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Afternoon Tea with Tom Chambers and Charlotte Ritchie
Noel Coward’s classic farce Private Lives is coming to the Birmingham New Alex Theatre this February, and to celebrate the occasion, the theatre hosted a very special Q&A session and afternoon tea with two of the stars, Strictly winner Tom Chambers and Call the Midwife star Charlotte Ritchie. It was a lovely opportunity to learn a little more about the play, and about the life of an actor working on a play. And to eat cake, lots of lovely cake. I took my mom along for the afternoon, and we had a lovely time enjoying the charm and wit of Tom and Charlotte, who are just perfect for Noel Coward’s…
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You Can’t Stop the Beat – Hairspray is launched in Birmingham
Tuesday saw the launch event for the brightest, bubbliest, biggest musical around, as the cast of Hairspray arrived at Birmingham’s New Alex Theatre. The show will be this year’s big Christmas musical at the Alex, following on from Jersey Boys and Ghost in 2014 and 13 respectively. I was very lucky to be invited to the launch, where the All star cast performed a series of key songs from the musical, and also hosted a Q&A session with the audience. Hairspray is the story of Tracy Turnblad, an overweight teenager who becomes a dance sensation in early 1960s Baltimore. She finds love with the teen idol Link, but also gets…
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Charlie and Lola’s Extremely New Play
Half term is a time for family fun, but with the weather being a bit unfavourable (great weather for ducks – ahem), the best entertainment and fun is to be found indoors, with a lovely afternoon in the Birmingham Repertory theatre offering excitement, enchantment and fun. Charlie and Lola are in town, and Joe and I went along to see their newest show! ‘Charlie and Lola’s Extremely New Play’ is a magical trip through the four seasons through the eyes of two children. The Play starts in Autumn with the leaves falling from the trees and Lola learning about hibernation. She decides that she wants to ‘hidernate’ with her best…
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Reviewed – The Dishwashers at The REP
On Tuesday night I attended the press night for ‘The Dishwashers’ at The REP, Birmingham’s renowned Repertory theatre. The REP was launching it’s 2014 season with this clever, thought-provoking play by Morris Panych, described as ‘…a delicious play about the Zen of dishwashing’, and expectations were most definitely high, particularly with the almost legendary David Essex in the lead role. The great news is that the plays delivers in all areas. The play is effectively a three hander. (although I must give a nod to Jared Garfield, who makes an appearance as yet another ‘new boy’ in the final scene and is a likeable presence). Rik Makarem, recognisable to all…
