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Jonathan Ansell and Friends – Empire Theatre, Liverpool

Reviewer: Steph Rowe The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★★★ Originally part of the group G4, runners up on the X-Factor; Jonathan Ansell has gone on to do Musical Theatre touring in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Whistle Down the Wind”, Acting in ‘Larkrise to Candleford’, even playing the Beast in Beauty and the Beast (panto) recently and now he is touring in [...]

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Lark Rise To Candleford – Theatre Royal, Brighton

Writer: Flora Thompson Adaptor: Keith Dewhurst Director: Joe Harmiston Reviewer: Howard Holdsworth The Public Reviews Rating: ★★½☆☆ A good Monday night audience was full of anticipation at the prospect of spending a happy couple of hours watching this adaptation. The fact that many went away relatively disappointed was mainly down to a lacklustre performance from the assembled throng on [...]

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Whistle Down The Wind – Opera House, Manchester

Music: Andrew Lloyd-Webber Lyrics: Jim Steinman Book: Patricia Knopp & Gale Edwards Director: Bill Kenwright Reviewer: John Roberts The Public Reviews Rating: ★★½☆☆ ‘The Lord’ as he has been affectionately named in recent years, may be getting mixed reviews for his latest production to open in the West End, but one thing the critics unanimously agreed on was his [...]

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Interview: Ten minutes with Jonathan Ansell

Jonathan Ansell shot to fame in 2004 by taking part in hit ITV show The X-Factor, instantly becoming a household name with the band G4. They successfully toured the UK and released several albums before disbanding in 2007, since then Jonathan has forged a reputable and inspiring solo career. He is currently touring the UK [...]

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Whistle Down the Wind – Mayflower Theatre, Southampton

Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Jim Steinman Book: Patricia Knop, Gale Edwards & Andrew Lloyd Webber Reviewer: Jim Nicholson The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★☆☆ Director Bill Kenwright appears to have transformed the original 1998 high octane, ‘in your face’, full on impact rocking monster of a musical into a pipe and slippers affair. Even the rawness of the kids [...]

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Whistle Down the Wind – Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield

Music: Andrew Lloyd-Webber Lyrics: Jim Steinman Book: Mary Hayley Bell Director: Bill Kenwright Reviewer: Sarah Lyth The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★☆☆ Whistle down the Wind opens with a rather twee set of events that establish the scene in the Bible belt of America…fundamental in belief, archaic in social values and really rather cheesy in this 21st Century era of [...]

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Whistle Down the Wind- Liverpool Empire

Whistle Down The Wind - Liverpool1

Music: Andrew Lloyd-Webber Lyrics: Jim Steinman Book: Mary Hayley Bell Director Bill Kenwright Reviewer Steph Rowe The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★★★ Well after years of trying I have finally made it to see the production of ‘Whistle Down the Wind’ and I was not disappointed. After watching the original 1961 film staring, Hayley Mills and Alan Bates, I did [...]

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