The London Theatre Review

We've reached the end of the second season, and to celebrate we're dropping a day early with a bumper Olivers special edition so that you can listen to this episode before the Olivier Awards ceremony on Sunday 6th April. As well as insight, analysis and predictions from Nancy and the Nicks, we've also got a chat with special guest THE Billy Porter talking about what we can expect as he co-hosts the awards on Sunday night (there will be singing and there will be outrageous costumes), as well as his role in Cabaret At The Kit Kat Club in which he's playing the Emcee alongside Marisha Wallace as Sally Bowles. Marisha drops in too to talk to Nick Curtis.

As if that weren't enough the gang have also been out reviewing, and this week they give their views on Eugene Ionesco's absurd play Rhinoceros, being revived at the Almeida, in which everyone turns into rhinoceroses, and John Donnelly's vampire drama Apex Predator at Hampstead Theatre.

We'll be back in a few weeks for season three, but in the meantime thanks to our sponsor Art of London - visit artoflondon.co.uk to find information and tips about the latest plays, exhibitions, and other cultural events in London, as well as places to eat, drink and shop.

Get in touch with us by emailing [email protected] or by following us on Instagram @thelondontheatrereview...

...and see you in season three!

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The warm, wise and completely wonderful Julie Hesmondhalgh talks to Nancy about playing Joan Scourfield, the woman whose son was killed with a single punch in 2011, in James Graham's incredibly moving play Punch.

And the smell of whiskey and cigar smoke hang in the air as the gang give their views on the West End transfer of Ryan Calais Cameron's play Retrograde, a snappy period thriller in which the actor Sidney Poitier meets a TV lawyer in an office in 1950s New York and is asked to denounce his friends. (If you want to hear about what it takes to step into Poitier's shoes, you can listen to LTR's interview with the man playing him, Ivanno Jeremiah, in Episode 9). They also take in Azuka Oforka's unflinching debut play The Women of Llanrumney at Theatre Royal Stratford East.

Thanks to Art of London for sponsoring the podcast. Visit artoflondon.co.uk for inspiration about brilliant things to do in London. And if you want to get in touch with the LTR team, email us [email protected] or follow us on Insta @thelondontheatrereview.

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Another iconic 90s movie gets the musical treatment as KT Tunstall and Amy Heckerling turn Clueless into a stage show. Nancy and the Nicks review. And there have been more than 200 adaptations of Bram Stoker's Dracula - but there's always room for one more. The gang visit high-camp comedy Dracula: A Comedy Of Terrors at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Plus, Nancy talks to Tom Burke, currently playing Trigorin in The Seagull at the Barbican.

Thanks to Art of London for sponsoring the podcast. Find out about brilliant things to do in London at artoflondon.co.uk.

And drop us a line at [email protected] or follow us on Insta @thelondontheatrereview.

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As Thomas Ostermeier's very starry Seagull hits the Barbican - Cate Blanchett, Tom Burke, Emma Corrin and more! - Nancy and Producer Tim give their opinions. Nick Clark and Nick Curtis join Nancy to review James Graham's devastating play Punch at the Young Vic. And Nancy talks to Ivanno Jeremiah as he prepares to reprise his role as Sidney Poitier in the West End transfer of Ryan Calais Cameron's play Retrograde.

Thanks to Art of London for sponsoring the podcast. Find out about brilliant things to do in London at artoflondon.co.uk.

And drop us a line at [email protected] or follow us on Insta @thelondontheatrereview.

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The great Brian Cox transforms himself into Johann Sebastian Bach for Oliver Cotton's play The Score at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Music to our ears, or a bum note? Nick, Nancy and Producer Tim give their views. We've also got a review of the National Theatre production of Michael Abbensetts's seminal play Alterations, set in a tailoring shop in 1970s London, plus Nick Curtis pulls himself away from his poolside holiday to speak to its star, the brilliant Arinzé Kene.

Thanks for Art of London for sponsoring the podcast. Find out about brilliant things to do in London at artoflondon.co.uk.

We love hearing from you, so follow us @thelondontheatrereview on Insta or email [email protected] to get in touch.

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From dashing prince to hopeless king, Jonathan Bailey leaves the world of Wicked behind - for a few months at least - as he takes on one of Shakespeare's trickier tyrants in Richard II at the Bridge Theatre. Nancy, Nick and Nick give their verdicts. Two national treasures hit the Donmar stage this month: Celia Imrie and Tamsin Greig play a mother and daughter dealing with the consequences of a stroke in Anna Mackmin's new play Backstroke. And Nancy chats to KT Tunstall about her musical adaptation of iconic 90s film Clueless.

Thanks to our sponsor Art of London, whose spectacular Art After Dark returns to London's West End from 6-8 March featuring public art installations, late night gallery openings and more - this time with an intergalactic twist. Visit artoflondon.co.uk for full details.

Want to tell us about what you've seen at the theatre? Email [email protected] or follow us on Insta @thelondontheatrereview.

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Not even Sigourney Weaver could save Jamie Lloyd's The Tempest from its gloom spiral - but Lloyd is back for the second part of his Shakespeare at Drury Lane season with a Marvel special, turning Loki and Agent Carter (well, Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell) into Benedick and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing. There's confetti. There are balloons. There are 90s club bangers. So is Lloyd's reputation restored? Nick, Nick and Nancy find out.

Room for one more? Mike Bartlett's new play Unicorn at the Garrick looks at the dynamics of a throuple, and there are worse throuples to be in than one involving Stephen Mangan, Nicola Walker and Erin Doherty. LTR's own devoted trio give their verdict on the play.

And Omari Douglas, known for his roles in It's A Sin, Cabaret and Black Doves, talks about Black queer stories as he stars in new play Lavender, Hyacinth, Violet, Yew by Coral Wylie at the Bush Theatre.

Huge thanks to our sponsor Art of London, whose website artoflondon.co.uk is packed with ideas for things to do in London, with tips on events, exhibitions, shopping and much more.

And if you've seen something good and want to tell us about it, or just fancy getting in touch, follow us on Insta @thelondontheatrereview or email [email protected]

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It's the show that's had people (mainly men, actually) fainting almost every night...Eline Arbo's adaptation of Nobel Laureate Annie Ernaux's book The Years transfers from the Almeida to the West End with a phenomenal cast of Romola Garai, Gina McKee, Deborah Findlay, Anjli Mohindra and Harmony Rose-Bremner.

Nick, Nick and Nancy not only review the show - with full and frank info on *that* now infamous abortion scene - but Nick Curtis also talks to Gina and Harmony about what it's like to be part of the ensemble.

Nick and Nancy also visit the Lyric Hammersmith for Play On, an adaptation of Twelfth Night set to the music of Duke Ellington.

Plus, we reveal the answer to last week's Shakespeare or Fakespeare, because we forgot to tell you at the end of last week's episode.

Huge thanks to Art of London for sponsoring the podcast. Find out about brilliant things to do in London, with hot tips and handy itineraries, at artoflondon.co.uk.

You can contact the podcast by emailing [email protected], or follow us on Instagram @thelondontheatrereview.

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It's Greek Week on the podcast as Nick Clark, Nancy Durrant and Producer Tim (making a special on-mic appearance while Nick Curtis soaks up some Maldives sun) review Sophocles two ways: Oedipus at the Old Vic starring Oscar-winner Rami Malek, and Elektra at the Duke of York's starring Oscar-winner Brie Larson.

Plus Nancy talks to Dune: Prophecy and His Dark Materials star Jade Anouka, who performs in Chris Bush's new play Otherland at the Almeida Theatre.

And it's competition time! You can win two tickets for Otherland at the Almeida between Mon 24 Feb - Sat 1 Mar (excluding Thu 27 Feb) - listen to this episode to find out how.

Huge thanks to Art of London for sponsoring The London Theatre Review - find out about brilliant things to do in London at artoflondon.co.uk.

If you want to get in touch with the podcast, email [email protected] or follow us on Instagram @thelondontheatrereview.

Competition T&Cs: The prize is non-transferable and non-refundable, and no cash alternative will be offered. The prize does not include any additional or external costs incurred by the winner, including but not limited to travel, accommodation and meals. If a prize is unavailable due to circumstances beyond the Promoter’s control, the Promoter reserves the right to provide a substitute prize. The Promoter reserves the right to hold void, cancel, suspend, or amend the promotion where it becomes necessary to do so. Competition closes on Thursday 13 February at noon.

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On this week's pod Nick Clark talks to Celine Dion! Well not quite, but pretty close: in fact he talks to Lauren Drew, star of Six the Musical, Legally Blonde, Les Mis and Heathers on stage, and The Voice on the telly, who is tackling her biggest challenge yet as she transforms herself into Celine Dion every night for the brilliant, ridiculous parody musical Titanique.

Plus Nick, Nick and Nancy review Inside No. 9: Stage Fright, Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton's stage farewell to their superb anthology TV series, which is running at the Wyndham's Theatre, and they take in the Shakespearean rarity Cymbeline at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.

Huge thanks to Art of London for sponsoring The London Theatre Review - visit artoflondon.co.uk for loads of ideas about cultural things to do in London.

If you want to get in touch with the podcast, email [email protected] or follow us on Insta @thelondontheatrereview.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The great Brian Cox, star of Succession and much else besides, alongside his wife Nicole Ansari-Cox join Nick Curtis to talk about playing Mr and Mrs Johann Sebastian Bach in Oliver Cotton's play The Score. Plus it's a fair COP for Nick, Nick and Nancy as they review Kyoto at @sohoplace, from the creators of The Jungle, which turns the diplomatic ins and outs of the first COP conference into a tense political thriller. They also head to the Kiln for Roy Williams's play The Lonely Londoners.

Thanks to Art of London for sponsoring this season. Find out about brilliant things to do in London at artoflondon.co.uk.

Insta: @thelondontheatrereview

Email: [email protected]

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By popular demand...we're back! Nancy Durrant, Nick Clark and Nick Curtis kick off season two of The London Theatre Review with a musicals spectacular as they review Titanique, the supercamp, super-funny parody of that famous film - you know, the one with the big iceberg - at the Criterion Theatre. Is it unsinkable, unthinkable, or very very twinkable? And they are reviewing the situation with the new production of Oliver! at the Gielgud. Do they want...more? Plus, West End superstar, the UK's 2017 Eurovision entry and X Factor alum Lucie Jones talks to Nick Curtis about returning to Les Miserables in the show's 40th year. She tells him how it felt to be head to head with Jedward in front of 20 million viewers.

Huge thanks to Art of London for sponsoring this season. Visit artoflondon.co.uk for tons of ideas of cultural things to do in London.

Email [email protected] if you want to recommend a show or tell us about something you've seen recently, and follow us on Instagram @thelondontheatrereview.

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A bumper pod to end a bumper year of theatre! Nick, Nick and Nancy look back at their theatrical highs (and a couple of lows) of 2024. For their final trips of the year, they take in The Tempest at Theatre Royal Drury Lane starring none other than Hollywood royalty Sigourney Weaver, and Cat On A Hot Tin Roof at the Almeida with Normal People star Daisy Edgar-Jones. Plus, Nancy talks to Bad Sisters star Anne-Marie Duff about The Little Foxes at the Young Vic.

The London Theatre Review will return in 2025...

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Insta: @thelondontheatrereview

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It's thirties week on the podcast as Nick and Nick and Nancy review the National Theatre adaptation of Noel Streatfeild's beloved 1936 children's book Ballet Shoes (spoiler: there's dancing, fossils, and lots of joy) and Lillian Hellman's savage 1939 drama The Little Foxes starring Anne-Marie Duff. Plus, Nick Curtis talks to Tracy-Ann Oberman about the return to the West End of her acclaimed Shakespeare adaptation, The Merchant of Venice 1936. And our competition winner is revealed!

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Insta: @thelondontheatrereview

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Final chance to enter the LTR competition to win £200 of Theatre Tokens!

Plus this week, the Devil's in the Dominion, as The Devil Wears Prada becomes the latest beloved film to receive a West End musical makeover, with music from Elton John and starring Vanessa Williams as fashion editor Miranda Priestly. Nancy and the Nicks give their verdict.

They also discuss another musical, based on Rick Riordan's bestselling Percy Jackson books and set to a rock score. So how does The Lightning Thief musical strike them?

And Nancy chats to triple Olivier Award winner Sharon D Clarke about playing Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest, as well as four decades of acting, and her love of panto.

Insta: @thelondontheatrereview

Email: [email protected]

Competition T&Cs: The prize is non-transferable and non-refundable, and no cash alternative will be offered. The prize does not include any additional or external costs incurred by the winner, including but not limited to travel, accommodation and meals. If a prize is unavailable due to circumstances beyond the Promoter’s control, the Promoter reserves the right to provide a substitute prize. The Promoter reserves the right to hold void, cancel, suspend, or amend the promotion where it becomes necessary to do so. Full terms and conditions are here: https://www.theatretokens.com/terms-of-sale

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COMPETITION TIME! Listen to this week's episode to find out how you can win £200 of Theatre Tokens...

If that's not enough incentive to tune in, writer, actor, ghost, horrible historian and brilliant person Mathew Baynton is here! He talks about playing Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream for the RSC, running at London's Barbican. [Insert Bottom-related joke here]. Plus the triple Ns do a spot of Bunburying as they assess The Importance of Being Earnest at the National Theatre, starring the best one from Sex Education and the new one from Doctor Who, Ncuti Gatwa, alongside Sharon D Clarke as Lady Bracknell. [Insert handbag-related joke here]. And the gang review The Purists at the Kiln Theatre, a play about the collision of cultures, and the clash of hip-hop and musical theatre. [Insert something about Hamilton here].

Insta: @thelondontheatrereview

Email: [email protected]

Competition T&Cs: The prize is non-transferable and non-refundable, and no cash alternative will be offered. The prize does not include any additional or external costs incurred by the winner, including but not limited to travel, accommodation and meals. If a prize is unavailable due to circumstances beyond the Promoter’s control, the Promoter reserves the right to provide a substitute prize. The Promoter reserves the right to hold void, cancel, suspend, or amend the promotion where it becomes necessary to do so. Full terms and conditions are here: https://www.theatretokens.com/terms-of-sale

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Scrooge, carols, parachuting brussels sprouts...it's that time of the year again, as Nick and Nancy and Nick head to the Old Vic to see its annual production of A Christmas Carol, adapted by Jack Thorne and this year starring John Simm as the rotten old miser. Will the three of them keep Christmas in their heart always, or is it a load of humbug?

As panto season gets underway, Nick Clark reports back from Aladdin at the Lyric Hammersmith, with a lot of love for Widow Twerky.

All's Well That Ends Well at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse - or does it? The trio give their verdict on one of Shakespeare's weirdest plays.

And the legend that is Sir Simon Russell Beale pops by to talk about House of the Dragon, what number to ring if you want to check you've received a knighthood, and tackling Latin love poetry in Tom Stoppard's The Invention of Love at Hampstead Theatre.

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