I love Steps, they are definitely my musical guilty pleasure, and so a musical featuring all their hits was always going to be met with approval. Here and Now is just that show, but adds in a whole lot  more – a talented cast having the time of their lives, a brilliant set creating a seaside supermarket, and a witty script raising lots of laughs, and you have what has been described as the best jukebox musical since Mamma Mia. And that is Praise indeed. Here and Now is about love and friendship. The four fabulous leads, Caz, Vel, Neeta and Robbie, all work together at the Better Best Bargains…

The makings of a murderer is a theatre tour that is perfect for those who love true crime books and documentaries. I saw a previous tour which had featured the brilliant Colin Sutton, but this time around the protagonist is Peter Bleksley, well known as the ‘undercover cop’. In recent years Peter has become famous for his commentary on crime and investigation – his often outspoken and no nonsense views tallying with what a majority of the Great British public think. This talk though, is about his career, both as a detective, an undercover cop, and as an investigator, most notably looking at unsolved crimes. The Makings of a murderer…

1995. Britpop was at its height and, for one Summer only, the only question on the lips of the nation’s youth was ‘are you Blur or Oasis?’ Not since the heady days of The Beatles and the Stones had two bands dominated the charts and the headlines, and their rivalry became almost legendary, North against South, a class battle between the Middle Class Blur and the proudly working class Oasis. It culminated in ‘the battle’ for the number one slot in August 1995. This story is told, in often hilarious style in ‘The Battle’, which had its press night at the Birmingham Rep last night and received a standing ovation…

If you ask people what is the funniest comedy of all time, you could take a safe bet that many of them would say Fawlty Towers. The classic 1970’s comedy consisted of just 12 episodes, but every one was a hilariously perfect piece of television, beloved and revered in equal measures. Now it has been turned into a play that is just as perfect as those episodes, hilarious, chaotic brilliance. Last night it had its press night at the Wolverhampton Grand, and the theatre totally rocked with laughter. It is an absolute, unmissable hoot. All the characters you know and love from the series are there, including supporting roles like…

The Stafford Gatehouse has a smash hit on its hands with this years wonderful panto Sleeping Beauty. It is a  sparkling, sentimental traditional panto that has wonderful performances, great one liners (some of them most definitely aimed at the adults in the audience) and an absolutely magical set. Add in one seriously impressive dragon and you have a pantomime that will, in the words of Nat King Cole, entertain kids from 1 – 92! This is such an entertaining panto, and the story is cleverly told from the present, with an almost 18 year old Beauty kept protected in Stafford Castle. We are then transported back in time by Fairy…