Even more thoughts on stunt casting, and the new Legally Blonde tour as well as reviews of Guess How Much I Love You?, Deep Azure, Rock & Roll Man and more…
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.
This week began uncharacteristically – with three consecutive days of no theatre! When faced with this, I had initially looked into hastily planning a last minute trip, frantically searching for exciting theatre elsewhere in the world. Ultimately, the sensible decision to stay at home and catch up on videos prevailed, but it did usher in a shift in perspective that affected the rest of the week’s theatregoing.
The eagerness to see something with the time that I had prompted a serious of bookings over the weekend – one to see the buzzy new workshop of Todrick Hall’s Midnight, as well as a return trip to the Bridge Theatre’s revival of Into the Woods, and a matinee of Unfortunate at The Other Palace Theatre to accompany a uniquely memorable evening seeing Sea Witch in concert at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Even if I do share my thoughts about each (and I shall, soon), it’s great to remind myself that I am allowed to go and see theatre simply because I want to and not because it’s a significant opening I feel is important to report on.
Ahead of the 2026 Olivier Award nominations, Aeron James and I also sat down once more to predict who might be this year’s recipients. Coupled with my thoughts about stunt casting (and how we frame stage stars in general), there’s much to consider about the early career talents who become rising stars and overnight successes in moments like this, ones which bring opportunity as well as perhaps immense pressure.
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This Week’s Videos
Can we predict the OLIVIER Award Nominations for 2026?
On Thursday 5th March at 12pm, the nominations for the 2026 Olivier Awards will be announced, celebrating the best of the last year of London Theatre.
In this video, my stagey fiancé Aeron James and I are predicting which shows, performers and creatives might be nominated amidst a hugely busy year that included the likes of Paddington the Musical, Evita, All My Sons, 1536, Inter Alia, Into the Woods, and more.
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
Is stunt casting actually a good thing? The truth about celebrities on Broadway & in the West End…
With theatre fans once again talking about stunt casting, it’s finally time for us to have a robust conversation about the controversial topic.
From Whitney Leavitt in Chicago on Broadway to Natalie Bassingthwaite in the Australian premiere of Waitress, there are plenty of current examples of the practice which have been come under criticism.
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
MUCH ADO to Broadway… and EVITA next? The rumoured details about upcoming Broadway revivals…
It was recently announced that Jamie Lloyd’s acclaimed production of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing will transfer to Broadway in the next season later this year.
The production, which will once again star Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell, will play at an as yet unannounced theatre, and is rumoured to be a precursor to the much talked about Broadway transfer of Evita starring Rachel Zegler.
Check out my thoughts about each of these productions as well as all of the rumoured details I’ve heard so far…
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
I saw the LEGALLY BLONDE tour, you guys!
A few days ago, I bought a ticket to go see the brand new UK Tour of Legally Blonde the Musical at the Southampton Mayflower Theatre.
The new production of the fan favourite musical, which began performances at Curve Leicester earlier in February, stars Amber Davies as Elle Woods.
In this full description of the show (rather than a review at this time), find out what the new production is like, what’s been cut and what it looks like, as well as why I think it’s arrived at the perfect time…
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
This Week’s Reviews
Guess How Much I Love You? at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, Royal Court Theatre, London
★★★★★ Review available on YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
Shadowlands at Aldwych Theatre, West End, London
★★★ Review available on YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
Deep Azure at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Shakespeare’s Globe, London
★★★ Review available on YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
Man and Boy at Dorfman Theatre, National Theatre, London
★★★★ Review available on YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
To Maury, With Love at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, West End, London
★★★★★ Review available on YouTube / Instagram / TikTok
Rock & Roll Man at Salisbury Playhouse, Salisbury
★★★ Review available on YouTube / Instagram / TikTok
We did a three show day in London?!
Check out another week in our life of seeing theatre almost every day!
This week, we headed to the much talked about Dracula starring Cynthia Erivo, Chadwick Boseman’s Deep Azure at Shakespeare’s Globe, and Rock & Roll Man at Salisbury Playhouse as well as fitting it a 3 show day in London.
Check out this brand new vlog to find out what a week in our lives looks like!
What’s coming up this week?
I can’t wait to share my thoughts about recent visits to Sea Witch and Midnight but the biggest excitement of the week to come is the announcement of the 2026 Olivier Award nominations – feel free to join Aeron James and I live on YouTube on Thursday 5th March at 12pm for our real time reactions and analysis.
Meanwhile the next week of shows (and I am seeing theatre on 6 out of the next 7 days) sees me travelling across and outside London, including regional openings from Reading Rep Theatre and the Mercury Theatre in Colchester, plus a launch event for the furriest musical coming to the West End later this year!
Until next week, I hope that everyone is staying safe and that you have a stagey… week! – Mickey-Jo
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