Filed under: London Theatre
Superbreak are always on the lookout for guest bloggers who would love to share their passion for short breaks with our readers, so we reached out to Sarah and asked her to let us know all about her recent theatre break to Wicked.
Hi, my name is Sarah and I am thrilled to have been asked to “guest blog” for Superbreak! What an unexpected honour! I am 46 and have loved everything related to theatre for the last 32 years. I eat sleep and breathe theatre! To me there is no finer place to be than sat in my seat waiting for the show to start, it is an exhiliration that everyone should feel…at least once!
I was lucky enough to win a VIP trip to Wicked to say I was excited about this win is an understatement! Not only did the prize include 4 premium seats to Wicked but an amazing overnight stay at The Rubens at The Palace which was simply delightful!
Wicked The Musical tells the story of just how the Wicked Witch of the West became so wicked! It is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz but takes part before, during and after Dorothys arrival in Oz as most of the show is performed in flash back. The show starts with Elphebas’ apparent death and then the story unfolds…starting with the Elpheba and Glindas first meeting at college.
Rachel Tucker plays the infamous Wicked Witch of the West Elphaba with such talent and enthusiasm it is a joy to behold! Rachel came 4th in Andrew Lloyd Webbers “I’d do anything” but has found her perfect role and should surely receive an award for her portrayal?! Her voice is quite incredible and she thoroughly deserved the standing ovation she received.
Louise Dearman plays the Good Witch Glinda with such hilarity, I have to admit when the show first started I thought her voice was tad annoying, but soon realised that this is part of her character and I eventually found both characters very endearing…for different reasons. Louise is extremely talented and has amazing comedic timing.
Wicked is basically a love story where both girls fall for the same man – Fiyero! Mark Evans was Fiyero, he played the role with real humour and was so camp I could not imagine Lee Mead interpreting the character in the same way I really enjoyed his performance. The wizard is Clive Carter and I loved his portrayal, he was so much more believable than Michael Crawford in the current production of The Wizard of Oz.
The set was simply incredible with all the effects we have come to expect of a West End Show. Our seats were classed as premium seats and were in Row G of the stalls. I was a little concerned as I had heard bad reviews of these seats being not offset and with little rake. I should not have been worried as even my 9 year old had a clear view (with 2 booster seats available from just inside the entrance to the theatre). The queue for the toilets at the interval was horrendous and this is the first time that I have seen so many people coming back to their seats after the second half had already started! My advice is to go before the show starts as you will not want to miss a single moment of this incredibly entertaining show!
October 21, 2011
Theatre season is now well underway and the many different West End shows, new and old, are enjoying performances to packed out theatres every evening. Many of the most popular shows are also welcoming some huge names to their cast or are extending their runs well into the New Year, here are our top picks for big names in theatre!
The incredible Rock of Ages Musical, starring Justin Lee Collins and Shyane Ward has announced that it will continue its run well into 2012 by extending its booking period until October. The high octane production has enjoyed an incredibly successful opening which has pleased critics and theatre lovers alike. Featuring hit songs including The Final Countdown and We Built This City it’s easy to see why this new musical is proving to be such a hit.
After a five year run at the Cambridge Theatre, Chicago the Musical announced that it would be moving to the Garrick Theatre and that Ugly Betty’s America Ferrera will join the cast for a limited run. America will star alongside Amra-Faye Wright and take over the role of showgirl Roxie Hart.
Another famous name to hit the stage is Wet, Wet, Wet singer Marti Pellow who will join the Blood Brothers cast later this year. People staying in London and seeing the show from the 1st November will be able to catch Marti during his limited run with the show.
Will you be heading to London on a short break to catch one of these star studied shows?
October 14, 2011
Join Superbreak at the New London Theatre on the evening of Saturday the 19th of November for an exclusive performance of War Horse. Based on the 1982 novel by the award-winning children’s author Michael Morpurgo, War Horse is an astounding story of friendship and one boy’s determination to find the horse that was sent to fight in the cavalry at the outbreak of World War One.
War Horse the play follows one horse’s journey from his peaceful life on a farm in Devon to the gritty and harsh reality of life on the frontline. While Joey is out on the battlefields his young owner Albert embarks on his own journey to find Joey and bring him home.
With award-winning productions in the West End and Broadway, War House has achieved huge success and is a fantastic show for anyone planning a theatre break. Adapted for the stage by Nick Stafford the play transforms the audience to another world as the life size puppets bring Joeys remarkable story to life on the stage.
Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation of War Horse is due out in the UK in January 2012.
October 3, 2011
This week some of the Superbreak team and some very lucky winners from Twitter and Facebook will be heading down to London to see hot new musical, Rock of Ages and we can’t wait!! Starring Justin Lee Collins and Shayne Ward this musical is tipped for success and has already set the West End alight and if the excitement on the internet is anything to go by it’s going to be incredible!
Rock of Ages transports you back to 1987 on the Sunset Strip where a small town girl meets a big city rocker and the pair fall in love to the hit songs of the 80’s! Incredible songs will help mould this musical into a breathtaking hit including Don’t Stop Believin’, Dead or Alive, We Built This City, I Wanna Know What Love Is and The Final Countdown.
But don’t worry if you can’t get down to London right away to see the show, in 2012 Rock of Ages will be making its big screen debut. An all star cast including Tom Cruise, Russell Brand and Catherine Zeta-Jones will bring the story to life on the silver screen.
If you are lucky enough to be heading to London for a short break make sure you check out our fantastic selection of London hotels to really grab yourself a bargain this autumn.
September 7, 2011
Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life and if you are planning a wedding in the near future then you’ll know there is much to consider. From the dress, the suits, the cake and the guest list to the organisation of the food, drinks and speeches there is a lot to get done. Amongst the official organisation for the day you may well have thought about what to do for your Stag and Hen breaks. Whether you’re after a relaxing break with the girls, an action filled adventure break or simply need a hotel to stay in overnight there are plenty of great ideas to choose from.
Why not have a go at mixology with a Cocktail Making course and discover some delicious flavours or pamper you and your friends with a relaxing spa break. For the boys there is a host of activities on offer, from Paintballing and Clay Pigeon shooting to White Water Rafting and Go-Karting or why not head out on a Golf Break
Its not all high octane though, there are plenty of hotels in fantastic cities across the UK and Europe where you can take things at your own pace and plan your ideal short break. From great city breaks, to attraction tickets and theatre breaks you can tailor your break to suit you.
Where will you be going on your stag or hen break, will it be an action packed adventure break or a quieter escape before the big day?
August 19, 2011
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. When it originally opened in the West End in October 1986 The Phantom of the Opera musical won the 1986 Olivier Award and the 1988 Tony Award for Best Musical. With an array of instantly recognisable songs including Phantom of the Opera, Think of Me, Music of the Night and All I ask of You, The Phantom of the Opera has become a legendary musical performed in over 14 languages and in more than 25 countries across the globe.
The Phantom legend started years earlier though with the release of Gaston Leroux French novel Le Fantôme de l’Opéra. First published as a serialisation in a local newspaper, Leroux’s novel received little attention and is often overlooked in favour of the film and stage productions. The illustrated publication in 1910 was the inspiration for the 1925 Universal studios film starring Lon Chaney. Since then the story has been adapted in print, screen and stage into some of the most iconic representations of the Phantom to date.
A story of love, terror and loss the Phantom of the Opera opens itself up to various interpretations. From Hammer Horror to rock musicals, TV serials and Hollywood blockbusters the Phantom has seen many different forms across the years, but it remains a popular and well loved story and for the past 25 years Lloyd Webbers Phantom of the Opera has entertained millions of people throughout the world.
If you are planning a London theatre break you can see the current production at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Haymarket. Alternatively why not see how the story continues in the sequel Love Never Dies or treat yourself to the star studded 25th anniversary production at the Royal Albert Hall.
Have you seen the Phantom? Which is your favourite adaptation?
August 12, 2011
2011 is most certainly an amazing year for theatre in London and across the world. London’s vibrant West End has seen the some incredible shows hit the stage such as the fantastic Shrek the Musical and Wizard of Oz Musical as well as some amazing cast additions to popular hits like Les Misérables, which has welcomed Alfie Boe and Matt Lucas. So if you are planning to head to London to try and catch some of these well known faces take a look to see who is appearing where and when.
Wicked the Musical recently confirmed that Rachel Tucker will continue in her role as Elphaba until 2012 as will Julie Legrand who plays Madame Morrible. Other current cast members including Louise Dearman, Mark Evans and Clive Carter will all wave goodbye to the musical on Saturday December 10th after a fantastic run.
Fans of Justin Lee Collins will be more than pleased to hear that the long haired comedian plans to take to the stage in Rock of Ages. Justin will be joined by X Factors Shayne Ward who will play the role of Stacee Jaxx when the show opens towards the end of August.
The classic Roald Dahl story of Matilda is heading for London’s Cambridge Theatre in October and features music from the incredibly talented Tim Minchin. Many of the original cast from the successful Stratford upon Avon run will reprise their roles for the London run which is sure to be a huge sell out success.
Phantom of the Opera is celebrating its 25th anniversary at the beginning of October and although it hasn’t yet been confirmed exactly who, rumour has it some very special guests will be making an appearance. The once in a lifetime Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary show is going to be magnificent and will well and truly light up the Royal Albert Hall.
It’s well known now that the amazing cast of Shrek the Musical are delighting kid’s young and old every night at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and that’s only one of the reasons it made it into our list! Nigel Lindsay, Richard Blackwood, Amanda Holden and Nigel Harman are fantastic in this musical and it is a must see for 2011.
So there you have just a few of the shows that are staring some famous faces from our TV’s. Have you seen any of these shows? Or are you planning to catch any of these West End debuts on a London Theatre Break?
August 6, 2011
This coming September marks a special anniversary for a very special show, Wicked the Musical will celebrate a remarkable 5 years in London’s West End and it’s easy to why. For those of you who haven’t seen the show yet you are really missing out, it takes everything you thought about the land of Oz and turns it completely upside down and leaves you questioning everything.
Without giving anything away, Wicked follows the tale of two girls who despite their obvious differences become the very best of friends. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz the girl’s friendship reaches a crossroad and they take very different paths to fulfil their destinies as Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West.
Since it opened on Broadway in 2003 Wicked the Musical has had nothing but incredible reviews and it continues to leave audiences spellbound. As the winner of the 2010 of the Laurence Olivier Award for most popular show it’s clear to see that this show will continue to be a big hit for years to come.
We would love to hear your thoughts on this incredible show.
July 23, 2011
In October 2011 one of the world’s best loved musicals will celebrate its 25th birthday in style with an unforgettable performance at the Royal Albert Hall. The Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary will star the incredible Ramin Karimloo as ‘The Phantom’ and Sierra Boggess as ‘Christine’ as well as an orchestra and cast of over 200 people! We have also heard that along the way there will be some very special guest appearances.
Phantom has always been one of the most popular London theatre breaks and has been seen by over 100 million people worldwide. Originally making its West End debut in 1986 the show found its home in the beautiful Her Majesty’s Theatre and has resided there since. Having won over 50 major theatre awards on Broadway and the West End, the British production hit another milestone In October 2010 with the celebration of its 10,000th performance.
So as Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber get ready to celebrate 25 years of theatre history there is also a rumour that the show could be about to embark on a yearlong tour in 2011.
Will you be heading down to see Phantom at the Royal Albert Hall and who do you think the special guests will be?
July 14, 2011
All the shows in the West End at the moment seem to have one common theme, an incredible celebrity cast. Proving to be a successful mix with audiences traveling down to London here are my top picks of celebrity theatre shows.
Ghost the Musical
Ghost the Musical has the amazingly talented Richard Fleeshman better known from his days in Coronation Street and Legally Blonde the Musical starring as Sam Wheat and Cassie Levy known for her breathtaking roles in Hair, Wicked and Hairspray as his heartbroken girlfriend Molly Jensen. This romantic story is as beautiful and as moving as the original film.
Dreamboats and Petticoats
Sam Attwater who has previously starred in Eastender’s and is the winner of Dancing On Ice will join the Dreamboats and Petticoats cast. The story follows a group of musicians who enter a song writing contest to win the heart of a young lady.
Shrek the Musical
Shrek is the must see musical of the year and with its all star cast it’s easy to see why. Since the opening last month Nigel Lindsay, Richard Blackwood, Amanda Holden and Nigel Harman have had nothing but glowing reviews from everyone who has been lucky enough to catch this show. The Britain’s got Talent audience were treated to a sample of the show on one of the final nights of the contents.
Wizard of Oz Musical
The nation watched as Danielle Hope was announced the winner of TV’s Over The Rainbow and she now takes to the stage as the role of Dorothy. The tale of Oz has been brought to life in a spectacular production by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber. Featuring all the popular songs from the film, The Wizard of Oz is proving to be one of the big hits of 2011.
Much Ado About Nothing
David Tennant and Catherine Tate are appearing together for the first time in a new production of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. But to see this incredible duo you will have to act fast as the show closes on the 3rd of September.
But it doesn’t stop there, the list of shows with celebrities’ ranges from Betty Blue Eyes, Rock of Ages and The Ladykillers to Legally Blonde, Les Misérables and Lend me a Tenor.
Have you seen any shows with celebrities in? Or are you planning a trip to London to catch any of these?
July 8, 2011
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