Three decades ago Rosemary Squire and Howard Panter met outside of the London box office and after falling in love went on to found the Ambassador Theatre Group which is one of the largest in England. Now, the couple has the unique pleasure of not only being known as ‘Mr. and Mrs. West End,[...]
Archive for December, 2009
December 28th, 2009 - 7:18 am § in theatrenews
Legally Blonde Sheridan Smith given extra security
Sheridan Smith is best known to television viewers for playing Janet Keogh in the sitcom “Two Pints of lager and A Packet of Crisps”, but lately she has been making waves in the West End for her portrayal as Elle in “Legally Blonde.” In fact, she has been creating such as [...]
December 22nd, 2009 - 9:52 am § in theatrenews
Victoria Beckham becomes the show at Jersey Boys
A lucky West End theatre audience got two performances in one night on Monday at the Soho Prince Edward Theatre during a matinee of Jersey Boys when Victoria Beckham stood up in the VIP box and started doing the Peter Crouch robot dance. It seems the dance was a family affair with Victoria strut[...]
December 21st, 2009 - 8:49 am § in Reviews
Pamela Anderson pops out in panto
With Pamela Anderson playing the genie in the new production of Aladdin at the New Wimbledon Theatre many people wonder if she will pop out in some of the lingerie from her new cruelty-free line. However, even though she will be wearing a modest bathing costume she should still be a vision for man[...]
December 20th, 2009 - 2:19 pm § in Reviews
Maybe Keira Knightley should stick to movies
In the film world Keira Knightley may be a gem, but it turns out that on the stage she is not quite as impressive, at the opening of Le Misanthrope and her character turned out to be a little dull. Knightley may have a gorgeous face, but for anyone stuck in the theatre her performance is [...][...]
December 17th, 2009 - 8:03 am § in theatrenews
Siobhan Dillon is the word
Siobhan Dillon will be the new face of Sandy at the Piccadilly Theatre production of Grease set to run from January 25th 2010 through to July 2010. Dillon will be joined by other new cast members as well such as Matthew Goodgame as Kenickie, Lucas Rush as Roger, Michael Vinsen as Eugene, and Victo[...]
December 16th, 2009 - 7:04 am § in Reviews
Griff Rhys Jones picks an ovation or two
Griff Rhys Jones is the latest comedian to take on the role of Fagin in the beloved theatre classic Oliver based on the Charles Dickens novel. Jones took the role on last night at the West End production on Drury Lane at the Theatre Royal and was almost hard to recognize given his beard, grey hair[...]
December 14th, 2009 - 6:44 am § in theatrenews
Judi Dench worried Olympics taking money from theatre and film
Movie star Judi Dench is raising commotion after learning that the government may possibly be taking money from film and theatre to pay for the upcoming 2012 Olympics. According to Dench, she is worried that as amounts keep being siphoned off, smaller theatres will have no choice by to close their[...]
December 14th, 2009 - 4:15 am § in Coming Soon
Megan Mullally moves her show to West end
Leading lady on Broadway Megan Mullally who also has two Emmys under her belt is set to step onto the West End stage for the first time in February of 2010. Mullally will appear on stage with her musical act, Supreme Music Program, at the Vaudeville Theatre for an eight week engagement. The show [...]
December 11th, 2009 - 7:06 am § in Coming Soon
Felicity Kendal heading back to the West End
2010 may bring the return of Felicity Kendal to the West End with news that her current play, the George Bernard Shaw adaptation of Mrs. Warren’s Profession may soon come to a rest for three months at the London Comedy Theatre. The play which is the Theatre Royal Bath revival of the 1894 classic i[...]
December 10th, 2009 - 8:15 am § in theatrenews
Shawshank Redemption advertising sparks investigation
While a sign quoting a reviewer about how much they enjoyed The Shawshank Redemption seemed like a way to advertise and draw attention to the play at the Wyndham Theatre may have seen like a great idea at first, it quickly backfired. It turns out that the quote was actually made originally to desc[...]
December 10th, 2009 - 2:39 am § in Coming Soon
David Essex to return to the West End
In a blast from the past the 70’s icon David Essex is set to make his debut on the West End in April of next year at the Garrick theatre, when his musical All the Fun of the Fair hits the stage. The musical takes its name from his 1975 hit album that has most of [...][...]
December 8th, 2009 - 6:40 am § in theatrenews
Movie stars line up for theatre awards
Many film stars are in the running for the Whatsonstage.com acting gongs awards for theatre performances this year including Helen Mirren and Jude Law. Also nominated is Sadie Frost who debuted in the West End in the play Touched. Frost is up for best solo performance. In the newcomer category Di[...]
December 8th, 2009 - 4:44 am § in Reviews
Kiera Knightley shines in Misanthrope
Academy nominee Kiera Knightley made her debut in the West End in the latest version of The Misanthrope this past weekend with its official opening scheduled for Dec. 17th. The Moliere play is currently at the Comedy Theatre and is a revised version with a screenplay from Martin Crimp. Also in th[...]
December 4th, 2009 - 7:56 am § in Coming Soon
Ruthie Henshall returns as Roxie Hart
Ruthie Henshall will once again play Roxie Hart in Chicago 12 years after she first took on the role in 1997 in the West End. Her previous performance earned her an Olivier Award nomination. The play will open Dec. 14th at the Cambridge Theatre and will run until February 28, 2010 outside of the [...]
December 4th, 2009 - 5:32 am § in theatrenews
Black cat on a hot tin roof success
If you see a black cat cross your path you are supposed to be in for a spell of bad luck, but the new production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof that is completely a black ensemble has seen its fair amount of good luck on Broadway raking in about £8.5m in its short [...][...]
December 3rd, 2009 - 8:23 am § in theatrenews
Tchaikovsky skull in more theatre controversy
When Tennant’s production of Hamlet opened last year in Stratford-Avon Tennant accidentally leaked to the press that the skull used in the play as a prop was actually the remains of Tchaikovsky who bequeathed his remains to the RSC. After the ensuing publicity the RSC announced that a fake skull w[...]
December 3rd, 2009 - 8:19 am § in theatrenews
Ian Hart in West End Stage rumpus
For the star of Harry Potter, you would think quieting a chatty audience member would be a simple, almost seamless task, but for Ian Hart who played Professor Quirrell in the first Potter film, it turned into an arduous ordeal at his West End play. According to various accounts, Hart blew up in an[...]
December 3rd, 2009 - 7:28 am § in Coming Soon
Carl Barat tries his hand on stage
Former Libertines band member Carl Barat is all set to make his first debut on the London stage in a different format than he may be used to in Hammersmith next year. Barat will take on the West End alongside Sadie Frost in the Sam Shepard play ‘Fool for Love’ which is playing at Riverside Studios[...]
