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‘The Last Five Years’ at the Ustinov Studio review – ‘transcendent and beautiful’
The Last Five Years is the Ustinov Studio’s Christmas show for 2025. I was very excited to see it as a long-time fan of the 2015 film adaptation soundtrack, starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan. By Jason Robert Brown, it is the semi-autobiographical story of the relationship between Jamie, a newly successful writer, and Cathy, an…
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‘This Is Your Musical’ ft. Chris Grace at The Bristol Improv Theatre review – ‘relentlessly good fun’
I would like to state for the record that I did not intend to pursue Chris Grace around Bristol. I was researching my review for his solo show ‘Sardines,’ absent-mindedly wondering why he happened to be in Bristol, and discovered he was here for a few days – performing ‘Sardines,’ but also teaching a musical…
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‘Wicked’ review: ‘an interesting riff on a stage classic’
This review is riddled with spoilers. On a dark autumn evening many moons ago, I walked into a local pub to attend a freshers’ social for my university’s musical theatre society. I bought a drink from the bar and sat down at one of the tables where the group was gathered. Finishing his conversation, an…
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Review: ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ at the Dominion Theatre – ‘fun and flashy but ultimately disappointing’
A sequel to The Devil Wears Prada may be inching its way back to screens, as I wrote about here, but in the meantime a musical has made its way to the stage. An initial 2019 version was delayed several times due to the production needing more time and the pandemic, and following a poorly-reviewed…
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Review: ‘A Chorus Line’ at Sadler’s Wells Theatre’ – ‘a feast of classic songs and pure talent’
This review contains spoilers. It wasn’t until after seeing A Chorus Line and doing some research for this review that I discovered exactly what an institution the show is, and its incredible level of success. Despite initial doubt that a minimalist show without a lead performer featuring the varied stories of an ensemble would attract…
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Review: ‘Two Strangers Carry A Cake Across New York’ at the Criterion Theatre – ‘tender and vivid’
This review contains mild spoilers. Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York is five years old; initially called The Season, it debuted in 2019, with a new production starting at The Kiln Theatre four years later. It then transferred to The Criterion at the beginning of 2024, with both runs having been extended due to demand.…
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Review: ‘Starter for Ten’ at the Bristol Old Vic – ‘enormous amounts of talent [but] needs tightening up’
This review contains spoilers for Starter for Ten. Thumbing through the student newspaper one afternoon in the lounge of my university’s 1960s arts library, I was caught by a sidebar. Five general knowledge questions. They were inscrutable. At the bottom there was a message: ‘If you’ve answered more than three of these questions correctly, consider…
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Review: ‘Groundhog Day’ at the Old Vic – ‘brilliantly realised’
Like an idiot, I missed Groundhog Day when it initially premiered at the Old Vic in 2016. In what seemed like the blink of an eye, it had won several Olivier awards, left London, and transferred to Broadway – where it was nominated for seven Tonys but inexplicably didn’t win any before closing in 2017.…
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Review: ‘Moulin Rouge’ at the Piccadilly Theatre – ‘vibrant and bonkers’
Even way up in the dress circle, the set of Moulin Rouge looks amazing before the show even starts. Drapes, lights, and chandeliers extend out into the theatre. It sets up a show that never fades in its one thousand per cent commitment to absolute earnest, opulent batshittery, supported by high production values and an…
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