THEATRE REVIEW: Beautiful Thing at Theatre Royal Stratford East

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: **** RUNTIME: 120 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

WHEN?: Saturday 7 October (matinee), runs until 7 October 2023 Then Leeds Playhouse 18-28 October Tickets & HOME Manchester 31 October – 11 November 2023 Tickets

We took our 1st tentative steps out of the closet in Devon in 1993, the year that this Jonathan Harvey (Mother Goose, Duke Of York’s Theatre) play premiered at London’s Bush Theatre starring Jonny Lee Miller.

  • Read on for reasons including why Leeds and Manchester have a beautiful treat in store
Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: Mother Goose starring Sir Ian McKellen & John Bishop

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Sunday 18 December (matinee), runs to 29 January and then tours until 11 March 2023 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

The best reason to see this energetic and fun pantomime is that its Oscar-nominated star Sir Ian McKellen is having a ball and it’s infectious.

  • Read on for reasons including how we’ve never been to a show where so much has been thrown from the stage into the audience
Read More

LAST NIGHT: THEATRE REVIEW: MUSIK starring Frances Barber at Leicester Square Theatre

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Leicester Square Theatre RUNTIME: 60 minutes

WHEN? 7/9/19, closes 7/9/19

STOP PRESS: MUSIK returns to the Leicester Square Theatre 5/2 – 1/3/20. Tickets

‘About me, the critics lied. I ignored them – and survived,’ sang character Billie Trix in song Friendly Fire (see below) played by Frances Barber in ahead-of-its-time 2001 Pet Shop Boys’ musical Closer To Heaven.

  • Read on for reasons including how this show needs a longer West End run soon

Read More

PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for September 2019 starring Frances Barber in MUSIK

  1. Frances Barber brings MUSIK to London and Pet Shop Boys play Hyde Park

Billie Trix was the most compelling character from Pet Shop Boys musical Closer To Heaven and author Jonathan Harvey has brought the star played by Frances Barber back for an hour-long show with new songs by the duo. For Every Moment was our Song Of The Month for August. An Edinburgh Festival hit, MUSIK takes its bow at the Leicester Square Theatre 3-7/9. Tickets Pet Shop Boys also play Radio 2 Live In Hyde Park 15/9 Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Reece Shearsmith, Jay McGuiness, Kimberley Walsh and Big

Read More

SONG OF THE MONTH: For Every Moment By Frances Barber and Pet Shop Boys (August 2019)

67584815_10157178941856285_4987440848749723648_nWORTH A LOOK?: *****

OUT: now

This is the stand-out tune from the 6-song cabaret MUSIK starring character Billie Trix played by Frances Barber from 2001 Pet Shop Boys musical Closer To Heaven.

  • Read on for reasons including where to catch MUSIK in London in September

Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: Drip starring Andrew Finnigan at the Bush Theatre

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Bush Theatre (Studio) RUN TIME: 1 hour (no interval)

WHEN?: 4/12 runs to 22/12/18

If you’re looking for the ’10s answer to 1993’s groundbreaking play Beautiful Thing by Jonathan Harvey with songs – then look no further.

  • Read on for reasons including why this charming 1-man show is all about daring to win

Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: Outlaws To In-laws

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHERE: King’s Head Theatre, Islington

WHEN: 17/9, runs to 23/9

Seven writers pen seven short plays which commemorate the recent 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality.

  • Read on for reasons including which three of the seven plays worked best

Read More