REVIEW: Suitcase Under the Stairs at the Greenwich Theatre (Online)

Drag has become a mainstream entertainment with the RuPaul Drag Race UK on TV and the recent Deathdrop at the Garrick which was closed prematurely by Covid. Its raunchy over the top no holds barred style has a strong following and the performers project a glamorous image. But what is like behind the makeup and clothes? Suitcase under the stairs takes into a toilet used as a dressing room of a club where Rose XO has just completed her act. Slowly the man behind the performer is revealed as he peels back the layers he hides behind on stage.

Rose is a confident unstoppable scary woman, six foot seven tall in her black high heeled boots, she is her own woman when in the pink spotlight. Tonight, her offstage partner Matthew is in the audience and when she treats him like any other punter with her acerbic bitchy putdowns he walks out. It is a shame we don’t see more of the one-stage persona and performance which obviously contrasts sharply with the real-life man behind the creation.

REVIEW: Sleeping Beauty at Greenwich Theatre

Everyone knows the age-old tale of Sleeping Beauty, but Greenwich theatre have stretched the traditional story and centred it around Russia, the moon, and 50 years of Greenwich Theatre… obviously.

It’s 1969 and we are introduced to a “very very Scottish” actor, Ewan (Regan Burke). As he wanders the dark corridors of Greenwich Theatre, he comes across a common item found in London theatres; A Faberge egg. He releases its magical power in the form of Fairy Faberge (Funlola Olufunwa), who waves her sparkly egg-wand and whisks him back in time to 1850s Russia. We meet the Tsar and Tsarina (Martin Johnston and writer/director Andrew Pollard respectively) and the evil Rasputin (Anthony Spargo) who has cast a spell on a mirror to rid Russia of the Tsar and Tsarina and take over the world, as every good panto villain wishes to do.

With a stunning design from Cleo Pettit, both the set and costumes have all the appropriate panto sparkle and shine with great flavours of Russia and some ridiculously tight trousers for Ewan when he accidentally becomes ‘Major Tom’ after a confusion with a costume fitting. The set consists of a huge revolve which is utilised expertly to show the passage of time during the famous 100 years sequence, and also allows the pace of the show to keep up with the short attention span of the younger audience members. 

REVIEW: Brooklyn at the Greenwich Theatre

Brooklyn follows the story of a group of street performers who come together to play out stories to try and earn an honest wage. In Brooklyn, this play within a play, tells the story of a young orphan singer who uses her talents to hunt down her father. 

This story is really poignant is many ways right now; politically it focuses on the greed for money and power whilst being told by people who are begging for money on the street, which is pretty ironic. And for those of us in the performing arts industry, its an interesting reflection on how we use our talents and what our worth is as performers. It also highlights our need to tell stories, with funding cuts and performing subjects being undermined its an important message about how we as humans need stories like this for so many varied reasons. 

This musical has discovered two stars; Andrew Patrick-Walker (Street Singer) and Emily-Mae (Paradice) both stand out in this show as incredible talents. Patrick-Walker has an insane voice, amongst a cast of incredible talents his voice is especially unique and he has a natural charisma on stage, which works for the part of the Street Singer who acts as the narrator of the story. Emily-Mae has the most powerful voice and in the role of Paradice, demands everyone's attention and brings a bunch of attitude but also has some really tender moments. A brilliant actress and an outstanding vocalist.

Cast announced for UK premiere of ALTAR BOYZ

Hallelujah! Spread the good news, as the five boyz who will make the band lineup for the UK Premiere of ALTAR BOYZ have today been revealed!

Playing band members Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham will be Liam Doyle, Jonny Fines, Jamie-Ray Hartshorne,Faisal Khodabukus and Alex Jordan-Mills.

Liam Doyle is currently starring as Fiyero in Wicked (UK Tour). Other recent credits include Link Larkin in Hairspray (UK Tour) and Troy in High School Musical. Jonny Fines’ credits include Lift (Soho Theatre), Avenue Q (UK Tour) and The Sound of Music(UK Tour). Jamie-Ray Hartshorne has appeared in the premiere of new musical The Prodigals (Belgrade Theatre) and The History Boys (National Theatre). Faisal Khodabukus’ recent credits include I Can’t Sing (London Palladium), Dirty Dancing (UK Tour) and La Cage Aux Folles (Playhouse Theatre). Alex Jordan-Mills played Billy in the 2013 revival of Taboo (Brixton Clubhouse), and most recently played Nick Piazza in Fame (UK Tour). 

ALTAR BOYZ will make its UK premiere at the Greenwich Theatre for limited run

After five hilarious years and over 2000 performances Off-Broadway, ALTAR BOYZ will make its UK Premiere in a strictly limited run of 14 performances at Greenwich Theatre from Friday 3 October 2014. On sale now.

With their heavenly harmonies, divine dance moves, and faith that’s stronger than their hair gel, the ALTAR BOYZ are ready to spread the good news through the glory of sweet pop music…

Get set for a foot-stomping, rafter-raising musical comedy about a fictitious boy-band on the last night of their Raise the Praise tour. The Boyz are five all-singing, all-dancing heartthrobs – Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham – trying to save the world one screaming fan at a time. Their pious pop act – including lyrics like Girl You Make Me Wanna Wait and Jesus Called Me On My Cell Phone – worked wonders on the bingo hall circuit, but when fate brings them to New York, will the boyz take a bite out of the forbidden apple?