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

Jersey Boys - The story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

Milton Keynes Theatre 23rd January - 3rd February 2018

The Jersey Boys is a gritty, well written, honest story of how four boys from the wrong side of the tracks make it big and the remarkable rise to stardom of one of the most successful bands in pop history.  

The musical is filled with copious amounts of swearing, a spattering of crime and a hint of the mob, but most of all it features the amazing music that Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons produced and it's no wonder they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame after selling millions of records worldwide.

"Four Guys...Four Stories...One unforgettable Musical"

This is the real story of The Four Seasons and how the boys from New Jersey made history, it shares with you the roller coaster journey they experienced in the music business and in their own personal lives.

We meet half of the band at the start, Tommy Devito (Simon Bailey) and Nick Massi (Karl James Wilson) when they are still members of The Variety Trio...but then add a young singer with a unique voice called Frankie Castelluccio (who becomes the one and only Frankie Valli) and eventually songwriter Bob Gaudio.  

These four started their musical journey as The Four Lovers but after "a sign" quite literally, they became The Four Seasons.

It was after a very long hard slog, that their first record "Sherry" sold over a million copies in just three weeks.  It doesn't matter how old or young you are, I guarantee you will recognise the songs that come thick and fast in this jukebox musical and you will be tapping your feet (and probably singing along too) with tunes such as "Big Girls Don't Cry, Bye Bye Baby, Let's Hang On, Oh What A Night and Walk Like A Man" to name only a few.

Frankie Valli's amazing vocal range was brought to life by Michael Watson, he was absolutely brilliant. His performance throughout was fantastic and all of his songs were appreciated by the whole audience, the applause seemed to go on forever after each one.

The whole cast are a very talented bunch and portray the heart aches and triumphs that the band encountered superbly well.  The four main characters Tommy, Bobby, Nick and Frankie all take turns to narrate the show, each having a unique story telling style and give their own perspectives on the bands journey.

The set was slick and used clever pop imagery on large screens, with characters wheeling in their own props to add to the sparse industrial scaffolding - it worked brilliantly.

There are some great moments when the band perform into on stage cameras and broadcast their concert onto black and white TV screens evoking a real retro feel.

Expect slick colourful suits, nifty dance moves and of course the music!

You will be on your feet...guaranteed! Oh what a night indeed!

Get a ticket...enjoy!

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

Lily B X 

Cinderella
Mk Theatre 9th December 2017 - 14th January 2018

I just love Christmas and all things festive!!! All the preparation that you do, wrapping gifts, the tree and tinsel, the turkey, seeing family and friends...

Phew!...but once the big day comes and goes and we are all embarking on a brand new year, what is there that will keep you feeling all festive and bring a smile to your face just that little bit longer?

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

Cinderella is at MK Theatre and it is the perfect way to treat all the family to a great night out.  It's such fantastic entertainment for the young and young at heart!

Cinderella, has all the perfect ingredients for the classic panto - cheesy songs, even cheesier jokes, too much glitter and THE best fairy god (or should I say Gok) mother and Buttons combo you will ever see?!!

The brilliant Brian Conley, whose career has spanned four decades, tops the bill as the reliable and loveable Buttons.

Conley is hilarious from start to finish - he is a true pro and the audience absolutely loved him. Add Gok Wan as the Fairy Gokmother...pure genius - the ad libs were side splitting!

The beautiful down trodden Cinders is played by Lauren Hall, she was as cute as a button and gave her all on stage.  Her Prince Charming (Matthew Goodgame) played a very dashing prince, suiting the voice of Hall in their duets. 

The comedy throughout the show was really thanks to the dynamic duo of Brian and Gok, when they were on stage together it was the usual mix of double entendre's and slap stick comedy - but they just added that something else, they had the whole theatre literally falling about laughing.

Ben Stock and Neal Wright play the boo-able the ugly sisters - any panto wouldn't be complete without the men in drag!!?? The costumes are stunning, very clever - big, bright and just so OTT... just brilliant!

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

Beat the January Blues...Book it now and keep that wonderful warm festive spirit going!!

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

Happy New Year!

Lily B X