Theatre Breaks in London

Hi Theatre-goers

This week I’m very excited to be attending a preview performance of new musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. One of my colleagues went last week and hasn’t stopped talking about it since.

I’m going on Wednesday evening and I’ve not been able to tell my kids in fear of a rebellion against the babysitter! They really loved Matilda (we’ve seen it 3 times) so I know they would love to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, so it’s a possibility that we’ll go as our Christmas theatre treat.

Both Charlie and Matilda were originally penned by children’s favourite Roald Dahl back in the 1960s. Matilda was first to be adapted into a musical by the RSC with wacky music & lyrics by Tim Minchin.

David Grieg has written the script for Charlie with music and lyrics by American team Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman (Hairspray) and Olivier award winner Peter Darling (Matilda) choreographing.

I am counting the sleeps!

Sara

Hi theatre-goers

June is a busy month in the West End with shows closing and new ones coming in.

The Michael Grandage season continues it’s success at the Noel Coward theatre following sold out performances of Peter and Alice, it now plays host to Daniel Radcliffe in the comedy The Cripple of Inishmaan.

One of my favourites over the last 12 months is Singin’ in the Rain which finally put away its umbrellas at the Palace theatre to make way for Derren Brown : Infamous during the summer followed by the World Premiere of Roddy Doyle’s The Commitments which starts its previews in September.

Next weekend theatre royalty Dame Helen Mirren hangs up her crown as HM The Queen in very well received The Audience at the Gielgud theatre making way for the Chichester Festival Theatre production of Noel Coward’s wonderful Private Lives starring Toby Stephens and Anna Chancellor as the divorced couple who find love 5 years on… with each other.

Finally the last Saturday of the month sees the departure of Spice Girls inspired musical Viva Forever! at the Piccadilly theatre which will then see the welcome return to the West End of Dirty Dancing.

You’ll agree with me that there’s so much to see and do in June!!

Sara

Hi theatre-goers

Goodness me, Father’s Day is just 2 weeks away – that’s crept up fast hasn’t it? Maybe because of lack of sun we didn’t realise June was actually here, but it is and now we all have to start planning that very special day for the wonderful man (or men) in our lives.

There are some fabulous Father’s Day Gift Packages available which will remove, from you, all the stress & strain of organising something that will be a truly memorable experience…

First off, there are a range of good “manly” shows in the West End at the moment with Jersey Boys telling the turbulent story of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons at the Prince Edward theatre, We Will Rock You at the Dominion theatre featuring rock god Queen’s iconic hits and also Rock of Ages at the Garrick theatre where shaking of shaggy mullets and playing air guitar are greatly encouraged.

On the play front there’s Daniel Radcliffe starring in comedy The Cripple of Inishmaan at the Noel Coward theatre, Lenny Henry in the American drama Fences at the Duchess theatre or the outrageously funny One Man Two Guv’nors at the Theatre Royal Haymarket with comedian Rufus Hound doing what he does best – making the audience howl with laughter!

Away from the theatre, what about the ultimate Father’s Day Gift Package of a night away in London to watch the ATP  World Tennis Finals at the O2 Arena in November? Our amazing   packages include a range of 3 to 4 star hotels with tickets for either the afternoon or evening sessions during the week long event. How loved would you be if you organised that?

All these and many other great Father’s Day Gift Packages can be found at www.theatrebreaks.co.uk

Gone on treat Your Man!

Sara

Hi theatre-goers

There’s lots happening in the West End in June 7 July… what with former Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe and Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley) both headlining in separate plays.

First off, Mr Radcliffe opens at the Noel Coward theatre on 8th June in comedy The Cripple of Inishmaan as part of the very successful Michael Grandage season, then on 29th June Miss Wright takes to the stage in Peter Ustinov’s play The Moment of Truth at the Southwark Playhouse. Wonder if they will get together after their respective shows to swap notes?

Currently in preview, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory officially opens at the London Palladium on 26th June plus on the same date Lenny Henry starts his previews “in one of the great dramas of the 20th century” Fences at the Duchess theatre.

Finally on 13th July we have the return to London of smash hit musical Dirty Dancing coming to the Piccadilly theatre which has to be seen to be believed – the set design is amazing especially as there is a significant scene acted out in water!

Can you fit them all in?

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

Sara

Hi theatre-goers

Sometimes films can make good stage plays/musicals or visa versa and sometimes they absolutely do not make a good transition.

For example :

Dirty Dancing – great film … good stage adaptation

Rock of Ages – hilarious stage production … dire film (and I LOVE Tom Cruise, so it’s very hard for me to criticise anything he does!)

Ghost – great film … good stage adaptation

Nine to Five – mediocre film… fabulous stage production

The Commitments – award winning film… stage adaptation? We await the World Premiere in October!

The Full Monty – grossed over $250 million … stage adaptation? So far UK tour reviews give it the thumbs up and it hits the West End in 2014.

Both the last two mentioned stage productions have “gone back to their roots” so audiences shouldn’t expect either film to be re-created verbatim on stage (as they did for Dirty Dancing) .

The Commitments author Roddy Doyle has written the script from his original novel and it’s taken him two years to get it to how he wants it to be. Flavour of the month, Jamie Lloyd, directs and rumours are that former Billy Elliot the Musical actor, Killian Donnelly (Tony), will take up the role of Deko (played by Andrew Strong in the 1991 film).

As for The Full Monty, the stage play has been written by Simon Beaufoy based on his original screenplay of the successful 1997 film. The Full Monty is currently touring the UK to packed out theatres and should not be confused with the previous short lived “Americanised” musical version which came (and very quickly went) to the West End in 2000.

All very exciting, don’t you think?

Happy Tuesday everyone

Sara