Category Archives: Theatre Shows

Why You Should Go and See the Mamma Mia Musical

July 04, 2011  
mamma

The international hit musical Mamma Mia is best seen in the West End because of value for money, professionalism, safety and variety of other activities. The West End has the UK’s best talent. Public transportation is also available so the car can be left at home.

You would have to be living under a rock not to have heard about the hit musical Mamma Mia, based on the music of Swedish pop sensation ABBA. Although productions of Mamma Mia can be found from coast to coast all over the UK since the very first showing in 1999, the best place to see it is London’s West End.

Best Value for Money

It is a common misconception that the strength of a musical stands on its plot and songs. If that was true, then there would be no reason for anyone to go to the West End or even across the Pond to Broadway when the local drama club is putting on a revue. Productions in the West End have the highest calibre of talent, special effects and professionalism. If you buy a ticket for a musical at the West End, that musical is going to go on, no matter what.

Now contrast this to musicals performed on theatres other than the West End. Even with the same choreography and costumes, the effect is a pale imitation at best. As the recent Hollywood movie ‘Mamma Mia! The Movie’ (2008) proved, not even Hollywood’s best could do proper justice to the musical. Although ABBA songs are catchy, they are incredibly hard to sing. Just watch poor Pierce Brosnan struggle with ‘SOS’ in the film. Better yet, skip the film and book a trip to the West End.

Safety, Variety and Transport.

Ever arrive at your holiday destination and discover there aren’t any busses, trams or trains? Or if they are, they only run once a day and you missed it? This is one problem you never have to face in London. You don’t even need to bring your car in order to get about. All UK railway lines inevitably end up in London.

Since the West End is the posh area, a lot of money has been invested to keep all of the upper class actors and divas happy when they work at the West End or go to see the shows of their friends. The West End is well supplied with CCTV cameras that operate 24 hours a day. The West End is usually better lit than more other dodgy areas of London.

So, you’ve seen the musical and it was fab. Now what are you going to do? Sit in your hotel room all day and stare out of the window? In many other towns, that is your only option. But the West End is full of restaurants and shops so that there is always something to do before and after the musical. If one restaurant is booked solid for the night, no worries – there is always another to choose from.

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Why Chicago The Musical is Still Running in the West End

July 04, 2011  
chicago

Chicago is considered by many to be one of the preeminent examples of musical theatre. The play tells a tale of violence and corruption in the Windy City and has won numerous international awards. As such, it is no wonder that this dark and vivacious production is still being shown in London’s cultural and fashionable West End.

Originally produced in the United States in 1975, Chicago remains to this day as one of the most famous and distinguished Broadway plays to date. It tells a the tale of a chorus girl Roxie and her increasingly-troublesome encounters with the city of Chicago’s penal system. Its gripping is only matched by the energetic musical performances peppered throughout the production. Each song is performed in a classic vaudevillian style, thought no two musical acts are completely similar. Indeed, each piece has its own character that not only attributes to the overarching storyline but also stands out with its dynamic lyrical style and accompanying choreography.

Chicago is an exuberant tale of crime and corruption whose plot is as enchanting as its soundtrack. The play has been showered with numerous accolades throughout its running history, including a sweep of the 1996 Tony Awards by winning in the categories of Best Lighting Design, Best Choreography, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Leading Actor and Actress in a Musical, and Best Revival of a Musical. The London Production won the awards for Best Actress in a Musical and Outstanding Musical Production at the 1997 Oliver Awards. The play has been reproduced in nearly every major country in the world, including but not limited to India, China, Russia, Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands.

Located in the heart of London, the West End is widely considered to be the entertainment center of the United Kingdom. Containing the largest shopping district in Europe, the West End caters to almost every taste with its eclectic mix of department stores and high-end boutiques. London’s West End is also home to numerous embassies, government institutions, art galleries, nightclubs, and perhaps most famously, theaters. Many of the world’s leading plays have either placed their foundations or hosted a spot in one of the West End’s historic theaters. Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, the longest running play in history, has been entertaining audiences for over fifty years and is currently showing at St. Martin’s Theatre. Other notable plays and musicals include The Phantom Of The Opera, We Will Rock You, Les Miserables, Mamma Mia, and Oliver.

Chicago has been continually performed in the West End for twelve years; the first nine were at the historic Adelphi Theatre though it has since moved to the Cambridge Theatre. It is ranked second in the list of the top ten musicals one must see while in London, and notable cast members have included David Hasselhoff, Jerry Springer, Brooke Shields, Ashlee Simpson, and Michelle Williams from the R&B group Destiny’s Child, who was the first African American woman to fill the shoes of Roxie in the West End.

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Five Reasons to See The Lion King Musical

July 04, 2011  
lion

Disney’s stage version of the beloved classic ‘The Lion King’ is now showing in London’s West End. The show mixes singing, dancing with beautiful scenery and costumes to create a stunning production. Audiences will enjoy hearing familiar songs from the movie, as well as several new songs written specifically for the musical version. Altogether, the Lion King Musical provides wonderful entertainment for all age groups.

In the early 1990s, it seemed that the world of theatre was crashing and burning. With the expenses of putting on a musical theatre production skyrocketing, few people were willing to shell out for high priced theatre tickets when they could just as easily visit the movie theatre for a fraction of the price. Fortunately, Disney rescued the struggling Broadway scene, first with a stage version of Beauty in the Beast, and then a production of the Lion King. Today, this flashy modern musical can be seen at a variety of venues, including the Lyceum Theatre, located in London’s West End. Here are five reasons why you should attend this spectacular show.

1. Appealing to All Age Groups

Clearly, the Lion King is a hit with kids. But the rhythmic music and sophisticated plot makes it an entertaining show for adults as well. Young adults will enjoy relieving memories of the first time they saw the movie as children.

2. Award Winner

The Lion King has received a number of distinguished awards, including eleven Drama Desk awards and six Tony awards. It was also nominated for an additional five Tony awards. Any production that is the recipient of this many awards is clearly worth seeing.

3. New Songs

Everyone loves the songs from the movie version of the Lion King. A lot of the favourites from the film are included which you can sing along to, such as ‘Be Prepared,’ ‘Circle of Life,’ ‘I Just Can’t Wait To Be King,’ and ‘Hakuna Matata,’ are featured in the West End stage production. But there are also several new songs that were composed for the musical version. These new songs include ‘Endless Night,’ ‘Shadowland,’ and ‘One By One.’

4. Beautiful Costumes

One might wonder how a musical production of the Lion King is able to portray animals such as giraffes and zebras while using humans as actors. This feat was achieved with the help of several excellent costume designers. It is fascinating to see the costumes, which are simultaneously intricate and simple. The amazing thing about these costumes is that they manage to convey human characteristics while retaining important animalistic elements. This anthropomorphic balance between animal and human helps keep the story believable.

5. Unique Scenery

There a number of complicated scenes in the Lion King that could not work without the use of sophisticated scenery and props. One such scene is the stampede, during which wildebeast props on rollers create an effective feeling of danger with the animals racing towards you giving the illusion of depth.

With great music, lovely costumes and unique scenery, the Lion King musical is one of the most entertaining shows in decades. A must see for adults and children alike!

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