Theatre
West End Wilma: theatre news from Guys and Dolls, Miss Saigon & more
Get the latest theatre news from our blogger West End Wilma…
Hello dears!
It’s been a crazy week for me. I went to the late-night Phantom Of The Opera MAD Trust charity cabaret show at the Hippodrome Casino and then, after just three hours sleep, I was on live radio (What’s Off-stage on Soho Radio) playing some of my favourite musical theatre songs! You can listen to my delusional ramblings here if you fancy a laugh!
I also went to Through The Stage Door – a tour of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane which was so much fun and littered with history about the building and everything that has happened to it over the past 400 years. For more information, read my full review.
If you follow my blog then you will know that one of my big gripes with theatre-goers is not behaving properly when you go to see a show. Just when I thought I had seen it all, this week I heard about an audience member who urinated into an empty wine glass, during a theatre performance (in a very small theatre where it was very apparent). Read my latest blog all about Theatre Etiquette and this situation here.
Big theatre news in the West End this week…
Michael Xavier, Siobhan Dillon and Fred Johanson will join Hollywood actress Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard at London’s English National Opera for a very limited engagement of 43 performances from 1 April 2016. Glenn Close created the role on Broadway many years ago and will now make her West End debut in this semi-staged production.
Since the news that Bend It Like Beckham will close at the Phoenix Theatre on 5 March, the Chichester revival of Guys and Dolls (which recently opened at the Savoy Theatre for a limited engagement) will dance across the West End and open at the Phoenix Theatre from 19 March (booking until 30 October), whilst a UK tour will also run simultaneously. Guys and Dolls is unable to extend its run at the Savoy Theatre as Funny Girl starring Sheridan Smith is already set to transfer from the Menier Chocolate Factory where it is currently enjoying a sold out run, from 8 April.
Game Of Thrones star Kit Harington (who played Jon Snow) will return to the London stage to play the title role in Doctor Faustus at the Duke Of Yorks Theatre from 9 April 2016. Kit was part of the original London production of War Horse and also POSH at the Royal Court. Doctor Faustus tells the story of a man who makes a pact with the devil and sells his soul in return for the powers of black magic. But at what cost?
This week I’ve seen the UK Tour of Blood Brothers and another trip to see Miss Saigon before it closes at the end of February. Plus over the past few weeks I’ve been reviewing some London restaurants so take a look here if you are looking for some ideas on where to eat before you go and see your next show.
Let me know what you’ve been seeing this week on Facebook and Twitter.
Love Wilma X
