left there were lots of little boys quoting chunks of dialogue and sword fighting their way out of the theatre 
This makes Zorro the perfect entertainment for the whole family and ideal for family theatre breaks.
Six Characters In Search Of An Author transfers to the Gielgud August 4, 2008
Posted by Linda in : Plays, Six Characters In Search Of An Author, dates , add a commentPirandello’s Six Characters In Search Of An Author, will transfer from Chichester to the Gielgud Theatre. The play will preview from the September 10th for a limited run until November 8th.
Priandello Updated
Pirandello’s 1921 classic has been ‘re-imaged’ by Ben Power and Rupert Goold. The play has been updated and adapted for a modern audience. I’d really like to see this. This new production has been very well received at Chichester. It is a play I know well in its original form and have enjoyed in the past. I am sure it will be interesting to see what this team have made of it.
Six Characters in search of a film editor?
The play still tells the story of six strangers but now they arrive unannounced during the editing of a documentary film. As their chilling story unfolds it becomes clear that they are fictional characters and they want the film maker to make their story into a documentary. The play questions both fiction and reality and I can see how this could work well for our media-obsessed age.
The Chichester Cast
Ian McDiarmid
Noma Dumezweni
Jamie Bower
Eleanor David
Dyfan Dwyfor
Christine Entwisle
Denise Gough
Jake Harders
Jeremy Joyce
John Mackay
Freya Parker
Robin Pearce
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