What does A Chorus Line mean to you?
It’s an iconic musical and being involved in it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A Chorus Line is the forefather of reality TV shows, such as X Factor, and is therefore particularly relevant today.

What’s your favourite song from A Chorus Line?
“Dance Ten, Looks Three” for obvious reasons!

When was the first time you saw A Chorus Line and how many times have you seen it?
I’d never seen the stage show, but I did see the movie while I was training myself.

Do you think A Chorus Line is the ultimate dancer’s musical?
I don’t think A Chorus Line is the ultimate dancer’s musical; I think it’s the ultimate performer’s musical.

Why do you think A Chorus Line has been so successful?
I think it’s successful because it deals with real emotions and real-life stories. It isn’t a fairy tale or a fantasy, it offers a glimpse into the lives of performers striving to achieve their dreams. It’s inspirational.

What does performing at the London Palladium mean to you?
It’s legendary! Icons and idols have walked through the corridors, sat in the dressing rooms, laughed, cried, and sweated on that stage. It has an energy all of its own.

What do you bring to the role of Zach?
I bring my own experience to the role. I’m not so old that I can’t remember what it was like to be young, eager and excited by all the possibilities that lay before me. But I’m also old enough to know what it feels like to have a fresh batch of kids right behind you snapping at your heels. I know what it feels like to be rejected, to have your whole self worth wrapped up in a “Yes” or a “No”.

What part of a musical do you enjoy most; the dancing, acting, or singing?
I enjoy all of them equally.

Any lucky charms or rituals before you go on stage?
No, I am not superstitious. Preparation is King.

How important are your fans to you?
My fans are extremely important to me as they root for you, encourage you and support you – a little like family.

A Chorus Line is currently playing at the London Palladium. You can book tickets to see A Chorus Line here. You can follow A Chorus Line and John Partridge on twitter: @AChorusLineLDN and @mustbejp

Escape the wet summer in London by watching the sunny musical South Pacific at the Barbican.

This production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic musical has already been a hit on Broadway and winner of several Tony Awards including one for Paulo Szot who plays the main male lead, Emile de Becque.

The highlight of the musical is the songs, which many will know regardless of whether they have seen the musical before or not.  The actors and orchestra beautifully perform these songs on stage, including I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair, Some Enchanted Evening, Happy Talk and Bali Ha’i.

Paulo Szot’s baritone vocals will move you and Samantha Womack is superb along with the rest of the cast.  

The only problem you may have is getting the songs out of your head after the show ends… One day later and I am still humming Bali Ha’i to myself!

South Pacific at the Barbican until 1 Oct 2011. Book tickets

It’s a packed weekend: along with it being Easter Saturday tomorrow, it’s also St George’s Day AND Shakespeare’s birthday.

Here’s a quick video of the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson wishing you a happy St George’s Day and inviting you down to witness a free musical feast in Trafalgar Square in celebration.

• Opera singer, West End star and Top 10 recording artist Alfie Boe is headlining the free event this Saturday (23 April) which includes a celebration of the unbeatable musical theatre on in London
• See an exclusive preview of platinum-selling musician Newton Faulkner before his summer festivals tour
• A Rhythm of London showcase offers the opportunity to hear new and emerging talent, and potential stars of the future

If you pop down and take any photos, don’t forget to add them to our flickrpool here

I have two confessions to make about All the Fun of the Fair, London’s new West End hit musical staring David Essex. Firstly, I only went because my mum wanted me to take her. Secondly, I got so wrapped up in this wonderful show that I nearly cried like a big soppy muppet when David sang Winter’s Tale at the end.

While it might not win awards for originality, everything about this musical works perfectly. If you like a good musical, you’ll like this. Even the predictable boy-meets-girl plot is perfectly pitched. They’ve taken great music, a stunning set, interesting characters, a straight-forward plot and an enthusiastic, talented cast, and created a really warm, enjoyable show.

Sometimes pop songs shoehorned into musicals don’t really work, but in All The Fun of the Fair, songs like Gonna Make You a Star, Me and My Girl (Night-Clubbing) and Hold Me Close fit perfectly into the adventures of funfair owner Levi and his son Jack. Silver Dream Machine inspires a particularly stunning scene.

All the Fun of the Fair is full of passion, David Essex is full of charming charisma and the Garrick Theatre is full of happy musical fans. Rock On!

18 April – 6 September, tickets from £20. www.allthefunofthefairmusical.com

Oliver! Oliver! Never before has a boy wanted more…

I’ve had this song stuck in my head since seeing the Theatre Royal production of Oliver! last week. Directed by Rupert Goold and choreographed by Matthew Bourne this musical production of Dickens’ classic novel is an all-singing, all-dancing spectacular.

I considered myself at home as the familiar tunes were performed in front of amazing sets in Covent Garden‘s beautiful old Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Whoever said you shouldn’t work with kids or animals should “eat their head”, as the kids were the stars of the show – first appearing as orphans, then as Fagin’s urchins and other London street strays. And Bullseye – Bill Sikes’ dog, played by a real live dog – was a big hit with the audience.

Oom Pah Pah, Oom Pah Pah, that’s not to say the adults didn’t belt out a few good ‘uns (literally, in the case of Sykes, ahem). Omid Djalili as Fagin was fickle, funny and just the right side of fiendish. And Nancy sang up a storm.

Proving you’ve gotta pick a pocket or two – I particularly liked the Act 1 scene where Oliver is sold to work in a Funeral Parlour and the undertaker and his wife were styled to look like Riffraff and Magenta – bit of a timewarp, but it worked.

This is a great production that’s suitable for young and old. I’m sure you’d do anything to see it for yourself and, luckily, all you have to do is buy a wonderful theatre ticket.

Once on this Island is billed as a “jubilant Caribbean musical” – and that’s exactly what it is.

Set among tropical palm trees, with brightly coloured costumes and Calypso-infused music, the show brings a taste of the Caribbean to Hackney Empire.

Through storytelling and song, Once on this Island tells the tale of a young peasant girl who falls in love with a wealthy planter.

But the path of love doesn’t run smoothly, as the girl’s fate is decided by the island’s gods of love and death.

Once on this Island takes you through a range of emotions, exploring themes of class, love, death and regeneration.

Despite a not-so-happy ending, the show is very family friendly, and people of all ages should leave the theatre feeling jubilant.