Operation Mincemeat: Oh my god, this World War II escapade actually happened?
Operation Mincemeat: Oh my god, this World War II escapade actually happened?

Operation Mincemeat: Oh my god, this World War II escapade actually happened?

By Terri Paddock|2022-02-13T23:27:43+00:0013 February 2022|Tags: David Cummings, Musicals, Operation Mincemeat, Southwark Playhouse, SpitLip|

I have a sneaking suspicion that we have not seen the last of this little musical gem, which is - incredibly - inspired by a real-life World War II espionage episode demonstrating British pluck and eccentricity in spades.

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Dog Show video and photos: What do humans have in common with canines?
Dog Show video and photos: What do humans have in common with canines?

Dog Show video and photos: What do humans have in common with canines?

By Terri Paddock|2022-01-26T12:38:01+00:003 December 2021|Tags: Azara, David Cumming, Dog Show, Escape from Planet Trash, Ginger Johnson, How to Catch a Krampus, Mahatma Khandi, Pleasance Theatre, Rudy Jeevanjee|

At my last Christmas Q&A at the Pleasance Theatre, for sci-fi spoof Escape from Planet Trash way back in December 2019, Ginger Johnson shared a tantalising teaser about her idea for her next offering: "Like Cats, but Dogs".

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The Choir of Man: Dedicated to the 2000 pubs closed during lockdown
The Choir of Man: Dedicated to the 2000 pubs closed during lockdown

The Choir of Man: Dedicated to the 2000 pubs closed during lockdown

By Terri Paddock|2021-11-18T10:59:55+00:0017 November 2021|Tags: Arts Theatre, Ben Norris, The Choir of Man|

Here's a sobering statistic: 2,000 pubs closed during lockdown. Lost forever. The scale of that loss really struck me when I heard performer and (brilliant) poet Ben Norris recite it during The Choir of Man at the Arts Theatre. And, in fact, it's likely an underestimate.

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Indecent Proposal post-show video and photos: Hands up if you’d sleep with a stranger for $1 million
Indecent Proposal post-show video and photos: Hands up if you’d sleep with a stranger for $1 million

Indecent Proposal post-show video and photos: Hands up if you’d sleep with a stranger for $1 million

By Terri Paddock|2021-11-07T09:58:33+00:0029 October 2021|Tags: Ako Mitchell, Charlotte Westenra, Connor Going, Dylan Schlosberg, Indecent Proposal, Jacqui Dankworth, John Reddel, Lizzy Connolly, Michael Conley, Neil Marcus, New musicals, Norman Bowman, Screen-to-stage|

The big moral question at the heart of Indecent Proposal is: what are you willing to do for $1 million? More specifically: would you have sex for a stranger if they paid you $1 million?

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Back to the Future: Nostalgic screen-to-stage sci-fi custom-made for superfans
Back to the Future: Nostalgic screen-to-stage sci-fi custom-made for superfans

Back to the Future: Nostalgic screen-to-stage sci-fi custom-made for superfans

By Terri Paddock|2021-10-05T12:20:56+01:005 October 2021|Tags: Back to the Future, Musicals, Olly Dobson, Roger Bart, West End|

This is not a project born of outsiders wanting to cash in, but rather a long-held ambition, some 16 years in the making, of Back to the Future's creators.

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The Pleasure Garden post-show video and photos: Exploring Vauxhall’s hedonistic history
The Pleasure Garden post-show video and photos: Exploring Vauxhall’s hedonistic history

The Pleasure Garden post-show video and photos: Exploring Vauxhall’s hedonistic history

By Terri Paddock|2021-10-02T14:46:05+01:0030 September 2021|Tags: Above the Stag Theatre, Charles Miller, Fenton Gray, Glenn Chandler, Kids Play, New musicals, The Good Scout, The Pleasure Garden|

Apart from it being a charming public park and one of my dog's favourite destinations for our daily walks, I have always been fascinated by history of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, near my home in south London.

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The Last Five Years: The piano is the new star in Jason Robert Brown’s two-hander
The Last Five Years: The piano is the new star in Jason Robert Brown’s two-hander

The Last Five Years: The piano is the new star in Jason Robert Brown’s two-hander

By Terri Paddock|2021-09-27T11:09:49+01:0027 September 2021|Tags: Aria Entertainment, Garrick Theatre, Jason Robert Brown, Jonathan O'Boyle, Katy Lipson, Molly Lynch, Musicals, Oli Higginson, Southwark Playhouse, The Last Five Years, West End|

There's a line in The Last Five Years, Jason Robert Brown's semi-autobiographical musical two-hander about a relationship breakdown, that gets me every time.

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Frozen: Disney’s big-budget blockbuster musical melted my heart
Frozen: Disney’s big-budget blockbuster musical melted my heart

Frozen: Disney’s big-budget blockbuster musical melted my heart

By Terri Paddock|2021-09-13T11:15:37+01:0013 September 2021|Tags: Christopher Oram, Craig Gallivan, Disney, Frozen, Michael Grandage, Musicals, Neil Austin, Samantha Barks, Stephanie McKeon, West End|

While London has had to wait a long time for Disney’s own screen-to-stage adaptation, its September arrival makes it feel as if Christmas has come early to the West End.

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Jersey Boys: Never mind Frankie Valli, let’s pay tribute to Tommy
Jersey Boys: Never mind Frankie Valli, let’s pay tribute to Tommy

Jersey Boys: Never mind Frankie Valli, let’s pay tribute to Tommy

By Terri Paddock|2021-08-24T00:07:51+01:0023 August 2021|Tags: Jersey Boys, Musicals, Trafalgar Theatre, West End|

If it weren’t for Covid-19, we probably wouldn’t have Jersey Boys back in the West End. But we probably would still have original Four Season Tommy DeVito.

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Carousel: A dark take on domestic abuse and a Broadway classic
Carousel: A dark take on domestic abuse and a Broadway classic

Carousel: A dark take on domestic abuse and a Broadway classic

By Terri Paddock|2021-08-11T11:38:59+01:0011 August 2021|Tags: Carly Bawden, Carousel, Christina Modestou, Declan Bennett, Drew McOnie, Joanna Riding, John Pfumojena, Musicals, Open Air Theatre, Timothy Sheader|

Just getting to the end of a show at the Open Air Theatre when the weather is iffy feels like an accomplishment, for the audience as well as the company.

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