Thoughts on London Theatre’s hottest weekend, Broadway transfers, and reviews of Thespians and Operation Mincemeat on Tour.
OHMYGOD HEY!
Welcome back to my weekly collation of the various reviews, opinion pieces and theatre news updates I’ve shared across multiple social media platforms.
I’m going to blame this week’s delayed substack release on the soaring British temperatures. As we reach the apex of another heatwave (making air conditioned theatres even more inviting), I’m reflecting on a scorching weekend spent at West End Live.
This highlight of the UK theatrical calendar offered more entertainment than ever before, with major new West End arrivals (including Paddington and Beetlejuice) participating for the first time, and upcoming productions using the enormous platform to sell tickets, announce casting, and debut songs.
And yet, amongst the wide reaching thrill of the weekend, which plays to an audience of more than 70,000 in Trafalgar Square in addition to the tens of thousands watching subsequently online, there remains criticism of the event which continues to be oversubscribed, drawing substantial, early-formed queues.
The truth is, calls for the event to move to a larger location would make present prohibitive logistical challenges to participating shows, some of whom perform less than an hour prior to their showtime. Moreover, the introduction of ticketed entry or a randomised ballot would continue to restrict access, though not on the basis of commitment to early arrival.
All of this is easy for me to say, but perhaps I’m charmed by the existence of an event that plucky young theatre fans seem able to dominate each year, while increases to lowest price band tickets at their favourite shows continue to push them further towards the back of the balcony, if not out of the theatre altogether. Though I find the conversation around premium pricing to be a largely distracting one, I did have the chance earlier this week to share my thoughts about the direction theatre ticket prices in the UK are heading.
Meanwhile, my last week of theatregoing has been spent travelling the country – from Woking Theatre for Operation Mincemeat’s UK Tour, to Shakespeare North Playhouse for Nell Gwynn.
Between marathon standing sessions in Trafalgar Square I had also made the bold (foolish?) decision to attend my first midnight performance at the Globe, appropriately of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. An altogether different crowd of theatregoers, but the same palpably enthusiastic atmosphere.
Prefer to read on email? Subscribe to free weekly Substack newsletter
The best and worst of WEST END LIVE 2026 : Reviewing every musical performance!
This weekend, I headed back to one of the most anticipated, and best attended events in the UK theatrical calendar: West End Live!
This annual free performance featured almost all of the musicals in the West End including Hercules, The Lion King, Les Misérables, Hamilton, Six, Matilda, Paddington, Beetlejuice, Titanique and more as well as various upcoming, regional and off-West End shows!
In today’s new video I’m reviewing almost all of the performances from the weekend, check it out to hear my thoughts on who was the most entertaining and gave the best sales pitch!
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
Will PADDINGTON work on Broadway? Thoughts on the success of the hit West End Musical’s transfer…
It was announced that Paddington The Musical, the multi-Olivier Award winning West End smash hit, would officially transfer to Broadway, opening at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in Spring 2027.
The stage adaptation of the Michael Bond story and the STUDIOCANAL films is directed by Luke Sheppard (The Little Big Things, Starlight Express) with Tom Fletcher and Jessica Swale having written the score and book respectively. The West End production stars Arti Shah and James Hameed, who jointly perform the role of Paddington Bear, with a supporting cast including Adrian Der Gregorian, Amy Ellen Richardson, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, Bonnie Langford, Tom Edden, Brenda Edwards, Amy Booth-Steel, Teddy Kempner, and more.
As the New York transfer is announced, theatre fans have been quick to question whether Broadway’s audiences will receive Paddington as warmly as London’s did, prompting some consideration of the show’s potential success at the box office and the Tony Awards…
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
THE TRAITORS is 5 different plays?! News on the West End stage adaptation of the hit TV series…
It was announced that the stage adaptation of The Traitors would be a 5 part cycle, offering different endings on each subsequent night of the week.
The Traitors: Acts of Betrayal will begin performances in May 2027 at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in the West End and will also allow audience members the opportunity to vote to affect the show on Saturdays.
Check out my thoughts on how this will work and whether I’m excited about it…
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
I saw Jamie Muscato and Joy Woods in CABARET! Thoughts on the musical revival’s new West End cast…
I was recently invited to attend a gala night at the West End production of Cabaret, currently running at the Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre in London.
The production, which has been directed by Rebecca Frecknall and originally starred Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley has recently welcomed new stars Jamie Muscato (The Great Gatsby, One Day, Heathers) and Joy Woods (Gypsy, The Notebook, Little Shop of Horrors) as The Emcee and Sally Bowles.
Check out my thoughts on what the production is like with these brand new stars as well as the continuing supporting cast…
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
SWEENEY TODD at the Birmingham Rep cast discuss revival (Ramin Karimloo, Meow Meow, & David Bedella)
I recently had the enormous privilege of sitting down with Ramin Karimloo, Meow Meow, and David Bedella from Birmingham Rep’s upcoming revival of Sweeney Todd.
Check out what the stage stars had to say about this exciting new production, tackling Sondheim, and even their favourite kind of pie.
You can still get tickets to see the production at Birmingham Rep between 4 July and 15 August.
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
This Week’s Reviews
Operation Mincemeat at Woking Theatre, Woking (UK Tour)
★★★★★ Review available YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
Thespians at Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford (UK Tour)
★★ Review available YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
We went to Guildford to see a musical | theatre vlog ft Thespians, Cabaret, We Had a World & more
Check out another week in our life of seeing theatre in the UK!
This week, after recovering from the Tony Awards, we caught the European premiere of We Had a World at Hampstead Theatre, the new leads of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, and Thespians on tour at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, plus I attended the press night performance of Under the Shadow at the Almeida.
Join us vicariously in this brand new vlog to find out what a week in our lives looks like!
What’s coming up this week?
This coming week (which we are already in) is overcrowded with conflicting openings, as musicals including Sinatra, Hot Mess, and Pride (one of my most anticipated this year) clash with the likes of The Truth, Cyrano de Bergerac, and The Misanthrope.
I’ll be catching as much of the above as I can in addition to attending the launch of Billy Elliot’s West End return, ahead of an exciting international day trip this weekend to see a recent British musical produced oversees.
Until next week, I hope that everyone is staying safe and that you have a stagey… week! – Mickey-Jo
Prefer to read on email? Subscribe to free weekly Substack newsletter
Leave a Reply