Event : Kieran Brown, A West End Christmas

Love Christmas?

Love musicals?

If you answered yes to either of those questions then you need to check out ‘A West End Christmas’.

For the second year running Scottish performer Kieran Brown is coming home for the festive season, and bringing a taste of the West End with him. With credits such as Wicked, Les Miserables and Phantom (to name but a few) under his belt, this evening will be one you won't want to miss.

Joining Kieran on stage are pals Jenny Douglas (who's playing Jasmine in this years Kings Theatre panto), Wicked star Ashleigh Gray and Gayle Telfer Stevens, who appaered in the recent Sunshine on Leith film.

Held in the gorgeous Bar 29 in the heart of Glasgow's city centre, audiences can expect ‘All the fun and festive sparkle of the West End with a Scottish twist’.

Supper Club,   29 Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow    

Sunday 15th December        

Show: 21.15    

Tickets £20
https://www.facebook.com/events/548069868598327/?ref_dashboard_filter=calendar

Review: I Will Survive

If you've ever had a broken heart, a one night stand, or one vino too many then you'll be able to relate to the shenanigans of Insideout Productions’ new show 'I Will Survive'.  Join Alison, Leah and Lauren as they attempt to cheer up newly single Donna, after her dirtbag husband (nicknamed Dick) has left her.  Featuring songs from the last four decades, the show is a feelgood musical comedy which has everybody up on their feet.

The intimate atmosphere of the Tron Theatre’s Victorian Bar lends itself well to Act I, which takes the shape of a girly night in.  Revelations and wine aplenty we are introduced to each cast member who all portray relatable women with relatable issues.  Touching on man problems, drink problems and many more, no topic is barred and the show manages to be both hilarious and genuinely touching.  Tanked up on booze the girls head out to Big Boaby’s Bar in Act II and invite the audience to join them once more. 

With a mix of numbers from well known musicals and chart topping hits, each chosen track guides the audience through the story, although the vocals and songs chosen were so diverse and well performed it would have worked even without the plot. 

I Will Survive is a perfect excuse for a get together with the girls and to let you hair down. After a successful run at the Tron the show is now going on tour which you can catch on its first stop at Eastwood Park theatre, check out the details here.

Review: Avenue Q at Cottiers Theatre

With themes such as racism, homosexuality and porn I think it's safe to say that Avenue Q is not your average musical, so it's fitting that it makes its amateur debut in Glasgow with Mad Props, who are certainly not your average theatre company. They are bringing fresh shows to Glasgow whilst raising funds for Leukaemia and  Lymphoma Research.

Imagine a world where humans and puppets collide (or as many have dubbed it - The Sesame Street for adults) and you're on your way to understanding the plot.  Avenue Q follows Princeton, fresh out of college with a useless BA and an empty wallet. While looking for his purpose in life and an apartment in his price range, he stumbles across a neighbourhood filled with the wackiest yet most endearing people you could ever meet.

Marelle Sturrock was outstanding playing (and operating) Kate Monster, an idealist who has dreams of building a school for monsters and wants nothing more than to be lucky in love. Fantastic vocals and really polished movements allowed for the focus to stay on the puppet. Niall Murray was also vocally brilliant with great comic timing as Princeton and a special mention to Brandon Campbell who had me in stitches with his portrayal of  porn-obsessed Trekkie Monster.

The set looked like it had been plucked straight from the West End production with a large two-storey apartment building dominating the stage. Some of the prop movements weren't slick but who can grumble when the audience were lapping it up. The music is so politically incorrect yet absolutely hilarious, and it’s really refreshing to see a show embrace topics that are most often avoided and explore them in a satirical way.

Avenue Q is a story so true to life and so full of heart and warmth that it will leave you with a smile across your face. Judging by the audience chat after curtain call Mad Props definitely achieved this.

Album Review: Rachel Tucker - The Reason

Rachel Tucker is probably best known for playing the role of Elphaba in the hit musical Wicked. Belting out amazing songs, with that power house voice to sold out crowds every night was a usual occurrence for this leading lady.

Fast forward a year or two to the release of Ms Tucker debut album - The Reason. Packed to the brim with fabulous covers,  even more fabulous vocals and a personal touch that cannot be missed and you have yourself a recipe for success.

From the first listen through I really get the impression that this album is a journey through Rachel's life and career to date.  The first track, Small Bump, is obviously to represent Rachel becoming a mum for the first time. This is a gorgeously soulful track and you really believe every word she's singing. Some of the songs on the album, such as The Reason and My Immortal are not often heard covered as they are big songs with strong originals. However Rachel really does the tracks justice and puts her own spin on them.

Of course musical theatre is strongly represented throughout the album. There's a really great stripped back version of 'I'll Cover You' from RENT which sounds awesome with female vocals. A nod is also given to her time playing Meat in We Will Rock You with 'No One But You' and of course there had to be a track from Wicked which Rachel referred to as 'the biggest and best part' of her career to date. There have been many versions of the iconic song 'Defying Gravity' released over the years, but I think this one is my favourite outwith the show itself.

You don't have to be a musical theatre fan to enjoy this album as there is something for everyone, but it's also a real treat for fans who have been following Rachel's career over the years. Pick up your copy of 'The Reason' here.

Interview: Rebecca Trehearn

style="line-height: 1.4;">Rebecca Trehearn's career is going from strength to strength. With shows like We Will Rock You, Dirty Dancing and Love Story under her belt, she is currently astounding audiences in the UK tour of Ghost. I caught up with her recently to chat all things Molly Jensen and beyond.

Your bio is really impressive and performing seems to have always been a part of your life – what in particular attracted you to theatre?
I think the idea of being someone else just really appealed to me!  Having started singing competitively so young, the attention that came with that also brought with it a degree of being picked on that kind of knocked the confidence out of me.  I was a pretty shy kid; I guess for a long time I was just more comfortable in someone else's skin than in my own.  Having a character to hide behind felt safer!

Is there anyone specific within the industry you would love to collaborate with?

I've been fortunate to have worked with some amazing directors, writers and performers over the last few years, so it's difficult to single someone out!  I think it's more a case of dream venues for me at the moment.  I'd love to work at the National or the Donmar and having done a gig at Birdland in New York last year, would also love to work in the States again.

You were fabulous as understudy Molly in the West End production.  How different is it to be playing the role full time now?

One of the biggest differences is having to find a new way to pace yourself, I suppose.  As an understudy you go for your life, knowing that you're unlikely to get much more than a couple of weeks on at a time.  Playing a role like this long term, I've had to learn not to be quite so hard on myself!  The biggest joy though, has been getting to experience a proper rehearsal process and really explore the character and her relationships with Sam, Carl and Oda Mae, in a way you simply don't get the opportunity to do as a cover.  I think I feel a sense of ownership of these relationships now that I didn't when I was having to slot into someone else's process at short notice.

What can people expect from the show?

An incredible spectacle, illusions that will blow you away, amazing choreography, gorgeous songs, plenty of laugh out loud moments and more than anything else, huge heart.  Bring your tissues!

Ghost is obviously a very intense and demanding show, what do you do to stay motivated and keep the role of Molly fresh?

I think the fact that we're touring helps.  Having to get used to a new venue every few weeks keeps you on your toes, you really can't afford to hit auto pilot, ever!  It's also a testament to both the writing and my co-stars that the idea of keeping the show fresh has never felt like an issue to me.  I have so much fun bouncing off of Stewart, David and Wendy every night and the writing is so strong, that I can't help but be completely swept along by Molly's journey every night.

Being part of a touring cast you get to visit a lot of cities. Do you get any down time to experience them? If so what's been your favourite city so far?

Yeah, there's always some time to explore!  So far, I'd say Edinburgh has been my favourite city.  It's just so beautiful there, the architecture is incredible.  I had a list as long as my arm of things I didn't get round to doing, sadly!

Aside from Ghost what's your favourite production at the moment?

I'd say Once.  I saw it on Broadway and in the West End and I just love it, it's a stunning piece of theatre.  Dream job!

What's next for you ?

I've got a couple of gigs coming up in London soon; beyond Ghost, who knows...?!

Huge thanks to Rebecca for taking time out of her busy schedule to answer my questions. 

Be sure to catch Ghost as it tours the country-  venues, dates and ticket information can be found here.

Theatre Favourites - August

Album :

 My favourite album this month is Acoustic By Candlelight by Kerry Ellis and Brian May. When you combine a West End superstar and a rock legend you would naturally expect the outcome to be great. But this album really strips back some of the songs the duo are best known for and showcases them in a completely new way. Recorded live from their Born Free tour we are treated to a range of tracks (including the very catchy single 'The Kissing Me Song') and even some of their chat in between songs. This is a great chill out album and if you haven't picked this up already- what you waiting for?

Show:

9 to 5 returned to Glasgow for this second time this tour and after loving it the first time I simply had to grab some more tickets. This is such a feel good show that really makes me want to get up off my butt and make things happen. Great score, great cast and an all round great night out- love it!

Performer 

Keeping it in the 9 to 5 family this month my favourite performer is Natalie Casey. I have seen Natalie perform a few times now but her take on Judy Bernley (the recently single, office newbie) really blew me away.

 Random:

 Radio Jiblets is a radio station dedicated to showtunes, and the best part about it? The audience get to choose the tracks!! It has become a Monday night tradition of mine to dig out my hair brush (to use as a mic of course) and be stagey for 2 hours. Check out their twitter for details of the next show and how to get involved : twitter.com/radiojiblets

The Fringe Edition #1

It's August, and for me that means only one thing... The Edinburgh Fringe. For those who don't know, the Fringe is a month long festival showcasing all things culture. You can expect theatre, comedy, street performers and a generally crazy atmosphere. I had my first visit of the month this week and it was so much fun.

If you've never been to the Fringe before it can seem quite overwhelming with the amount of shows on offer. What I normally do is thumb through the brochure (or the swanky new app) and pick out shows that I definitely want to see, then book these in advance to avoid disappointment. With my free time in between shows I love taking a stroll along the Royal Mile when you can gather fliers, see little tidbits of the shows and really soak up what's going on. That being said I thought I would recommend some of my personal favourites.

 First on the list is [Title of Show], a musical comedy about two guys creating an original show for the New York Musical Festival. The cast, packed to the brim with talent, did a cracking job with the small stage of the Assembly Checkpoint. Robbie Towns and Ricky Johnston had great chemistry as budding writers Hunter and Jeff and the vocals were spot on, especially from the girls, Carly Stenson and Jamie Lee Pike. If you fancy seeing an original and witty one-act piece this could be the show for you.  Tickets can be found here.

                                                         
The next show, 'A Pile of Wit', is an improv comedy.  This was a first for me and I wasn't sure what to expect, but was sold when the guy handing me the flier asked if I wanted this 'free piece of paper'.  When you're being handed literally hundreds of fliers it helps to be a bit different!  Although I was hesitant I ended up really enjoying it. An audience member was picked to answer a few questions which formed the basis of the show - this is  a really smart concept as it means each performance is unique and fresh. The guys looked like they were having a ball and I even ended up on stage trying to resuscitate Melvin the mule - don't ask! This show is great for some light-hearted fun and I would definitely recommend checking them out. Details here.

My last stop was to see Caroline Rhea do some stand up... and she was fricken awesome! Us 90's kids will remember her as Aunt Hilda from 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch' and if you thought she was funny then, you're in for a treat now. Tales of bad break-ups, cute anecdotes about her daughter and a 'This Is Your Life' style slide show is only some of what you can expect (oh and I've yet to come across another comedian that gives out free After Eights - I'm easily won over!). She comes across as the most down to earth, witty woman who I would love to sit down and put the world to rights with. This show is a must see and I'd grab your tickets here now.