Jenny Ell - Page 5

Having opened Off-Broadway in 2005, The Great American Trailer Park Musical has been performed across the US, Australia and Europe. It's had a bit of a hiatus over the last couple of years but Garry Lake and Waterloo East Theatre have brought the show to London where it is currently enjoying a limited run. BWW:UK recently caught up with cast member Jemma Alexander to talk about the show.

Birmingham-based company Stan's Cafe have been creating new theatre for 25 years. After successes such as The Just Price of Flowers and The Cardinals, they return to the Rep with their brand new and original production - Made Up. In collaboration with the theatre, Made Up is a story told through a series of live make up transformations and the relationship between an actress and her make up artist.

Inspired by the true story of the first South Asian recipient of the Victoria Cross, soldier Khudadad Khan single handedly held off advancing enemy troops at the battle of Ypres (or Wipers) in the First World War, whilst a group of British and South Asian soldiers took refuge in a disused barn. Ishy Din's remarkable new play does not solely focus on Khan but he's consistently referred to in extremely high regard. The four soldiers who uphold the story have been ordered to take sanctuary until the gunfire ceases but until that time, they must find a way of pulling together to survive.

Family gatherings and occasions are frequently tarnished by disagreements; none more so than at weddings, christenings and funerals when extended families are often brought together. Joshua Harmon's play Bad Jews takes place following a family funeral and an heirloom belonging to the deceased is being fought over. This dark situational comedy is set in a plush studio apartment in Manhattan where cousins are staying overnight amidst the Jewish commemorations following their Grandfather's passing.

For their 30th album release, SimG Records have announced their new concept album Ms. A Song Cycle, created in aid of MS Society UK. The aim is to increase awareness and raise funds for this brilliant charity and worthwhile cause.

Honouring the contribution of the million South Asian soldiers who fought alongside the British during World War I, celebrated playwright Ishy Din presents his powerful new play, Wipers, at the Belgrade Theatre Coventry later this month. The show premiered at Curve, Leicester last month is currently on a short UK tour.

Celebrating the music of The Who, one of the most iconic bands of all time, Sensation is about to embark on a UK tour featuring fantastic singers and a live band. In the midst of rehearsals, BWW:UK speaks to Musical Director Kevin Oliver Jones and vocalist Leanne Jarvis who was a finalist on Season 2 of BBC's The Voice.

Jon Robyns has had a sensational career in musical theatre over the last twelve years and has a CV that most performers could only dream of. He had had leading roles in productions such as Avenue Q, Les Miserables, Spamalot and Memphis to name but a few. Currently, he is playing Emmett Forrest in Curve's production of Legally Blonde in Leicester. BWW:UK speak to Robyns about his time on the show thus far, as well as career highlights and future goals.

With the rise of shows like Bombay Dreams and the smash-hit West End musical Bend It Like Beckham ushering in a new dawn for the British musical, the nation's appetite for Bollywood spectacle shows no signs of slowing. It is from this rich cinematic culture that life-long Bollywood fan and Theatre Director Samir Bhamra drew inspiration for his latest musical mash-up, Bring On The Bollywood.

Legally Blonde the Musical has had an array of productions all over the world since its 2007 Broadway opening. Based on the 2001 film starring Reese Witherspoon, the story of love, faith and pushing past stereotypes has being capturing the hearts of theatregoers ever since. Famous for its outstanding quality of work, the Curve in Leicester is currently presenting a brand new version of the show, directed by Artistic Director Nikolai Foster.

In any awards ceremony, there is always one category that is almost a dead cert. Sometimes I resent the fact that this is the case and really feel for those others in the category who quite frankly don't stand a chance; even though they too worked their socks off to get the nomination. The category I'm referring to this year is Best Actress in a Musical.

Back in February 2014, I watched the first touring production of Peter James' novel The Perfect Murder starring Les Dennis and Claire Goose as unhappily married couple Victor and Joan Smiley. Following this, Dead Simple - another of James' books - was adapted for the stage; here testament to his appeal and ability to make the text jump off the stage and stand up dramatically. The Perfect Murder is now playing across the UK again but this time with an ingenious casting move. Shane Richie and Jessie Wallace or Kat and Alfie from BBC's Eastenders are playing the two leads.

With an original publication date back in 1836, Nikolai Gogol's satirical play The Government Inspector is certainly not new writing. Some 180 years on, the text centring on greed and political anarchy in Russia is still being performed. The storyline has had a wealth of incarnations over the years in film, theatre and TV; including a particularly memorable episode of Fawlty Towers. Ultimately a comedy, the play tells of a town expecting a visit from a Government Inspector and before this happens, the Mayor has to try and tidy up/hide all of his wrong doings towards the discontented local people. When a well-dressed and seemingly charming gentleman Khlestakov arrives, the townsfolk all jump to the conclusion that he is the Inspector. But is he?

Stage musical Witches of Eastwick was adapted from John Updike's novel of the same name thirteen years after the film was released in 1987- starring Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer. The show opened in London to mixed reviews but since then has been performed internationally. The last time it was seen professionally in this country was on the 2008 UK tour, starring Marti Pellow - a production I was fortunate enough to see.

Artistic and Executive Director of the Watermill Paul Hart opened his new production of Romeo and Juliet earlier this week, the first of his inaugural season at The Watermill Theatre. 

The fifth longest-running play in the West End, The 39 Steps is currently being performed country-wide as part of its tenth anniversary tour. This multiple award-winning comedy was originally adapted by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon  from Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 film of the same name for a cast of only four people. It had humble beginnings and played to small audiences in village halls across the North of England. Some ten years later, Patrick Barlow rewrote the script whilst keeping the intimate nature and genius simplicity already found. It is this version, albeit with different directors in different venues, that has had great success.

Following its sold-out tour in 2014/15, the award-winning Dirty Pakistani Lingerie - a one-woman show based on Muslim-American women - returns for a 15-date UK tour. BWW:UK spoke to writer and actress Aizzah Fatima and Director Erica Gould about the production.

Film and stage biopics surrounding the life of a celebrity hold particular intrigue for many people. They can be inherently risky due to the validity of the information being portrayed but ultimately, the general public want to gain an otherwise unforeseen insight into that person's life. Here with the legendary Judy Garland as the subject, she certainly provided a story worth telling. Sadly like most other biographies of its kind, End Of The Rainbow is essentially a tragedy which focuses on the final demise of Judy's personal health and relationships during what should have been her comeback in London in 1968.

Fresh from its hugely successful run in the West End, Impossible is a brand new stage spectacle featuring six of the best magicians and illusionists that this country has to offer. From death-defying stunts to close-up magic, the show manages to strike the perfect balance in scale and has the audiences enchanted and on the edge of their seats for the whole two and a half hour show.