 I’ve been avoiding plays recently, as they’re all so damn depressing, and with the world being what it is, I don’t need to be bummed out any further!
That said, getting to see great actors perform live, in front of your very eyes, is one of the main appeals of theatre, so if great actors are involved, I’ll still go see a play. That’s how I ended up going to see ‘Shadowlands’ and I’m so glad I did! The play was brilliant! Witty, poignant and even philosophical; it really forced me to look at my own life, as all great art does. I knew nothing about C.S. Lewis, other than the fact that he was the author of the ‘Narnia’ books, none of which I’ve read, and I haven’t seen the movie version of this play, so I was basically going in blind, which is the best way to view anything really. The story really moved me. ‘Lewis’ is a devout Christian and a bachelor in his late fifties, having never found love, nor married; when he meets a particular lady, he is forced to challenge his beliefs, not only about love, but also his relationship with God, and the belief that God is benevolent. It’s tragic that when he finally does find love, it takes so much for him to act on it. There’s a lesson here for all of us, and for me especially. What have you done for love? Me? Nothing. I want love, the same as anyone, but I don’t do much to get it. Chat to a few chicks, get rejected (these days), move on, chat to a few more. Rinse and repeat. I think the hard part is finding the right person; but in the case of ‘Lewis’, even after he’s found the right person, he can’t admit it to himself, until it’s too late. Like most of us, he can’t seem to get out of his own way! The life-affirming part of it all is that he does actually find love, even though it’s late in life, and he’s so grateful for it, no matter how brief it may be. The show was full of humour and clever dialogue, and the actors were superb. I loved the wardrobe too! A really great show, that speaks to the fault in all of us, whether we’re in love or not; get out of your own way! Take risks! Don’t die with regrets, or thoughts of what could have been!! Easier said than done to be honest, especially when it comes to love… It’s a shame that we’re so ruled by fear and comfort, that it often takes a shock to the system to shake us out of our complacency. Anyway, a great play! Now excuse me whilst I book that trip to Italy I’ve been putting off for the past twenty years!
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 I went to see this show on a whim, knowing absolutely nothing about it beforehand, and I’m so glad I did. It had almost everything I look for in a show; good music, a heartfelt story, and an uplifting ending! The only thing it lacked was impressive dance numbers and a sense of spectacle!
It was really life-affirming, and that’s what I love to see! Reminding us that each person does their best to get on with life and greet it with a smile, despite all the struggles. Life these days is more atomized and lonelier than ever, and we really need to make an effort to connect with one another, because one chance meeting really can alter a person’s day, and maybe even their entire life. Not much more to say really. Go see it if you get the chance!  I haven’t read ‘Little Women’ or seen any of the movie adaptations, so I was going in blind with zero expectations.
I really liked the show! The score was brilliant! It had a John Williams vibe, and it’s so good to hear a symphonic orchestra playing live! The actors were also great. The show seemed to have a few songs with a big climax, that I thought signalled the end, but then it would continue, so it felt a tad long, but that aside, it was really good! I have no idea how faithful of an adaptation it is, but I’m definitely encouraged to watch one of the movies, or even read the book! Hopefully the show is able to return to the West End for a proper run, because this sold out ‘one-off’ performance definitely deserves to be seen by more people! A great night out that once again solidifies London as the premier place for theatre!  This show is quite hyped and apparently loved by all, so I was expecting something great, even though I knew absolutely nothing about it!
Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations. It’s a good show, don’t get me wrong, but I found it lacking. Fundamentally, there were no songs that lived in my head and made me want to go home and listen to them on repeat. In fact, I can’t recall a single memorable number from the entire show, which is ironic considering one of the protagonists, Orpheus, has spent the entire first half of the show working on a song that will bring about Spring! What’s worse, is that the song in question is mostly made up of the lyrics ‘La la la’! That’s gotta be some kind of a joke, right? You can’t build up your ‘show-stopper’ number and then have it be so basic, and not even that good! The best character was of course Hades himself, which is no big surprise, considering it is ‘Hadestown’. The set design was brilliant, and the modern day setting worked well, but if anything, this show made me want to watch Disney’s Hercules instead (which is playing down the road in Drury Lane)! Anyway, definitely worth watching, but temper your expectations. It was also good to see it in a packed out theatre, especially on a Tuesday night!  This is a West End show with a well known cast that includes Billy Cudrup, Denise Gough, Rosa Salazar and London’s very own Lorena Andrea; so it’s definitely a premium experience. It’s also based on a film (which I’ve never seen), a trend I’m not a huge fan of, but one that seems to dominate ‘Theatre Land’ (why can’t we have ‘original’ productions anymore??).
The show itself is very good, and the cast are great. It’s not a ‘downer’ like so many other plays at the moment, and is thoroughly entertaining. The ‘ticking clock’ is very effective, and really keeps the show moving. It’s mostly an examination of character, giving us an insight into the protagonist, not so much through his actions, but in the way the rest of the characters seem to idolise him; it might have been better to actually ‘show and not tell’, but then the show would probably be twice as long! I also thought the character of the wife was very whiny and annoying; she marries a man whose job relies on the gun, but she can’t stand guns. Typical. There’s enough drama to keep the audience engaged, so I really didn’t think it was necessary for there to be songs, let alone a score to pronounce the dramatic moments! That really felt heavy-handed to me, as though the audience was being prodded, when the actions on stage were more than enough to relay moments of tension. I felt like they were ‘dumbing down’ the play, to make it more digestible for an audience that may lack sophistication. Unfortunately, they may be right, as the young people sat behind me didn’t stop whispering to one another throughout the show! Anyway. It’s a good show, and definitely worth seeing.  As you all know, I loves me a good musical, and so I went to see this one, based on the story and songs of ‘K.C. and The Sunshine Band’.
I knew nothing of the story, but the songs are all recognizable, and very good. The actors did a good job, as did the backing dancers, but the overall story was weak. It kind of had the vibe of something that was just strung together so they could make a stage show featuring the songs. At the end, they invite the audience to stand up, and have a sing and a dance with the cast, which was fun, but may not appeal to everyone. I kind of get the feeling that they’re hoping for the ‘hen night’ or ‘drunken Saturday night’ crowd, which doesn’t really work for week-day performances! All in all, a forgettable show with great songs, which I enjoyed, but it’s not exactly something I’d recommend!  I’d been looking forward to seeing this show for a while, and managed to get a sweet deal on a pair of tickets, the fact that I went to see it alone is pretty much par for the course at this point (another story for another time!).
Unfortunately, I was also disappointed by the show (the rest of the audience gave an enthusiastic standing ovation). The set-up was simple enough. It takes place in the 1970s, and the stage is a music studio; the audience is privy to a band recording an album through various scenes that take place over the course of a few years. During this time, we see the characters and their relationships change. The problem is, none of the characters are all that likeable, and the situations we see them in aren’t that interesting, so it all becomes a bit of a chore to watch. I didn’t find any of it compelling. The character with the best arc, and also the most humorous and likeable one, was Grover, who is a minor player in the show. I really liked the songs, however, and the cast were all great, so from that perspective, it was a good night out. Shame about the story though.  This was only my second time going to see a ballet at The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. I love dance, but I’ve discovered it relatively late in life, and I still haven’t developed a critical appreciation of the art form. I could go see anything, and it would be amazing to me!
A friend of mine from dance class invited me to join him, so I didn’t even ‘choose’ this show, I just bought a ticket and joined him. The performance was by The National Ballet of Japan, and was brilliant! As said, I’m no expert in these things, but I really enjoyed it, and it was a great night out!  It’s the 16th of February 2026 at the time of writing, so I’m writing this about 7 months after having seen the play.
The play was good! But like pretty much all plays these days, it wasn’t exactly ‘feel good’ material, although it was very humorous. The ending was kind of abrupt too. That said, the characters were brilliantly fleshed out, and the whole thing definitely had an authenticity about it. I also appreciated the fact that one of the main characters was Polish because Polish people have been a part of British society for decades, yet we rarely ever see them represented! I also enjoyed the way the dramas and backstories were slowly revealed as the story unfolded; proof of great writing. What stood out was just how genuine it all felt; it’s not based on a true story, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it was, because it just rang true. It was very entertaining, but it didn’t really make me question any aspects of society, or resonate me with me on a personal level. A mirror wasn’t held up to me, shall we say, and I feel great plays have that quality; they make you look at yourself and ask questions. Still, it was a very good play, and absolutely worth watching!  This musical was a bit different, in that it took place within the setting of a nightclub that’s supposed to be in the future, so the audience is basically stood around, whilst the actors perform around us. Kudos for trying something different, but I prefer the traditional ‘sit down’ affair.
As for the show itself; it was a campy, glitter infested celebration of Oscar Wilde; his rampant homosexuality and a particular emphasis on the wife he left behind (who was also a talented writer, but forgotten by history). The device of setting the show in the future, where things are banned or outlawed, didn’t add much, but instead made it confusing. Why not just tell the story of Oscar Wilde, or his wife? I knew very little about Oscar Wilde going in, and after the show, I got the sense that he was little more than a selfish hedonist who abandoned his wife and kids so he could gallivant around town having affairs. It was a decent show, but nothing special. The staging was the most memorable thing about it, rather than the story, songs, or performances, so despite my criticisms of it, I guess it worked! |
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