Category: Theatre Reviews

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.

Sunderland Empire, 10/01/2022

Good Evening Sunderland! It’s 1962 in Baltimore and Tracy Turnblad is waking up for another day of the same old life in a narrow minded town but still as optimistic as ever about it. An audition comes up for Tracy at a local TV dance show and she wants to take that opportunity to change the world for the better, which doesn’t sit well with some…

Read on for our five reasons why you should see Hairspray on its UK tour!

Sunderland Empire, 20/09/2021

Let’s do the time warp again! The Rocky Horror Show, everyone’s favourite cult hit musical that always seems to be on an endless tour is back around again, this time for us visiting Sunderland Empire. The sci-fi hit follows newly engaged Brad Majors (Ore Oduba) and Janet Weiss (Haley Flaherty) as they visit a castle for help after their car breaks down. From the moment the doorbell rings on the castle they (and the audience) are thrown into the wildest night of their lives, that they’ll remember for a very long time… Wether you’re a mega fan or a “virgin” (never seen the show before) you’re always in for a treat with Rocky Horror. Read on to find out our 5 reasons to see The Rocky Horror Show on it’s UK tour!

Newcastle Theatre Royal, 07/09/2021

HOW VERY! After what feels like forever, Heathers The Musical is finally kicking off its pandemic postponed UK tour. The beginning of the tour is running simultaneously with the West End show, but now that is in its final week in London, we caught Heathers The Musical at Newcastle Theatre Royal!

Based on the 80’s cult classic film ‘Heathers’, the musical tells the story of Veronica Sawyer’s rise to high school popularity by making friends with the baddest bunch, the Heathers. New guy in town, JD sweeps Veronica off her feet, taking her whole world as she knows it from beneath her too. As things go from bad to worse it’s left to Veronica to try and put things right.

This was our first experience of the musical which made for an exciting night! We definitely came away honorary Corn Nuts. Read on to see our 5 reasons to see Heathers The Musical UK Tour!

Newcastle Theatre Royal, 20/08/2021

Theatre is BACK! It feels like such a time for celebration; not only is it back but we are already being treated to brand new shows across the country. Newcastle Theatre Royal has the honour of hosting Disney’s newest musical Bedknobs and Broomsticks on it’s first week of performances so we had to make sure we saw it!

Having seen the 1971 film for the first time last year, it felt exciting to be witnessing a new stage adaptation of an original film that we weren’t too precious about. Bedknobs and Broomsticks tells the story of the orphaned Rawlins children who have been evacuated from World War 2 London to the countryside and are sent to live with the mysterious Eglantine Price (Dianne Pilkington). Their new life quickly reveals itself to be quite the unexpected as they go on an adventure they will never forget – aboard a flying magical bed! The show was a lot of fun, packed with the classic songs you love amidst new ones, stage magic and an adventure for the full family to enjoy. Read on to find out our five reasons to see Bedknobs and Broomsticks!

In what seems like the first of a few “movie to musical” adaptations coming to the West End (Frozen, Moulin Rouge and Mean Girls all awaiting transfers), The Prince of Egypt is a new musical that hasn’t already ran on Broadway (albeit a few other productions across the globe, this version boasts new set, costumes and song “Footprints on the Sand”). With music and lyrics by mastermind Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Wicked) who wrote the songs for the 1998 film, the music alone is bound to be worth the trip.

The show tells the biblical story of Moses (Luke Brady) from his birth until he frees the Hebrew people from the Egyptians and his brother, Ramses (Liam Tamne).

As fans of the original film and Stephen Schwartz’ work, we expected great things. Our experience was mixed as we were stunned by the ensemble but felt the emotional impact of characters didn’t quite hit right at times – overall though, the show was very impressive. Read on to find out our five reasons to see The Prince of Egypt.