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Private Lives love concurs the heart but not always the correct decision
Silent Sounds UK partying down the River Thames
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The Theatre Cafe for a pre-theatre meal and relive theatre memories
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Slammers Bar where you can feel like a prisoner
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Freschcano peaches are nutritional and can be enjoyed all year round
Sun Street London brings to it’s doors puppy yoga event by Satya Yoga
Mrs Doubtfire The New Comedy Musical – Helloooo, Gabriel Vicks is a homage to Robin Williams character Mrs Doubtfire
I love theatre and it is great to see that many classic movies are being adapted for the theatre stage. The latest being Mrs Doubtfire which has been adapted into a new comedy musical which can be seen at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London.
The classic 90s comedy film Mrs Doubtfire starred the late Robin Williams which has now been given the full West End treatment to celebrate the movies 30th anniversary.
Mrs Doubtfire is a movie which centres around a married couple Daniel and Miranda who have three children but recently they have divorced but there are child minding issues to deal with. Daniel within the movie is played by the humorous Robin Williams. Daniel unfortunately given by the court only has a restricted amount of time once a week he can see his children but that is not enough time with them for him. So when he hears that his ex wife Miranda is looking for a nanny with the help of his brother and partner who work in prosthesis helps transform Daniel into a woman which ends up being a nanny type figure. This way he gets to see his children in disguise from his wife everyday in the family home. Throughout the movie there is many funny moments in which shows Mrs Doubtfire with his children but unfortunately his time with his children eventually gets cut short as Daniel soon gets unmasked.
This Twentieth Century Studios Motion Picture movie Mrs Doubtfire became a classic for all sorts of reasons as it starred Robin Williams, and it became a box office smash, grossing over $440 million on just a $25 million budget which earned it the title of the world’s second highest-grossing film of 1993. Mrs. Doubtfire also won the award for Best Makeup at the Academy Awards and the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture in the Musical or Comedy category. Robin William’s also won a Golden Globe for Best Actor.
This classic movie now can be seen LIVE on the West End stage which sees many scenes relived out from the movie, with some adjustments and some new scenes along the way making this theatre production a joy from start to finish.
I went along to a press night as to review and see just how wonderful Mrs Doubtfire is on stage which it did not disappoint. In fact this has become one of my new favourite musicals to have seen at the West End thanks to the story and the acting played out by Gabriel Vicks who plays Daniel and Mrs Doubtfire.
Mrs Doubtfire The New Comedy Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre
Mrs Doubtfire is based on a beloved classic movie which came out in 1993. It has now been turned into a comedy musical by creator Kevin McCollum and Jamie Wilson along with Gavin Kalin, Hunter Arnold, LAMS Productions, Nicole Eisenberg, Bob Cohen, Isaac Robert Hurwitz, James L Nederlander, Boyett/Miller, Ayal Miodovnik, Barbara Freitag, IPN, Sing Out Louise, Bard Theatricals, Lucas McMahon and brought to life by outstanding West End theatrical stars.
Having had a sensational, sell-out run in Manchester, Mrs Doubtfire the Musical has now come to London’s Shaftesbury Theatre for a limited run starting May 2023 to June 2024.
This musical comedy is centred around Daniel and him as Mrs Doubtfire. Coming from a broken family out of work actor Daniel is trying hard to do anything to be able to keep seeing his children after losing custody in a messy divorce. With that he creates an alter ego of a Scottish nanny Euphegenia Doubtfire in a desperate attempt to stay in their lives. As his new character takes on a life of its own, Mrs Doubtfire teaches Daniel more than he bargained for about how to be a father.
Mrs Doubtfire is a new comedy musical full of humour, dance and singing as Daniel aka Mrs Doubtfire shows that the impossible can be possible with a little help from his brother and that just because a family might not be together love will always bind them together.
Continue readingIdiots Assemble Spitting Image the Musical says it all!
If you love puppets, comedy, musicals and the theatre then you will love Idiots Assemble Spitting Image the Musical which is showing at Phoenix Theatre for a limited run.
What is Spitting Image though you might be asking. Well Spitting Image is a show which originally aired on British television back in 1984 which is a puppet show. The puppets are caricatures of public figures, celebrities, the government, and the Royal Family. It was created by Peter Fluck, Roger Law and Martin Lambie-Nairn.
For over 18 series it was aired on ITV. At its peak, the show was watched by 15 million people. The series was so popular it even had collaborations with musicians. The show also was nominated and won numerous awards, including ten BAFTA Television Awards, and two Emmy Awards back in 1985 and 1986 in the Popular Arts Category. Sadly though in 1996 it was cancelled as viewing figures started to decline. After many years though with a few bumps along the way Spitting Image returned to our TV screens October 2020 with new puppets and plenty of laughs for a short stint.
Now Spitting Image is back and LIVE at the Phoenix Theatre after having a 5 star sell out run at Birmingham Rep, where you can now go along and actually see this hilarious puppet show musical in real life, which are controlled by professional puppeteers on stage.
I went along to the press night of Idiots Assemble Spitting Image the Musical courtesy of Avalon marketing.
Idiots Assemble Spitting Image the Musical
Spitting Image The Musical is presented by Avalon, and originally produced at Birmingham Rep where it had a hugely successful run.
It is written by a comedy team made up of Al Murray, Matt Forde and double-Olivier award winner Sean Foley, who also directs, alongside a creative team spearheaded by the original Spitting Image co-creator, Roger Law.
The voice overs are pre-recorded by a stellar line-up of artists from Oliver Chris (Green Wing, The IT Crowd, and Prince William in Charles III on Broadway and on film) Kathryn Drysdale (Bridgerton, The Windsors, Christmas on Mistletoe Farm, The Bubble, The Queen and I and Plebs), Jason Forbes (The Tracy Ullman Show, The Mash Report and Horrible Histories: The Movie and Borg Mcenroe), Luke Kempner (Spitting Image, Steph’s Packed Lunch, The Last Leg, Stand-up Sketch Show and The Imitation Game), Lorna Laidlaw (Doctors, Coronation Street, Getting It Straight and A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Jackie Lam (Strangers, All that Remains and Emma) Shri Patel (Rishi Sunak in This England, Emmerdale and Pennyworth), Jess Robinson (Spitting Image, The Last Leg, Stars in Their Ears, and The Rise and Fall of Little Voice and Britain’s Got Talent), Debra Stephenson (The Impressions Show, Dead Ringers, Rich Hall’s Election Breakdown, Newzoids, Coronation Street and Bad Girls) and Ronan Summers Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Krays: Code of Silence, Doctor Who and Episodes).
The talented puppeteers who bring the puppets to life are Antony Antunes, Rianna Ash, Katie Bradley, Emily Essery, Kaidan Dawkins, Bertie Harris, Pena Iiambo, Jackie Lam, Bright Ong, Will Palmer, Helen Parke, Rayo Patel, Tom Quinn, Richard Vorster and Faye Weerasinghe.
Everyone else that works on Idiots Assemble Spitting Image the Musical are as follows:
Production Designer, Alice Power, Video Designer Nina Dunn for Pixel Lux, Lighting Designer Tim Mitchell, Sound Designer Richard Brooker, Puppet Master Scott Brooker, Costume Designer Lotte Collett, Choreographer Lizzi Gee, Composer and Musical Director Alexander S. Bermange, Music Supervisor Jerome van den Berghe, Creators of Spitting Image Peter Fluck and Roger Law, General Manager Emma Brunjes for ebp, and Producers Richard Allen-Turner and Jon Thoday for Avalon.
It first opened up in Birmingham Rep early in the year and was a 5 star sell out performance. It now has come to London Phoenix Theatre for a limited run (Wednesday 24 May to Saturday 26 August 2023).
This extravaganza musical is simultaneously inspired and appalled by real events with a little make believe moments as it see the Government in particular Boris Johnson trying to steal the crown from King Charles as Boris wants to be King, plus see Tom Cruise as you have never seen him before.
Continue readingPivot British Bar & Bistro by award winning Chef Mark Greenaway
Last Autumn 2021 award-winning Scottish chef Mark Greenaway, who is well known in Edinburgh has opened up Pivot British Bar & Bistro in the hear of Coven Garden, London. It’s an all-day restaurant which the bar can be found on the ground floor and the Bistro on the first floor. The bar is a café by day, where you can enjoy a breakfast, brunch, snacks or even pies whilst sipping on coffee at The Gentlemen Baristas. By night it is a lovely place to enjoy a wine or two along with small plates. If you are looking for more than a snack or pie head on up stairs to their restaurant where you will be able to enjoy dishes from the a la carte menu for a romantic night or enjoy dishes from Pivot’s 3 course theatre menu to fix your appetite before heading the theatre. Pivot British Bar & Bistro is perfectly British.
I was invited on a courtesy basis to sample dishes from their a la carte menu.
Pivot Bar & Bistro
Award winning Chef Mark Greenaway owns Pivot Bar & Bistro.
Chef Mark Greenaway is voted #160 among the top 300 chefs in the world, and is renowned for his depth of flavours and the care he treats ingredients.
Situated at 3 Henrietta Square Pivot resides within an old historical townhouse which expands over two floors and overlooks Covent Garden’s famous Piazza Pivot
Pivot cuisine focusses mainly on gourmet classic British dishes with a few Scottish dishes all which have been carefully curated by award-winning Chef Mark Greenaway.
The first-floor is the main dining area which overlooks the famous Piazza. It is a modern take on a quintessential British bistro with a open kitchen with a chef’s counter gives you a prime spot while the team prepares your meal.
The ground-floor is a cafe and bar which overlooks out onto Covent Garden’s beautiful Piazza, serving exceptional food accompanied by award-winning coffee from The Gentlemen Baristas. Great spot to catch-up with friends, breakfast meetings, grab a coffee or a glass of wine after work. In the evening, the ground floor transitions into a bar, making it the perfect location to enjoy a drink with delicious small plates or choose a signature dish from the restaurant menu.
All dishes served within Pivot all are highly focussed on seasonal ingredients which elevates all the much-loved British dishes.
Continue readingThe BBQ Club by Jimmys – It’s BBQ time at the Southbank
Jimmy Garcia is known for his foodie pop ups and every year along the Southbank he pops up with his BBQ Club from May to September.
The BBQ Club is a very interactive BBQ restaurant which has two bars, a roof terrace and private event spaces.
Jimmy’s unique six course tasting menu centres around local, sustainably sourced produce, which is cooked over coals from your very own Big Green Egg.
I was invited along to attend the press night to enjoy the new menu for this years BBQ Club pop up.
Jimmy Garcia – The BBQ Club
Jimmy Garcia has been popping up within London since 2011 with a wide variety of foodie pop ups.
Every May though he brings back to London on the Southbank his BBQ Club pop up, plus his Fondue Club in Winter.
Jimmy’s BBQ Club brings to Southbank every year a show-stopping BBQ experience. Bringing mouth-watering new dishes every time, along with great wine pairing and experimental BBQ cooking techniques. With the help of Jimmy and the team, you’ll get to cook your own 6-course menu at your table using a Big Green Eggs BBQ. As the chefs on the night will prepare and guide you through each course with top tips and bucket load of accompaniments. This year the ethos for Jimmy’s BBQ Club is all about sustainability.
Both Jimmy’s kitchens from the street food stand and the BBQ Club each menu uses locally sourced food with zero-waste menus. From the garnishes to the cocktails each which are all crafted from by-products of other ingredients as well as living herb walls on site. Even the bar features art made with recyclable materials.
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“I love going out discovering new and existing restaurants, theatres, immersive experiences and so much more but I also love staying in and discovering new gadgets, gaming and cooking.
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