Jenny Ell - Page 11

Many of us fondly remember East is East as the film that was released in 1999 - a superb comedy that also tackles the conflict of interest within a multi-cultural family. However, a lot of people are unaware that it was a play beforehand, debuting in Birmingham in October 1996, also featuring Linda Bassett as Ella, before transferring to the Royal Court Upstairs the following year. The show was writer Ayub Khan Din's first play following a successful career as an actor. We are very lucky to have the man himself starring as George in this short UK tour following a well-received run at the Trafalgar Studios.

Having visited the Belgrade a couple of weeks ago to see their annual pantomime (which was rather good I might add), I was also invited to see their 'alternative' panto or "udderly gripping comedy thriller" as it has been branded. The production is aptly named Oh No It Isn't! and is back by popular demand having achieved great audience reaction in 2013 on the B2 stage.

Cinderella is probably the most popular pantomime of all and QDOS have many productions of this around the country as well as other favourites. Last night I went to see Wolverhampton's version of the classic and it was as lavish and flamboyant as you would expect…and that isn't even taking into account Julian Clary's costumes!

Sim G Records has released an array of wonderful recordings over the past couple of years, many of which I have had the pleasure of reviewing. Based and inspired by John Milton's poem, Paradise Lost is their latest studio recording release, just in time for Christmas!

Following the exciting press launch a couple of months ago, Jersey Boys had been eagerly anticipated in Birmingham and the New Alexandra Theatre are proud to be hosting the production for the festive season. It was a packed house for the press night last night and they thoroughly deserved their full standing ovation. Some people didn't even wait until the finale but between musical numbers; thus showing the power that the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons still has decades later.

The Sound of Music has seen several UK tours and productions over recent years and the Curve has decided to produce yet another version of the show for its Christmas production this year. Some say it's been done to death and Bill Kenwright has just announced another tour featuring Danielle Hope as Maria but the Curve somehow always manages to find something fresh. Artistic Director Paul Kerryson leaves the Curve on a massive directorial high.

The BFG is one of Roald Dahl's much loved children's books. Recent times have seen Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach plus several other of his successful tales being adapted for stage to massive acclaim. Therefore, how would The BFG fare onstage?

A fun and fabulous evening was had by all at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry last night for their panto press night. This year's Christmas production is Aladdin and is jam packed full of pantomime traditions and enjoyable entertainment for the whole family. I was first introduced to the Belgrade's seasonal show last year when watching Jack and the Beanstalk and even though they are on a smaller scale than that of the Birmingham Hippodrome or Wolverhampton Grand, they are definite rivals in the panto stakes based on enjoyment level.

Slava's Snowshow is a global phenomenon which, following sell-out performances last year, is currently touring the UK before taking a short London residency until the New Year. The show is created and staged by Russian performance artist and clown Slava Polunin.

Worzel Gummidge was a very successful television series in the late 1970's based on Barbara Euphan Todd's children's novel. Following this, a stage adaptation was created - featuring original TV cast members Jon Pertwee, Una Stubbs and Geoffrey Bayldon - at Birmingham Repertory Theatre over the Christmas period in 1980 and was a resounding hit. It then went on to play at the Cambridge Theatre in London's West End the following festive season, extending until February 1982. This cast recording was made at Abbey Road Studios shortly before their London opening and Stage Door Records are responsible for making it possible to listen to on CD today.

J.B. Priestley's most iconic play is notably An Inspector Calls. However, before this, there was Dangerous Corner, which premiered in 1932 and is currently touring the UK. The play centres on a dinner party being thrown by Freda and Robert Caplan. Along with Caplan's business partners and other guests, one remark regarding Robert's recently deceased brother causes anarchy between them. The play ends as it begins but minus the disclosure of this remark and showing how differently the evening could have panned out.

This Is My Family broke all sales records at the Sheffield Crucible last year and due to this success has been sent on the road to visit several venues across the country. Tim Firth, writer of Calendar Girls, has turned his hand to this musical comedy and having his name attached to the production is a definite draw for audiences. The show tells the story of thirteen year old Nicky who enters a competition to win a holiday and all she needs to do is describe her family. The irony is that the perfect unit she describes is not entirely true. Although they are not exactly dysfunctional, there are plenty of family traits/issues which audience members can relate to.

I remember studying Abigail's Party in school and watching the 1977 television Play For Today version, based on the original Hampstead Theatre production. The dialogue is colloquial and there is nothing complex about the content. It is a situational drama crammed full of every day occurrences, stressing on the naturalness of conversation e.g. awkward pauses, of which there is a lot of them! The characters and strength of the acting ensure the success of the writing and those involved in the Curve's latest production do just that.

If you are a fan of ska music, there is much to like about the Belgrade Theatre's production of Three Minute Heroes. Dubbed as the 2 Tone Musical, the production follows fictional characters trying to make it in the music industry. With the band consisting of a diverse group of young people, 2 Tone was the appropriate record company that they were trying to win over. There was also an ongoing racist battle during 1979-1981 when the show is set. Coventry decided to put on a benefit in 1981 to pay tribute to a Sikh man who was killed in the city as part of the racist protests and that really was when the ska music family came together to make a difference.

John Steinbeck published the epic Of Mice and Men in 1937. It was an instant success and in the same year, the novel was picked up by George S Kaufman who immediately bought the stage rights. Steinbeck and Kaufman worked together to create the stage play and it was soon on Broadway where it played for a very respectable 207 performances. It also won the New York Drama Critics Circle award for 'Best Play' in 1938. Shortly after this, Of Mice and Men opened at London's Gate Theatre and the rest is history.

Dreamboats and Petticoats has done the UK tour rounds on several occasions as well as having a very successful West End run. There has also been a massive franchise of CDs that have been released which have acted as another good marketing tool. Because of all this, Bill Kenwright along with his creative team have put a sequel on the road entitled Dreamboats and Miniskirts.

Dirty Dancing is iconic. An immeasurable amount of people have seen the 1987 film and adapting it for a stage show was a very clever move by the producers. The last time I saw this production was at Birmingham Hippodrome in 2012 so I was interested to see it again in a different venue. This is its second UK and Ireland tour and last night's sell out performance at the Wolverhampton Grand shows that the allure is still there.

The New Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham, part of the Ambassador Theatre Group, certainly know how to organise a press launch! The UK touring cast of Jersey Boys gave the multitude of journalists, group bookers and specially invited guests a musical feast at the wonderful Jam House venue in the idyllic St Paul's Square in the Jewellery Quarter. The funky launch location was buzzing and impeccably organised by the theatre's Press Officer and her team. So well thought-out in fact, that they even had a portable box office set up in order to catch excited punters on their way out!

Propaganda Swing is a co-production between the Belgrade Theatre and Nottingham Playhouse Theatre Company and is written by Peter Arnott. The writing is based upon a true story at the commencement of World War II in Berlin. Billy Constant, an American CBS journalist, narrates the proceedings and is heavily revolved around his love for German jazz singer, Lala Anderson. Lala is part of a jazz band whom are forced to conform to music approved by Hitler against their will.

Cameron Macintosh and Chichester Festival Theatre's production of Barnum debuted at the Curve Theatre, Leicester last night before embarking on a National Tour. The show was seen by nearly 70,000 people during its run in Chichester last year and was critically acclaimed by many throughout its time there. Way prior to this, the production opened on Broadway back in 1980 where it picked up three Tony Awards and a Drama Desk Award. Following this, Barnum opened in the West End in 1981 starring Michael Crawford; a role which he won an Olivier for.