Category: Theatre Reviews

21/03/2023, Sunderland Empire

As the audience excitedly filled the auditorium last night an announcement was made, “Welcome to Sunderland Empire, the West End of the North East”. This statement couldn’t have felt more true at the press night of one of the most iconic musicals, ‘The Lion King’. Returning to the North East 9 years since it last toured here (which was our first show together!), there was an audible buzz in the air prior to the show starting.

This classic story is told with extravagant costumes and puppetry, following the story of Simba, the lion cub who is heir to the throne of Pride Rock. Full of all the familiar songs and set pieces from the 1994 animated film it is based on, this show has a legacy it fulfils. Read on for our 5 reasons to see ‘The Lion King’!

Newcastle Theatre Royal, 11/10/2022

Fresh from a world premiere performance in Cornwall, new show Fisherman’s Friends – The Musical is embarking on its first ever UK tour! Based on the 2019 film of the same name, this true story is about a group of fisherman from Port Issac, Cornwall who spend their Friday evenings singing together in a local pub until they are noticed by an unexpected music scout filled with promises he might not be able to keep.

We were invited to attend one of the first stops on the tour in Newcastle Theatre Royal where the show has dropped its anchor for a week. Read on for 5 reasons why you should see Fisherman’s Friends – The Musical…

Newcastle Theatre Royal, 26/07/2022

It’s time to get ready, even on this hot summer night, dust off that Harley Davidson jacket and don those Dr Marten boots as Bat Out Of Hell The Musical has roared into Newcastle on its first UK Tour! This critically acclaimed rock and roll jukebox musical set in a dystopian world tells the story of our stuck-in-time hero Strat (Glenn Adamson) who falls for Raven (Martha Kirby), the daughter of dictatorial leader Falco (Rob Fowler). The show, a cocktail of Romeo and Juliet, The Rocky Horror Show and Peter Pan is backed with a catalogue of Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf songs to thrill the audience. Read on for our five reasons to see Bat Out Of Hell The Musical

Sunderland Empire, 01/06/2022

The show on everybody’s lips… it’s gonna be, Chicago! Stopping by at Sunderland Empire on the 2022 UK Tour of this hit musical, this tour has been hotly anticipated amidst celebrity stunt casting announcements and pull-outs (Gemma Collins who has recently had to resign from the show due to an injury after controversial response to her casting). Set in 1920’s Chicago during an age of prohibition and mob rule, this show focuses on the women of this era who have been jailed on suspicion of killing their lovers, husbands, or husband’s lovers! Our two leading ladies are Roxie Hart (played at this performance by Billie Hardy) and Velma Kelly (Djalenga Scott) both accused of murder but with the help of infamous lawyer Billy Flynn (Lee Mead) and some tricks up their sleeves to keep the papers interested, seek to prove their ‘innocence’.

Read on to find out our five reasons to see Chicago!

Newcastle Theatre Royal, 04/05/2022

Do-do-do-do! Get your umbrellas and find the closest lamppost, Singin’ In The Rain is back on another UK tour! We were kindly invited to see the show at Newcastle Theatre Royal and were so excited to experience it as we adore the 1952 film it is based on.

Set in 1927 Hollywood, the story follows co-stars of the silver screen Don Lockwood (Sam Lips) and Lina Lamont (Faye Tozer) adapting to a new age of cinema, talking pictures. Only Lamont’s voice isn’t best suited to this new era and too many people people don’t have the heart to tell her.

Read on for our five reasons to see Singin’ In The Rain…

Newcastle Theatre Royal, 19/04/2022

Originally premiered in 2013, ‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’ has been re-imagined for a new production that is touring across the UK. The show tells the story of Carole King from the first big break at 16 years old right up to a career defining performance at Carnegie Hall after the release of her number 1 album ‘Tapestry’.

Not being too familiar with Carole King as a songwriting name but recognising so many of the songs in the programme, this is one we were really interested to see how it all connected. Read on to find out our five reasons to see Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.

Newcastle Theatre Royal, 08/03/2022

Opening up! It’s the first night of Waitress in Newcastle on it’s extensive UK and Ireland tour. Adapted from the 2007 film of the same name containing songs by Sara Bareilles, Waitress tells the story of Jenna Hunterson (Chelsea Halfpenny), waitress and pie making extraordinaire who is dealing with an unexpected pregnancy, an unsupportive husband and an unbelievably good looking new doctor. Keep reading to find out our five reasons to see Waitress.

Sunderland Empire, 24/02/2022

Soon after the Disney magic dust has settled from Sunderland Empire hosting the latest production of Beauty and the Beast last week, the auditorium is now transported back to ‘reality’ and to 1960s New York with a gorgeous golden curtain and the stalls flooded in golden lights as we are treated to the first UK Tour of Dreamgirls. Originally opening on Broadway in 1981 and subsequently becoming a blockbuster phenomenon starring Jennifer Hudson and Beyoncé in 2006 before a West End run from 2016-2019, the rest of the UK have waited long enough to see this show! Read on to find out five reasons to see Dreamgirls

Newcastle Theatre Royal, 08/02/2022

We’ve been pulled in a new direction as The Addams Family storms into town on a leg (or hand!) of its second UK tour. Based on the classic characters and starring Joanne Clifton (Strictly Come Dancing) as Morticia Addams, this musical (created by the writers of Jersey Boys) joins the Addams Family over a single night in which formidable Wednesday Addams is working to receive her family’s blessing as she has fallen in love with a boy! With multiple actors reprising their original roles from the 2017 tour, one would expect them to have honed their craft. Read on for our five reasons to see The Addams Family on the UK Tour!

Piccadilly Theatre, 15/12/2021

Spectacular, spectacular! Moulin Rouge! The Musical has finally made its way across the pond from a successful opening on Broadway to grace the West End with its presence. With climbing ticket prices following increased demand, it is quickly becoming the hottest show in London. Luckily, we managed to see the show between Covid closures in December and had an amazing time; but will it run for 50 years? Read on to find out our 5 reasons to see Moulin Rouge! at the Piccadilly Theatre in the heart of London’s West End.