Tag Archives: Birmingham

Press Review: Peter Pan A Musical Adventure (BMOS) at The Alexandra Theatre

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Peter Pan A Musical Adventure is the second BMOS performance to hit the Alexandra Theatre stage this year, and with the festive season upon us, there’s no better time than to travel to the magical world of Never Land! 

Directed by Faye Easto, with book by Willis Hall, music by George Stiles and lyrics by Anthony Drewe, Peter Pan is based on J.M. Barrie’s original play. 

We follow the story of Wendy (Annabel Pilcher), John (Riley Manning) and Michael (Edward Jones) Darling, who listen to a bedtime story from their mother (Jo Smith) each night. Peter Pan (Martin Foley) – the boy who never grows up – sneaks into nursery to listen and is suddenly spooked, accidentally leaving his shadow behind.

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Press Review: Stage Experience – Bring It On

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Showcasing the very best in local young talent, the Alexandra’s annual Stage Experience is open to anyone aged 9-24 years old who have a passion for performance, wardrobe, stage management or behind-the-scenes technical skills. Over the last few weeks, young performers and technicians from all over the West Midlands have intensively rehearsed to bring their latest production to life. 

With music by Tom Kitt and Lin-Manuel Miranda, lyrics by Amanda Green and book by Jeff Whitty, Bring It On The Musical is very loosely based on the 2000 cheerleading film starring Kirsten Dunst.

Campbell Davis (Laura Bryan) achieves her goal of being named captain of the Truman High Cheerleading Squad, only to have her hopes dashed when she discovers that she has been redistricted to inner-city Jackson High School. 

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Press Review: Wish You Were Dead at The Alexandra Theatre

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Following on from five hit stage shows and the new acclaimed ITV series ‘Grace’ the work of best-selling author Peter James returns to The Alexandra, Birmingham with the world premiere stage adaption of Wish You Were Dead.

Inspired by a strange holiday in France by author Peter James and his family, Wish You Were Dead tells the story of Detective Superintendent Roy Grace (George Rainsford) and his wife Cleo (Katie McGlynn), who arrive at a French Maison D’Hôtes in the rain for a much-needed holiday with their new baby. Accompanied by their nanny, Kaitlynn (Gemma Stroyan), things haven’t gone according to plan – Kaitlynn’s boyfriend (and Roy’s colleague) Jack (Alex Stedman) has yet to arrive, the hotel is run-down and nothing like what was advertised and the greeting received from Madame L’Eveque (Rebecca McKinnis) is far from welcoming. 

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Press Review: 9 to 5 The Musical (BMOS) at the Alexandra Theatre

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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Hey, a girl can scheme, can’t she?

9 to 5 is back at The Alexandra Theatre this week, this time with the BMOS Musical Theatre Company – an amateur performing arts group with members of all ages from across the West Midlands.

Based on the 1980 film starring Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Dolly Parton, the show has an Oscar, Grammy and Tony award-nominated score by Dolly Parton herself, and a book by the iconic movie’s original screenwriter Patricia Resnick.

Set in the late 1970s, 9 to 5 tells the story of Doralee (Jo Smith), Violet (Michelle Worthington) and new employee Judy (Rachel Richards) – three female co-workers pushed to their limits by their sexist and egotistical boss Franklin Hart. After a hilarious turn of events, the women concoct a plan to kidnap and turn the tables on the despicable Hart, taking control on the company that has always kept them down.

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Press Review: STARS – An Afrofuturist Space Odyssey at The Old Rep Theatre

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A finalist for the George Devine Award 2022, STARS is a new play written by acclaimed playwright Mojisola Adebayo (winner of the Alfred Fagon Award 2021). Moving, joyous and uplifting, the show features a ‘tour de force’ performance by Debra Michaels and music mixed live on stage by Bradley Charles, weaving in exquisite animations by artist Candice Purwin and creative captioning throughout.

STARS is the story of Mrs, a woman in her eighties looking back on her life, her marriage and friendships, and all the pleasure she’s missed out on and looking forward to the possibility of reclaiming this – in outer space! The show takes its audience on a journey from ancient West African folklore, via a council flat in South London, to the stars.

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Press Review: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ A spectacle that needs to be seen!

From the imagination of Neil Gaiman, best-selling author of Coraline, Good Omens and The Sandman, comes the National Theatre’s major new stage adaptation of The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

Returning to his childhood home, a man finds himself beside the pond of the old Sussex farmhouse where he used to play. He’s transported to his 12th birthday when his remarkable friend Lettie claimed it wasn’t a pond, but an ocean – a place where everything is possible… Plunged into a magical world, their survival depends on their ability to reckon with ancient forces that threaten to destroy everything around them.

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Press Review: Heathers at the Alexandra Theatre

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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ A must-see show for 2023!

Following two smash hit West End seasons and the Whatsonstage award for Best New Musical, the record-breaking show returns to Birmingham!

Welcome to Westberg High, where Veronica Sawyers is just another nobody dreaming of a better day. But when she joins the beautiful and impossibly cruel Heathers and her dreams of popularity may finally come true, mysterious rebel JD teaches her that it might kill to be a nobody, but it is murder to be a somebody…

Heathers is a blistering black comedy musical, based on the 1989 cult classic movie of the same name, starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater. Set within the corridors of Westberg High, it follows 17-year-old student Veronica Sawyer and her struggles with the social hierarchy of high school, desperate to climb the ladder and improve her popularity status. This is Mean Girls with murder!

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Press Review: Home, I’m Darling

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Every couple needs a little fantasy to keep their marriage sparkling. But behind the gingham curtains, things start to unravel, and being a domestic goddess is not as easy as it seems…

Directed by Tamara Harvey written by Laura Wade, the 2019 Olivier award-winning Home, I’m Darling tells the story of Judy (Jessica Ransom) and husband Johnny (Neil McDermott), who are living a 1950s fantasy life – Judy has left her job to fully embrace the role as a housewife after an upbringing with a feminist and activist mother (Diane Keen). Their love of the era is shared by friends Fran (Cassie Bradley) and Marcus (Steve Blacker-Barrowman), but for them, it is merely a hobby.

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Press Review: Annie at The Alexandra Theatre

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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ A sensational show!

Directed by Nikolai Foster, book by Thomas Meehan, with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin, the show tells the story of Annie (Zoe Akinyosade), who lives a life of misery at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. While holding onto the hope that her parents will return, her luck changes when she’s chosen to spend a fairytale Christmas with famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks (David Burrows). Spiteful Miss Hannigan (Craig Revel-Horwood) has other ideas and, together with her criminal brother, hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search for her true family.

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Press Review: Rocky Horror Show at The Alexandra Theatre

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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Outrageous, absurd… and completely fabulous!

The Rocky Horror Show returns to Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre this week, celebrating its 50th anniversary – the longest continuous run of a contemporary musical anywhere in the world. 

The Rocky Horror Show tells the story of Brad and his fiancé Janet, two clean-cut college kids who find themselves stranded after their car breaks down while on their way to visit a former college professor. Seeking help at a creepy mansion nearby, they are introduced to Dr Frank’n’Furter and embark on an adventure that they’ll never forget. 

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