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Stuart King

Kostas Philippoglou and Eileen Walsh in Mnemonic at the National Theatre (c) Johan Persson
03 Jul
Reviews
Stuart King

Review: MNEMONIC at National Theatre, Olivier

Complicité’s MNEMONIC staged at the National in 2001, underwent a reimagining and dusting-off in readiness for this summer’s repeat run at the Olivier, retaining Simon McBurney’s all-important creative micro-vision as he serves once more as Director on the production.

Kostas Philippoglou and Eileen Walsh in Mnemonic at the National Theatre (c) Johan PerssonKostas Philippoglou and Eileen Walsh in Mnemonic at the National Theatre © Johan Persson

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Jade Marvin (Momma) and the cast in Starlight Express (Photo Credit Pamela Raith)
01 Jul
Reviews
Stuart King

Review: STARLIGHT EXPRESS at Troubadour Wembley Park

This reviewer last had the pleasure of experiencing Starlight Express at the Apollo Victoria in 1988 after key tweaks and revisions were incorporated into the London show from the Broadway production. Having stayed on track for 18 years, wowing millions of fare paying passengers during that time, it finally ran out of steam in 2002. Now, 22 years after reaching the end of the line, an entirely revamped production hopes to electrify a fresh generation of musical trainspotters at the 2000-seater Troubadour venue at Wembley Park.

Jade Marvin (Momma) and the cast in Starlight Express (Photo Credit Pamela Raith)Jade Marvin (Momma) and the cast in Starlight Express (Photo Credit Pamela Raith)

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Susie Amy as Pat Newcombe and Genevieve Gaunt as Marilyn Monroe in the Marilyn Conspiracy. (c) NUX Photography
28 Jun
Reviews
Stuart King

Review: THE MARILYN CONSPIRACY at Park Theatre

An empty bottle of 50 Nembutal barbiturates, prescribed just a few days before Marilyn Monroe’s death in August 1962 aged just 36, was largely accepted at the time, as the means of her suicide or cause of an accidental overdose. Medical examiners pointed to a lack of a manicure and pedicure to suggest the actress no longer cared about her usual glamorousness — a sure sign of her unstable and potentially volatile mental state!

Susie Amy as Pat Newcombe and Genevieve Gaunt as Marilyn Monroe in the Marilyn Conspiracy. (c) NUX Photography Susie Amy as Pat Newcombe and Genevieve Gaunt as Marilyn Monroe in the Marilyn Conspiracy. (c) NUX Photography

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The Secret Garden at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Credit Alex Brenner
28 Jun
Reviews
Stuart King

Review: THE SECRET GARDEN at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Frances Hodgson Burnett’s endearingly quaint piece of Edwardiana has been newly adaptated through the joint talents of Holly Robinson and Anna Himali Howard, with the latter also serving as director on the production.

First off, it should be emphasised that the version being performed within the idyllic setting of Regent’s Park Open Air theatre, is NOT the musical which has been around since the early 1990s, but a play version unapologetically aimed at the younger end of the age spectrum.

The Secret Garden at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Credit Alex BrennerThe Secret Garden at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Credit Alex Brenner.

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Caissie Levy in Next to Normal at Wyndham’s Theatre. © Marc Brenner
27 Jun
Reviews
Stuart King

Review: NEXT TO NORMAL at Wyndham’s Theatre

Rock musical NEXT TO NORMAL scored a huge success on Broadway back in 2009, winning 3 of its 11 Tony Award nominations and then (amidst some controversy) the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Last year, under the stewardship of artistic director Michael Longhurst, this new production enjoyed a brief run at the Donmar Warehouse and has now transferred to Wyndham’s Theatre for a 14-week West End residency.

Caissie Levy in Next to Normal at Wyndham’s Theatre. © Marc BrennerCaissie Levy in Next to Normal at Wyndham’s Theatre. © Marc Brenner

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