UK / WEST END THEATER REVIEWS

Privates on Parade is the first in a season of five plays at the Noël Coward Theatre, where the newly-formed Michael Grandage company has set up camp. Getting the season off to a cracking start, Simon Russell Beale plays the witty, warm-hearted drag queen, Acting Captain Terri Dennis, in this class...

Gary Naylor enjoys a musical for young people that will delight parents as much as kids....

Gary Naylor sees his first panto of the season. Oh yes he does....

The former Catatonia front-woman and Radio 6 Music presenter mixes periods and genres in an evening of relaxed cabaret-style entertainment, joined by an excellent band....

David Lan, the artistic director of the Young Vic Theatre, directs this world premiere of Blackta by new writer Nathaniel Martello-White. Although best known for his work as an actor, Martello-White was determined to challenge and change the perception of black actors in this fresh piece of new wri...

Gary Naylor sees a neglected musical brought to London....

Based on the book by Blake Edwards, with score by Henry Mancini and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, Victor/Victoria comes to the Southwark Playhouse until 15th December....

Gary Naylor sees a fabulous show from the Fabulettes...

With this new UK production (which is not so much new as a slightly altered version of the US tour with the same set) they had the chance to sort out the problems that plagued a show that is dying to break out, sadly the problems are more noticeable than ever. ...

Loserville is the new musical at the Garrick written by Elliot Davies and James Bourne....

Weimar Berlin of 1931 is turned into a dark and sexual haven of corruption. In the comforting shelter of the 'Kit-Kat Club', the morally ambiguous and unusual citizens are determined to keep up appearances of a life of parties and pleasure....

Judy Kuhn, known on Broadway for her role in Chess and Les Misérables (and by 90s Disney fans as the singing voice of the animated Pocahontas), is performing a week-long cabaret run at the Hippodrome Casino's Matcham Room...

Menzel is back in London for a week of shows at the Apollo Theatre, and it's clear from the opening number, 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow', that her voice - accompanied by a sublime 25-piece orchestra - is on top form....

Kerry Ellis, best known for leading lady stints in Wicked, Oliver and We Will Rock You, has been in 'solo artist' territory for some time now, recording and touring with legendary guitarist and mentor Brian May. In the new Hippodrome Casino's sexy, purple-hued cabaret venue, The Matcham Room, she se...

Gary Naylor sees a little of the Scottish capital transported into England's....

Tim Minchin is the star of the show but this new production prioritises concept over content...

Unique, laugh-out-loud funny, crude but above all, genius - just a few ways to describe Chris Thatcher's album, Jesus Chris Superstar....

Gary Naylor hears the extraordinary story of an ordinary, but extraordinary, man....

Actor Roger Rees zooms through his life in Shakespeare - from auditioning for the Royal Shakespeare Company at this very theatre as a young lad, to playing mute extras and delivering some of theatre's greatest monologues - in this one-act, one-man show...

Gary Naylor sees a magical evening filled with wit and beauty....

Gary Naylor sees an 84 year-old play with much to say about 21st century mores....

Gary Naylor sees a production that misses more than it hits....

One of the main themes of Baggage is internet dating - but it also explores friendship and relationships founded on chance meetings. It is conceived by two college friends and draws on their personal experiences and has also been developed through others' experiences in the world of internet dating....

Gary Naylor enjoys some old style entertainment and sees a long-time hero....

Adapted from Rapp's New York Times best-selling memoir, Without You tells the story of the early days of what became the Broadway phenomenon Rent, from the perspective of this original cast member, complete with songs from the show as well as fresh music coolly performed by a five-piece rock band....