Reading Time: 2 minutesBy offering the chance for us to cosplay as advanced Artificial Intelligence in a far-flung future, Psychonaut Theatre’s latest production: The W.I.G of Life allows us to examine humanity’s impact on the world around us by presenting us with the binary choice as to whether to preserve biological life or allow it to extinguish.
Reading Time: 4 minutesSmoking Apples’ show Kinder cleverly employs many different kinds of puppets (designed by Hattie Thomas and Matt Lloyd), simple but effective projections and shadow play (Hattie Thomas), and a clever sound design (by George Bellamy) as well as skillful performers/puppeteers (Hattie Thomas, David Burchhardt, and Tea Poldervaart) to tell us the story of “one small Czech-Jewish girl embarking on a mighty adventure” as she escapes German-occupied Czechoslovakia at the beginning of WWII.
Reading Time: 3 minutesFresh of a revival at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year, Alexander S. Bermange's I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical is back in London and it is FAB-U-LOUS. The concept is four cast members, plus Bermange on piano, performing a series of musical sketches that dive into everything related to musicals. They tell stories of up-and-coming young talent, poke fun at the know-it-all actor, mock the musicals themselves and, at one point, turn the spotlight on the audience to point out performers’ pet peeves about them. The lyrics are brilliantly witty with clever twists, capturing the hardships of the industry, but keeping things light and humorous. It is truly impressive the extent to which the musical language of the songs genuinely reflects Musical Theatre tunes.
Reading Time: 2 minutesEve: All About Her, is a one-man show created by and starring Keith Ramsay. This show began life at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2022, but has now transferred for a limited run at the Soho Theatre in London. The show was heavily acclaimed in Edinburgh and earned Ramsay “The Stage Edinburgh Award for Acting Excellence.” I would have to agree this was a brilliant performance, but the show itself I found incredibly confusing.
Reading Time: 3 minutesMerrily We Roll Along is not an easy show to pull off. The story starts in 1980 and gradually works its way back to 1955, charting a journey from corrupted aspirations back to college optimism. It’s a story about dreams—their allure and their elusiveness, growing up, and how friendships survive. If they do. It’s an ambitious show for the National Youth Music Theatre to attempt; after all, these characters spend most of the time at an age far exceeding that of their actors. And, it’s a Sondheim. Fortunately for us, this production is a sure-fire success.
Reading Time: 3 minutesDo you believe in love at first sight? This question is the headliner of Candy (written by Tim Fraser), which began life as a fifteen minute short at Bunker Theatre in 2018, and over the last five years has been added to and adapted into the full sixty minute one-man show that it is now.
Reading Time: < 1 minuteA Terrible Show is equal parts burlesque, pantomime and mime – a practically wordless array of absurd, blatantly sexual physical comedy.
Reading Time: 4 minutesI would be remiss to not first cast some light on the incredibly unique journey Death Note has ridden to becoming a musical. In 2003, Death Note, a Japanese manga (comic/graphic novel) series written and illustrated by Tsugumi Obata and Takeshi Obata, respectively, was first published. In 2006, the anime (animation) adaptation first aired in Japan to widespread acclaim. Its popularity was so huge that two live action Japanese films shortly followed. A musical adaptation then premiered in Tokyo in 2015, before touring Japan and opening of a South Korean production. Jumping forward to 2023 we skip over several seasons of the musical in Japan and South Korea, a Netflix live action film and a concert version opening in Russia, and we land in the present day – Death Note: The Musical In Concert opening at the London Palladium.
Reading Time: 2 minutes ‘Legally Blonde: The Musical’ - This show was presented by the Liverpool Empire Youth Theatre, a company which unites local talent with industry professionals to provide real-world experience for those between the ages of 15 and 21
Reading Time: 2 minutesFollowing Jack, a reluctant Hufflepuff, as he navigates bullies, coming out, love and. keeping more secrets than the Chamber itself, this 75 minute play is an absolute delight. Written by Robert Holtom, and boasting the VAULT Festival Origins Award as well as an OffWestEnd.com short run commendation to its name, it doesn't disappoint.