Louise Dearman proves pink goes good with green!

Everyone - myself included - seems to be buzzing about the new Wicked cast change announcement. If you're not familiar with the musical Wicked then get yourself out from under that rock and check out the website here -www.wickedthemusical.co.uk

Louise Dearman - a previous firm G(a)linda favourite - is returning to the land of Oz as my favourite musical theatre character, Elphaba. Louise jumps into the Wicked book of records as the only actress ever to play both lead parts.

                                                         
When I first heard the news I couldn't make up my mind about it. I loved Louise's interpretation of G(a)linda, but the character is polar opposite to that of Elphaba, so I wasn't really sure how it would fit.

However after a short YouTube sesh looking through a lot of Louise's clips, you can tell straight away she is a chameleon and - sorry to go all Mary Poppins on you - 'practically perfect in every way'. That power house of a voice can belt out 'Defying Gravity' with ease and her stage presence is simply brilliant.

I will definitely be taking a trip down the yellow brick road to witness Miss Dearman smash yet another role.

What are your thoughts on the new cast?

Glasgow at a Glance - Riverside Museum

Having just completed one of my New Year resolutions - let's gloss over the fact that it's 8 months into the year - I am now in the process of moving in to my very first apartment. That being said, my trips to London will be few and far between while I deal with being an adult and having to pay bills.

I have set myself a mini goal to try and get to know my city better. For some reason I've always had issues with Glasgow - not for any justifiable reason - we have just never bonded and I want to change that.

This new section of my blog will be known as 'Glasgow at a Glance' and will focus on everything this city has to offer.

First up - The Riverside Museum

There's an old saying 'you don't get something for nothing', but in this case you do. The Riverside Museum is an interactive and informative attraction, and the best part... it's free! 

For me, the Riverside ticks all the boxes. The open plan space allows the visitor to freely explore the exhibits and be drawn in by interest, rather then having to follow a set route. The variety of themes represented  throughout the museum are so diverse, there really is something for everyone. 

From taking a walk down cobbled streets...

source

...to hearing how a visit to the cinema used to be, first hand from people who actually experienced it...

...to a walkthrough of how transport has evolved throughout the years 

You could literally spend hours here. There's also a coffee shop with a licensed bar where you can take in the lovely view of the River Clyde . 

This has definitely been a great place for me to start and if all the other attractions in Glasgow are as good as this one then I can't wait to jump in.  

Katy Perry- PART OF ME MOVIE

This time last week I was a normal Katy Perry fan, who enjoyed her music and liked her a normal amount. After going to see a showing of Katy's new movie 'Part of Me' I have Perry fever. 


I'm not really sure what I was expecting from the movie. I thought it would be a fun way to experience her sold out concert that I wasn't lucky enough to get tickets for. I thought it would be interesting to get a glimpse into the life of one of the biggest acts of the moment. I did not for a minute think I would have been laughing, then crying, then relating to the events that were going on in someone's life that I had never met. 


'Part of Me' guides us through the highs and lows of Katy Perry's life from the last year. From huge success in her career, to falling in love and importantly, how the music industry can sometime take its toll on people. 


Throughout the full movie Katy is honest, endearing and dedicated - not only to her job, but to her fans. Her entourage is filled with people she has known for years and the chemistry they have really shines throughout the film ( in particular, a certain fart sound box scene ). 


I think the thing people tend to forget with celebrities - myself included - is that they're just normal people. 'Part of Me' really shows that we all have heartbreak and bad days, but it's how you deal with them that counts.  


I would encourage anyone who has ever had a dream to watch this movie. It's such an inspiring tale of how if you have enough passion for something ( and in this case bucket loads of talent ) you will succeed. 

A lot of #FiveMinuteFun

On Saturday I took part in something amazing. 

Five Minute Theatre is a genius idea thought up by a team of people at the National Theatre of Scotland. The tag line - created by anyone for an audience of everyone - could not sum this event up more. 

I witnessed 56 five minute shows, from a range of people, in a range of countries. Some pre recorded, some live in Glasgow, even live shows streamed from a shopping centre in Fife!! It really did feel like the possibilities were limitless. 

Being in the NTS head quarters for the day, I got a first hand look as to just how much work goes into a project like this and the office was buzzing with nervous excitement, which was really awesome to be around. Myself and fellow Champion George were asked along to help out with the live chat that would be going on throughout the day.  This in itself was a great experience for me, but I got  a lot more than I bargained for. 

The theme of this particular round of Five Minute Theatre was 'Youth'. I watched people of all ages and backgrounds interpret this theme and what was produced was a selection of relatable, hilarious and thought-provoking pieces from an online community coming together.  

If you missed the live stream on Saturday, or if you just want to watch again you can do so here . 

For now I will leave you with a few of my favourites from the day. 

162 Bars Out

Every Cloud

9am Monday Morning

Advice to My Teenage Self

Album Review - Scott Alan, Live

When  I heard Scott Alan was releasing a new album, I knew instantly it was going to be genius. And that's exactly what 'Live' is, 25 tracks of complete brilliance. 

The CD was recorded live from Scott's most recent Birdland concert, and features performances from a host of West End actors and recording artists. As well as the winner of the 'I'm a star' contest Alexander Sage Oyen. 

Each and every track from the album is filled with so much emotion and gives the audience a chance to connect with Alan as we get a glimpse into his inner thoughts and feelings. 

His style of writing is simply beautiful and the lyrics easily lend themselves to others lives. This is definitely the must have album for all fans of theatre. That being said this roller coaster journey of what life can throw at you should be experienced by everyone. 

My favourite track on the album is Never Neverland sung by - my favourite West End Lady - Kerry Ellis. I also love Blessing featuring RJ Helton and I'm a star featuring Natalie Weiss. Basically all the tracks are amazing and could not recommend more that you purchase this album. You can buy the album from Dress Circle here and it is also available for download. 

  

Social Media Call - Macbeth

I was very fortunate enough to attend the social media call for the National Theatre of Scotland's most recent show Macbeth.


For those of you who are unfamiliar with social media calls,  it's basically a chance for bloggers and tweeters etc to come along and preview some scenes from the show. There are photo and video opportunities and some time for cast interviews. 


I arrived at the theatre just on time - and no more - after a minor train incident (why does Glasgow have a Pollockshaws East and a Pollockshields East- that's not at all confusing) and met with Eve from the NTS and the other people there for the call. We got to chat for a bit which was great, I always love meeting people with the same passions as me and listening to the projects they're involved with.


First on the agenda was a run through of two scenes from the show, we were encouraged to film, take pictures and update our twitters the entire way through. For this part of the day we were joined by the big bad press. This was a little intimidating, comparing their massive cameras to my tiny iphone, but after the first scene I was over that and ended up ducking and diving through tripods to get my shots.


Here are a few teaser shots of the set:

After the scene run-through we were given the opportunity to speak with some of the creative minds behind Macbeth, including the set designer and the star of the show himself Alan Cumming. Everyone we spoke with provided an in-depth insight into how the production came to be with so much pride and enthusiasm.

I am lucky enough to be seeing the show tomorrow with the other NTS Champions, so a full review with my thoughts on the show along with some interview footage and snaps will be up in the next few days. 


I think social media calls are a fabulous idea and if you can, I would try and get involved with the next one. It's a unique experience that leaves you feeling totally inspired. 






Book tickets by calling the box office - 0845 330 3501

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