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12 Aug
2011

Fela! at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London

Posted by in Theatre No Comments


Fela! tells the true story of the legendary Nigerian musician and activist Fela Kuti.

Fela Kuti lived a controversial life as an artist and political activist.

Before going to see Fela, I had heard mixed reviews about the show from Nigerian friends who had said it was a watered-down version of the real life of Fela Kuti.

They were concerned because the lead actor did not resemble the real life Kuti; there was no mention of the talking drums that he used to send messages to the people; and because The Shrine (a famous night club in Lagos) did not look like the real thing.

I sat down at the beginning of the performance greeted by the sounds of the drums and beautiful women moving to the rhythm, in tune and at one with the music.

I found the whole production and performance electrifying and it made me want to know more about the life and story that made this man.

I felt the need to grab every piece of merchandise being sold, from books to CDs and t-shirts, just to get a deeper insight into this man’s life. Simply brilliant!

Fela! is at Sadler’s Wells until 28 August. Book tickets

21 Jun
2011

One Year To Go To The London 2012 Festival

Posted by in London 2012 Olympic Games 1 Comment

Today marks one year to go to the London 2012 Festival, a 12-week UK-wide cultural celebration from 21 June to 9 September 2012 featuring leading artists from all over the world.

The London 2012 Festival is the finale of the Cultural Olympiad, and will feature artists Plan B, Toni Morrison, Olafur Eliasson, Miranda Hart, Deborah Warner, Mike Leigh, Leona Lewis and Damon Albarn.

More than 7 million people can enjoy free events during the London 2012 Festival. Events already announced include

Today there are several new programme announcements, many of which are outside London: a free light and fire spectacular by Les Commandos Percus on the shores of Lake Windermere; an immersive theatre show for Doctor Who fans by Punchdrunk in Manchester; a free spectacular by outdoor performance specialists Walk the Plank in Chelmsford. Londoners can look forward to The 2012 Reading Challenge; a special comedy season at the Hackney Empire, and a Peace One Day concert in London on 21 September 2011, featuring Eliza Doolittle.

Sebastian Coe, London 2012 Chair, said: “We always said that the culture program would be part of the London 2012 experience.

“What you can see today is even more evidence that the London 2012 Festival programme for next year will showcase the incredible creative talent we have here in the UK. Millions will be able to get involved all across the UK, the vast majority for free; it will be a fitting finale for the Cultural Olympiad.”

Tickets for the London 2012 Festival will go on sale in October 2011. Tickets for number of Festival projects are already on sale, including Pina Bausch retrospective and Philip Glass’s Einstein on the Beach taking place at Sadler’s Wells and the Barbican.

Sign up now at www.london2012.com/festival to be first in line for information about the festival.


14 Mar
2011

Legally Blonde and After The Dance Triumph at the Laurence Olivier Awards

Posted by in Dance, Opera, Theatre 2 Comments

Hit West End Musical Legally Blonde won three gongs last night at the Laurence Olivier Awards, UK theatreland’s “Oscars”.

Star of the show Sheridan Smith won Best Actress in a Musical, and co-star Jill Halfpenny took the prize for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical. The show also won the Best New Musical award.

The National Theatre’s revival of Terence Rattigan’s After the Dance took four awards, including Best Revival, Best Actress for Nancy Carroll and Best Actor in a Supporting Role for the ever-excellent Adrian Scarborough.

These two shows were the biggest winners at the prestigious Laurence Olivier Awards, held last night at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

Other prizes went to Roger Allam for playing Falstaff in Henry IV at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre (Best Actor), David Thaxton for Passion at the Donmar Warehouse (Best Actor in a Musical) and Howard Davies: best director for The White Guard at the National.

Clybourne Park, which is currently playing at Wyndham’s Theatre won Best New Play, and the Entertainment Award went to The Railway Children at Waterloo Station (which is, happily, coming back to London in a few months’ time).

The BBC Radio 2 Audience Award went to We Will Rock You.

Sadler’s Wells’ production Babel won two dance awards, including Best New Dance Production. One of the biggest shocks of the night was the Best New Opera Award, given to La Boheme by OperaUpClose, which started life in the 35-seat Cock Tavern pub theatre in North-West London, and beat much grander-scale shows at the Royal Opera House, London Coliseum and Young Vic.

Finally, Best Musical Revival went to Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods, staged by the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.

At the ceremony’s climax, Sondheim received a special prize in recognition of his contribution to theatre.
Sir Cameron Mackintosh described the composer and lyricist as a “true legend”, paying tribute to his “unique theatrical muscle”.

“His sense of theatrical adventure knows no bounds, his subjects… have shown us all no subjects are taboo,” Sir Cameron said.

Read more about the Oliviers here. Do you agree with the judges’ decisions? Let us know in the comments below.

16 Feb
2011

Three Musicals to See in London this February

Posted by in Theatre No Comments

This February some fabulous new musical theatre productions have come to London’s stages. Here are a few of the best I’ve seen recently that are worth checking out:

Company
A new staging of this Sondheim favourite is underway at the Southwark Playhouse. We meet single party guy Bobby as he quizzes his coupled up friends about the pros and cons of married life. On his 35th birthday should he really still be without a wife? This is a lively show, with numerous great songs, the cast are vocally extremely strong and make the best of the tricky music. A must see for Sondheim fans. Until 12 Mar

The Last Five Years
This rarely performed gem from talented American composer, Jason Robert Brown is one of the best contemporary musicals out there, in my opinion anyway. The dynamic score combines a variety of musical styles, with memorable melodies and funky creative harmonies. It tells the sad tale of Cathy and Jamie who have broken up after an epic five year relationship. We hear the journey from both characters. Lauren Samuels as Cathy and Christopher Pym as Jamie are both confident and witty in this thoughtful piece. Until 5 Mar, Tabard Theatre

Shoes
Transferring after a sucessful run at Sadler’s Wells, Shoes is now at The Peacock Theatre. With toe-tapping tunes and incredible costumes this is a brilliant night out for everyone and anyone. Hilarious shoe stories, entrancing singing and best of all, unbelievable dancing. Until 3 Apr

Forget the rain and grey skies and book yourself a jolly night out this February. Let us know which one you like best

26 Oct
2010

Pet Shop Boys and Horses Take to the Sadler’s Wells Stage

Posted by in Dance No Comments

The Pet Shop Boys will present a new full-length dance show at Sadler’s Wells next year, it was announced today.

The duo are teaming up with choreographer Javier De Frutos to create a show based on Hans Christian Andersen story The Most Incredible Thing.

The modern fairytale will feature former Royal Ballet star Ivan Putrov and animation by BAFTA award winner Tal Rosner.

Among the other season highlights is a new commission by horse rider, director and stage designer Bartabas, who will appear on stage with four horses.

And – not for the faint hearted – Dave St Pierre’s Sadler’s Wells debut, Peu de Tendresse Bordel de Merde, which will feature 20 completely naked dancers.

See the full 2011 programme on the Sadler’s Wells website at www.sadlerswells.com

8 Oct
2010

Traces at The Peacock Theatre

Posted by in Dance, Theatre No Comments

Traces is certainly a show with a twist. It was first seen in the UK in 2007 at the Edinburgh Fringe, and is now making an impact on London audiences at Sadler’s Wells Peacock Theatre. This is a thrilling circus type show from French Canadian company Les 7 Doigts de la Main.

Interestingly a number of art forms are combined – while one performer dances, another draws on a projector screen and a third accompanies on the piano. The energy is buoyed by the music (very well chosen I thought) and the immaculately timed fast lighting changes.

I found the narrative a little disorientating; it is set in a makeshift urban warehouse with five characters living out what they believe could be their final days. This confusion only intensified my experience. The players tell stories about their pasts,  touchingly sharing with us their personal strengths and weaknesses.

The urgency and precision of the show is attention grabbing from start to finish. The five performers excel, leaping across the stage with confidence and gusto. And I was impresed by the acrobatic skills of the young cast (Antoine Carabinier Lepine, Antoine Auger, Genevieve Morin, Philip Rosenberg and Jonathan Casaubon).

Traces has both solo showcases and ensemble pieces, held together with speech and musical numbers. They incorporate a wide variety of circus skills within the show; of these the German wheel and the Chinese poles were my favourite, although there is a real wow-factor from the teeterboard act, where a seesaw-like jumping board is used to hurl one performer high into the air.

Traces continues at The Peacock Theatre in Holborn until 30 October 2010. Book Traces Tickets here

20 Aug
2010

Tanguera at Sadler’s Wells

Posted by in Dance, Music 1 Comment

Argentinian dance show, Tanguera is showing in London for a limited run, after selling out all over the world. Sadler’s Wells in Islington is one of London’s most prestigious dance venues and sure enough on Tuesday night the auditorium was packed to the brim and the audience around me were enthralled, with several people on their feet joining in.

The storyline of Tanguera is a bit lacklustre, but there is no doubt that this cast is very talented. Leticia Fallacara is enchanting Giselle, dancing with speed and precision but also creating a seductive lead character. There are some impressive routines from the men and soulful vocal accompaniment is provided by Marianella, who has triumphed in many productions including her critically acclaimed Grizabella in Cats.

The music is beautiful throughout Tanguera, I could have listened to it alone all night. The show begins with a short interlude from the six piece band, which is charming and illustrates the musicians’ natural understanding of the music they are interpreting. The musical ensemble is made up of two bandoneons (a type of concertina instrument similar to an accordion), piano, double bass, guitar and violin, all parts interweaving to create a full and dramatic sound.

Read more about Tanguera on my blog: thoroughlymodernmilly5.blogspot.com

Tanguera continues at Sadler’s Wells until 22 August. Buy Tanguera tickets here.

9 Jul
2010

Things To Do in London This Weekend

Posted by in London 3 Comments

The weekend is set to be a scorcher and we can’t wait to be outside in the sun.  Take a look at our top tips to make the most of London this weekend:

Good luck to those of you taking part in the British 10K on Sunday. And don’t forget to enter our Vinopolis giveaway.

20 May
2010

Portavilion Launch in Potters Field Park

Posted by in Dance, Open Spaces, Special Events 2 Comments

I popped down to Potters Field Park this afternoon for the launch of Portavilion – a portable tent that’s coming to an open space in London near you this summer.

Rosy (the ballerina) is the semi-opaque tent’s name. Appropriately, the opening event inside Rosy was a Big Dance performance by the Siobhan Davies Dance Group in association with Sadler’s Wells. (Read about the launch of Big Dance this morning.)

Although the show was aimed at kids aged 3-7, I really enjoyed the 10-minute performance, which incorporated rubber balls, a cello and lots of bouncing and sliding.

To see Rosy for yourself this summer, check out her locations and performance times (you can visit and enter even if nothing’s on) at www.portavilion.com

20 May
2010

Arlene Phillips Launches Big Dance Bus

Posted by in Dance, Special Events No Comments

Celebrity choreographer and TV talent show judge Arlene Phillips joined 50 young dancers at Sadler’s Wells this morning to launch the Big Dance Bus.

The bus is touring London in the run-up to Big Dance, a nine-day festival of dance at unusual venues across London in July.

“I love the words Big Dance,” says Phillips. “People, I’m sure, from all over the country will join this big event. Everyone can get up and dance.”

The bus will roll out its mobile dance floor at 16 locations around London, with performances and a chance to have a go at various dance styles, from ballet to waltz, tango to contemporary.

You’ll also be able to learn the Big World Dance routine, which will be performed by thousands of people on the streets of London on 10 July, culminating in a huge event in Trafalgar Square.

The Big Dance Bus tours London from 21 May until Big Dance week (3-11 July 2010). Find out more at www.bigdance2010.com

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