Here we have the winners of the 2022 Olivier Awards, celebrating the best of West End theatre. Have to admit that considering I had a ticket for Cabaret before Christmas and it was when the performances were being cancelled, makes me even more sad that it has won so many awards.
Cast Miriam-Teak Lee – Juliet Cassidy Janson – Anne Oliver Tompsett – William Shakespeare David Bedella – Lance Jordan Luke Gage – Romeo Melanie La Barrie – Nurse Tim Mahendran – Francois Alex Thomas-Smith – May Roshani Abbey – Lucy Jocasta Almgill – Lady Capulet Ivan De Freitas – Lord Capulet
Cast Will Haswell – Marty McFly Roger Bart – Doc Brown Hugh Coles – George McFly Rosanna Hyland – Lorraine Baines Cedric Neal – Goldie Wilson/Marvin Berry Courtney-Mae Briggs – Jennifer Parker Morgan Gregory – Biff Tannen Ryan Heenan – Dave McFly Emma Lloyd – Linda McFly
Date: Wednesday 22nd December 2021 Venue: Adelphi Theatre
Cast Samantha Barks – Elsa Stephanie McKeon – Anna Craig Gallivan – Olaf Oliver Ormson – Hans Obioma Ugoala – Kristoff Richard Frame – Weselton Ashley Birchall – Sven Mikayla Jade – Sven Kanon Narumi – Young Anna Freya Scott – Young Elsa
You may (or may not) remember a blog post I put together back in 2017 about West End and Day Seats (read here) when I went to London last week, eventually and to return to the theatre I had actually wondered if Covid would put a stop to this and box offices not opening early to be able to get cheaper last minute tickets direct from the theatre’s box office.
However, I did not have to worry about that. when TodayTix had a few different deals on what they list as Rush Tickets (hello Broadway words coming into the West End). Which is the same thing as day seats, all you need to do is download the app from the App Store and they go on sale at 10am which was always the time the box office opened for the same reason. These are £25 per ticket on the app and the options to buy are for 1 or 2 seats, because I go alone a majority of the time wanting only one single seat works out very nicely that is for sure. But for that price it wouldn’t really matter if you went with someone and didn’t sit together would it?
Cast Jenna Boyd James Doherty Mary Doherty Mark Dugdale Alice Fearn Kate Graham Jonathan Andrew Hume Gemma Knight Jones Harry Morrison Sam Oladeinde Emma Salvo Stuart Hickey
I have always loved and adored musicals but I am fully aware that the genre seems to be the most difficult to please people who aren’t the biggest fans of them. After rewatching Chicago and the up and coming release of In the Heights it has me thinking about musicals going from stage to screen. Then if you have actually seen them on stage before the film adaptation or if you see the film first and then the stage musical. For obvious reasons a lot of changes have to be made when taking a show from the stage and putting it on screen, this is the main reason I feel Wicked has been left in production for around 12 years now. It’s one of my favourite stage musicals that I have currently seen nine times, but I really cannot picture how it will transfer to film without losing its magic and quite frankly being rather ridiculous on screen?
In the Heights is a show that I have been very lucky to see on stage twice, the first time on Broadway the night before it won the Tony Award for Best New Musical in 2008 and then in the West End in 2016. Both times I appreciated the unique nature of the music and quite frankly I think it is better than Hamilton. Both obviously coming from the genius mind of Lin-Manuel Miranda, seeing him perform on Broadway was certainly very special. I have been looking forward to seeing the film adaption of In the Heights since it was announced and that is now only a few weeks away. The reviews that have been released so far have been extremely positive and this increases my excitement to see the film. As we always seem to go through phases with musicals and one often leads to more being released.
I am really hoping that people who are not the biggest fans of musicals will give In the Heights a watch though as it really is not like any other musical you have seen before, we have come a very long way from the traditional musical numbers and acting. The rap/hiphop style is something so unique and different that it is a true joy to witness, I feel I have now moved more into begging people to see it, even though I haven’t myself yet either. I just hope audiences will be open minded and see something that dares to be different.
If you are in need of something to make you feel very happy but also possibly cry then here we have a a truly amazing collaboration featuring an incredible 23 West End actresses who have been in Wicked as Elphaba or Glinda.
In support of the MAD Trust which works with the theatre community to fight against AIDS and HIV.
Should you choose to donate, the theatre community would be truly grateful: Text “SUPPORT” to 70111 to donate £5 (UK ONLY) or Donate any amount at https://bit.ly/3bwP1qM or http://www.madtrust.org.uk