Things you might not have know about theatre...

The largest West End Theatre is the London Palladium, which has a capacity of 2,286!

The entirety of the 432-capacity Fortune Theatre would fit on the giant stage area of the Dominion Theatre. 

The Dominion Theatre is the site of the Great Beer Flood, a tragedy in 1814 which claimed 8 lives after 570 tons of beer crashed through the wall of a nearby brewery and flooded the area. 

In the final week of 2016, more than 439,000 people attended West End Shows, setting a new weekly attendance record. 

A record number of people attended West End shows in 2016, with an average of 801 people per show, the highest since figures were first taken. 

Under the pseudonym Doctor Spin, Andrew Lloyd Webber released a top 10 single in 1992 called "Tetris".

Pocket Size Picks: Our Favourite Theatre Websites!

Stage Faves 

This fairly recent creation is such a good resource for the modern day theatre fan; a huge database of performers, shows and theatres makes searching and fan girling so much easier! Put this one in your favourite tabs, its a must have! 

Seat Plan 

We are a huge fan of this website, it makes buying tickets so much easier! Not sure whether the price your paying for a ticket is worth it? Are you thinking that the cheapness/expensiveness of the ticket you're purchasing is legitimate? Log onto this website and you'll see your exact view from your seat. We don't know what we'd do without this! 

12 production shots that describe the struggles of being in a Musical

When you get a whiff of your costume and clearly it hasn't been dry cleaned in weeks.

2016 Revival of Half A Sixpence 

When you catch a glimpse of a really fit audience member. 

2017 UK tour of Grease the Musical 

When its a double show day and your legs just say no. 

2012 production of Cabaret at the Savoy Theatre

Pocket Size Theatre 5th Anniversary: Our Top 10 Features!

Our features are one of our most popular aspects of Pocket Size Theatre, from fun casting guessing games to first looks at the newest and hottest shows in town. We are known for these and our viewers love them almost as much as we love putting them together. Take a look at our top 10 most popular ones! 

Our '15 hottest...' posts are some of our most viewed posts ever! They have caused some controversy before but they are nothing but a bit of fun and an expression of our secret West End crushes! And we must be doing something right because the top 4 most viewed Features are from the same thread...

This post was said by Mark Shenton to be 'objectifying' the women feature in the post, we stand by our principles and must insist this is pure fun and a celebration of the beauty and talent in our industry. This one was especially hard, too many West End crushes!

12 Brits who are flying the flag on Broadway!

Brits have been flying the flag on Broadway for years now, some huge names who have starred on Broadway include Julie Andrews, Carey Mulligan, Michael Xavier, Helen Mirren, Ruth Wilson and Catherine Zeta Jones, to name but a few! We wanted to take a look at some of the West End stars who are living the dream on the Great White Way! We focus on 12 performers who are all doing the West End proud! 

Olivia Phillip

Olivia made her West End debut in Priscilla Queen of the Desert at the Palace Theatre before appearing in Ghost the Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre and The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre. She went on to play Velma on board the Royal Caribbean before making the move over to America. She made her Broadway debut in Diaster! at the Nederlander Theatre in 2016 before featuring in the Broadway production of Waitress. She is currently part of the Original Broadway cast of Frozen, which opens in February 2018 having done an out of town try out in Denver. @OliviaPhillip ‏

Gavin Lee 

Gavin is a proven West End leading man; playing leads in Top Hat, Singin' in the Rain, Crazy For You, Peggy Sue Got Married, A Saint She Ain’t, Me And My Girl, Oklahoma! and Contact. Gavin made his Broadway debut playing Bert in Mary Poppins, a role he originated in London at the Prince Edward Theatre and later played the role on tour across America. He last played Thenadier in Les Miserables on Broadway and is currently playing Squidward Q. Tentacles in Spongebob Square Pants in the original Broadway cast. 

FIRST LOOK: New cast of Dreamgirls join the show at the Savoy Theatre

American star Moya Angela joins the London cast of Dreamgirls as Effie White with Karen Mav and Marisha Wallace, who already star in the London production alongside original London Effie, Amber Riley. They alternate the role during the week. 

Asmeret Ghebremichael continues to play Lorrell Robinson, with Joe Aaron Reid continuing in the role of Curtis Taylor Jr, Brennyn Lark as Deena Jones, Tosh Wanogho-Maud as Jimmy Early, Durone Stokes as C.C. White, Delroy Brown as Marty and Kimmy Edwards as Michelle Morris.

The cast of Dreamgirls also includes Michael Afemaré, Callum Aylott, Georgia Bradshaw, Jabari Braham, Ashford Campbell, Sanchia Amber Clarke, Nicole Raquel Dennis, Nicole Deon, Rhiane Drummond, Ashlee Irish, Emma Louise Jones, Ashley Luke Lloyd, Samira Mighty, Jayde Nelson, Aston New, Sean Parkins, Kirk Patterson, Rohan Pinnock-Hamilton, Ryan Reid, Rohan Richards and Joshua Robinson.

London Musical Theatre Orchestra's A Christmas Carol at Lyceum Theatre on 11th and 18th December

London Musical Theatre Orchestra brings back their  production of the spectacular concert version of A Christmas Carol, which returns by overwhelming popular demand to the Lyceum Theatre in London after a five-star sell-out performance last year, with two performances of the festive favourite at 7.30pm on 11th and 18th December. Tickets are on sale now.

The cast includes Olivier Award nominee Sophie-Louise Dann (Lend Me A Tenor / Made In Dagenham / Bend It Like Beckham The Musical / The Girls) as Mrs Fezziwig, Glenn Carter (Jersey Boys / Jesus Christ Superstar) as Marley, Nicholas Colicos (Kiss Me Kate / Mamma Mia! / The Producers) as Mr Fezziwig, Rebecca Lock (Mary Poppins / Mamma Mia!) as Mrs Cratchit and new-comer Cameron Potts as Fred Anderson / Young Scrooge.

Alongside these cast members, multi award-winning stage and screen actor Robert Lindsay (Citizen Smith / My Family / Wimbledon / Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) returns to the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. Robert will be joined by Lucie Jones (2017 UK Eurovision entrant / Les Misérables / We Will Rock You) as Emily / the Ghost of Christmas Future, Hugh Maynard (The Lion King / Miss Saigon) as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Gemma Sutton (Gypsy / The Go-Between) as the Ghost of Christmas Past and Olivier-nominee Michael Xavier (Prince of Broadway / Into The Woods / Sunset Boulevard) as Bob Cratchit. 

FIRST LOOK: Pinocchio at the National Theatre

On a quest to be truly alive, Pinocchio leaves Geppetto’s workshop with Jiminy Cricket in tow. Their electrifying adventure takes them from alpine forests to Pleasure Island to the bottom of the ocean. This spectacular new production brings together the director of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and the writer of Matilda the Musical.

For the first time on stage, featuring unforgettable music and songs from the Walt Disney film including I’ve Got No Strings, Give a Little Whistle and When You Wish upon a Star in dazzling new arrangements, Pinocchio comes to life as never before. 

Cast includes Joe Idris-Roberts (Pinocchio), Audrey Brisson (Jiminy Cricket), Mark Hadfield (Geppetto),Annette McLaughlin (Blue Lady), David Langham (The Fox), David Kirkbride (Coachman), Dawn Sievewright (Lampy), Gershwyn Eustache Jnr (Stromboli) together with Stuart Angell, Trieve Blackwood-Cambridge, Stephanie Bron, James Charlton, Rebecca Jayne-Davies, Sarah Kameela Impey, Anabel Kutay, Michael Lin, Jack North, Clemmie Sveaas, Michael Taibi, Scarlet Wilderink and Jack Wolfe.

7 Off-West End shows you need to see that are on right now!

Hair at the Vaults 

Hair is celebrating its 50th Year with this London production, transferring from the Hope Mill Theatre it runs at the Vaults until the 13th January. 

Mad on Her at Above The Arts Theatre 

This Cheesy 80's musical is fresh and the most fun you'll have. Another musical to have played the Hope Mill Theatre, it plays at the Above The Arts Theatre and you still have time to catch it. It plays on the 19th (4pm and 7.30pm) & 26th (6pm and 8.30pm) November and 3rd December (4pm and 7.30pm). 

Pantomime Season 2017/18

As December approaches all over the country theatres are preparing for one of their busiest times of the year as the annual pantomime brings in new and old audiences to the traditional Christmas show. Pantomime is often a child's first experience of live theatre and therefore it hopefully plays a critical role in establishing a young person’s love of live entertainment. It is also a unique shared experience, not just as the family go together but the genre is built on audience interactions and traditional calls and shout outs.

This year there will be hundreds of venues staging a pantomime, thousands of actors and technical staff employed and several million attending as part of the audiences. Qdos has established itself as the leading Pantomime production company with 35 productions this year including the two leading venues of the London Palladium and Birmingham Hippodrome but there are many other companies with multiple productions (UK productions, Imagine, PHA, Jordan and Evolution) and lots of “in house” productions. All of them are built on the same traditional elements that have made the genre so established over the last two hundred years.

Best shows to go to this Halloween

The Woman in Black 

One of the classic London thrillers, now in its 25th year and having been seen by over 7 million people this is a must see over the Halloween period. Susan Hill’s acclaimed ghost story is brought to dramatic life in Stephen Mallatratt’s ingenious stage adaptation. Robin Herford’s gripping production is a brilliantly successful study in atmosphere, illusion and controlled horror.

Click here for tickets and save up to £15!

Read our ★★★★ review here 

The Exorcist 

This new addition to the West End is sure to give you some chills down your spine. Considered the scariest movie of all time, the film adaptation of The Exorcist sparked unprecedented worldwide controversy when it was released in cinemas in 1973. Forty-five years after William Peter Blatty’s best-selling novel terrified an entire generation, The Exorcist is unleashed onto the West End stage for the very first time in a uniquely theatrical experience directed by award winning film and theatre Director Sean Mathias.

Click here for tickets from just £18! 

First look at the new WICKED UK & Ireland Tour cast

WICKED, the West End and Broadway musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, is pleased to release new production photography, by Matt Crockett, of Amy Ross as Elphaba, Helen Woolf as Glinda and Aaron Sidwell as Fiyero, who lead the cast, together with Jack Harrison-Cooper as Chistery, of the forthcoming return engagement of the spectacular, critically acclaimed and multi record-breaking UK & Ireland Tour, which begins a five week season at the Bristol Hippodrome from 31 January 2018.

This production of WICKED will also play a special engagement at Theater 11 in Zürich, marking the musical’s Swiss premiere, from 15 November-31 December 2017 (www.musical.ch/en/wicked).

The full cast is Amy Ross (Elphaba), Helen Woolf (Glinda), Aaron Sidwell (Fiyero), Steven Pinder (The Wizard and Doctor Dillamond), Kim Ismay (Madame Morrible), Emily Shaw (Nessarose), Iddon Jones (Boq), Nikki Bentley (Standby for Elphaba), Charli Baptie, Jason Broderick, Samantha Brown, Hannah Cadec, Grace Chapman, James Davies-Williams, Howard Ellis, Amy Goodwin, Daniel James Greenway, Jack Harrison-Cooper, Charlie Karlsen, Nicole Lupino, Stuart MacIver, Stacey McGuire, Sara Morley, Emily Olive Boyd, Georgia Rae Briggs, Paul Saunders, James Titchener, Helen Walsh, Amy Webb, Luke Woollaston and Benjamin Yates.

DREAM CASTING: The Devil Wears Prada the musical!

Today (noticeable nay anyone with snapchat!), The Devil Wears Prada celebrates its 11th Anniversary. We have heard rumours of a possible musical adaptation and we would LOVE to see it in London and this got us thinking who our dream casting would be! Who would be yours?! Tweets us your ideas! @PocketSizeBlog

Andrea (Andy) Sachs

Lauren Samuels

Miranda Priestly

Harriet Thorpe

10 Broadway shows that need to come over to the West End!

Anastasia

This production has only recently opened on Broadway, its run has only spanned over a few months but the rumours are already spreading about possible international productions, London being one of them! We love the film and the new cast recording is one of our most played albums so we can not wait to see this one! 

Waitress

A London production of Waitress is allegedly in the works to open next year, we are a huge fan of the music and hope to see it open soon! Who could star in the lead role though? We asked our readers and here are some of the top suggestions!

New Production Pictures released of the DREAMGIRLS London company

The critically acclaimed, hit UK premiere of Dreamgirls has been nominated for five Olivier Awards and stars American actress and singer Amber Riley, Marisha Wallace and Karen Mav sharing the role of Effie White (Amber Riley does not perform Mondays or matinees), Liisi LaFontaine as Deena Jones and Asmeret Ghebremichael as Lorrell Robinson making up the soulful singing trio ‘The Dreams’. 

Dreamgirls transports you to a revolutionary time in American music history. Dreamgirls charts the tumultuous journey of a young female singing trio from Chicago, Illinois called ‘The Dreams’, as they learn the hard lesson that show business is as tough as it is fabulous, and features the classic songs And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going, I Am Changing, Listen and One Night Only.

15 things you should see at the Fringe!

Atlantic - A Scottish Story at the Assembly Hall ★★★★★

"If you see nothing else this Edinburgh Fringe season get your tickets to ‘Atlantic’"

Runs on various dates until the 27th August. Click here for more information. 

Atlantic: America & The Great War at the Assembly Hall ★★★★★

"If you are at Edinburgh Fringe this summer, this really is one not to be missed. Just Wonderful."

Runs on various dates until the 26th August. Click here for more information.

FIRST LOOK: Jesus Christ Superstar returns to the Open Air Theatre in Regents Park

Following its overwhelming sell-out success in 2016, Jesus Christ Superstar returns this summer (11 August – 16 September), giving audiences one final chance to see the production in its original home.

Declan Bennett, Tyrone Huntley (who won the Evening Standard Emerging Talent Award for his performance in 2016), David Thaxton and Peter Caulfield, reprise their roles of Jesus, Judas, Pilate and Herod. The 2016 production won the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival and Evening Standard Award for Best Musical. 

Maimuna Memon takes the role of Mary. Previous credits include Winnie and Wilbur (Birmingham Rep), Lazarus (King’s Cross Theatre), The Busker’s Opera (Park Theatre) and Into The Woods (Royal Exchange Manchester). 

IN REHEARSALS: Unfolding Tales at The Stockwell Playhouse

Currently in rehearsals is a piece of New Musical Theatre called Unfolding Tales based on the life of the author of ‘The Lord of The Rings Trilogy’ and ‘The Silmarillion’ J. R. R.Tolkein. 

We were lucky enough to be given an exclusive first look at the cast of the stages concert version in rehearsals. 

The cast is led by Liam Doyle as Tolkien (Legally Blonde (Warner Huntingdon III, U.K. Tour), Heathers (Kurt Kelly, The Other Palace), Ghost (Sam Wheat, Asian Tour), WICKED (Fiyero, UK tour), Mamma Mia (Eddie, Novello Theatre), West Side story (Tony, Kilworth House Theatre), Jodie Steele as Tolkien’s Mother

Mabel (WICKED (Stand by Elphaba, UK & International Tour), FAME (Carmen Diaz), Legally Blonde (Margot & 1st cover Elle/Brooke, Kilworth House), Jesus Christ Superstar (1st cover Mary, UK Tour), RENT (Mimi, The Tabard Theatre) and Alexa Terry as Edith Bratt, who originated the part (Insane About Broadway (Musical Theatre concert, West-End), Unfolding Tales (Edith Bratt, Arts Theatre), Dick Whittington (Pantomime), Aida Cruises (Lead soloist).

FIRST LOOK: In rehearsals with the UK tour of HAIRSPRAY

Rehearsal images for smash-hit musical Hairspray have been released today ahead of the UK tour which kicks off in Cardiff at Wales Millennium Centre on 16th August 2017. This major UK tour will visit more than 30 venues across the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland until early summer 2018.

Tickets are now on sale at www.hairsprayuktour.com/tour-dates.

Featuring the iconic music and lyrics by Academy Award, Tony and Emmy winning duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, this much-loved musical comedy is choreographed by Olivier Award-winning Drew McOnie with direction from Paul Kerryson. 

FIRST LOOK: In Rehearsal with the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

Following its overwhelming sell-out success in 2016, Jesus Christ Superstar returns this summer, giving audiences one final chance to see the production in its original home. With direction by Timothy Sheader, design by Tom Scutt, choreography by Drew McOnie and musical supervision by Tom Deering, the production won the BBC Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical in the Evening Standard Theatre Awards and has received 3 nominations in the WhatsOnStage Awards, includingBest Musical Revival. 

Declan Bennett will return to the role of Jesus in the Open Air Theatre production. Also returning this summer are Tyrone Huntley with his award-winning performance as Judas, and David Thaxton and Peter Caulfield as Pilate and Herod.