Hi ...I have a new website!

www.mktheatrereviews.co.uk

All the reviews, news and what's coming up at Milton Keynes Theatre, all in one place with links to book your tickets to the brilliant shows touring now.

Enjoy!

Lily B x

Thriller Live Milton Keynes Theatre 10^th – 15^th June 2019

On a wet and miserable Monday, nothing could dampen mine and my fellow theatre goers spirits…there was a real buzz on entering MK Theatre, the sounds on Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5 welcomed us all to Thriller Live!

Direct from London's West End and now in its 9th year, Thriller Live has been seen by over 4 million people in 30 Countries.

Thriller Live is not a musical and it doesn't profess to be one.  Instead, it is a wonderful celebration of the music by the King of Pop and pays homage Jackson’s legendary live performances.

Jackson has an amazing and dazzling back catalogue of music to choose from, this show is two hours long and it's wall to wall hits - all of the best known songs are in this, including I Want You Back, ABC, Can You Feel It, Off the Wall, Smooth Criminal, Beat It, Billy Jean, Thriller...the list is endless.

The show doesn't have a story, it doesn't need one.  It has a little narrative that strings the songs together nicely.  It tells the story of the birth and successes of the Jackson 5 and of course, the legend, Michael Jackson.

There is an exceptionally talented cast and live band, the atmosphere inside the Milton Keynes Theatre was electric.  The performances were breath taking, with the choreography by Gary Lloyd being a massive part of Thriller Live - it is inventive, exhilarating…danced with precision and passion throughout. It was inevitable that the audience erupted when the iconic "moonwalk" was performed…absolutely fantastic!

The vocals from the brilliant Britt Quentin, Stunning Leticia Hector, fabulous Trace Kennedy and Rory Taylor who all sing the leads, they were powerful and faultless.

If you are a Michael Jackson fan you will love this show, I guarantee you will be itching to get up and dance and it didn't take the MK Theatre audience long to do just that!

Don't stop 'til you get enough...Enjoy!

Lily B X

Tickets are on sale now!  Book at Milton Keynes Theatre Box Office, call 0844 871 7652 (booking fee) or visit www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes (booking fee)

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Milton Keynes Theatre 9th - 13th April 2019

Bill Kenwright's production of Joseph, remains an irrepressible delight.  The classic pairing of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber - this is definitely a show that an audience never tires of.

It's wonderfully colourful, the score totally uplifting...Joseph is a fabulous all-rounder of a musical, full of unforgettable songs including Close Every Door To Me and Any Dream Will Do.

The story is a retelling of the Biblical tale of Joseph and the coat of many colours (with a massive dose of satire and bags full of fun thrown in).  The songs contain such cheeky lyrics and set to such a wide variety of musical styles from Country, Calypso to Rock n Roll from the Elvis inspired Pharaoh!

This production of Joseph sees Union J’s Jaymi Hensley donning the Technicolor Dreamcoat for his first ever major musical role and he didn't disappoint.  He was simply fantastic.  Listening to Jaymi sing Close Every Door To Me, made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

Hensley nailed it, the audience roared with applause and appreciation to show just how good it was. His brilliant vocals and all round performance certainly won the Milton Keynes audience's hearts.

Trina Hill as the Narrator was fantastic in the role - it requires a constant stage presence and versatile vocals, which Hill made, not only light work of but totally excelled.

The supporting cast were vibrant and enthusiastic throughout, as was the charming Joseph Choir.

There was so much to love about this show - from an exaggerated Elvis performance courtesy of Andrew Geater as the Pharaoh to the hilarious inflatable sheep that popped up... just when you weren't expecting them (even though they needed a bit of a kick to get them to do so!)

The audience thoroughly revelled in the finale and then best of all, the curtain call - with everyone on their feet, singing and clapping along.  

The buzz in the theatre was electric, totally fabulous and not something you see on that scale very often.

I guarantee you will leave the theatre with a smile on your face and be singing the songs as you leave the auditorium!

Go, Go, Go...book your tickets now!

To book tickets go to  www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre

Enjoy!

Lily B x

The Band - A New Musical By Tim Firth and the music of Take That

Milton Keynes Theatre 5th - 9th March 2019

This is not just another jukebox musical, the music instead of being strung together and a story loosely popped in for good measure, this one is a warmhearted and lovable story where the songs actually mean something and is an intrinsic part of it.

Tim Firth's story centres on five totally (and refreshingly) ordinary teenage girls who have an absolute obsession with a boy band - the music of The Band holds their friendship together like glue.

It's 1992, glimpsing into the bedroom of sixteen year old Rachel (Faye Christall) who lives for Top of the Pops, with hairbrush in hand belting out "Pray"...It's the nations number one. Her love for The Band is her only means of escaping the world, her insecurities and the sounds of her rowing parents..."louder boys!"

Jump twenty-five years later and the friends have lost touch, life journeys separating them. A chance winning entry to a radio station competition to see the come back tour of their beloved band in Prague, the friends reunite.

The antics of the forty-somethings results in some frollics in a fountain (that ends in them being arrested!) Very cleverly staged with The Band masquerading as the fountain statues coated in stone grey latex...I will say no more...

All of their energy from their youth returns as they remember the days when the highlight of the week was taping the TOTP Top 40 best bits on their cassette recorders!

The Band (AJ, Curtis, Yazdan, Nick, Sario) provide the soundtrack to the friends lives, the lads are great vocalists (and not bad dancers too) and do a fantastic job of replicating the sound of Take That. They have quite a following of their own after winning the TV talent show "Let it Shine" to star in this musical.



A highlight for me was when the forty something girls sing "Back for Good" to their younger selves, it sums up all of the passions you used to live for, the regret that comes with growing up and outgrowing the friendships that were once, your world.

In an interview with Rachel Lumburg (who plays the older Rachel) said "This musical, it's about Bands: The Band themselves, the Bands they girls wore on their wrist out of love for their music and the Band that bonds the friends together"

It is truly a fantastic production, with live music, spectacular sets by Kim Gavin and the team behind Take That's big area shows.

Tim Firth has said that "music makes time travellers of us all" and this is what The Band, the musical definitely does. With songs like "A Million Love Songs, It Only Takes A Minute and Rule The World" - get ready to wave your glowing mobile in the air in time with the music...Magical!

Don't miss this brilliant new musical, it will be one you will "Never Forget"!

Enjoy!

To book tickets go to  www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre

Lily B X

Rocky Horror Show

Milton Keynes Theatre 4^th – 9^th February 2019

Walking into Milton Keynes Theatre on a chilly Monday night surrounded by hordes of men in stockings and suspenders and women clad in tiny French maid’s outfits can only mean one thing…the legendary Rocky Horror Show is back!

I cannot believe it is 46 years old, making its debut in a tiny upstairs theatre in London in 1973.  Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror shows no sign of ageing –it is still as bright, bold and bananas!

There was a real buzz around the theatre from the many audience members who were dressed up for the occasion - the whoops and cheers began as soon as the live band plays their first note.

If you don’t know the story, here a quick overview… A geeky kid Brad (Ben Adams of A1 boy band fame) and his drippy fiancé Janet (Strictly’s Joanne Clifton) are on their way to visit an old science teacher Dr Scott (Ross Chisari) Their car breaks down in the middle of nowhere and the only thing in sight is a creepy looking old castle.  They decide to knock on the door to ask to use the telephone…that’s where the fun (and madness) begins as we meet Frank N Furter and his “friends”…

Taking on the part of the Narrator is Dom Joly, best known for his smash hit Channel 4 hidden camera series “Trigger Happy” Dom makes for a dry and very witty narrator, giving as good as he gets with the notoriously quick audience heckling – some of the retorts had the audience crying with laughter!

Before you know it, you will be up on your feet doing “The Time Warp” (you won’t see a thing unless you partake!) This is the obvious highlight and the thrilled audience screamed with pleasure as Frank N Furter (the amazing Stephen Webb) makes his spectacular entrance.  Webb makes for a deliciously deviant Frank, full of sass, strutting his stuff across the stage…exactly how he should be!

The show is as sharp as ever and without doubt a tad bizarre… it’s fun, filthy and absolutely fabulous!

So get out those basques and stockings fellas… Let’s do the time warp again!!

Enjoy!

To book tickets go to  www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre

Lily B X

Robin Hood - MK Theatre 8th December - 13th January 2019

"The magical 3D pantomime adventure"



It's the most wonderful time of the year...I just LOVE Christmas! All the preparation that you do, wrapping gifts, the tree and tinsel, the turkey, seeing family and friends..Phew!!!...

What is there that will keep you feeling Christmassy from now and all the way into to the New Year??

A traditional, magical, sparkling panto - that's what! oh no it isn't...oh yes it is!!! (sorry, I couldn't resist the chance to write that!)

Robin Hood is at Milton Keynes Theatre and it is the perfect way to treat all the family to a great festive night out.  It's such fantastic entertainment for the young and young at heart!

This production has all the perfect ingredients for the classic panto - great songs, cheesy jokes, slap stick comedy, too much glitter and much more!

Shane Richie tops the bill as the as the dashing and daring Robin, Richie is brilliant (you can't help but just see him as Alfie from Eastenders though and there are so many references to the character) It doesn't deter from his performance, it enhances it. From start to finish he jokes and plays the part - the audience absolutely loved him...

Robin's partner in crime is the jolly Friar Tuck (Peter Piper) the two literally bounced off each other.  Some of the shenanigans on stage...you are not really sure if they were in the script or not? Pure panto magic.



Pete Gallagher plays the boo-able baddy The Sheriff of Nottingham - any panto wouldn't be complete without someone to boo at!!?? 

The costumes are stunning, very clever - big, bright and just so OTT... just brilliant and what you would expect from a glittering Christmas panto!  There are loads of surprises in the production from an animatronic forest monster to a fabulous 3D section. 

Watch out for Merlin the Magician (Phil Hitchcock) who performed magic live and The Merry Men (The Acromaniacs) flying and flipping across the stage - the audience were in awe.

The live music, the laughter that rings in your ears and the songs that you hum as you leave - all adds up to a magical experience that is perfect for all the family to share.

Book it now and keep that Christmas spirit going!!

To book tickets go to  www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Lily B X

Flashdance - The Musical

Milton Keynes Theatre 16th - 21st July 2018

There's more lycra leotards and legwarmers than you could shake a stick at...Flashdance The Musical has arrived at Milton Keynes Theatre!

This feel good theatre production will make you smile, have you dancing in the aisles and lift your spirits - guaranteed.

If you've not seen the film, Flashdance is the story of Alex Owens (played by Joanne Clifton of Strictly Come Dancing fame) Alex is a woman in a man's world, earning a meager living working in a steelworks. However, her heart is somewhere else...all she dreams of is to be a dancer and perform on the stage.

By chance she spots a ballet dancer through the window of the prestigious Shipley Dance Academy, she knows in her heart that this is where she is meant and destined to be...

Could a working class girl, whose only experience is dancing in her local nightclub ever have a chance at actually attending such an elite academy? 

What really makes this musical spectacular is Joanne Clifton - her high octane performance was faultless. Who would have thought that this strictly star would be, not only a fantastic dancer, but a great actress and singer to boot!?

Clifton is supported by co-star Ben Adams (of A1 boy band fame) he plays Nick Hurley, who is in line to own the family run steelworks one day. The two meet and Nick sets out to win Alex over, attempting to buy her affections whilst laying off her co workers (which obviously doesn't go down well!)

Adams performance was sweet and the harmonies worked well in his duets with Clifton - his silky voice definitely suits the stage. 

The whole cast are uber talented and bring to life all of the characters - their dancing skills grabbed me, the choreography totally stunning. Add the live band and the fabulous 80's music (Gloria, Maniac, I Love Roll and Roll and of course What a Feeling) it couldn't get any better.

Both the set and lighting designs are brilliantly done, the industrial steelworks transforms into the brightly neon lit nightclub effortlessly.  The iconic moment at the end of the first half with Alex drenched under the shower...it was worth waiting for, audible gasps rang around the theatre - spectacular!



Flashdance is a indulgent mix of loveliness.  Whether you are a fan of the film or just want to enjoy the music, this is a fabulous way to spend an evening.

Enjoy!

To book tickets go to  www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre

Lily B X