*

Over the rainbow: The Eva Cassidy Story – New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

Writer: Brian Langtry Director: Stephen Leatherland Musical Director/Arranger: Martin Hughes Reviewer: Jennie Philpot The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★☆☆ Eva Cassidy has become a household name in the past 10 years, impressing millions with her powerful and poignant vocals. She is famous for her soulful voice, shy personality and tragically short life – all of which are well portrayed in [...]

Read On →

Live and Unjudged – Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

Choreographer: Brendon Cole Musical Director: Barry Robinson Reviewer: Sue Cartwright The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★★☆ New Zealander, Brendon Cole, has made his name in this country as the bad boy of the BBC TV reality show, Strictly Come Dancing, where he has become renowned for his daring dance moves, sometimes stretching the rules, but never boring and always exciting [...]

Read On →

The Snowman- Birmingham Repertory Theatre at the ICC, Birmingham

Book – Raymond Briggs, Music and Lyrics – Howard Blake. Choreographer – Robert North. Director – Bill Alexander Reviewer – Sue Cartwright The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★★☆ Raymond Briggs‘ book, The Snowman, was first published in 1978 and was subsequently transformed into an animated film in 1982 which film has, over the years, become synonymous with Christmas and become [...]

Read On →

Grease – The New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

Book/Music/Lyrics: Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey Director: David Gilmore Choreographer: Arlene Phillips Reviewer: Jennie Philpot The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★★½ Grease is one of those musicals that every school performs, every child learns the words to, every girl longs to have Sandy’s transformation and every boy wishes they had Danny’s style. So subsequently every member of the audience was [...]

Read On →

PREVIEW: American Idiot to tour the UK

The hit Tony Award winning musical American Idiot will be premiering at The Mayflower Theatre, Southampton next year (Oct—Dec 2012) with a full US cast before embarking on a national tour. Described by the New York Times as “the most adventurous musical to brave Broadway in the past decade,” American Idiot features the songs of [...]

Read On →

Sleeping Beauty – Birmingham Repertory Theatre at The Crescent Theatre

Writer: Rufus Norris based on original story by Charles Perrault Music and songs: Catherine Jayes Director: Sarah Esdaile Reviewer: Sue Cartwright The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★★★ Sleeping Beauty has, of course, had many guises in the form of a ballet, pantomime and, the most famous version of all, Walt Disney’s 1959 film, but they share only the title as [...]

Read On →

Christmas with the Rat Pack: Live from Las Vegas – New Alexandra Theatre , Birmingham

Reviewer: Selwyn Knight The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★★☆ It’s 1960 at the legendary Sands Hotel, Las Vegas and Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr are performing with the glamorous Burelli Sisters and the Rat Pack Big Band. That they are great friends off stage is obvious in their joshing. Also obvious is their considerable talent. Of course, [...]

Read On →

The Producers – West Bromwich Operatic Society at New Alexandra Theatre , Birmingham

Book: Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan Music & Lyrics: Mel Brooks Director: Mike Capri Reviewer: Selwyn Knight The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★★☆ ‘The Producers’ must be a serious contender for the most non-PC mainstream production ever! It mercilessly lampoons, among others, the Nazi party, an interesting spin on the casting couch, foreigners of all shades and accents, camp gay [...]

Read On →