Lift The Musical - The Album

'LIFT is about people and connections. The connections we have without knowing about them, the connections we lose sight of and the connections we don't mean to have.' - source

Every so often a musical comes along and you just can't seem to shift that 'wanting to know more' feeling. For me this musical is Lift, having followed Lift's progress since 2008, where I saw song snippets at the Edinburgh Fringe. I was incredibly excited to find out that the album was being released- and it did not disappoint!

Written by Craig Adams and Ian Watson, Lift tells the story of Eight complete strangers who get in to the lift at Covent Garden tube station, and if only they would stop and notice they would see that they are all connected, and that connection could be life altering.

This twelve track album is full of raw emotion and unadulterated honesty. The lyrics are the most accurate representation of modern day relationships and there will be at least one line in each song that  you are able to relate to. This album expresses the feelings and emotions that people spend lifetimes trying to repress.

My personal favourites from the soundtrack are 'Lost in Translations', 'She Meets Him/ One Minute in a Lift' and 'It's Been a Year'. For the full track list and to hear a short clip of each song click here . In the mean time i'll leave you with the amazing vocals of Jennifer Tierney -

* Full review of Lift can be found here

Unwined- 29 Glasgow

If you're a fan of top class entertainment and a tipple or two, then you'll love Unwined. Set in the Network Bar of 29 Glasgow this is a laid back cabaret which - as 29 rightly put it - brings a taste of London's West End to life in the heart of Glasgow.

This was the second in a string of dates which showcases the talents of Edward Reid and his guest performers for the evening, Natalie Toyne and Alison Cleland.

The Network Bar  is just the most gorgeous space. It's so stylish and relaxing, with table service that can prove pretty dangerous after that first complementary vino (or maybe that's just me).

The show lasts approximately 2 hours with an interval which is a perfect amount of time. The songs performed were a good mix of  both ballads and more up beat songs, and the 3 performers were very funny and extremely talented. Some of my favourite performances from the night were:

Ailson singing 'I Can Do Better Than That' from the musical The Last 5 Years. I can really relate to this song and it's one of my favourite tracks from the soundtrack. I hope I am able to see this musical live at some point.

Natalie singing 'Your Daddy's Son' from Ragtime the musical. This is such an emotional song and has a way of capturing the audience from the first bar.

Edward singing 'My Way', which is a very uplifting song and you could tell he meant every word.

The next Unwined date is Sunday the 17th of June. If you're free, I would definitely suggest you get yourself down to 29, it's a really fun evening that will have you laughing, crying and up on your feet dancing by the end.

Champions meeting and Enquirer

On Saturday the 12th I had my first Champions meeting with Marianne from The National Theatre of Scotland, and fellow Champion Sandra. We talked plans over a glass of vino and it was really great to hear Sandra's ideas and get a grasp of what's expected this year.

After the meeting we headed up to the set of Enquirer to see the production. It was a site-specific standing piece, which was a completely new experience for me. It's strange to be so close to the cast before curtain call, especially when they're all in character - talking on phones and typing up stories.

As the piece progressed we were guided from one section of the room to another by the actors. There were 6 actors in total playing an array of characters and they were all fabulous. From emotional scenes regarding the survivors of the Dunblane tragedy to shocking truths about paying policemen for stories, all the burning questions that the public have been asking for months were being answered. And better still answered by the 43 journalists who were questioned and helped create the script.

The set was incredible, and so cleverly put together. There were newspapers stacked into bundles being used as seats, coffee cups everywhere and piles of shredded newspaper which were used to show the decline of the industry. The background music - similar to that of a news announcement - was played throughout the production which added to the suspense.

Enquirer is a unique production which leaves you with many thoughts long after it has ended. This piece is so relevant and could not have come around at a better time. The show is headed for London so be sure to keep an eye out and catch it while you can.

Marianne and I on set just before curtain call

I'm A Champion!

I'm excited to announce that i'm going to be part of The National Theatre of Scotland's Champions project this year.

Basically what this means is that i'm going to be involved in promoting local theatre events and hopefully informing communities of all the great theatre thats right on our door steps.

My passion is obviously theatre and i'm thrilled to be working with The NTS and along side other like minded people.

One of this things i've decided to focus on with my blog this year is promoting theatre close to home, during this project i'll be looking at creative ways for people to discover Scottish theatre, i'll be holding competitions to win tickets, looking into organising events and tweeting the whole way through it.

I hope you come along for the ride :)

A SONG AND A SIP- London style!

A Song and A Sip - The cabaret event which has taken Glasgow by storm . Is heading for the London town this month.

Brought to you by Scottish theatre company Insideout Productions, this event boasts a talented cast of both stage and screen including Edward Reid from Britain's Got Talent who said " I am so excited to be part of the London debut". He is joined by amazing West End performers Caroline Keiff, Keiran Brown Jacqueline Hughes and Sabrina Carter.

Carter - who is currently appearing in the West End show 'The 39 Steps' said: "It's great to be working with some old friends and new ones and showing London folks the Glasgow banter."

while Keiff who has appeared in both Legally Blonde and Wicked commented that she was "thrilled to be part of the inaugural London performance."

Brown, whose credits include Love Never Dies and Wicked, said that he was excited to be joining the rest of the cast and "hopefully bringing something different to the London cabaret scene."

Hughes, currently starring in Wicked added: " I am thrilled Song Sip is making it to the big smoke - Excited!"


From attending a number of the Glasgow shows I know you can expect anything from classic musicals such as Les Mis, to modern comedic shows like Avenue Q. The beauty of this cabaret is you never know what to expect. The cast and songs are ever changing to keep things fresh. This is an intimate event that really gives the audience a chance to feel part of the story.


Paul Harper Swan, the artistic director commented: "I am thrilled we are working in association with the Leicester Square Theatre to bring this amazing cabaret to a London audience, this is a must see show full of song, banter and of course a glass of vino!"

Tickets are £15 and selling fast so grab yours now.

BOOKING LINE - 08448733433

A SONG AND A SIP
Sunday 20th May 2012
4pm and 7pm
Leicester Square Theatre London

Phone rings door chimes in comes Company

INSIDEOUT PRODUCTIONS' revival of the 1970's broadway musical 'Company' has just finished up a week long run in Cottiers theatre and has certainly made a lasting impression. I was lucky enough to go backstage for a sneak peek of the warm up and a chat with the cast.

Set in New York, Company tells the story of Robert, a commitment-phobe and his relationships with both his married -or soon to be married- friends and his many girlfriends. The show concentrates on Roberts interactions with each couple and explores his thoughts on his love interests, and ultimately what he discovers about himself.

Cottiers is a very intimate venue which was perfect for this show, which coupled with the simplistic set allowed the audience to truly focus on the story.

What struck me most about Company was the diversity of the characters. Sandy Nelson who played David hit the nail on the head when he said that it covers a lot of dynamics that exist in everybody's social circle. The cast were all in agreement that this was a very relatable musical, and Lynne Jenkinson who played Jenny wasn't wrong when she said that it leaves you thinking 'what couple am I?'.

Gregor Firth was outstanding as Robert, he was very strong vocally and engaged well with the audience.Louise McCarthy and Darren Brownlie both had a great mix of comedy and emotion.

 

Another fabulous aspect of this show was the music. The musical director, Morgan Carberry explained that all of the different character dynamics are reflected in the songs. The various music styles represented takes the audience along on the roller-coaster of emotions that each character experiences.

When asked what the highlight of working on Company had been, the cast all had the same answer - the people. George Rae who plays Paul advised that in an ensemble piece like Company it is really beneficial that everyone gets along, and I completely agree with Pamela Byrne who plays April when she said that she thought it showed on stage.

From speaking with director Paul Harper Swan it is clear to see he is very proud of this production, and rightly so. It is very apparent that this show deserves to have a life after this run and I hope to catch it again soon.

May Recommendations

I recently received mail from  ATG Tickets, advising of their upcoming productions for this season, so getting into the spirit I've decided to do a monthly round up of shows that I really want to see. Starting with May :)

 

What :   Enquirer
Where : The Hub at Pacific Quay
When : 04/05/2012 - 13/05/2012

"A new site-specific theatre production based on interviews with leading figures in the newspaper industry in the UK"- http://www.nationaltheatrescotland.com

Enquirer could not be more relevant given what's been dominating the headlines over the past year. I have heard nothing but rave reviews from people who have already seen it. NTS are always coming up with innovative shows and I cannot wait to work with them this year.  

 

 

What :   Company The Musical
Where : Cottiers Theatre
When : 04/05/2012 - 05/05/2012

"Set in New York. It’s Robert’s 35th birthday. He has good friends, a gorgeous apartment and a girlfriend (or three). But is he happy..?" - http://www.cottiers.com/theatre-programme/company-2/

Presented by InsideOut Productions with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, this musical is a sure hit. From reading Twitter and Facebook the response to this musical has been nothing but positive. I have seen most of the cast perform before and on that basis alone it's a must see. There are only two more days of this run left and I am very excited to see it tonight. Be sure to grab the last few tickets.

 

What:  Avenue Q
Where: The Kings Theatre
When : 14/05/2012 - 19/05/2012

"Avenue Q is not the most upmarket of New York streets, and is about as far away from Park Avenue as you can get, but it is home to some lively and off the wall characters performed by an unholy comedic alliance of humans and puppets" - http://www.atgtickets.com/Avenue-Q-Tickets/6/1529/

Could not recommend this musical enough. This shows says all the things most people can't -or just don't want to- admit. I love Avenue Q and have seen this current cast twice- they will not disappoint. 

 

 

What:  Simon Amstell
Where: The Pavillion
When : 18/05/2012

Quite new to the comedy scene. On a recommendation from a friend I am off to see Simon Amstell. Having watched a few scenes from his tour video I think we will be a good fit.