King Charles III - Milton Keynes Theatre

12 - 17 October 2015

Mike Bartlett's ingenious future history of the Windsors is a theatre must see.  Director Rupert Goold with Whitney Mosery has been described as producing "a brave piece of work" and I totally agree, it is very deserving of its must see status.

It is written and performed in a very Shakespearean style, with the dialog delivered in prose (which was unanticipated)  It is staged against a minimalist backdrop...bare brick wall and a few candles.

The language lends a musically to the speech laden scenes and a ghost of Diana adds to the Shakespearean tragedy style

The idea of a play about our monarchy serves up images very different to the gripping story of the Windsors.  Following the death of Queen Elizabeth after a reign of 70 years (putting us in 2022)  It tells the tale of Charles who has waited in the wings more than any other Prince of Wales in history.

It is both funny and deeply serious as it speculates on the future history of our monarchy.

Charles has a point to be made, to prove he is not just a puppet to be manipulated by our government - he has a voice and he wants it to be heard.

The cast is superb across the board with Robert Powell, although not attempting to impersonate Charles, does employ his hand movements and stiffness to give a sense of the would-be King.

Richard Glaves as Harry adds an air of levity to the proceedings with Ben Righton as the dutiful son William and Jennifer Bryden as a very surprisingly powerful and determined Kate.

The play reveals the difficulties for the monarchy in this age, although is not irreverent in its treatment of the royal family but is balanced in its approach to the issues surrounding the Windsors.

It leaves the audience with much to consider, it is thought provoking and powerful.


Lily B x

AS THE DAYS GET SHORTER, THE NIGHTS GET MORE ENTERTAINING!

Autumn: season of mists and mellow fruitfulness – and a fantastic line-up of amazing shows at Milton Keynes Theatre!

When they are rehearsing a show, The Bunbury Players are very much in earnest. In this case, it’s The Importance of Being Earnest that they are presenting.

A starry cast of some of our best known actors, including Nigel Havers, Martin Jarvis and Sian Phillips, kick off the autumn season at MKT with an original take on Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy.

They may be Dirty Rotten Scoundrels but the two swindlers who try and fleece the well-heeled tourists on the French Riviera may well find that making a living as con-men is tougher than they thought.

Snuggling into an ermine trimmed cape in October and direct from a sold-out run in London that earned five star reviews, King Charles III suggests one possible scenario for the future with Robert Powell as the newly-crowned monarch on the British throne.

Theatre at its best comes in many forms. While it’s true that English National Ballet is one of the great dance companies performing today, and Glyndebourne is a world famous festival opera company, both organisations have a reputation for being far more than the sum of their parts.

ENB’s Romeo and Juliet, inventive and passionately choreographed by Rudolf Nureyev, and Lest We Forget, a poignant reflection on World War I, are both unforgettable theatrical experiences. Milton Keynes Theatre is one of only three venues in the UK lucky enough to host Glyndebourne Tour 2015.

And this year, the company is proud to present the next generation of opera stars in three diverse works by Mozart, Donizetti and Handel.

Tommy Steele has been a household name for more than fifty years. As a song and dance man, no-one else comes anywhere near his talent and the affection in which he’s held. Glenn Miller was the great star of the big band sound. Combine the two and immerse them in the true story of Miller’s mysterious disappearance in 1944 and you’ve got The Glenn Miller Story, a new show to get you In The Mood, coming to Milton Keynes at the end of October.

Book your tickets now for this one. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, coming to Milton Keynes Theatre in November, picked  up seven Olivier awards in London and five Tonys on Broadway – rightly so. This National Theatre production, based on the award-winning novel by Mark Haddon, is one of those shows that make live theatre such a very special experience.

No-one can survive alone. Incarcerated at the notorious Shawshank facility accused of a double murder, former accountant Andy Dufresne finds that out to his cost. The Shawshank Redemption is regularly voted the nation’s number one movie of all time. Now you can see the classic story on stage in a new production. Watch this space for news of the star casting!

Almost single-handedly – or should that be footedly - Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace have elevated ballroom dancing to a new art form. They are back in November with a thrilling new live performance. But The Last Tango is what it says on the tin; it’s their final ever theatre tour…

Christmas at Milton Keynes Theatre just wouldn’t be Christmas without the best panto in the region. Following on from last year’s record-breaking show, Peter Pan, the star cast will be flying the magic carpet off to the Far East in Aladdin, with all your favorite panto characters on board. Get into the festive spirit right here at Milton Keynes Theatre!

With an amazing line-up of one night shows including comedy from Dara O Briain, Milton Jones and Paddy McGuiness, live music from The Hollies, Squeeze and UB40, anecdotes and reflections from that multi-talented actor, globe-trotter and former Python nutter, Michael Palin and the very best from tribute bands performing music by Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Fleetwood Mac, Motown and rock ‘n’ roll the autumn season at Milton Keynes Theatre is more than enough to keep the winter chill at bay!

A little bit further ahead, you can look forward to spring 2016 and a sparkling season of shows that includes musicals, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Chicago, Hairspray, Annie and the smash West End hit The Bodyguard.

Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty, David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny, the National Theatre’s, An Inspector Calls and three operas from Welsh National Opera should give you plenty to choose from – but if not, there is more….

To book just visit Milton Keynes Theatre Box Office, call 0844 871 7652 (bkg fee) or go to www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes  (bkg fee)

Shrek The Musical - Milton Keynes Theatre
18th August - 6th September 2015

It may be looking a bit drab outside but at Milton Keynes Theatre you will see nothing but brightness...make sure you get along to see Shrek The Musical!

The production expands the film story of a reclusive swamp dwelling ogre who reluctantly agrees to rescue Princess Fiona from the dragon protected tower - it's a magical explosion of colour, music and fun.

The characters literally step out of an over sized book of fairy tales but with a twist from The Three Blind Mice in stockings and stilettos, tap dancing rats, the Gingerbread Man and even a cross dressing Big Bad Wolf.

The costumes are wonderful and fun - the amorous dragon has to have a special mention however the vertically challenged Lord Farquaad and his men was ingenious.

Gerrard Carey if absolutely fabulous as Farquaad, spending the entire show shuffling around on his knees- he really makes the most of every moment he is on stage, he had the audience in stitches. Carey was hilarious!

Shrek is a feel good show for all of the family, it has so many levels of comedy from slap stick to tonnes of double-entendres especially for the adults, guaranteed to make you chuckle.

Dean Chisnall plays Shrek as we would expect him to be - big, scary, green and of course Scottish! Bronte Barbe played the fiesty and slightly nutty character of Princess Fiona well and Ryan Reid gave a brilliant performance as the annoying talking Donkey.

David Linsay-Abaire's lyrics are clever and witty and the score is brilliant.  In every scene you are treated to a "belt it out" song and great dance routines.

Shrek is littered with loads of laugh out loud moments and lots of good old fashioned fart jokes for good measure (well, he is an ogre after all!?)

It is a great family show with the moral of the tale portrayed well:
"It's okay to be different and you don't have to be pretty to be beautiful"

It makes you feel all warm inside!

Finishing with the song I'm a Believer, Shrek The Musical is an uplifting production that will put a big ogre sized smile on your face!

While you are at Milton Keynes Theatre, don't forget to try the great new concept  "Ordertorium" - when seated you will find a menu of yummy things to order right from your seat and the lovely staff will bring it straight to you! What a great extra treat...Why not give it a try?

Don't miss this fantastic show...Enjoy!

Lily B X 

Agatha Christie Theatre Company: And Then There Were None
Milton Keynes Theatre 20th July - 25th July 2015

Agatha Christie’s fabulous classic and most successful work And Then There Were None staged by Bill Kenwright, has arrived at Milton Keynes Theatre – it is masterful, slick and true to the 1939 novel.

With stage productions you obviously lose the lavish location settings, wonderful vintage cars and breath taking scenery you come to expect and love with an Agatha Christie movie, however Simon Scullion’s set looks aesthetically beautiful with marvelous Art Deco styling.

The enormous circular framed window sits centre stage showing the only view of the outside world for the ten strangers invited for a weekend away by the mysterious Mr and Mrs Owens.

The ten guests find themselves thrown together on a remote island off the southern coast of England, all brought together for the same sinister reason – finding out that they all have dark secrets.

In typical Christie style with twists and turns in the plot, the audience is left to the very end to know just who did do it!  The ten “guests” are greeted by the house keeper Ethel and butler Rogers who seemingly have only just been employed by the owner of the house, they arrive one by one until they are all together in the large drawing room.

A voice eerily speaks to them all from the shadows, introducing each and every person one by one with a chilling secret – that they have all had a hand in another’s death, murderers one and all!

There are wonderful performances from the whole cast – Paul Nicholas is simply superb as the elderly and distinguished magistrate Sir Lawrence Wargrave, Fraser Hines does well as a solemn Rogers.  Mark Curry is totally believable in his role as Doctor Armstrong while Susan Penhaligon is fantastic as Emily Brent, preaching to a glamorous young Vera Claythorne (Verity Rushworth) on the immorality of the young.

Colin Buchanan as William Blore, Eric Carte and Ben Nealon as General Mackenzie and Philip Lombard respectively give well rounded character portrayals.  Judith Rae and Paul Hassall make early exits but they too are totally convincing in their roles as the forthright housekeeper Ethel Rogers and the “wizard” Anthony Marston.

The ten gradually are whittled down one by one as each guest suffers a gruesome death.  They come to realise that a childhood rhyme that hangs over the imposing mantelpiece and the “Ten Little Soldier Boys” that stand on there has some macabre significance. 

Each death is exactly like the rhyme describes…but if they are all to die, who is the killer? Is there another person hiding somewhere on the island??

Despite my best intentions I could not spot the reduction of the soldier’s numbers diminishing during the play, with the action cleverly drawing your eyes away.  The creeping suspense throughout is brilliantly done and there is more than one genuine jump out of your skin moments!

The paranoia sets in as the last guests look at each other wondering which one will be the last survivor, the last little soldier…or not?!?

Totally brilliant and a must see production.

Enjoy!

Lily B X

Jesus Christ Superstar

Milton Keynes Theatre 13th July - 18th July 2015

Bill Kenwright presents Jesus Christ Superstar, the original rock musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The musical wowed the crowds at Milton Keynes Theatre, as it has for decades.

Depicting the final days of Jesus, this classic may seem to a few to have dated however, this latest revival shows that it has lost none of its power and the musical numbers are as fresh as they were in the 70’s.

The amazing talented Glenn Carter plays the tortured Jesus, his performance and vocal range left the audience open mouthed – he was quite brilliant.  The emotion that Carter put into his performance was second to none.

Rachel Adedeji (of X Factor fame) played a lovely soft and adoring Mary Magdelene. Adedeji possesses a wonderful tone to her voice, you could tell that she could have belted out each note, her vocal control during “I don’t know how to love him” was packed with feeling…it was perfect. 

Fellow X Factor contestant Rydian Roberts gave a good performance as Pontius Pilate, sympathetically portraying the man who’s meeting with Jesus helped him understand the truth.

Understudy Tim Oxbrow as Judas gave a powerful performance – Oxbrow has a great rock voice and was a convincing troubled Judas.

With clever usage of a singular set throughout, with just the addition of props such as flaming bowls of fire, a white cloth upon the floor for the last supper and then a back drop of glitz for the camp palace of King Herod – it was inspired.

The utterly camp as Christmas portrayal of King Herod (Tom Gilling) was a well-received comic relief within such solemn proceedings.  Never before have I seen King Herod donning tassels attached strategically to his chest!??

An enormous wooden halo is suspended over the stage throughout the entire performance is used effectively to depict the location and the sentiment of the scenes with Jesus.

The production ends with the heart stopping crucifixion – the resonating sound of the metal against metal as Jesus is nailed to the cross coupled with the behind the scene female vocals floated out as Jesus is slowly killed on the cross.

The silence as his head fell was almost audible, with many of my fellow theatre goers wiping tears from their eyes – it was incredibly moving.

It was a realistic representation of the greatest story ever told.  Jesus Christ Superstar is a classic and still is remarkable musical theatre.

Lily B x

What's on and what's coming up at Milton Keynes Theatre

No matter what the weather is like outside, it’s going to be a sizzlingly, hot summer at Milton Keynes Theatre!

Now on...If laughter really is the best medicine (and they do say that it is) then everyone should be prescribed a hearty dose of Spamalot. The multi award-winning comedy musical gallops into Milton Keynes to the sound of a medley of coconut shells.

There’s more heavenly musical magic from another all-time family favourite this summer - Jesus Christ Superstar, the first great rock opera, has a story as compelling today as it was when the musical was first produced more than 40 years ago (let alone when the events took place more than 2000 years ago!)

The King of rock ‘n’ roll lives again through 25 of his best-loved songs in Love Me Tender, a new musical inspired by the chart-busting hits of Elvis Presley.

The big summer blockbuster, Shrek the Musical, is a must-see show for the whole family and it’s going to be taking OGRE Milton Keynes for three whole, big, bright and beautiful weeks! Don’t miss the chance to see this all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza live on stage and join the green adventure!

You can’t beat a good, old-fashioned murder mystery and there is chilling thrills with The Agatha Christie Theatre Company in And Then There Were None.

With an amazing line-up of one night shows including comedy from Milton Jones and Jimmy Carr, live music from The Proclaimers and Russell Watson, psychic entertainment from Colin Fry and the very best from tribute bands performing music by Queen, The Eagles and The Carpenters the summer season at Milton Keynes Theatre really is hot stuff!

Looking a little bit further ahead, the days may be getting shorter but the nights at Milton Keynes Theatre will be just as bright with shows such as The Glenn Miller Story, starring Tommy Steele, The National Theatre’s multi award-winning production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and three operas from the internationally acclaimed Glyndebourne Tour in the autumn programme.

To book just visit Milton Keynes Theatre Box Office, call 0844 871 7652 or go to www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes  (booking fees apply)