COMING HOME: Lewis Cornay, soon to be starring in John & Jen at the Southwark Playhouse

Pocket Size Theatre and Liza Heinrichs (Captured by Liz) have teamed up again and created our new series 'Coming Home'. In this new piece, we look at the reopening of Theatres in London and around the country and celebrate our industry coming back. We got together some performers who will be some of the first to return to theatres and created this piece to bring some positivity to the theatre industry which has been through one of the toughest years in our lifetime. Whilst it is important to acknowledge the hardships we've all gone through, it's important we pull together as a community and celebrate our beloved industry finally coming back! 

Lewis Cornay is someone with fingers in many, many pies (his words, not mine). With a fantastic career in musical theatre, he also works as a writer and photographer. Not long before theatres shut their doors, Lewis was appearing in the West End production of The Book of Mormon and had just left the show in Feb 2020 after a year with the production. He’s also appeared in Just So at the Barn Theatre, was in the UK Tour of Titanic the Musical, played Ryder in Paw Patrol Live and as a child appeared in The King and I, The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins. 

We met with Lewis fresh from the announcement that he’ll be starring in John & Jen, the world premiere of the brand new updated musical from Andrew Lippa, Tom Greenwald and Jason Robert Brown. We shot with him at the Southwark Playhouse which is where the show will be running from the 28th July to the 21st August 2021. He’ll be starring opposite musical theatre legend Rachel Tucker and will be under the direction of her partner, Guy Retallack. 

REVIEW: I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical at The Crazy Coqs

The raise to stardom of a musical performer is the object of mockery in this side-splitting revue written and composed by Alexander S. Bermange, and directed by Paul Foster. Each song representing a career milestone, like a hopeless and nerve-wrecking audition or the downsides of becoming a diva.

Walking around the room and mingling with the audience, the stunning quartet formed by Suzie Mathers, Oliver Savile, Liam Tamne and Diana Vickers contribute with their outstanding performances to the magical atmosphere of The Crazy Coqs, whose 1920s splendour offers a perfect background to the show.

Hidden in the basement of Brasserie Zédel, just off Piccadilly Circus, this intimate cabaret is a true architectural gem, with all the character and elegance of a Belle Époque den. Patrons sit around small tables, which are covered with black clothes and decorated with red flickering lamps. All chairs are facing a narrow stage, where a grand piano stands out against a red velvet curtain. There is just about enough space for the singers to sit on high stools and step forward when is their turn to perform.