Rock of Ages rolled into Glasgow this week and blew the roof off of the King's Theatre.



The jukebox musical has been a staple of live entertainment for decades. Elvis made movies in this format back in the 50s and live audiences have enjoyed fresh presentations of their favourite hits since Buddy and Return to the Forbidden Planet mastered the genre 30 years ago. But never in the history of the jukebox musical have a cast, writer and audience had so much FUN!



The story is broadly predictable while the presentation and dialogue will have you rolling in the aisles! Sherrie (Jodie Steele) is a small town girl who travels to LA for fame and fortune. Drew (Luke Walsh) is a city boy trying to turn his bar job at the Bourbon Club on the Strip into a rock career. There is instant chemistry but Drew gets caught in the "friend zone". Meanwhile, corporate big wigs (other wigs feature heavily in this 80s themed storyline) with German accents have dastardly plans to turn LA's famous Strip into a shopping mall. The club recruits rock god, Stacee Jaxx (Kevin Clifton), to perform and save the Strip. But Stacee is a famous womaniser and (you guessed it) Sherrie catches his ever roaming eye ...



The setting provides the perfect excuse to cram in more 80s rock classics than you could shake a stratocaster at! Classic hits from Foreigner, Starship, Bon Jovi, Journey, Europe, Whitesnake and more are rocked out and mashed up at a rate of knots! The 80s provides a rich vein of musical gold to be mined and this production digs up every last nugget. But it is the comedic approach to the entire show which really lifts this musical way above the plethora of competition. The dialogue from Chris D'Arienzo has the tongue so firmly in the cheek that what might have been cheezy becomes hilarious. Direction and Choreography from Nick Winston gives the cast plenty of freedom to have as much risqué fun as they dare! The choreography is outstanding and the physicality from the talented cast is delightfully OTT. If there was an Olivier for Comedy Choreography it would certainly be awarded to Mr Winston!



The plaudits continue when it comes to performances from this outstanding cast. Luke Walsh was a likeable and able lead. Jodie Steele delivered vocals which ranged from powerful rock chic to soulful ballad mistress – remarkable from such a slight frame. But these two great performances had to compete with some OUTLANDISH characters for the affections of the audience; not least from Lucas Rush as Lonny who had the audience in stiches with a high energy camp performance combined with Bobby Ball (in a long wig) looks! Kevin Clifton impressed with rock vocals as Stacee Jaxx - self centred and narcisistic but perhaps a little too clean cut for the role. Zoe Birkett wowed us with her soulful songstress delivery as Justice. Bobby Windebank wins my “Ensemble Who Draws The Eye” award for his excellent dance moves and comic characters!



This is a fantastic show. Funny, nostalgic, naughty and melt your face rockin' in equal measure! If you “wanna know what love is” … get yourself along to the King’s Theatre.





KING’S THEATRE , GLASGOW

Wed 23 – Sat 26 January 2019

Wed - Sat eves 7.30pm

Sat mats 2.30pm

Tickets: £15 - £59

www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow (bkg fee)

Alexandra Burke leads a fabulous cast in this explosive production at The King’s Theatre, Glasgow!

Let’s be honest, musicals based on movies don’t have the best reputation on the UK touring circuit. But, when that movie was the Hollywood debut of pop superstar, Whitney Houston, and it is packed with her greatest hits, there is certainly enough to pique the interest of even the hardest cynic.

For those who have not experienced the 1992 movie … The Bodyguard tells the story of Rachel Marron, a pop diva making her big break into movies (sound familiar?). Rachel is being threatened by a mysterious assassin and those who care for her hire a new bodyguard. Frank Farmer is a professional and makes changes that most of Ms Marron’s entourage dislike and that Ms Marron herself detests. However, when Farmer is proved correct in his assessment of the danger, Ms Marron comes to appreciate him more. But mixing business with pleasure does not sit well with the bodyguard. Has he put his client in danger?

Step forward Ms Alexandra Burke! Alexandra doesn’t just “do” Whitney Houston … she is Whitney Houston for a new generation. She has the power and, more importantly, the vocal finesse to deliver the full range of this amazing back catalogue of hits from the 80s and 90s. Ms Burke went one stage further by generating a believable onstage chemistry with co-star Benoît Maréchal as bodyguard, Frank Farmer. M. Maréchal developed his character wonderfully from aloof professional among amateurs to caring lover. All this time he impressed with an incredibly cool persona aided in no small part by the hint of a French lilt in his accent. His comic timing was sublime, too. In fact, both lead characters somehow manage to remain very likable despite their words and actions – very impressive. Micha Richardson was delightful as downtrodden sister, Nicki.

Director, Thea Sharrock, delivered a pacey production without the tedious dramatic pauses evident in the original West-End show. The result was a lighter, more entertaining performance where the audience could appreciate the comedy sprinkled throughout the book by Alexander Dinelaris and delivered well by the supporting cast. This show was an FX masterclass with real heat from flamethrowers felt on faces throughout the sizable auditorium of the Theatre Royal. Laser and light shows combined with breath-taking smoke effects and wonderfully cinematic wipe scene changes from Set Designer, Tim Hatley. The set also delivered wonderful perspective effects giving the illusion of great depth; particularly in the mansion scenes. The score features not only the best hits from the movie but the very best of the Whitney Houston catalogue prior to the movie too including “Queen of the Night”, “One Moment in Time”, “Greatest Love of All”, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and “I Will Always Love You”.

All in all, this is a breath-taking production which is well worth the ticket price.

THE BODYGUARD
3 – 29 December 2018
Mon - Sat 7.30pm
Thu & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets: £17.50 - £72.00
https://www.atgtickets.com (bkg fee)

Here is the weather forecast for the Glasgow area this week … the temperature will be noticeably higher as the cast of Summer Holiday, The Musical are in town! The energy being burned on stage at The King’s Theatre is enough to raise spirits, heart rate and even the temperature!

My opening paragraph is only slightly flippant. The energy levels on stage are something that must be seen to be believed on a cold Glasgow evening. And that energy is infectious as the whole audience starts movin’ and a-groovin’ with the cast. There is no ‘sunnier’ musical than Summer Holiday. It’s all good clean fun with a warm fuzzy storyline, glowing characters and a smoking hot soundtrack. Even the ‘baddie’ doubles as the comedy act.

The story is based on the famous 1963 movie starring Cliff Richard and is packed with Cliff’s hits from the era. Four London bus mechanics decide to take a break from the rain to tour Europe in a refurbished Routemaster bus. On the way, they rescue a three part female vocal group from a fate worse than the RAC and decide to whisk them off to their gig in Athens. They are joined by a beautiful runaway singing star who disguises herself as a boy to remain incognito. So … 4 boys, 4 girls and sunshine from horizon to horizon … you can guess the rest.

The score bulges with hit after hit and the libretto provides a smooth and witty segway between the songs. Songs include “Batchelor Boy”, “The Young Ones”, “Living Doll”, “Do You Wanna Dance?” and many more (including the irrepressible “Summer Holiday”).

Choreography from Director / Choreographer Racky Plews was superb and brilliantly executed by this energetic cast. Often balletic in style it brought a beautiful flow to the action on stage. Co-ordination and synchronisation among the cast was nothing short of superb. Sharp and athletic execution was often called for and always delivered to great effect – not least by the show’s star turn, Ray Quinn.

And, for me, it’s Ray Quinn (as Don) that takes this touring cast to an even higher level. Far from being a token ‘draw’ for ticket sales, Ray Quinn holds his own with this talented cast and blew me away with a combination of quality vocals and strenuous dance moves at the same time! Quality, Control, Stamina – a real triple threat! Ray was ably supported throughout. In particular by love interest, Sophie Matthew (as sweet and likeable Barbara) and his trio of chums played by Billy Roberts, Joe Goldie and Rory McGuire (delivering very distinct and entertaining characters). Becky Bassett (as Stella) had good material to work with but played too many jokes to the audience for my taste. Wayne Smith (as Stella’s hapless sidekick, Jerry) was wonderfully comical.

This show is really not to be missed. It’ll bring a much desired warm glow to a cold autumnal evening. From the outset, it’s a real Foot Tapper.

Summer Holiday – King’s Theatre, Glasgow
30/10/18 – 03/11/18
Matinees Wed & Sat 14:30
Evenings Tue to Sat 19:30
Box Office: 0844 871 7648 (bkg. fee) www.atgtickets.com
Tickets: £13 - £48.50

Kevin Clifton will join the cast of the award-winning smash-hit musical ROCK OF AGES in the role of Stacee Jaxx.



Kevin Clifton is an international Ballroom and Latin dancer and has won numerous titles across the world, including winning the Britain Latin Championships four times. He is best known as a Pro Dancer on BBC one’s, Strictly Come Dancing and is the only pro dancer to ever dance in four consecutive finals. Kevin made his musical theatre debut in ‘Dirty Dancing the Musical’ at the Aldwych Theatre in London’s West End. Kevin then went on to become a principle dancer in Burn The Floor Dance Company and performed in the show’s record breaking Broadway run, in London’s West End and across the world. Kevin has also toured nationwide with Karen Clifton in 2017 and 2018 in their theatre show, Kevin and Karen Dance.



Kevin will be joined by Kevin Kennedy who will play Denni, Zoe Birkett as Justice, Luke Walsh as Drew, Lucas Rush as Lonny, Jodie Steele as Sherrie, Andrew Carthy as Franz, Vas Constanti as Hertz and Rhiannon Chesterman as Regina.



Also joining the cast are Erin Bell, Alexander Day, Joshua Dever, Paris Green, Sinead Kenny, Ryan Lee-Seager, Adam Strong, Saran Webb and Bobby Windebank.



ROCK OF AGES is an LA love story lavished with over 25 classic rock anthems. Lose yourself in a city and a time where the dreams are as big as the hair, and yes, they can come true!



This hilarious musical comedy features the songs, including We Built This City, The Final Countdown, Here I Go Again, Can’t Fight this Feeling and I Want To Know What Love Is, played loud and proud by an awesome live band.



WARNING: CONTAINS SERIOUS ROCK ‘N’ ROLL DEBAUCHERY!



Now a global smash with extensive runs in London’s West End, on Broadway and in Las Vegas, the show has also been made in to a star-studded Hollywood movie.



ROCK OF AGES has a book by Chris D’Arienzo and Arrangements and Orchestrations by Ethan Popp. It is directed and choreographed by Nick Winston (The Royal Variety Performance, Annie and The Wedding Singer) designed by Morgan Large (The Woman in White, Top Hat, and The Christmasaurus) and has lighting design by Ben Cracknell (Young Frankenstein, Sunset Boulevard and Annie). Sound design is by Ben Harrison (Hairspray, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Million Dollar Quartet) and musical supervision is by Barney Ashworth (Sunny Afternoon, Grease and Mrs Henderson Presents).




Rock of Ages

King’s Theatre, Glasgow
Tue 22 - Sat 26 Jan 2019
Mon-Sat, 7.30pm
Wed & Sat, 2.30pm

www.atgtickets.com/glasgow
0844 871 7648* calls cost up to 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge

THEATRE ROYAL, GLASGOW

MONDAY 4 - SATURDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2019


Jodie Prenger leads the cast in Abigail’s Party, Mike Leigh’s groundbreaking comedy classic which wreaks havoc at Theatre Royal, Glasgow, from Monday 4 - Saturday 9 February as part of a UK tour.



The story set is in 1970s suburbia and its heavy mix of free-flowing cocktails, classic disco and cheese and pineapple sticks. Beverly and husband Laurence who are throwing a party for their newlywed neighbours, Tony and Angela. Joining them is highly strung Susan who’s been banished from the party of her teenage daughter, Abigail. As tensions rise and tempers flare, the sheen of respectability is torn away by the warring couples with hilarious and potentially disastrous consequences.



Mike Leigh’s iconic Abigail’s Party is one of Britain’s most celebrated comedies and was described by The Guardian as ‘One of the greatest plays about the human condition ever written.’



Jodie Prenger said: ‘Abigail’s Party is a true British classic and a real bucket list part for me. I’m thrilled to be involved in something so wonderful. Can’t wait to get started.’



Jodie landed the role of Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh's revival production of Oliver! at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane after winning BBC 1's I'd Do Anything. She won the 2010 Whatsonstage Theatregoer’s Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical. She then went on to play The Lady of The Lake in the Spamalot UK tour and in the West End at the Playhouse Theatre, and Dolly in the National Theatre's production of One Man Two Guvnors at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. 2015 saw Jodie star in the title role of Calamity Jane on the UK No. 1 Tour followed by a Christmas run of Annie at the New Theatre, Oxford in the role of Miss Hannigan. In 2016, Jodie starred in a new UK tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s one woman show Tell Me On A Sunday and in the autumn, Jodie reprised the role of Madame Thenardier in a special production of Les Miserables in Dubai Opera Theatre.



Jodie has guest presented for Elaine Paige and Paul O’Grady on many occasions with BBC Radio 2. Other BBC Radio 2 appearances include Wogan, co-hosting Going Out With Alan Carr, Chris Evans’ Breakfast Show, The Olivier Awards 2010 and Children in Need 2009 with Graham Norton.



Recently, Jodie starred in the one-woman UK tour of Shirley Valentine, and has just finished playing the role of Kelly in the production of Kay Mellor’s Fat Friends on its UK Tour with music written by Nick Lloyd Webber.



Abigail’s Party is a a co-production between ATG Productions and Smith and Brant Theatricals by arrangement with Theatre Royal Bath, directed by Sarah Esdaile.



LISTINGS

Abigail’s Party
Theatre Royal, Glasgow
Mon 4 - Sat 9 Feb 2019
Mon-Sat: 7.30pm
Thu & Sat: 2.30pm

www.atgtickets.com/glasgow
0844 871 7647* calls cost up to 7 p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge