Thursday 27 February 2014

THE PRINCE OF THE PAGODAS (Birmingham Royal Ballet) Review February 2014


As the centenary celebrations of Britten are almost past, Birmingham Royal Ballet present what could be the climax to it all - David Bintley's reworking of Britten's only comissioned ballet, first performed in 2011 in Japan.

Initially, we're greeted by a Fool, danced by Lewis Turner. He sits with his legs dangling into the orchestra pit, playing with the audience in a clown-like mime. He offers noodles to a family sitting in a box and rouses applause repeatedly. It's a pre-show gimmick that you'd expect at the circus but it's more than welcome here. Turner remains a delightful, charming presence throughout. Equally as charming is the beautiful Yaoqian Shang as Sakura...

The Emperor and The Fool. (Photo by Phil Hitchman)

Uninterested by any of the four kings presented to her, Princess Belle Sakura journey's to the kingdom of the Salamander Prince - danced expertly by Yasuo Atsuji. As the princess, Yaoqian manages to combine gleeful dizziness and moments of controlled despair. Seemingly inspired by an eclectic mix of existing stories, there are themes for all audiences. This both works and doesn't... At some moments so much is going on that the unfamiliar story can get a little lost. What works however is the fact that regardless of clarity, the dance itself is spectacular and sustains your interest through the three acts. The dance, coupled with the exquisite costumery is a dazzling spectacle... most of the time. 

Not all the costumes are dazzling, the Yokai, are grotesque costume-characters, it's almost like Disneyland for zombies. At first they appear somewhat out of place - they're unlike anything you'd usually see at the ballet but as the story progresses you accept them as part of the oriental birdcage of fascinating creatures that you find yourself in. The Yokai are a perfect example of accessible ballet for everyone. 

Sakura, a Yokai and the Salamander Prince (Photo by Phil Hitchman)

I did believe that the central couple were lovers (they always are, right?) until reading the synopsis confirmed that here, they are in fact siblings... the love is still as strong but despite a sometimes hazy narrative, which differs from the original (not that I was familiar), The Prince Of The Pagodas is evidently a vehicle for creative choreography that offers audiences a completely new experience. Worth a visit to Birmingham Hippodrome this week to see a creative interpretation of Britten's exciting, multifarious score. To book online, click here

For backstage blog insights into The Prince Of The Pagodas, click here. View the trailer below:



You can listen to Lewis Turner talk about his roles in last weeks Three Of A Kind and The Prince Of The Pagodas.


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Birmingham Royal Ballet Reviews

Monday 24 February 2014

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT (UK Tour) Review February 2014


Tonight's The Night is back in town! Last touring in 2006, the Rod Stewart musical is once again sailing around the UK and stops off in Birmingham this week. This is the story of Stuart Clutterbuck, a shy, geeky boy from Gasoline Alley who's lack of self confidence prevents him confessing his love for the beautiful Mary. Stuart seeks help from Satan who grants him the chance to swap souls with rock God Rod Stewart - but is that life all it's cracked up to be? 

The musical, written by Ben Elton first opened in the West End in 2003, just a year after his other musical, We Will Rock You. Running for just over a year at the Victoria Palace Theatre, Tonight's The Night hasn't enjoyed half the success of Elton's collaboration with Queen... which is still packs out the Dominion Theatre after 12 years. Judging by tonight's reaction however, you'd believe it was on par. 

The audience go crazy and from the moment the curtain lifts, spirits are high and kept alive by a cast of incredibly talented performers. Topping the bill (albeit in a slightly lesser role than some others) is Sugarbabe Jade Ewan who was the UK's Eurovision entry in 2009 with Andrew Lloyd Webber.  Ewan, who plays Dee Dee reminds us of her incredible voice with a rendition of The First Cut Is The Deepest. 

Jade Ewan

Also in fine voice is Jenna Lee-James as Mary - she can belt, and regularly impresses, particularly with Reason To Believe and I Don't Want To Talk About It. Tiffany Graves revels in her role as Satan and is sexy and sassy as Baby Jane. Both girls have previously appeared as Killer Queen in Elton's We Will Rock You and attack this with a similar vocal power. 

Ben Heathcote is suitably Stewart-esque as Stuart. With similar vocal tone he delights Rod's fans who clearly aren't regular musical bookers and here for the closest thing they can get. Michael McKell reprises his role from the original West End production as Stoner - rousing humour amongst cast and audience and ensuring everyone is up on their feet by the end. 

There is a strong ensemble who bring life to Rod's back-catalogue with exciting and adventurous choreography. With the corrugated iron set, piles of car tyres and cowboy hats it can feel a little Footloose at times but this has a much faster pace. The storyline is, as most jukebox musicals, a little obscure but the likes of the devil appearing in the mirror just adds to the fun. 


This should appeal to both fans of Rod and the musical-lovers... whilst it isn't by any means groundbreaking, it's a pleasant evening out - and for no extra cost, you get a hat to wear during Sailing... although I had mine on for the duration! 

Tonight's The Night is at the New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham until Saturday 1 March. You can book online here

Cast List: Ben Heathcote, Jenna Lee-James, Jade Ewan, Michael McKell, Tiffany Graves, Andy Rees, Michelle Antrobus, Joshua Dever, Amy Diamond, Rosie Fletcher, Rosie Heath, Sinead Long, Craig Mather, Tom Millen, Darryl Paul, Ricky Rojas, Spin, Lindsey Tierney

Sunday 23 February 2014

MOLLY WOBBLY (Phoenix Artists Club)


Jamie Chapman Dixon (producer, 'Singer’s Soirée') is proud to present the London premiere of hit musical comedy 'Molly Wobbly' for a strictly limited season at Phoenix Artist Club from 8 - 19 March. The show began life in 2011 as a sell-out Staged Concert at Belfast’s Lyric Theatre before its larger 2012 production at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh where the show received four and five star reviews across the board.

The women of Little Happening are desperate - all three are trapped in loveless marriages and stuck with failing businesses. There is only one person who can help them - a woman they’ve never met whose name is … Molly Wobbly! Margaret, Ruth, and Jemma receive unexpected makeovers when a stranger arrives on Mammary Lane in this comedy by Paul Boyd that was the talk of the 2012 Edinburgh Festival Fringe!

CAST ANNOUNCEMENT

For the 2014 Phoenix Artist Club Staged Concert version, Olivier Award Winner ('Hairspray') Leanne Jones returns to the role of Margaret, and is joined by 'Rent'’s Kate England as Ruth and 'Les Miserables'’ Lucy Garrioch as Jemma. 


Stars of the original 2011 and 2012 productions are also performing - Conleth Kane returns as Jake, Christopher Finn plays Robbie, and Russell Morton is reviving his iconic Ithanku. New to the show for 2014 are Alastair Brookshaw (Southwark Playhouse’s 'Parade') as Malcolm and 'The Voice UK'’s Jordan Lee Davies as Kitten.

8 - 19 March 2014
The Phoenix Artists Club
Tickets £10 (£8 concessions)
Book tickets online here

Thursday 20 February 2014

THREE OF A KIND (Birmingham Royal Ballet) Review February 2014


Just four months after the success of Penguin Café, Birmingham Royal Ballet present another triple bill of favourite ballets. Previously, the celebration of David Bintley's award winning pieces and now the coming together of three comic ballets - Card Game, Slaughter On Tenth Avenue and Elite Syncopations


The first ballet, Card Game, first performed by Birmingham Royal Ballet in 1976 is perhaps the most visually simplistic I've seen from the company for there are no gimmicks - but it works perfectly. Here is a card table - a stage covered green with male dancers dressed in unitards, females in tutus - both decorated to represent a particular card in the pack. This piece focuses on the intricacies of poker and is split into three deals. Even for non-players the piece is easy enough to follow and is a witty, lively and collectively camp display of cards as they progress through the game. The fun begins when the Joker is dealt. Danced by Jamie Bond, the Joker tries to replace cards to sway the game with humours consequences. Bond has unrivalled speed and has a charming charisma despite villainous intentions. Cleverly between deals, other dancers, hidden behind the backs of human sized playing cards, enter and shuffle about to trade places with others. Throughout, the synchronicity is almost an impossible perfection.


Slaughter On Tenth Avenue is the crazy tale of gangsters, a high-kicking stripper girl and a happy go lucky hero who literally dances for his life. This lively piece is most unlike much else in Birmingham's repertoire. Beginning with dialogue, the scene is set with the pending disaster of gunfire in which the piece steadily builds towards... This is indeed a ballet, but so much more. An incredibly slick 26 minutes of more contemporary ballet that even features an exciting, intricate tap solo. Tyrone Singleton and Céline Gittens as the Hoofer and Striptease Girl command all attention and remain sensationally sexy, sassy and passionate. There is a great moment between the two bartenders (Kit Holder and Oliver Till) who use the choreography to light each other's cigarettes, striking matches across the bottom of their shoes. Slaughter On Tenth Avenue is received like a musical, there is very much a West Side Story feel to what is probably the stand-out act of the three. 


Stripping back the stage to nothing more than lighting rigs and the bare back wall is perhaps a little underwhelming at first... What is most magical about Elite Syncopations is that despite the lack of scenic elements, this piece is in fact one of the most vibrant. It is nice that here the dancers are joined on stage by the band who play a delightful arrangement of Scott Joplin - whose ragtime moods inspired the ballet. Casually the dancers sit around the perimeter and take turns to present their routines. The costumes are a delightfully colourful exaggeration of the era paraded by dancers who are able to experiment with a less formal presentation. Jonathan Higgins conducts the band on piano who create a sufficient and merry soundtrack. This particular piece is your proof that talent is entertaining enough without the need for anything else. 

The three succinct ballets are concentrated with pure delight. For an evening of lighthearted merriment, visit Birmingham Hippodrome until Sat 22 February. Book online here

You can listen to dancer Lewis Turner talk about his roles in the triple bill and The Prince Of The Pagodas which plays from 25 February - 1 March. You can book tickets here


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Birmingham Royal Ballet Reviews

Saturday 15 February 2014

RENT IN CONCERT (UK Tour) Review February 2014


When you consider concert staging of musicals, you come to expect a reduced version of the original full-scale production, usually commemorating an anniversary and often for a similar (and of course, more expensive) price bracket. Les Misérables have done it twice – at the Royal Albert Hall and the O2 Arena for their 10th and 25th anniversary and have done so on a very grand and elaborate scale. For other musicals however, even outstanding performances can perhaps leave you a little underwhelmed with lack of action or set. Rent lends itself particularly well to the genre, as there was never much there to begin with… Traditionally performed with very little in the way of set, this concert production very much keeps the feel of an original production.

This is the 20th Anniversary celebration of Rent, which opened on Broadway in 1996… the initial reading and workshop versions of which came in 1993 and 1994 – hence the anniversary now as opposed to 2016. Date logistics aside, any reason to riff up the incredible score by Jonathan Larson is valid. We should probably expect another tour in 2016 and judging by audience reaction it would be welcomed back with open arms… and plenty of tissues.

Kerry Ellis as Mimi

Emotion was rife, both on stage and off as an incredible cast came together to do the piece true justice. Headlining the cast, Kerry Ellis stars as Mimi. With previous roles including Meat in We Will Rock You, Elphaba in Wicked and Nancy in Oliver, Ellis is used to playing the gutsy and feisty female. Exploring the playful side of Mimi early on and later the frail, Ellis takes us on a believable journey and it's nice to see her ability to perform a much less glamorous role.

Ian Stroughair as Angel

Mykal Rand is a sensation as Collins, his I’ll Cover You reprise brings the evening to a standstill. Joined by Ian Stroughair as Angel, the pair create a true relationship that leaves the heart aching. Rory Taylor surprises as Roger, the former ITV Superstar contestant excels and his One Song Glory is particularly impressive. There's a sweet connection between Taylor and Ellis in Light My Candle. Paul Ayres makes a great Mark - a character who really just guides the story, but is brought to life with charm.

Rory Taylor as Roger

Joanne (Lisa-Marie Holmes) & Maureen (Ruthie Stephens) are both powerhouses and raise the roof with their playfully fierce Take Me Or Leave Me. The lesser seen of the principals, Kenny Thompson completes the cast as Benny and gives the part enough to leave a strong lasting impression.

Seasons Of Love is one of the reasons you love this show, the opening song of the second act feels like the climax to the show and is later featured appropriately as an encore. It is here where Beth Humphreys and Tim Prottey-Jones get their moment in the spotlight – receiving rapturous reactions to their solos.

There are perhaps slight sound issues, it is almost too rock concert-like at times where music is much louder than vocal but it's hardly concerning. A combination of impeccable casting and a very strong band - in all, this concert version of Rent is a triumph.

Cast List: Kerry Ellis, Ruthie Stephens, Rory Taylor, Paul Ayres, Ian Stroughair, Mykal Rand, Kenny Thompson, Lisa-Marie Holmes, David Hinton-Gale, Beth Humphreys, Tim Prottey-Jones, Joel Harper-Jackson, Kate England

Monday 10 February 2014

ANTON DU BEKE BALLROOM TO BROADWAY with Summer Strallen (UK Tour) Review February 2014


Despite the absence of his usual partner, Erin Boag - due to pregnancy, Anton Du Beke goes ahead with his annual tour. This year, he delights audiences in a partnership with Summer Strallen on a musical journey to the heart of Broadway. 

Any Strictly withdrawal symptoms are instantly ridden as the London Concert Orchestra set the tone for the evening with an overture of Mack & Mabel. Imagine musicals week on Strictly... almost impossibly, this is better. 

Between breathtaking ballroom, Anton has comical interludes in which he interacts with the audience, answering questions and dishing the dirt on life backstage at Strictly Come Dancing. He perhaps couldn't survive the whole evening as a stand-up comedian but what he manages is a perfect balance of dance and audience involvement. Anton is joined by Faye Huddleston as his ballroom partner and just as you would expect with Erin, they are faultless. Their duet to Phantom Of The Opera's Music Of The Night is unquestionably a highlight. There is a strong, energetic and enthusiastic ensemble who are a welcome edition to the vast stage. 

You could possibly count on one hand those who are enough to rival Summer Strallen, recent star of the West End production Top Hat. Strallen is every inch the beautiful Broadway lead and sings through  a varied catalogue of show-tunes including an incredible version of All That Jazz which at one point sees her signing whilst suspended upside down in a split lift... 

Lance Ellington, popular vocalist on Strictly Come Dancing is on fine form and delivers Broadway favourites such as This Is The Moment from Jekyll and Hyde to a house that whoop and cheer - all whilst keeping the sophisticated atmosphere, of course. 

Throughout the whole evening I felt like I was somewhere completely different, you know that feel-good energy you have when you're on holiday? that... for two hours.

This is a spectacular evening of entertainment in it's finest form. For tour dates and booking information, visit the website here. Ballroom to Broadway tours until 30 March 2014. 

Cast List: Anton Du Beke, Summer Strallen, Lance Ellington, Faye Huddleston, Simon Coulthard, Gemma Facinelli, Crystal Hantig, Scott Coldwell, Sam Patrick and the London Concert Orchestra led by Richard Balcome

Friday 7 February 2014

INTERNATIONAL DANCE FESTIVAL BIRMINGHAM

A WORLD OF DANCE IN ONE CITY
DanceXchange and Birmingham Hippodrome officially launch
International Dance Festival Birmingham 2014

This week, International Dance Festival Birmingham launched at Birmingham Hippodrome's Patrick Centre, just one of 17 venues including The Crescent Theatre, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Birmingham Hippodrome's main stage that will host one of Europe's largest dance festivals. The award winning biennial celebration of dance, now in it;s fourth year, returns to the city from Thursday 20th April - Sunday 25th May for over four weeks of world premieres, unique collaborations, community events, outdoor spectacles and world-class performances.

IDFB 2014 highlights from Festival co-producer Birmingham Hippodrome include Swiss company Alias’ mesmerising Sideways Rain (click to book) and Vancouver’s Kidd Pivot (click to book) led by Crystal Pite (Sadler’s Wells’ newest Associate Artist), whose company perform her Shakespeare-inspired Tempest Replica. Celebrated names also include Sadler’s Wells’ hip hop spectacle Breakin Convention (click to book), and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui whose new work m¡longa takes a modern approach to Argentine tango (click to book). Finally, Matthew Bourne’s internationally-acclaimed New Adventures and RE:Bourne bring a new production of Lord of the Flies to Birmingham Hippodrome featuring talented local young performers (click to book).



LORD OF THE FLIES, choreographed by Olivier nominated Scott Ambler, and adapted and directed by Matthew Bourne, is a rare and distinctive collaboration that will bring together professional dancers with young people from the West Midlands. The success of the production is mutually reliant on a unique partnership between some of the UK’s most exceptional dance talent alongside local people chosen from each region the show visits - some of whom may have never danced before.

The professional company includes New Adventures dancers Sam Archer as ‘Maurice’, Luke Murphy as ‘Sam’, Dominic North as ‘Ralph’, Sam Plant as ‘Piggy’, Alastair Postlethwaite as ‘Eric’, Danny Reubens as ‘Jack’ and Dan Wright as ‘Roger’. Making their New Adventures debut’s in this production will be Layton Williams as ‘Simon’ and Jack Hazelton.  The young people cast in the production will be unique to every venue. Birmingham Hippodrome’s young cast will be announced shortly.


Séquence 8

IDFB is delighted that one of the city’s leading theatres, Birmingham Repertory Theatre is hosting the Canadian circus company Les 7 Doigts de la Main’s new show Séquence 8 (click to book), the theatre’s inaugural dance event since it re-opened in 2013. This show will delight family audiences with truly awe inspiring acrobatics. 

Featured here are merely a selection of a whole range of performances to suit all tastes across the festival. For a full list of what's on during IDFB including how to book and ticket prices, check the listings page of the website here.  You can watch the season trailer below:

Thursday 6 February 2014

MATTHEW BOURNE'S SWAN LAKE (UK Tour) Review February 2014


Swan Lake is the most famous and beloved ballet in the world... there was a lot of resistance and concern when in 1995 Matthew Bourne presented his version - now famous for it's all-male flock of swans the production is still packing out theatres almost twenty years on.

"It's not how I remember Swan Lake!" I overheard someone say at the interval, there may not be a tutu in sight but this is very much the story you know and love, it just happens to someone else. Here, a young prince is awakened by a nightmare of a swan. He has a girlfriend, not the princess type, (think Legally Blonde) who after embarrassing the family is paid to leave. After a night of drinking, the prince contemplates suicide at the thought of never finding affection but he is stopped by the sight of swans in the lake of a public park. Initially rejected by the all-male flock, the prince is taken into the wings of the lead swan - finally realising what his heart had always desired. 


Coventry-born Andrew Monaghan shines as the prince, as a previous Junior and Mid Associate with the Birmingham Royal Ballet he now finds himself dancing the lead on home turf. A warm reception is always a given at Birmingham Hippodrome but Monaghan earned every aspect of it. Quite obviously exhausted by the bows he sustains charm having given every effort throughout the prince's troubled journey. Carrie Johnson delights as The Girlfriend, a comic role underneath which is a saddened soul. Johnson steals all attention with a beautiful, beaming smile - a character you can't help but love and feel great sympathy for. 

Chris Trenfield has incredible strength and is entirely commanding of the stage as the lead swan and also as The Stranger. Trenfield delivers intense passion - combining perfectly with Monaghan's truthful lust, there is a most definite and inspiring partnership between the two men. The all-male flock are far from the dainty tutu-clad, pointe shoe'd ballerinas but are full of attack as a feisty and muscular group who are utterly mesmerising. 


This is no ordinary night at the ballet... referred to by Bourne himself as more contemporary dance theatre than ballet, this opens up to a whole new audience. This modern telling will familiarise those who may feel distanced from a traditional ballet. Despite it's age, Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake remains fresh and it's themes couldn't be any less relevant today. Whilst being humorous and exciting this beautiful production is daring and tragic. This cannot be missed. For tickets call 0844 338 5000 or click here
Audiences attending the performance on 13th February 2014 will be treated to a special performance prior to the curtain up. In partnership with Matthew Bourne and Re:Bourne, the charitable arm of his dance company New Adventures, the Hippodrome's curtain-raiser fives local 16-18 year old students the exhilarating experience of working alongside professional dancers and choreographers. Over the past few months, students from Stratford Upon Avon College, Walsall College and Birmingham Ormiston Academy have been working closely with Dominic North, one of Matthew Bourne's principal dancers, and Claire Palethorpe, a freelance dance practitioner on creating the curtain-raiser. The five minute performance, part of Hippodrome Plus is inspired by Swan Lake will see 19 young men perform on the Birmingham Hippodrome main stage to nearly 1800 people. 
ALSO BOOKING at Birmingham Hippodrome: Matthew Bourne's New Adventures and Re:Bourne present Lord Of The Flies, Wed 14 - Sat 17 May 2014 (Book online here). Part of the International Dance Festival Birmingham, Lord Of The Flies brings together professional dancers with young people from the West Midlands. 

Cast List: Michael Barnes, Kerry Biggin, Stephanie Billers. Cordelia Braithwaite, Madelaine Brennan, Tom Broderick, Otis-Cameron Carr, Nicole Cato, Reece Hayden Causton, Emma Chadwick, Harry Clark, Tom Clark, Tom Cummings, Saranne Curtin, Chris Agius Darmanin, Iván Delgado Del Río, Freya Field, Robin Gladwin, Chantelle Gotobed, Glenn Graham, Tim Hodges, P J Hurst, Luke Jackson, Carrie Johnson, Jack Jones, Graham Kotowich, Katrina Lyndon, Jamie-Emma McDonald, Andy Macleman, Anjali Mehra, Edd Mitton, Andrew Monaghan, Liam Mower, Kyle Murray, Jonathan Ollivier, Ashley-Jordan Packer, Ashley Shaw, Paul Smethurst, Chris Trenfield, Simon Williams. 

Sunday 2 February 2014

INTERVIEW with Kris Rawlinson - February 2014


If you're keeping up with current West End trends, you'll know that an evening spent in an intimate cabaret venue is the new way to enjoy the incredible talent that London's theatre-land has to offer. Right at the heart of it is Kris Rawlinson, a musical director who before he's even finished university has built up a pretty impressive CV. Kris took some time out of a busy schedule to chat about his experiences so far.

At what age did you first take an interest in music and what was the first instrument you learnt to play?
I was about four when I started to play piano. I actually only started because my sister was having lessons, and I was insanely jealous of her (she gave up pretty soon after…). I carried on having lessons through school, and learnt the recorder (as most kids do!). Since then, I’ve learnt the saxophone and gig in a soul band travelling around the country, which is a laugh!

You study music at university, was that because you just liked it or did you always know you'd like to be a musical director?
I’m studying Music at Goldsmiths in New Cross. Whilst at school, I always knew I wanted to do something music related; I used to MD quite a lot of amateur stuff, including school shows, local pantomimes, review shows, and full scale musicals, and even directed a few things too; it was something I just landed in by lending a hand as a rehearsal pianist, which led to arranging and then eventually MDing. As a person, I always have to be in control and aware of everything going on, so I suppose a musical director is the perfect job! I wanted to study music to further my musical knowledge, and am really enjoying the course. The modules are really interesting, and I’ve met a lot of great musicians and lecturers. I finish in April 2015, so not long left!

When you think of musical director, you don't really think of someone as young as you - do you think there's a call for more younger directors?
There will always be young musical directors working their way “up the ranks”. I’m not in any pretence that I’m going to breeze straight into a West End job – I’m enjoying working on some great projects, and some brilliant fringe/off-West End jobs and I’m happy to continue this for a while. Sometimes it’s good for people to work with different, younger musicians, who have had a different musical education to some of the West End greats. There are a lot of talented people out there all looking for the same job, but like anything, people will move on, and there will always be the next job waiting to be snapped up if somebody starts another one.

Tell us about some of the projects you've been involved in already...
When I moved to London in September 2012, I got involved with Interval Productions playing for a few rehearsals of their production of RENT. In February 2013, they approached me to talk about a new project they were co-writing/producing called Streets Project, and I got on board as MD and arranger. The show was brilliant and the music was incredible, and we were lucky enough to get a transfer to Hackney Empire for two shows. I was also Assistant MD for their next show, “Another Way” staring the beautiful Julie Atherton and Andy Coxon in September 2013. I’ve also worked as Assistant MD on Geek, The New Musical, which debuted at the Tristan Bates Theatre starring CJ de Moii (aka. Eggheads). I’ve also set up a few projects of my own including “West End Switched Off” that I’m sure you’ll hear about soon!

Some of the performers involved with West End Switched Off, including Jeremy Legat, Jordan Lee Davies, Chlöe Hart and Ambra Caserotti

You've teamed up with Ed Theakston to create Parallel Productions - tell us a bit about the company and what we can expect from it in the future?
Ed is one of my best friends, and is my right hand man, and always knows what I should do, so having him involved with Parallel was a no-brainer. We both have the same vision in regards to new work, and are both very passionate. We’ve got a lot of plans this year; we’re working on a series of intimate gigs, and will be producing some more Switched Off gigs. We’ve also got the big album launch for our debut album later on in the year, and will be working on a few other albums this year, but I can’t say much more! On a personal level, Ed and I are working on a few writing projects too which is exciting! Darren Bell has come on board as Associate Producer for Parallel, and we are working closely on a few secret projects after the success of A Very West End Christmas!

Congratulations on A Very West End Christmas! Who's idea was that? And how did you round up so many established MT performers?
Thank you! It was a day in summer of 2013 after I had been in the studio all day, and I had been chatting to Darren, who is a fabulous photographer, and we decided to do something for Christmas. Within a few weeks it went from a YouTube video, to a 5-track EP, and on the 14th October, 50 West End guests (including the likes of Cynthia Erivo, Michael Xavier, Simon Deacon, Jodie Jacobs, Chloe Hart) gathered at the St. James theatre and recorded something special. It was released on 15th December and money raised is going towards Great Ormond Street Hospital and Cry UK, with a donation to the Band Aid Charitable Trust. The recording process was fun, and there were definitely a lot of personalities to contend with, but it was nothing we couldn’t handle!


You can buy A Very West End Christmas! on iTunes here. (Yes, it's not always Christmas, but it's a good listen!)

Is there a lot of work out there for aspiring MD's? Or do you have to largely impress by creating your own work/gigs first?
If you know the right people, and have the right attitude, there is plenty of work out there, from rehearsal pianist, to teaching, arranging and orchestrating. There are lots of different paths to go down in terms of music; personally I love arranging and orchestrating, but obviously also love the feeling of a show or gig. I have a go-get-it attitude; if you want something, you have to achieve it yourself, and this is why I decided to set up Switched Off. It’s something I’ve always thought about doing, and last summer I was chatting to my bass player and he convinced me to just book studio time and do it. So I did! We’ve got our first album finished up and it’s being mixed and mastered at the moment! Because I am still studying at university, I’m not particularly looking for work, so I thought that whilst I can’t commit to a heavy rehearsal period, I have the time to think about other projects.

Are there any musicals that you'd particularly like to MD in the future? Or are there any new musical scores that you've been impressed with?
I have a very eclectic taste in musicals. I’ve always loved Wicked; I won’t tell you how many times I’ve seen it… I love it for many reasons; the story, the strong female characters, the score is incredible. So I guess MDing Wicked would be a dream come true – it’s probably the show that properly got me into going to the theatre a lot. I’m currently obsessed with Ordinary Days, by Adam Gwon, which I would love to MD. It’s a show about 4 people living in New York who’s lives all intertwine without them realising. One piano and four people creates so many possibilities in something that should be quite limiting, and the melodies are beautiful. “I’ll Be Here” is one of my favourite musical theatre songs.

Finally, we all hear performers advice on becoming an actor or a dancer but what advice would you give to aspiring musicians/MDs?
Go for it. There is always going to be somebody that’s better than you for a job, so when they get the job instead of you don’t worry. Things will always work out so don’t get put off. It’s about the right time and the right place, and networking and being a good sport will allow yourself to be in these situations. 

For more information on Parallel Productions, visit the website here. Or for West End Switched Off, click here

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