The Stage reviews Sleeping Beauty
They took their time (I was starting to wonder if they were going to come at all), but those intrepid reviewers down at The Stage have managed to get to our little panto. It's a good review, so I'm going to post a link here.
Sleeping Beauty 2011
Christmas is approaching (no, it must be – we're singing Christmas carols in choir), and with it panto draws nigh.
This year I will be returning to Broxbourne Civic Hall to musically direct Paul Holman Associates' production of Sleeping Beauty. Top billing in this magical tale goes to Shaun and Sarah Smith, better know as 'Same Difference' from the X-Factor, and I am very much looking forward to working with them.
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Autumn 2011
Well, the summer is over and with it ends Illyria's production of The Pirates of Penzance. Our small but intrepid band of players has spanned the width and breath of Great Britain, entertaining young and old from Inverness to (appropriately) Penzance, and many places in between.
For two months, we built our sets, performed our shows, discover long lost Travelodges and, on one notable occasion, dug our van out of a waterlogged field at two in the morning. …
Pirates of Penzance sets sail, Amsterdam returns
Summer is almost here. And this summer I will be touring the country with seven other crazy people performing The Pirates of Penzance. As rehearsals have not yet begun, I am not entirely sure how seven actors and a lone musician will perform such a large-scale show, but I'm sure we'll have fun finding out!
Directed by Oliver Gray and arranged by Jane Marlow, Illyria's outdoor production will tour from 7 July to 3 September in selected venues around the country. …
Heaven Sent at the New Wimbledon Theatre – March 2011
In March, Hidden Talent Productions in association with the New Wimbledon Studio will present Heaven Sent, a new 80s rock and roll musical. Written by Adam Linsson and Alex Hughes, Heaven Sent follows a hapless rock band from Basingstoke as they travel across America in the hope of playing the Hollywood Bowl. In a VW camper van. In 1987.
If you like your rock with long hair and vocal harmonies (and who doesn't?), you'll find this show packed with great music; you can hear a little on the show's website: …
Happy New Year 2011
Well, Cinderella is over, and was enjoyed by both the audiences and the producers, which was good. So time for a good rest before plunging into next year's work.
I have two interesting projects on the horizon. One is a writing project, a musical set in a salsa club commissioned by producer Sung-Hyun Chun. It is to be showcased in the autumn, but not much work has been done on it yet.
The second interesting project is the new rock musical …
Cinderella at Broxbourne Civic Hall – December 2010
I have been contracted by Paul Holman Associates to musically direct their production of Cinderella at Broxbourne Civic Hall. The production, which will feature Gillian Taylforth as the Fairy Godmother, will be performed from 10 to 31 December 2010.
As would be expected, I am taking care of the vocal arrangements, orchestrations and click tracks. Ah, panto!
If you are excited by such things (and I am) we are promised two live ponies! …