Theatre

What’s Up Wilma? All the latest from the West End

Hello poppets!

It’s all been happening in London’s West End scene this week.

Several of the big West End shows had to close temporarily last week, including Beautiful, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Lion King and Gypsy, when a fire broke out in Holborn. The theatre capital was literally up in smoke!

Speaking of things getting steamy in the theatre, I went to see a performance of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown on the Monday and a couple of saucy minxes were getting up to no good next to me in the front row(!!). During the interval an usher came over and embarrassingly explained that the cast had complained they were being distracted by ‘what they were up to’, and I went bright red! My blog about the events of the evening have found their way into The Sun newspaper and several others who have caught on to the story since.

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

West End leading ladies Kerry Ellis and Louise Dearman have announced a special one-off concert at the Prince Edward Theatre (current home to Miss Saigon). The pair will join forces for a night of solo songs and duets on 27 September. Kerry and Louise went to drama school together but haven’t performed on stage together for seven years. With both ladies having performed the iconic role of Elphaba, the concert is certain to be a Wicked one.

As it was Easter, I had to go and see an Easter related show. Last week I was invited to a special School of Chocolate Master Class at Hotel Chocolat, where I learnt all about how to make it and even came away with my own special bar that I had made from scratch. It was a great afternoon and followed by a scrumptious performance of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Drury Lane. What an Easter treat that was, check out my blog all about my day out.

charlie and the chocolate factory

Stephen Sondheim, the man who composed musicals including Into The Woods, West Side Story and Gypsy has been in town this week for the press night of one of his greatest shows, Sweeney Todd and the English National Opera. The 85-year-old legend was photographed backstage after the show with Bryn Terfel and Emma Thompson who are starring in a very limited engagement of the show.

Around the UK this week, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels have announced that Geraldine Fitzgerald will join the previously announced Michael Praed, Noel Sullivan, Carley Stenson and Mark Benton on the UK tour of the show which starts in Birmingham on 5 May. The show will travel around the UK until March 2016.

cats nicole schersinger 2015

This Sunday (12 April) is the highlight of UK theatre calendar, the 2015 Olivier Awards! Memphis is up for nine awards (including Beverley Knight and Killian Donnelly for Best Actress and Best Actor) and Beautiful – the Carole King story is in the running for eight. Nicole Scherzinger will perform the iconic song Memory from Cats, a role she recently played at the London Palladium. Follow me on Twitter and Like my Facebook page to stay up to date with everything as it happens.

Wilma x
www.westendwilma.com