February 1895 ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’, the play that would go on to be known as Oscar Wilde’s masterpiece, premiered both representing and mocking late Victorian society with its story of double lives, society ideas and romance, sending Oscar Wilde to new higher levels of fame. Just 3 months later in May 1895, Oscar Wilde was arrested for ‘Gross indecency for Homosexual acts’ Now, 130 years later, Max Webster’s staging of that masterpiece fresh from a festive pe

Just as I made a ‘if I had a nickel’ joke between ‘Vagabond Skies’ and ‘Saving Mozart’ just a few months ago, I feel compelled to make another, for if I saw two shows that push the once hidden stories of musically gifted sisters overshadowed by their brothers and forced to be the traditional wife, I would have two nickels, which wouldn’t get you far in today’s expensive world, but it is a little odd. But, whilst ‘Saving Mozart’ celebrated the story of Nannerl Mozart with soar

In a time whilst some may argue that London is simply flooded with jukebox bops, screen to stage adaptations and revivals, new and original musicals are deservedly celebrated as breaths of fresh air, injecting a taste of something new on the horizon and ‘Bloody Mary and the Nine Day Queen’, having spent its recent and short London run nestled under the Southwark and Waterloo arches of the Union Theatre, may hear the bright lights of bigger venues calling its name sometime soo

Making a name for itself as the ideal London home for Disney musical spectaculars, the glistening winter of ‘Frozen’ has transformed into the blistering heat of ‘Hercules’ as the myth comes roaring to the stage complete with catchy tunes, powerhouse vocals and some wonderfully whimsical puppetry. Hercules (played at this performance by Felipe Bejarano) is the son of Zues and Hera (Joel Benjamin and Ellie Mitchell), loved and celebrated as a mighty god. That is until his unc

Whilst some shows have showcased a strong sticking power, hanging around for decades with productions that continue to both delight and bring in the audiences, a partnership lasting 50 years is perhaps something less common, but something that equally warrants a grand celebration. And that is exactly what Penn & Teller, world famous magicians, have set out to achieve with their first ever West End residency, celebrating the 50 years that they have been performing together.

Is a man innocent until proven guilty? How do you prove a case of murder without a corpse? And how exactly do you solve a crime that happened 400 years ago? All of these questions are picked apart and truly explored in ‘The Daughter of Time’, a fascinating and interesting production currently playing at the quaint Charing Cross Theatre. Inspector Alan Grant (Rob Pomfret) is laid up in hospital with a broken leg after another case went wrong in the 1950s and in order to stav

75 years ago, the imagination of countless readers was captivated by the creation of Narnia, fresh from the mind of C S Lewis, that invited them through the wardrobe into the land of eternal winter, ruled by the evil White Witch and rescued by four brave children. It is a story that has stood the test of time, and now under the directorship of Mike Fentiman, the stage production of ‘The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe’ continues to enchant both children and adults looking t

‘It’s 12 noon in London, 7am in Philadelphia, and around the world it’s time for Live Aid’ That was nearly exactly 40 years ago, when Live Aid took to the airwaves around the globe, two concerts on two continents, world famous music acts and millions watching either live or via their television screens. Perhaps one of the greatest concerts ever to take place, and it was all in aid of the famine of Ethiopia, the idea the brainchild of one Bob Geldof. And it is the story of L

If I had a nickel for every time I saw a musical about a troubled artist who died too young, died before they really had the chance to see their own fame, which featured a heavy focus on the close and touching relationship of said artists with a sibling and the women who greatly influenced the lives of said artists, I would have two nickels, which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice. I joke in attempt to fit in with some social media trend. I don’t like to d

Returning once more to Assembly’s Gordan Aikman Theatre, Fringe favourites ‘Murder She Didn’t write’ are back creating murder mysteries, complete with twists, turns, and increasingly ridiculous manners of committing the crime, all on the spot, based entirely on the suggestions of the audience. Improvised comedy is a big hitting genre at the Edinburgh Fringe, with it feeling as if every other person flyering is inviting you to come and see something made up for one night and

Six people who used to be the best of friends at University, but have subsequently grown apart, are all mysteriously invited to take part in an escape room in the Caves at the Edinburgh Fringe. They used to love solving puzzles together, but no one knows why they are suddenly here to solve one last mystery, or do they? In ‘Escape Room: The Musical’ by Grown Up Playhouse Productions, we see the six friends, joined by Pierre, an enigmatic French man who doesn’t seem to know w

Back at the Edinburgh Fringe for the fifth time due to phenomenal demand, Say It Again Sorry’s ‘… Earnest?’ Continues to deliver its unique and boldly brave style of interactive theatre where audience interaction is taken to the extreme in an hilarious laugh out loud retelling of Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’. When the leading man fails to make his appearance as Earnest, leaving Terry as Algernon (Ashley Cavender) and Graham as Lane (Rhys Tees) flummoxed,

Four generations of women gather for the birthday party of great grandmother Eileen in Northern Ireland, sounds simple enough. But with Granddaughter Jenny and her daughter Muireann returning to the home after leaving for London a number of years before, and both Jenny’s husband and father being mysteriously absent from the party, family drama and unfolding secrecy is pushed to the extreme in this tense and thrilling exploration of generational trauma. ‘Consumed’, written b

You know a show has that perfect balance of high quality goodness, catchy musical numbers, relatability, entertainment, slickness and fun when it entices you back time and time again, and as I made my third annual visit to Alexander S Bermange’s ‘I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical’ I was reminded of what exactly makes this show such a stand out in the hustle and bustle of the Edinburgh Fringe. ‘I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical’ is a comical and witty observational explora

When pretty much any space could become a performance venue at the Edinburgh Fringe, the imagination is given the freedom to roam, after all, who says a little storage container can’t be an 80,000-seat world class concert venue? Because in the vivid, colourful and all together wonderful imagination of comedian and musical performer Katie Pritchard, that is exactly what Assembly’s Roxy Boxy becomes in her one women show ‘I Kiss The Music’. In this production, Pritchard is an

There are over 3000 shows playing at the Edinburgh Fringe over the month of August, lots and lots to discover and whilst you may wish to fill your schedule with new things that you have never seen before, sometimes it can feel nice to return to a favourite and make a repeat visit, and that is what I did here. As an avid fan of those cosy murder mysteries, where you always know that the baddie will be caught and some of the clues stand out like sore thumbs, I couldn’t resist

Henry Cyril Paget, the long forgotten fifth Marquess of Anglesey, written out of history after he died aged just 29 in the 1850s having spent all of his estate’s money staging extravagant plays. His family destroyed any evidence of him, pretended he didn’t exist to bring back their good name, but this production ‘How To Win Against History’ brings Paget’s story back to life with oodles of glitz, glamour and sparkle. Returning to the fringe after premiering back in 2016, we

Apple versus Microsoft. Jobs versus Gates. A battle for the ages. A musical crammed full of comedy, rivalry and a number of great songs. The creation of ‘Nerds’ has been a lengthy process, but now running at the Edinburgh Fringe, I can state that the work has been worth it as this new musical shines, boasting a cast featuring west end names, a quirky and comical tale of truth mixed with a fair dose of imagination, and songs that will have you beaming from ear to ear. Stev

With an introduction along the lines of ‘I’m known for having a big smile’, Alex Prescot instantly creates a warm and welcoming environment in his new one-man show ‘Cosy’, playing at Dexter Underbelly Bristo Square. In a combination of storytelling and brilliantly improvised songs, Prescot showcases not only his musical skills and improv talents but also his natural friendly flair and style as he effortlessly talks to audience members and rewards good and funny responses wi

Drama, Comedy, Music, Dance, you can find it all at the Edinburgh Fringe, and if you are looking for something that will thrill a family of varying ages, then you can’t really go wrong with magic. And if you want to see the best of the best when it comes to magic, a performer more magical than you could ever imagine, then this is ‘The Remarkable Ben Hart’. A firm fringe favourite, Ben Hart has been bringing his effortlessly stylish, full of flair, and simply mind-blowingl