Click on the image below to be taken to my Instagram post to see more photos.
Private Lives love concurs the heart but not always the correct decision
Tag Archives: Theatre
Idiots 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 reading2:22 A Ghost Story – are ghosts real?
With Halloween upon us there are many events happening within London bringing us spookiness to the City. To get into the real spirit of October I went along to see a spooky play in the West End called 2:22 A Ghost Story within The Criteron Theatre. The play focusses on a couple who purchase a new home which an elderly couple used to live in, however things within the house are not quite right, the question is have they a ghost in the house?
The play really is an insight to those who believe in ghosts and those who don’t, as the sceptics always think there has to be a logical explanation be it science or something else.
What is a ghost though? Well it is a soul or a spirit of a dead person or even an animal who has not passed onto heaven or hell and stays within our world as a ghost. Ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible with lifelike forms. Ghosts have been believed by many for a very long time. Ghosts are generally described as solitary, human-like essences, but on a occasion there are more evil presences which are classed as poltergeist. Ghosts generally also are believed to haunt particular locations which meant something to them, for instance where they grew up.
Not everyone believes ghosts though and there is an overwhelming consensus of science which can proof the unusual happenings that someone might mistake for being a ghost. For instance despite centuries of investigation, there is no scientific evidence that any location is inhabited by spirits of the dead. It is said that many plants, drugs and the environment are usually the link to illusions making your imagination run wild.
As a fan of theatre, Halloween and horror I was kindly invited down courtesy by the PR team to see 2:22 A Ghost Story.
2:22 A Ghost Story
2:22 A Ghost Story is an award-winning supernatural thriller which has come to West End Criterion Theatre in Piccadilly, which presently is starring Tamsin Carroll, Felix Scott, Laura Whitmore and Matt Willis.
Following two record-breaking seasons at the Noël Coward and Gielgud Theatres, this critically acclaimed new play has become London’s must-see theatre event.
2:22 A Ghost Story is written by award-winning writer Danny Robins, creator of the hit BBC podcast The Battersea Poltergeist, and is directed by Matthew Dunster.
Continue readingCages where emotions are locked
I love theatre but I have never experienced anything like Cages before. Cages is a dark, gothic, heart felt musical which uses cinematic technology along with synchronised acting all which focuses on control by the government, as within Anhedonia emotions and love is forbidden.
Emotions are what makes us though and an important part of our life but within Anhedonia emotions is not allowed in particular love, but Woolf a boy born with a red heart changes all this when he gets the attention of a young female and unlocks her heart but sadly not all ends well for Woolf and his love Madeline.
I was invited along to watch Cages, experience their VIP bar area and also taste their themed Cages menu within the Riverside Studios restaurant.
Cages at Riverside Studio
Created by CJ Baran and Ben Romans, Cages has enjoyed a successful and acclaimed run in Los Angeles since 2019 and now is premiering at UKs Riverside Studio.
Continue readingMr Tipsy’s Down the Hatch – What happens within Mr Tipsy’s stays within Mr Tipsy’s
Head on down to Mr Tipsy’s Down the Hatch and you’ll be in a world of pure imagination. As you take a look you’ll see into your imagination, with a sip here and sip there travelling around the world of pure creation. What you’ll see will defy explanation!
Mr Tipsy’s Down the Hatch is the opposite to Willy Wonks Chocolate Factory as within Mr Tipsy’s you’ll adventure through in and out of different themed bars from around the world as you down many different cocktails throughout the night. It certainly is a bar crawl with a difference where you can take your imagination on a journey like no other.
I and members of my group LPUL Club we went on a pub crawl like no other as we walked around Mr Tipsy’s Down the Hatch.
Mr Tipsy’s Down the Hatch
Mr. Tipsy’s Down the Hatch is produced by Redbeard Productions with one simple goal to create an atmosphere full of joy, laughter and happiness.
Creator Nick A. Olivero the man behind San Francisco’s popular 1920s-styled bar experience, The Speakeasy and his friend Mark Nassar, who co-created NYC’s longest ever running off-Broadway comedy, Tony and Tina’s Wedding. Together they’ve teamed together their experience, connections, creativity, theatricality and more to create Mr Tipsy’s Down the Hatch pub crawl experience. Walk on through, explore their world as you adventure across the globe, sipping drinks with zany characters, singing, dancing and much more.
Continue readingBack to the Future Musical is now open in London’s West End, Great Scott!
Back to the Future Musical after a long anticipated wait has hit London’s West End with tremendous reviews.
What is Back to the Future Musical? Back to the Future is based on the classic 1985 movie which was directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale. The movie is based on a nutty inventor who builds a time machine using a DeLorean which sends Marty a teenage boy back in time. Marty in the movies is played by Michael J. Fox, and the eccentric inventor by Christopher Lloyd. The movie set in the 80s follows Marty McFly as he is accidentally sent back to 1955 in a time-traveling DeLorean automobile built by his friend Doctor Emmett Brown aka Doc. Trapped in the past, Marty accidently disturbs time as his future mother falls in love with him. It is then up to him to fix things and get his future parents’ to meet and fall for each other, otherwise he and his future siblings will never exist.
Here are some interesting facts which you might not know about Back to the Future:
- Back to the Future script was rejected over 40 times by studios because it was not considered raunchy enough to compete with the successful comedies of that era. It was thanks to Zemeckis who secured a deal which then led to a very successful movie franchise.
- Also originally Michael J Fox even though was the initial the first choice to portray Marty, at the time he was unavailable; so Eric Stoltz was cast instead. However shortly after principal photography began in November 1984, Zemeckis determined Stoltz was not right for the part and made the concessions necessary to hire Michael J Fox. This included re-filming scenes already shot with Stoltz and adding $4 million to the budget.
- Back to the Future has earnt over $381.1 million and has one of the become the highest-grossing film of 1985 worldwide.
- In the years since its release, Back to the Future has grown in esteem and is now considered to be among the greatest ever made science-fiction films of the 1980s, and one of the greatest films of all time.
- The film has received multiple award nominations and won an Academy Award, Saturn Awards, and a Hugo Award.
I was kindly invited on a press related basis to watch Back to the Future Musical at Adelphi Theatre for my thoughts.
Back to the Future Musical
Back to the Future Musical takes audiences to Hill Valley! Where you’ll take an electrifying journey back in time from the 80s to the 50s as you follow Martys adventures.
Continue readingSecret Theatre – Redemption Room who should face their fear
This year global immersive theatre project Secret Theatre is back with a fresh new concept as they are going digital.
With theatres and gatherings not allowed to open, theatres have had to adapt. This year Secret Theatre an award winning global immersive performance company brings to our screens via zoom their newest production Redemption Room.
Lights off, speakers up it was time to learn about disgraced celebrities and was up to us to determine whether they should be punished or not, or was it?
Secret Theatre
Set up by founder Richard Crawford in New York back in 2009 he brings immersive performances together. A site-specific immersive theatre and live film company they create productions where the audience can explore and interact.
Travelled the world bringing unique, immersive shows such as Edward Scissorhands, Romeo & Juliet, and Fight Club to the masses they now bring their first online, immersive theatrical experience Redemption Room, to our homes!
Continue readingNew Boulevard Theatre becomes Soho’s newest hidden gem
The new Boulevard Theatre in Soho is making quite a scene. Boulevard is a new venue within Walker’s Court which has recently had a £40m redevelopment by SODA Architects.
I was invited down on a complimentary basis to enjoy a meal within their art-deco restaurant and immerse myself within the sounds of their latest production Ghost Quartet which is played within a 360 degrees intimate theatre which seats just 165 theatre goers.
Boulevard Theatre in Soho, Walkers Court
The original Boulevard Theatre used to be owned by porn baron The King of Soho, Paul Raymond. Back in the day the Boulevard Theatre presented various productions, including erotica, stand-up comedy and straight plays. It was most famously known as the home of Peter Richardson’s Comic Strip which launched the careers of many household names such as Adrian Edmondson, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Rik Mayall and Alexei Sayle in the 1980s.
Continue readingScripts for Supper presents Wind in the Willows – Onion sauce, onion sauce says Mole
Scripts for Supper returns this Spring & Summer with an adaptation of Wind in the Willows along with delicious feast by Juanita Hennessey who was a MasterChef finalist back in 2016.
I and Steve we were invited down on a complimentary basis to take a journey with Toad, Ratty, Mole and Badger whilst indulging in a 5 course feast, thankfully there was no onion soup but pea soup instead.
Scripts for Supper
Scripts for Supper creates brand new adaptations of classic stories and serves them alongside a bespoke menu inspired by the world of the play.
Annie McKenzie has been creating alongside Jessica McVay divine immersive dinners since 2017. Since then they have now grown to become a 5 star sell out immersive dining experience.
Their experiences fuse together theatre, food, music, song and dance, and take diners on a culinary and theatrical story telling journey.
Continue readingFlabbergast Theatre: The Swell Mob – Be afraid of the puppet
Flabbergast Theatre brings to London The Swell Mob. For any immersive theatre lover this is a must.
The show first premiered in Edinburgh last summer in which it won the Edinburgh Festival Fringe award.
For three month’s Flabbergast Theatre will run at the COLAB Factory giving theatre goers a world of Victorian depravity set in an 1830s taproom with sideshows, vaudeville turns and even a boxing ring.
Flabbergast Theatre
Formed in 2010 Flabbergast was set up to make uncompromising and exciting physical theatre in a belief that all theatre should be engaging and sweaty. Providing puppetry and physical comedy and its application in both devised theatre and work on existing texts, their leaning is currently towards Bunraku Puppetry and clowns.
Continue reading
“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.
Recent blogs/reviews by community members