The Theatre Review Podcast: Recent Episodes
Jason Ward
As a passionate theatre fan I basically obsess over a new live theatre experience every week. Covering an eclectic selection of musical theatre, dance, plays and performance art. Talking about what the show means, how did it make the audience feel, will you need to take a tissue, what it made us think about and WAS IT ANY GOOD!
Drew McOnie choreographs and directs CAKE,an exciting new piece featuring West End star Zizi Strallen that tells the story of a fraud that started the end for Queen Marie Antoinette.
The songs written by Jack McManus (Chainsmokers and AfroJack) and Tasha Taylor-Johnson range from house bangers to rap to a big old pop power ballad
The cast, including an amazing Renée Lamb, are superb, the choreography is fantastic and the music rocks - but does it all come together for a perfect musical gateau?
Check out the episode to find out
You can check out the writer's demos of some of the tracks on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/60uKAnsWM88nOiQ8cMnLha
Cake is on tour in the UK until April 2023
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Please contact me directly at jasonwardcreative@gmail.com if you would like support with your creative project or practise, if you would like me to review your show or if you would like me to speak at your event.
Thank you for listening
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Setting a mirror to our society Noughts and Crosses imagines life with ethnic based power roles reversed. It is an important piece of theatre and has a very strong cast. But could its unflinching look at issues ranging from racism and privilege to terrorism, mental health and alcoholism threaten to overpower its essential dramatic core?
Check out the episode and let me know
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Willy Russell’s epic award winning musical Blood Brothers is probably the greatest British working class musical ever.
This incredible story follows the Faustian pact made by a young woman with no money who agrees to give away one of her twin baby boys to a wealthy woman because she is unable to feed him - we then follow the contrasting fortunes of the two lads and the two mothers over a period of 25 years.
With fantastic performances from Niki Colwell Evans, Paula Tappenden, Jay Worley and Josh Capper plus a wonderful book and insightful social comment there is lots to engage, entertain and make the audience think.
Blood Brothers opened in London in 1983 and in many ways it looks like the production has barely changed so the big question is does this show still have what it takes 40 years later
I was invited to see the show as a guest of the Lighthouse, Poole as part of its UK Tour.
This week we look at The Bands Visit by David Yazbek and Itamar Moses playing at the Donmar Warehouse
This musical is set in the middle of nowhere, nothing much happens but it will delicately tease out your emotions through its combination of a beautiful evocative score, a tight and insightful book and a wonderful cast including established West End stars, incredible actors making their professional debuts and an actor new to the UK who I am convinced will become a West End star on the basis of her performance in this wonderful show
The Bands Visit is based on the 2007 Israeli film of the same name.
As a musical it played on Broadway from October 2017 to April 2019 and deservedly won 10 Tonys, a Grammy and a whole load of other awards
The London production is the European premiere of this exquisite show
In this episode we are going to talk about Good Luck Studio which is a brand new dark elegantly constructed, and totally hilarious look at how power, disappointment and Childrens' TV This Mischief production is brilliantly written by Henry Shields, expertly directed by Henry Lewis and performed by an incredible cast
Good Luck Studio is a very funny play that takes its cues and sense of humour from The Goes Wrong stable and then develops into something altogether darker and deeper but just as hilariously funny.
This week we head to 80s LA, back comb our hair, take a swig of Jack, and turn up the amps to 11 for the UK Tour of Rock of Ages!
The latest iteration of this hard rocking show landed at Lighthouse Poole this week to the delight of of a pretty much full house who were on their feet screaming by the end of the show.
This week we head to 80s LA, back comb our hair, take a swig of Jack, and turn up the amps to 11 for the UK Tour of Rock of Ages!
The latest iteration of this hard rocking show landed at Lighthouse Poole this week to the delight of of a pretty much full house who were on their feet screaming by the end of the show.
With Kevin Kennedy leading some strong performances from Gabriella Williams, Vicki Manser and Sam Turrell and an outstanding display from Joe Gash there is plenty to like about Rock of Ages.
But will its uneven book and overload of gags distract from its outrageously good score of classic 80s Hair Metal Hits?
Let’s take a look at what its about and why you should be booking your tickets
www.rockofagesmusical.co.uk
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This episode is about an incredible new play called The P Word which is written by the massively talented Waleed Akhtar and presented at The Bush Theatre in West London.
I saw it on press night in September 2022 as an invited Guest -
The Word runs until 22nd October and, spoiler alert, GO AND SEE IT!
This is a deeply emotional and powerfully written play
It is both a love story and a demonstration of how the needs of an individual are consumed by an ever growing political need to remove personal agency and choice - especially from those who have so little power to begin with
It is about a side of Britain that many of us might want to deny or ignore.
As one character says ‘But you’ll be fine - you’re in Britain now’ to which the other man replies ‘I’m not in your Britain..I’m in another Britain’
It left me feeling angry, embarrassed, in tears and at the same time elated to have experienced such an incredible piece of theatre
There is lots to talk about with the P Word ...
The show runs until 22nd October 2022 at the Bush Theatre in West London
https://www.bushtheatre.co.uk
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Into The Woods at the Theatre Royal Bath is a new creative take on the Sondheim / Lapine classic. It has had a well documented and troubled path to production but is now rumoured to be heading into the West End.
In this episode I talk about how the show looks in this new version (1:09) and how it still has meaning in today's world (2:40) and how the stories and characters are expertly woven together.
Act One might present our ideal Happy Ever After but Act Two unravels the threads (4:00) and gives us darkness and depth.
There is an outstanding cast (8:27) who bring this story about stories to life by diging deep into the characters and taking us to new places -sometimes out of our comfort zones.
Find out if it all comes together!
Please leave a review and share the episode far and wide!
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Or drop me a line jason@jasonwardcreative.com
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The next generation of creatives and performers take their chance to stake a claim on the future of theatre with Anthem.
This new theatre work was created by The Bush Young Company and Katie Greenall. Young peopleexamine the world, their place in it and we learn how they cope with what it throws at them and how they seek to change it
But does it all come together without a traditional linear plot structure and will it be a bit preachy?
Check out the episode and find out!
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The Theatre Review Podcast is written, presented and produced by Jason Ward
@jasonwardcreative
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When Whistle Down The Wind first opened it featured a creative team of Andrew Lloyd Weber, Jim Steinman and Hal Prince which was a lot of BIG!
This version at The Watermill Theatre is intimate, fierce and muscular allowing us to really appreciate the show's score and book. The pared back setting works well as the show deals with personal grief in a very small town.
As well as an incredible cast of actor musicians there is a talented group of young actors and I was lucky enough to witness the revelation of two new UK Musical Theatre stars.
I hope you enjoy the show - please leave a review and remember subscription is free but sponsorship is welcome!
You can also follow me on Instagram
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jason@jasonwardcreative.com
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I take a deep breath and look back at the best of the Last Five Months on The Theatre Review Podcast with my Top Five Live Theatre Experiences of the year so far.
From brand new UK and US musicals to stripped back open air classics, I let you know what I am celebrating in 2022.
I'd love to know if you agree with me and please let me know what your top five of the Last Five Months is.
I look forward to some great new shows that I'll be reviewing in the next few months including The Band's Visit, Blood Brothers, Othello, Whistle Down The Wind and Rock of Ages
Subscription to The Theatre Review Podcast is free and sponsorship is welcome!
Follow the podcast on Instagram
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Drop me a line if you would like me to review your show
jason@jasonwardcreative.com
www.jasonwardcreative.com
@jasonwardcreative
Season 2 of The Theatre Review Podcast kicks off with Emily Bronte's classic Wuthering Heights brought to life in a new adaptation by Charmaine K and presented by SISATA Theatre Company. I saw the play in the gardens of The Red House in Christchurch Dorset on England's South Coast. This honest, powerful and totally absorbing production is performed by a small cast of early career stage actors who are ferociously committed to the work. There is original music, beautiful text and even a nod to Kate Bush!
This piece left me considering how important small scale, open air theatre can be and how it is able to evoke such strong emotional responses.
This production is touring England all through Summer 2022 and you can check out the dates and venues together with more of SISATA's work at:
https://sisata.co.uk
The Theatre Review Podcast is written, hosted and produced by Jason Ward. Subscription is free and sponsorship is welcome!
Please let me know what you think, what you think I should review and if you would like me to review your show
You can follow The Theatre Review Podcast on instagram
@thetheatrereviewpodcast
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www.jasonwardcreative.com
Take a classic, reimagine it and then wow the public! Then take that same piece 30 years later and make it even sweeter!
This review was from a few months ago but it never got released - so I wanted to correct that and share my thoughts on Matthew Bourne's vivid reimagining of this much loved ballet.
I would love you to subscribe to The Theatre Review Podcast and please let me know what you think, what you think I should review and if you would like me to review your show.
@thetheatrereviewpodcast
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In perhaps the most prescient theatre programming of all time The Bournemouth Emerging Arts Fringe presented the Shakespeare's Globe production of Julius Caesar. A play about political plotting, violence and fake news - so appropriate.
The play was presented on the roof of a car park in one of the more deprived areas of Bournemouth. It featured a powerful cast using nothing more than a basic stage and set, simple costumes and their own immense talent.
Find out if the Bournemouth audience enjoyed it and why I think some of the previous comments about this production are total nonsense!
www.shakespearesglobe.com
https://gotbeaf.co.uk
Thank you for listening.
Let me know what you think of the review, what you think I should review and if you would like me to review or support the development of your show.
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@jasonwardcreative
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A big, loud and fun rock and roll show featuring the songs of Jim Steinman - which happen to be some of the greatest rock songs ever written!
Find out why I think this show has similarities to Guns N Roses' November Rain video and why even a slightly messy plot and confused direction can't keep a good show down!
I saw the pre-West End National Tour production of Bat Out Of Hell at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton in June 2022
The cast is amazing, the band is loud and it will make Your Rock and Roll Dreams Come True!
https://www.batoutofhellmusical.com/uk-tour/
You can follow The Theatre Review Podcast on Instagram:
@thetheatrereviewpodcast
Let me know your thoughts, what you think I should review and if you would like me to review or help your you develop your show.
www.jasonwardcreative.com
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An intriguing and beautiful event combining a South Coast Sunset with performance art, promenade theatre and dance. Add a dash of sci-fi, a lovely vegan hot dog and very well made G&T and you have Out Of This World presented by Pavilion Dance South West (PDSW) with Gobbledegook Theatre and The Place
Check out the review and find out why a trip to Bournemouth will offer you much more than a 99! (UK focused joke!)
PDSW are at the forefront of pushing creativity in this part of the world with an exciting programme of contemporart dance, community initiatives and supported artists.
https://www.pdsw.org.uk
The Place is a creative powerhouse for dance development that is leading the way in dance training, creation and performance
https://www.theplace.org.uk
Gobbledegook Theatre is a multidisciplinary arts practice which renders the familiar strange for audiences
https://www.gobbledegooktheatre.com
Companies reviewes
Daniel Fish's production of Oklahoma peels back the layers of this classic show to shine a light on the dirt and darkness under its nails. This Tony Award winning production opened in London at the Young Vic - but will it be enough to overcome my irrational dislike of the show that launched the Golden Age of Musicals? To discover more about the show and the incredible Young Vic Theatre check out:
www.youngvic.org
I hope you enjoy the episode and please let me know your thoughts, what you think I should review and if you would like me to review or help you develop your show
@theatrereviewpodcast
@jasonwardcreative
www.jasonwardcreative.com
This exciting new British musical takes us on a journey to meet some of the most Fantastically Great Women of all time. With a high calibre all female creative team this show is garnering serious attention. Not sure about the hype? Check out my review of Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World. https://fantasticallygreatwomenthemusical.com Follow The Theatre Review Podcast @thetheatrereviewpodcast
The Theatre Review Podcast is written, produced and presented by Jason Ward
www.jasonwardcreative.com
@jasonwardcreative
Soul Sisters is a new British musical with book, lyrics and music by David Kent. It features fictional 80s pop group The Fabulettes who are getting back together for a Soul Weekender in the South of England. Will it love up to its promise of being a fun filled female night out? Check out the review to find out! www.soulsisters.com Follow The The Theatre Review Podcast on Instagram - @thetheatrereviewpodcast The Theatre Review Podcast is written, presented, produced by Jason Ward who also created all incidental music used. www.jasonwardcreative.com
Moulin Rouge The Musical is the biggest, boldest and brightest new star in the West End. Taking Baz Luhrmans's movie and re-energizing it with updated music, incredible creative vision and an extraordinary cast, Moulin Rouge is a true Spectacular Spectacular - but if we peel away the glamour does this show deliver? Check out the review to find out Follow The Theatre Review Podcast on Instagram @Thetheatrereviewpodcast And please let me know what you think, what you think I should review and if you would like me to review your show. www.jasonwardcreative.com
In this episode we look at the stage version of David Walliams' hilarious family show Gangsta Granny. The show is squarely aimed at a family audience but its high energy and high jinx allow it to tackle some big topics. I reviewed the UK national tour version at the Lighthouse, Poole and had a great time! You can subscribe to The Theatre Review Podcast free of charge and please let me know what you think, what you think I should review and if you would like me to review or support the development of your show, experience, or cabaret performance. Instagram @thetheatrereviewpodcast The Theatre Review Podcast is written, produced and presented by Jason Ward
www.jasonwardcreative.com
A brand new British musical by Ben Morales-Frost and Richard Hough based on the satirical Graham Greene spy novel. The show brings Cuba to Berkshire and I'll be discussing how well this works. I'll also take a look at some of the show's themes including duality, fear and (dis)information. https://www.watermill.org.uk Find out more about my creative consultancy at https://jasonwardcreative.com
Midnight, Atlanta is a new play written, produced and directed by first time playwright Jacob Trup. I saw its first ever public performance and talk about its strengths and potential as the writer prepares to take the show to the Edinburgh Fringe If you would like me to review your show or would like creative support with your show, concept or experience please contact me at jason@jasonwardcreative.com
I review this brand new show which premiered at Feinstein's at 54 Below in a concert performance featuring Arielle Jacobs (Disney's Aladdin, Wicked, Into The Heights), Brad Standley,(In Transit) Ben Jeffreys (Disney's Aladdin and The Lion King) and a stellar cast. The show has a wonderful score and book by Andrew Beall, David Don Miler and Evan McCormack. It is a love story built over one of the biggest and most difficult choices any of us would ever have to face. This review examines the show's themes and performances and contains plot spoilers The Show's Kickstarter Pager is here: http://kck.st/2SZ759E Follow The Theatre Review Podcast @thetheatrereviewpodcast
If you would like me to review your show or would like creative support with your show, concept or experience please contact me at jasonwardcreative@gmail.com
www.jasonwardcreative.com
Looking at the exciting new musical The Wicker Husband which ran recently at The Watermill Theatre. https://www.watermill.org.uk This show written by Darren Cook and Rhys Jennings combines folk music, puppetry and a wonderful story by Ursula Mills. I look at how the show talks of our treatment of outsiders, of jealousy and personal tragedy left untreated sometimes driving us to commit terrible acts. We also talk about magic, love and the power of community. If you would like me to review your show or would like creative support with your show, concept or experience please contact me at jason@jasonwardcreative.com Find out more about Jason Ward Creative
https://jasonwardcreative.com
I'm Jason Ward and I am passionate about live theatre. The Theatre Review Podcast has new episodes weekly covering all areas of live theatre including musicals, plays, dance, cabaret and performance art. Subscription is free and I hope you enjoy the show. Let me know what you think, what you think I should review and if you would like me to review your show! Follow us on Instagram @thetheatrereviewpodcast
www.jasonwardcreative.com