Tag: Theatre

What’s on at the National Theatre?

 

You can’t ‘do’ London without at least one trip to the theatre, and the National Theatre’s ample selection of sell-out shows should be your first port of call. Everything from family frolics and Shakespearean dramas are on offer throughout this year’s spring and summer season, and here’s a pick of the highlights:

A Taste of Honey

One of Shelagh Delaney’s earliest plays, A Taste of Honey is a poignant tale of honour, lust, and rebellion in 1950s Britain. It’s a colourful show that celebrates life in all its often gruelling guises, set to a backdrop of jazz and fiery energy. The show is running until the 11th of May.

A Small Family Business

Returning to the stage on which it premiered in 1987, this dark comedy takes you to a world of dodgy dealings and hilarious antics, as protagonist Jack McCracken tries to maintain his integrity after inheriting his father’s shady family business. Exclusive previews run from the 1st to the 8th of April.

The Silver Tassie

This harrowing and thought-provoking World War One play follows the life of young Irishman Harry Heegan from his home in Dublin to the trenches. Capturing the horrors of war on a level comparable to the acclaimed War Horse and directed by Olivier award-winning veteran Howard Davies, this seldom-performed show begins its run on the 15th of April.

The Elephantom

Whimsical and fun, this show is perfect family entertainment. The story of a little girl and a ghostly elephant that came to stay one Tuesday afternoon is adapted from the picture book by Ross Collins and includes huge blue elephants, fun songs and cheeky, kid-friendly humour. With four and five star reviews all round after its National Theatre run, it’s set for a sell-out season.

King Lear

Critics have showered praise on director Sam Mendes for his re-imagining of this Shakespeare classic. Simon Russell Beale stuns audiences with his performance as the aged King Lear, making this a show well-worth the wait: standard sale tickets are sold out until the end of May. Keep an eye out for new dates released in June and July, or if you’re an American Express card holder, take advantage of American Express

Invites to gain access to sold out shows.

American Express credit cards come with a whole range of benefits, including reserved seating and the chance to buy pre-release tickets for all the best National Theatre shows; just look for the ‘American Express Invites’ box when you book tickets online.

 

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Broadway’s Romeo and Juliet (2014) Review

A cinema release was given to the revival of Romeo and Juliet which took place on Broadway from August until December 2013 on Broadway. It came to the UK last night for myself as I went to see it at Cineworld. Yes I wanted to see it because Orlando Bloom is Romeo and that certainly takes me back to my teenage years and biggest crush.

Continue reading “Broadway’s Romeo and Juliet (2014) Review” →

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Wicked (West End) 2014 Review

Cast
Elphaba -Willemijn Verkaik
Glinda – Savannah Stevenson
Fiyero – Jeremy Taylor
Madame Morrible – Sue Kelvin
The Wizard – Martyn Ellis
Nessarose – Katie Rowley Jones
Boq – Sam Lupton
Doctor Dillamond – Paul Clarkson
  Continue reading “Wicked (West End) 2014 Review” →
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Singin’ in the Rain (UK Tour)

This tour has come straight from the West End with some of the cast being involved as well. I saw it on Saturday night at the Sunderland Empire where it has a few week stint, after seeing it and all the water involved on the stage I can understand why it is having lengthy stays in theatres. It must take some setting up for the different scenes but more about that later!

Continue reading “Singin’ in the Rain (UK Tour)” →

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Steel Magnolias (2012 UK Tour) Review

Going to see one of my favorite films on the stage in play was quite a strange experience as I really wasn’t sure how they would pull it off. I have to say I was very impressed with the method in which they do this, having only one setting. That being the beauty salon which worked extremely well. With just having one setting it was  extremely important that the acting was brilliant, the change of time and events had to be shown from the characters reactions and how they felt.

Continue reading “Steel Magnolias (2012 UK Tour) Review” →

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What now for the Harry Potter kids?

As the end of the Potter franchise is slowly approaching what is next for the three kids or now adults who were instantly launched to super stardom as it was announced they would be Harry, Ron and Hermione in the films. Now at the ages of 21/22 what does the future hold for the three stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson?

I’m sure they could not imagine how much becoming the three much loved characters on screen was going to change their lives forever. But can they escape being Harry, Ron and Hermione? Well they haven’t just been doing the Potter films over the years, as they have grown up they have been doing different things as well. They all seem very set on staying in the entertainment world, whether that be on the stage or the silver screen. Which is very good that they all seem to be content on staying in the public eye and entertaining everyone in all different ways.

Daniel Radcliffe had a very successful stint in the West End with controversal play Equus which he then took to Broadway with fellow Potter actor Richard Griffiths. From March this year Radcliffe has returned to the Broadway stage in a revival production of ‘How to Succeed in the Business Without Really Trying’. A theatre career seems to be something that he is very interested in, but he also has a couple more films due for release this year.

Rupert Grint has appeared in quite a few different films over the years as well as the Potter films. Driving Lessons and Wild Target seem to be the most well known of his efforts. It seems as though he is determined to keep making films and taking on different roles.

Emma Watson decided a couple of years ago that education was very important to her and started studying at Brown University in the USA. She has since put that on hold for a while, which allowed her to be more involved in the promotion of the final Potter film. She also has a couple more film projects confirmed so she must be focusing more on her acting that her degree at the moment.

Lets not forget that they are not the only now young actors who have come through the Potter films a lot more started out as children and grew up in front of us on screen. Some of which will probably only ever be known for the Potter films, and not actually continue acting after all of the franchise is finished.

Tom Felton aka Draco Malfoy is now 23 years old, and gathered a cult following throughout the films. He has quite a few film projects lined up for the future and had already done quite a few acting jobs before staring in the Potter films. The most recent news about Tom has been that he is going to become a rapper, but that does sound like it could just be a funny rumour. He also has a role in the up and coming ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’.

A big name now in Robert Pattinson after becoming Edward Cullen in the Twilight saga, but lets not forget he was Cedric Diggory before all of that! He has put in some good performances in other films and is a keen singer. Maybe he will struggle to get away from the Cullen curse rather than one from the Potter films. Doubt many people instantly think Diggory when they hear his name.

Matthew Lewis who is best known as Neville Longbottom and appeared in all eight of the films. He currently doesn’t have any new movies in production, but in recent interviews has been stated that he does see acting as a career he is going to persue.

Bonnie Wright has been in all eight films, with her character growing throughout the series. She has recently become engaged to fellow Potter actor Jamie Campbell Bower. She is currently in production for a new film, and has done some modelling in the past. She seems to have big plans in the acting world.

I am sure we will all keep an eye on what the Potter kids, now young adults are getting up to in the coming years. The fans of the Potter films have always supported the actors and I am sure they always will. Let’s hope that we get to see fantastic things from the young cast as they embark on more adult acting career’s, which have already started for many of them already. It will be brilliant to see them have success in life after Potter, as lets admit that it has taken over the past 10 years for them to do all of the films. It must have been difficult to fit other work in around these films, and now we can see them all progress into a different career, leaving behind the characters we have grown to love.

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Theatre Moment 2

The second theatre moment I am posting, is from the “Hey, Mr Producer” show which was in tribute to everything Cameron Mackintosh had done for musical theatre. This is “You Gotta Get a Gimmick” from Gypsy featuring Bernadette Peters, Julia McKenzie and Ruthie Henshall.

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Theatre Moment 1

As I am a huge musical theatre fan. I decided that I would find some of my favorite songs from the stage, and every now and then make a post about them. The first theatre moment as they shall be called, is a duet from “Mame” featuring two of my most favorite actresses, the late Bea Arthur and Angela Lansbury. They are both just so fantastic and this song/video is just great. I love it!

What do you make of this video?

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News: Paltrow Eyes Stage Return

I think thats really cool that Gwyneth is thinking about returing to the stage 🙂

Gwyneth Paltrow is in talks to return to the London stage seven years after her last theatre performance.

The star has not been in a play since she starred in a 2002 production of Proof at the British capital’s Donmar Warehouse.

But Paltrow – who lives in London with her husband Chris Martin and their two kids – is reportedly keen to take a break form her movie career and tests her skills on the stage once again.

And the Iron Man star, who is currently filming a sequel to the blockbuster in Los Angeles, has reportedly chosen a new production of Anton Chekhov’s The Three Sisters to make her comeback, according to British newspaper the Daily Mail.

The Three Sisters is being considered for a run at London’s Haymarket theatre next year.

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News: Byrne: ‘Theatre Is Dead’

I really hope they do something to prevent Theatre dying out, maybe making it a little bit cheaper will help. And maybe more publicity to younger people?

Irish actor Gabriel Byrne is convinced theatre will die out – because the audiences are too old.

The Usual Suspects star has appeared in several productions, including a starring role as King Arthur in Camelot in New York last year.

He has also received numerous accolades for his onstage performances, including an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play for 2005’s A Touch of the Poet on Broadway.

And it was during his run in the show that the 58-year-old decided theatre-goers were a dying breed.

Byrne says, “I looked out into the audience and the theatre was packed with well-to-do, white-haired people.

“After the show I turned to one of the other actors and said, ‘Theatre is dead. There’s no one under 60 out there, they’re all white and they can all afford £200 for a night.’ Seriously, theatre as we’re doing it now, is dead.”

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