Fun Home | Young Vic Theatre

I'm back! I've been a bit absent on the blogging front in 2018 and I feel like an explanation is due: I've just completed my journalism degree from Cardiff University (with a first - yay!) but this was a very essay-based course and so I was spending so much time writing academically that I wasn't feeling the desire to write for pleasure. Also, I sadly haven't been attending as much theatre as I have done in previous years. Again, this is partly because I've been a student and have been trying to save some money for the future, and hey - getting to London from Cardiff by train is damn expensive! I guess the final reason for my lack of theatre blogging enthusiasm has been due to the fact that since December I've been working in a theatre. I spend a lot of time soaking up the atmosphere of the theatre (that pre-show buzz, whisperings about upcoming shows etc) but as I'm working I don't get to see much, so there just hasn't been too much for me to write about.

Everybody's Talking About Jamie | Apollo Theatre

Yesterday I had the absolute pleasure of checking out the award-winning new British musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie. This show has such a buzz surrounding it that I just knew I had to see it. Based on a true story, the musical follows sixteen year old Jamie New from Sheffield on a journey of self-discovery and stardom. Filled with punchy songs and witty dialogue, this is a truly heart-warming and inspiring production.

The Last Five Years | The London Theatre

This weekend I had the pleasure of popping down to London to check out Seagull and Wolf Productions first full-length show. The Last Five Years is one of my all-time favourite musicals so I was really excited to see a new production in a location I'd never visited before.

Legally Blonde | UK Tour | New Theatre

Legally Blonde has long been one of my favourite films: it's a story about being true to yourself and fighting for what you believe in. It's inspiring whilst still being a lot of fun and I think it's fair to say that the main character, Elle Woods, influenced my love of blonde hair and the colour pink! I saw an excellent amateur production of the show a few years ago (by Wolverhampton Musical Comedy Company at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre) so I was obviously thrilled to find out that the official tour would be stopping off in Cardiff. I grabbed my gal pals, donned my sassiest pink outfit and headed to the New Theatre for what really was a spectacular performance.

La Cage Aux Folles | Grand Theatre

La Cage Aux Folles is a musical that won't fail to warm your heart. I knew very little about the show before the performance but I am so glad I got myself a ticket as this production is a treat from start to finish. Put aside the flashy costumes, set and wickedly humerus dialogue and what you're left with is a show with acceptance, love and family at it's core which is truly a wonderful thing and it's the balance between theatrical and sincere moments that make this show something special.

Evita | UK Tour | Grand Theatre

Evita is a show that I've had on my to-watch list for quite some time and apart from knowing the big hits (Don't Cry For Me Argentina etc), it's a show that's been a bit of an enigma to me. I was super happy when I found out that I'd won a pair of tickets to the show in an Instagram competition so that I would finally get to find out what Evita is all about.

Anything Goes | Willenhall Musical Theatre Company

Anything Goes is one of those shows that I know almost all the music from but have never seen all the way through. Well, this changed on Wednesday night when I visited Willenhall Musical Theatre Company's production. I don't think I've ever seen one of their large productions before (although I've seen a couple of their variety concerts and enjoyed those) so I didn't know what to expect  but I left the theatre with such a huge smile on my face. It's easily up there as one of the best amateur productions I've seen in the Midlands area.

Ryan O'Donnell of Sunny Afternoon | Interview

Sunny Afternoon, the Olivier award-winning jukebox musical based on the life and music of The Kinks, has been touring the UK since August after a successful run in London. I've seen the show twice before (you can find my review of the London production here and the touring show here) so I was thrilled when it was announced that the tour would be stopping off in my home town of Wolverhampton. I met up with frontman Ryan O'Donnell, who plays Ray, to chat about life on the road and developing the role over time.

Annie Get Your Gun | Phoenix Theatre Company | Dormston Mill

This is the third production I've seen by Phoenix Theatre Company, and with the past two productions  I saw (one of which being The King and I which I reviewed here) being so slick they had a lot to live up to. Annie Get Your Gun features some of Irving Berlin's best known songs including 'There's No Business Like Show Business' and 'Anything You Can Do' but apart from that I knew fairly little of the show. In short, the show is about Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show where their top shooters Frank Butler and Annie Oakley fall in love with all sorts of mishaps and disagreements taking place before they finally end up together. I sensed a few nerves from the actors at the beginning of the show but as it went of the whole cast seemed to grow in confidence and put on a very amusing and lively production.

Musical Mixtape | Walker Theatre

What a treat Musical Mixtape was! I've seen a few of Chris and Lucy Key's shows previously but this year they were joined by Les Miserables alumni Carrie Hope Fletcher and Rob Houchen along with students from their theatre school, Key Theatre Academy. Now I've seen countless musical variety concerts over the years but I have to say I think this was my favourite. The choice of songs was brilliant, with some classics from Carousel all the way up to some very modern shows including Waitress and Hamilton. What I also enjoyed was how unusual the songs were. You often find the same big hits from shows being performed over and over again so it was refreshing to hear some lesser known numbers sung by some truly amazing musical talents.

School of Rock | New London Theatre

I couldn't have chosen a better show to kick off my 2017! School of Rock opened on Broadway in 2015 and was nominated for four Tony Awards before making the transfer to the West End in October 2016. Being honest, when I first read that Andrew Lloyd-Webber was adapting School of Rock into a musical I was sceptical but the buzz surrounding the show has been amazing so I had to find out for myself what the fuss was about. I adored the show from the second it began and it exceeded all my expectations.

The Sound of Musicals | UK Tour | Symphony Hall

Last night my Mum and I took our annual visit over to Symphony Hall in Birmingham to see The Sound of Musicals, a concert with the Manchester Concert Orchestra and four West End singers featuring songs from a variety of shows. I've lost count of how many times we've been to see this particular show but I do know that this is Kerry Ellis' (star of Wicked and Murder Ballad) third year performing the show, while Graham Bickley (Les Mis, Miss Saigon etc) has done even more than this. This year they were joined by the superb Joanna Ampil who has played a variety of roles worldwide including Kim in Miss Saigon, along with Oliver Tompsett who I actually saw as Sky Masterson in the West End production of Guys and Dolls this summer. As usual, the program was packed with wonderful show tunes and as always I really enjoyed the show.

The Rocky Horror Show | UK Tour | New Theatre

The Rocky Horror Picture Show has such a cult following so when I saw that the UK tour would be returning to Cardiff I decided it was time I found out for myself what all the fuss was about. I watched the film a few months ago and thought it was brilliantly weird so I couldn't wait to experience the live version. The atmosphere in the theatre was absolutely electric from the moment I walked in: there were so many people dressed up and you could just tell everyone was ready to have a great night.

In the Heights | Kings Cross Theatre

I was so thrilled when I heard In the Heights was returning to London. The first production of the musical I saw was an amateur performance well over a year ago (if you're a long time blog reader you may remember my review) although I'd been loving the soundtrack for even longer. It's been open in London for over a year but I've only just got round to seeing it and I'm incredibly glad I did!

The Witches of Eastwick | Trinity Musical Theatre Company | Dormston Mill Theatre

As their debut production as Trinity Musical Theatre Company comes to a close, it's fair to say that they have firmly put themselves on the amateur dramatics map. After seeing the show in rehearsals (I featured the company in a Spotlight on Am Dram post where you can find out about the build-up to the show) I was excited to see how the show had developed and honestly, I was blown away.

9 to 5 | South Staffs Musical Theatre Company | Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

You may recall that way back at the beginning of September I paid a visit to South Staffs Musical Theatre Company in rehearsals for 9 to 5 so I was very excited to see how the show had developed when I took my seat in the Grand Theatre last night. Hearing those first few bars of the iconic Dolly Parton hit instantly got me in the mood for what was a loud and lively show.

Sunny Afternoon UK Tour | New Alexandra Theatre

Back in January I was lucky enough to be invited to see the West End show Sunny Afternoon by Box Office UK (you can read my full review here) but before then it wasn't a really show that was on my radar. I knew that it had won multiple Olivier Awards and even though I only knew a few Kinks songs  it exceeded all my expectations. I was excited to hear it was launching a UK Tour and managed to snap up some incredible seats last minute - directly at the end of the catwalk that juts out from the centre of the stage. I took my parents along and they enjoyed the show just as much as I did. I'd genuinely forgotten what a lively and fun-filled show it was and it gave us all an excellent  afternoon at the theatre.

Guys and Dolls | Phoenix Theatre

Guys and Dolls is a musical I hold very close to my heart having seen some of my best friends perform in a school production of the show a few years ago, so when I saw it was returning to the West End stage, I knew it was something I needed to see. Even more thrilling was the announcement that Rebel Wilson (star of the Pitch Perfect film franchise among other projects) was joining the cast as Miss Adelaide. The chance to see such a modern comedic actress in such an iconic role was an opportunity I just couldn't pass up so as I settled into my seat for the show it's fair to say I was very excited for what was to come.

Chicago | Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

It's been quite a while since I last made it to the theatre and even longer since I've visited my local Wolverhampton Grand Theatre so I was very excited to finally be seeing the UK tour of Chicago after hearing such great reviews of it. While I'm a big fan of the film and the music, I'd never actually seen the show on stage. I'm very pleased to say that it exceeded all my expectations and I would recommend this show to anyone who is after a lively night out.

Book of Mormon | Prince of Wales Theatre

Finally I've seen it! Book of Mormon is a musical I've been longing to go to ever since I first heard about it a few years ago so I was thrilled to be receive a ticket as my nineteenth birthday present from my parents. I listen to the soundtrack regularly (whenever I listen to it in public I find myself chuckling aloud and getting funny looks from strangers) so I was expecting big things and it certainly didn't disappoint: even my Dad who isn't the biggest fan of musicals (although I often drag him along to shows to try and change his mind) enjoyed it so it gets a big thumbs up from me!