I get a load of press releases about theatrical productions at work. Mostly I either ignore them, or pass them on to more relevant people*. However, I just wanted to share this poster for the Wycombe Swan’s forthcoming youth project – a production of the Madness jukebox musical Our House:
Jamie SansomI promised myself that I wouldn’t see Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-nominated film before experiencing the National Theatre’s multiple award-winning play. Over Christmas, I caught a repeat of More4′s documentary, Making War Horse, about how the NT worked with Handspring Puppet Company to adapt and expand upon Michael Morpurgo’s original novella.
Every single one of my friends who has seen War Horse has raved about it. That’s unique – I usually can’t get my friends to agree on anything, so the unanimity was reassuring. Disconcerting at the same time, though – could any one show be as good as everyone was suggesting?
Last night, I got to find out that not only was it as good as everyone said, but they were downplaying it somewhat: it’s a beautiful, emotional piece of storytelling that feels like one of the great theatrical pieces of all time.
I don’t have the time, or the tear ducts, to devote to writing a full review. All I can say is that Handspring’s work on the horses is stunning. Each of the principal horses is controlled by three performers (billed in the programme as ‘Head’, ‘Heart’ and ‘Hind’), who imbue the animals with such nobility and character that the people operating them just fade away. It’s a phenomenal achievement, and one I am truly grateful I have at last witnessed.
I’m not sure if the Spielberg film can possibly be as good as the theatrical version. However, it’s certainly going to be easier to get a ticket for it – although the play is set to tour next year.
When Aylesbury’s Waterside Theatre opened in October 2010, its marketing tagline talked of “Bringing the West End to Waterside”. As it launches its second spring season, that promise is certainly being fulfilled: in May, it will play host to the Lincoln Center’s revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific that recently played at the Barbican, whose stars (including Samantha Womack, Dan Koek and Alex Fearns) will all be joining the production in Aylesbury. The season will also see Hull Truck’s production of Alan Bennett’s The Lady in the Van and the National Theatre’s Travelling Light, starring Anthony Sher.
And it is in evidence this week, too, as the touring production of Legally Blonde – The Musical comes to town while its big West End sorority sister is still running (for now) at the Savoy Theatre. Last week, of course, the Olivier award-winning West End show posted closing notices. That must be frustrating for Aylesbury in a couple of ways: first, the show they’ve been promoting has been in the theatrical headlines because it’s not been doing well enough to stay open. Also, because there’s nothing like a closing notice to indicate the possibility of cut-price tickets for the London show. With Chiltern Railways’ annoying-but-better-than-most train service into the capital, the touring version of Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin’s musical faces stiff competition from its West End counterpart.
The good news is that, one or two patchy spots apart, it withstands the comparison well.
While we’re on the subject of photoshoots, exactly a week prior to seeing Children of Eden, I was fulfilling a similar function at The Union ♥ Wilton’s, a showcase of numbers from The Union Theatre’s recent repertoire of musicals, performed at (and in aid of) Wilton’s Music Hall in East London. Wilton’s has a unique atmosphere (and I don’t mean in that musty, damp way that the Union itself had) – it’s a genuinely beautiful, character-filled space which also lends a unique acoustic air to shows that are put on there. Unfortunately it is literally falling apart at the seams, and after being turned down for Lottery funding its present Capital Fund is struggling to maintain the building in its current state, let alone perform the repairs that can ensure this magnificent space can be savoured for generations to come.
It was a beautiful evening of theatre, and I’d like to thank the organisers of the evening for the invitation to share it with them.
To find out more about Wilton’s and its Capital project, go to www.wiltons.org.uk.
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Yesterday, I was kindly invited by Kevin Wilson PR to attend a charity concert in aid of Crohn’s and Colitis UK, with a one-off performance of Stephen Schwartz’s musical Children of Eden. With a book by John Caird and best … Continue reading
As Christmas approaches, a little end-of-year fun on the blog.
In 2011, I’ve caught up with many of the long-running West End musicals I had yet to see. I was curious to work out just how many I had seen – but then I wondered how my lovely readers/Twitter followers/Facebook friends had seen, too.
So here’s a quick poll. For each of the West End musicals currently running, just state which you’ve seen, which you’d like to see, and which you have no interest in seeing (labelled ‘avoid’ because it’s shorter)…
Update: The survey is now closed. Thanks for all who contributed!
Now, remember, this is just a bit of fun. So if you and/or your mates are madly, passionately in favour of a show, please don’t repeatedly post that you love it. Once is enough! If you do adore one particular show, why not add a comment explaining why?
Roy TanNobody loves a Gershwin tune more than I do. In the parlour game of whittling down my favourite tunes into the eight discs I would take with me should Kirsty Young cast me away onto Radio 4′s fabled desert island, a huge number of the songs that make my all-too-long shortlist have music composed by George with lyrics by “his lovely wife Ira”.
Which is one of the reasons why I ought to adore Crazy For You, which is currently playing in the West End’s Novello Theatre in a transfer from a summer run at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. And by the end of the show, I did wholeheartedly. But it didn’t half make it hard to love.
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For the third of my party collections to be featured in this week’s issue of The Stage (see also the Sheffied Crucible 40th birthday party and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas press night), I went to Above the Stag’s … Continue reading
This gallery contains 8 photos.
The same day as the Sheffield Crucible 40th birthday party, I went to the Union Theatre to see a revival of the musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, which I reviewed for The Stage. And then after the show, … Continue reading
This gallery contains 12 photos.
I haven’t updated the blog recently — a sign, as ever, that I’m quite busy. I’ve been at several parties recently as a photographer for The Stage – so much so that, once again, this week’s back page ‘Scene Around’ section … Continue reading