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Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Bradley Riches. Sort by date Show all posts

Friday, 18 October 2024

Bradley Riches, Amber Davies, and Claudia Kariuki Join Scott Alan in Concert at Cadogan Hall


Fourth Wall Live has announced a stellar cast of guest vocalists set to perform with internationally acclaimed songwriter Scott Alan at his upcoming concert at Cadogan Hall on November 10, 2024. Headlining the event are Heartstopper star Bradley Riches (Babies The Musical), Amber Davies (Back to the Future, Pretty Woman), and Claudia Kariuki (Six, Sister Act), alongside previously announced performers Amy di Bartolemeo (The Devil Wears Prada, Bat Out of Hell), Oliver Tompsett (Kinky Boots, Wicked), and Stuart Matthew Price (The Rocky Horror Show, Parade). Tickets are on sale now at www.fw-live.com and www.cadoganhall.com.

Scott Alan is renowned for his work with some of the biggest names in theatre, TV, film, and recording, including Grammy Award-winning Pentatonix, Broadway stars like Sutton Foster and Lea Salonga, and Westlife’s Mark Feehily. Alan has released seven albums, beginning with Dreaming Wide Awake in 2007, and he continues to captivate audiences worldwide with his heartwarming and emotionally charged compositions. His music has been featured on major platforms such as American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, and Entertainment Tonight, and he has performed sold-out concerts across the globe.

Most recently, Alan released Nothing More, a deeply personal collection of songs written for his daughter, which features Gay and Transgender fathers. His upcoming performance at Cadogan Hall marks the 15th anniversary of his debut album, and he has expressed immense excitement about returning to London, saying: 
Returning to London after so many years away feels like coming home... this night feels like a giant hug."
Fourth Wall Live has a history of producing unforgettable musical theatre concerts, with recent successes including Bonnie & Clyde The Musical, headlined by Jeremy Jordan, and the UK premieres of Something Rotten and Oklahoma!, which featured a star-studded cast. FWL’s ongoing commitment to bringing world-class talent to the stage continues with this exciting Scott Alan concert, set to be one of the highlights of the 2024 theatre calendar.

Scott Alan's live concert at Cadogan Hall is a must-see for theatre and music fans alike. Featuring an exceptional lineup of performers and celebrating the legacy of Alan’s impactful music, this one-night-only event will be an unforgettable celebration of musical theatre.

Sunday, 20 October 2024

THEATRE NEWS ROUNDUP 13th-19th October 2024


It's been another week of exciting theatre announcements! Here’s a quick recap of the highlights, with links to the full stories:

Craig Wright’s gripping play, The Unseen will open at Riverside Studios next month.


The Lord of the Rings- A Musical Tale to Premiere at Theatre Royal Plymouth in October 2025
The musical is set for an exclusive UK run before embarking on a European tour, following its critically acclaimed performances in Chicago, Auckland, and Australia


Orange Tree Theatre's 2025 season brings an exciting mix of world premieres, classic revivals, and the launch of OT Under 30 Nights, making theatre more accessible to younger audiences with discounted tickets and engaging post-show events.


The auction aims to raise funds to support the charity’s mission of making theatre accessible to young people and their families, especially those facing financial, social, or physical barriers.


Jack and the Beanstalk: What a Whopper! promises to be a wildly entertaining adult pantomime, packed with cheeky humour, outrageous performances, and a fabulously queer twist on the classic tale.


A pop-up costume exhibition in Covent Garden celebrates Tina- The Tina Turner Musical, showcasing iconic looks from the production and honouring Tina Turner’s legacy with a special partnership supporting Women’s Aid.


The 2025 UK tour of Bat Out of Hell- The Musical brings Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf's iconic rock hits to life with a newly announced full cast, kicking off in January and running through September.


A new cast debuted in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre this week, as the production continues its acclaimed run through June 2025.


Deafinitely Theatre has been awarded £273,675 by The National Lottery to fund its Deafinitely Youth Theatre programme for the next five years, continuing its mission to provide free, accessible theatre training for deaf and hard of hearing young people aged 14-21.


This winter, La Clique is celebrating 20 years of thrilling cabaret with a star-studded cast, jaw-dropping performances, and exclusive shows in Leicester Square.


Grammy-nominated NSYNC star JC Chasez teams up with Golden Globe-winning songwriter Jimmy Harry for an exciting new musical theatre concept album, Playing With Fire, inspired by Frankenstein and set to release October 25, 2024.


The UK premiere of Dave Malloy’s Tony-nominated musical Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 is set to debut at Donmar Warehouse from December 9, 2024, featuring a stellar cast led by Declan Bennett and Chumisa Dornford-May.


The 2025 UK tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat is set to return with an all-star cast, including Donny Osmond as Pharaoh and Christina Bianco as Narrator, starting its magical Christmas run in Edinburgh this December.


Bradley Riches, Amber Davies, and Claudia Kariuki Join Scott Alan in Concert at Cadogan Hall
Renowned songwriter Scott Alan will perform live at Cadogan Hall on Sunday, November 10, 2024, joined by a star-studded lineup including Bradley Riches, Amber Davies, and Claudia Kariuki, along with Amy di Bartolemeo, Oliver Tompsett, and Stuart Matthew Price. Tickets are available now.


101 Dalmatians Cast Teams Up with Guide Dogs UK for a Pawsome Charity Event at Woking's New Victoria Theatre
The cast of 101 Dalmatians the Musical, led by Kym Marsh as Cruella de Vil, met real-life guide dogs and puppies in training during a special charity event at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking. The event raised £2,115 for Guide Dogs UK.


Have a brilliant, stagey week and we'll see you next Sunday for another theatre news roundup! In the meantime, keep an eye out on our socials for live theatre updates.

Monday, 3 December 2018

A Christmas Story: The Musical, Waterloo East | Review


A Christmas Story: The Musical
Waterloo East
Reviewed on Saturday 1st December 2018 by Olivia Mitchell 
★★★

A stage adaptation of the 1983 film, A Christmas Story: The Musical follows young Ralphie who's sole Christmas wish is to receive a Red Ryder Carbine Actin 200-shot Range Model Air Rifle. Besides that there's pretty much no story other than a boatload of coming of age tropes, including bullying, classroom issues and family arguments. It's a simple show, which doesn't contain anything groundbreaking but is well performed by the cast.

The main story is focussed on Ralphie and his family unit who are struggling during the Depression but are still hopeful for a merry Christmas. Ralphie's mother sings stereotypically about a mother's work and his younger brother refuses to eat whilst his father wins a leg lampshade in a crossword competition- random indeed. 

Whilst very different in tone to their other works, and particularly less memorable, the music of this show is by highly successful writing duo, Pasek and Paul (The Greatest Showman, Dear Evan Hansen, La La Land) who have provided some charming but repetitive pieces, which despite being somewhat uninspired, do evoke a warm, festive feeling.


The cast are really what make this show. The children (at this performance: Harry Irving, Edward Flynn Haddon, Evan Huntley-Robertson, Flynn Timberlake, Chloe Weir and Sofia-Elena Tait) are full of energy and cheer as they rattle around the stage with young glee and excitement for impending Christmas celebrations. Sofia-Elena Tait is a particular standout throughout. Leading the show as Ralphie, Rufus Kampa is very strong as he barely steps off stage and provides some lovely vocal moments. As Farkus the bully of the school, Bradley Riches is wonderful, and even more so as he shows off his humourous side as an elf who is certainly not loving his life. It's just a shame Bradley doesn't have a little more stage time as he really shines among the cast.

The adult cast who make up the rest of the show are great. Lucyelle Cliffe brings a real warmth to her role whilst her partner, Simon Willmont brings humour as well as sincerity in his solo moments where he just longs to be someone special. Garry Freer narrates the show well, whilst, Jenny Gayner astounds as the hilarious Miss Shields, and performs potentially the best number of the show with her act 2 tap dance (choreographed by Rhainne Butts). Katy Stephens is also strong in her various roles and again, it would be nice to see more of her. 

Despite it being a different time and place, there's something jarring about a number of songs focussing on a gun; some transitions are a little clunky and the story is basically non-existent, but thanks to the strength of the performers, I think we can let those things slide and appreciate A Christmas Story: The Musical, for the injection of festivity that it is.

A Christmas Story: The Musical runs at Waterloo East until 22nd December

photo credit: Robert Piwko

Saturday, 10 November 2018

Monstersongs, The Other Palace | Review


Monstersongs
The Other Palace Studio 
Reviewed on Tuesday 6th November 2018 by Olivia Mitchell 
★★★★

The Other Palace played house for the UK premiere of Rob Rokicki's Monstersongs, a theatrical experience that combines rock music, theatre, graphic novels and technology. Taking form as part song cycle, part staged show, Monstersongs is a journey into the minds of often misunderstood 'monsters' and 'baddies'. The music flips the switch on the traditional monster narrative and welcomes us to look at the alternative side of a story and the humanity which unites us all.

This show has the potential to be performed in a number of venues and formats so it will certainly be exciting to see how it evolves and progresses. In its current iteration, we see a series of stories introduced by the young narrator, Bradley Riches who welcomes the creatures to centre stage as well as becoming the Dragon in the rousing song, Reluctantly.

Aside from the vocal performances, the live band are the stars of the show. Providing enough oomph for the rock feel but not becoming overpowering, even in the intimate space of The Other Palace Studio. David O' Neill's graphic novel artwork is also it's own character, with projections adding another layer of interest to the story and helping create the multi-sensory feel of the performance. 

Sinéad Wall and Amanda Flynn give a stand out performance with Blood and Brains which is equal measures humourous and gruesome. Sinéad also performs Say Goodbye, a moving number about the pain of Medusa as she freezes another man to stone, with vocal ease and power; whilst Amanda is suitably heartbroken and wicked at the scorned witch in Hell Hath No Fury. Tyrone Huntley is a vocal powerhouse in Down and Under which tells the story of the troll under the bridge and Right Through You is performed with chilling smoothness by Cleopatra Higgins. Another stand out is certainly George Damms in both his first number, The Plans, where he is extremely witty as Igor and his second solo, I'm Sorry in which he showcases his superb vocals.

Whilst I wouldn't say Monstersongs is an immersive show right now, it certainly has the potential to be one and it could definitely do well as a musical which becomes a sort of art installation. It's a 60 minute rock musical about monsters, that provides vocal greatness and heartfelt (if at times predictable) stories- what more could you ask for?