Posts Tagged ‘Review’

Beautiful- The Carol King Musical Review

Thursday, January 16th, 2020

Last night some of our Spotlights team went to the Churchill Theatre in Bromley, to watch Beautiful, ‘The Carol King musical’ starring Daisy Wood- Davis, Adam Gillan and Laura Baldwin. The musical is based on the real-life story of Carol King, who at the age of 17 fought her way into the record industry with her first hit ‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow’. By the time she was twenty she was writing hit songs for the biggest acts such as ‘The Drifters, The Shirelles, Aretha Franklin and The Monkees’. The musical tells the tale of her greatest challenge, finding her own voice and searching for the courage to step into the spotlight.

We were amazed by Daisy Wood-Davis as Carol King, her voice was sensational! If you are a Carol King fan or maybe even if you’re not Davis will bring tears to your eyes from the moment she opens the show, sounding identical to King. Davis received a very well-deserved standing ovation at the end of the performance. Other stand out performers include Laura Baldwin who plays the part of Cynthia Weil, a chic and clever lyricist and Adam Gillan as Gerry, Carol’s husband. Singers cast as ‘The Drifters, The Shirelles and The Righteous Brothers were also pitch perfect with energetic dances. The set design at the Churchill was also incredible, authentically transporting you back to the 60’s. Beautiful is a poignant story, that will make you feel the earth move!

Children who attend Spotlights Theatre School regularly have opportunities to take part in musical theatre shows. Your child is welcome to attend a FREE trial class at any of our venues.

The Little Shop of Horrors – Regents Park Theatre – Review

Thursday, August 30th, 2018

The Little Shop of Horrors – Regents Park Theatre

If you haven’t yet experienced the pure magic and joy of the Open-Air Theatre in London’s Regents Park, I cannot recommend the experience highly enough. I first went to Regent’s Park Open-Air Theatre, when I was at secondary school, to see a very memorable production of ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream,’ with my wonderfully enthusiastic English teacher, who really valued theatre and live performance.

I’ve been back several times over the years to see a few productions, including Arthur Miller’s, ‘The Crucible,’ which is one of my favourite plays. I always find the experience magical and inspiring. The outdoor auditorium is beautifully decorated with fairy lights in the trees and the amphitheatre itself, is magnificent. It doesn’t matter where you sit, as every seat has a great view of the stage. If you are planning a visit, you might want to consider bringing a blanket and a rain coat, as let’s face it, the British weather can be a little unpredictable!

On Saturday 25th August 2018, I went to Regents Park to see, ‘Little Shop of Horrors.’

The film, directed by Frank Oz, was released in 1986 and described as a rock musical comedy horror movie. The film is an adaptation of the off-Broadway show composed by Alan Menken. The story revolves around Seymour, a geeky florist shop worker who finds out his plant, Audrey 2, can speak. The 1986 film stars Rick Moranis, who plays Seymour and Steve Martin plays the infamous dentist.

The first thing I noticed as I entered the Regents Park theatre on Saturday, was the set. It was fantastic, and it set the tone of the whole evening. The cast were all extremely talented and they worked brilliantly as an ensemble of 16 actors, playing all the roles. Audrey 2, played by Vicky Vox, was outstanding. The idea of bringing the plant to life, to make her a character that can not only speak and sing but move, was genius. This production was slick, entertaining and so much fun. I can’t wait to see what’s on offer next summer, I’ll be back!

I also feel inspired and excited about our drama classes this autumn term.  If your child is age 4-16 years and would like the opportunity to try one of our classes for FREE we are offering trial sessions this September.  Please get in touch to book a session.

Faye