Keep Dancing - The Ballroom Dance Sensation

If you love Strictly Come Dancing, or indeed are a fan of the pop group The Wanted, you will love this show.

It features 2015 winners Jay McGuiness and Aliona Vilani plus Robin Windsor and Anya Garnis - all doing their stuff on the Milton Keynes Theatre stage.

This is a new production that celebrates Ballroom and Latin dance, the show features all of the favourite styles of dance in a mega fast paced, high octane production.

As you would expect there are stunning costumes (and the obligatory glitter ball) fantastic supporting dancers and great vocalists backing the dancers on stage.

Jay McGuiness and Aliona receive top billing but sadly don't live up to the high expectations. Jay actually dropped Aliona, she recovered with such grace - I wish she had danced with featured fellow strictly dancer Robin Windsor, it would have been stunning.

McGuiness seemed so uncomfortable on stage, which you could really feel (a real shame)

All that said, the girls that were seated in the front two rows of the auditorium cheered him through - they were definitely Wanted fans!

I have to mention the fabulous vocalist Lisa-Marie Holmes and her rendition of Stormy Weather, it was truly mesmerising.

Keep Dancing is guaranteed to have Strictly fans itching to dance - FAB-U-LOUS!

Lily B X

MILTON KEYNES THEATRE AUTUMN SEASON

As the nights draw in you can look forward to a whole host of world-class entertainment at Milton Keynes Theatre as they announce their Autumn season of shows.

This season, jam packed with musicals, will also see Gareth Gates bring legendary 80’s musical sensation Footloose to the stage in the re-mastered show sure to get your toes tapping. 

Say Hallelujah for the all new production of Sister Act welcoming Alexandra Burke back to MK in the divine musical comedy, and enjoy a feel good celebration of soul with The Commitments, direct from a record-breaking run in the West End. 

Dance phenomenon Cats also makes a welcome return to Milton Keynes following it’s sell out run at the London Palladium.  Make sure you don’t miss the Jellicle ball and let the memory live again!

Bridging the gap between musicals and drama are two plays with music.  Featuring great songs by Donna Summer, Hot Chocolate and Tom Jones drop everything and keep your eyes peeled for The Full Monty with an all-star cast including Andrew Dunn, Joe Absolom, Chris Fountain, Gary Lucy, Louise Emerick and Kai Owen.  

Georgia May Foote stars in the classic role of Holly Golightly in the stylish and sophisticated Breakfast at Tiffany’s with memorable songs from the era it’s guaranteed to sparkle like a diamond in a Tiffany’s window.

Prior to the West End, drama fans can also look forward to Theatre Royal Bath productions Relatively Speaking as Robert Powell and Liza Goddard take to the stage in Alan Ayckbourn’s wonderful, funny and charmingly British play.

Spectacular dance and breath-taking ballroom is guaranteed to keep you dancing into the night with Strictly stars Jay and Aliona along with Robin Windsor and Anya Garnis.  FAB-U-LOUS!  

While the whole family can enjoy a little bit of seasonal magic from English National Ballet as over 100 dancers and musicians bring Nutcracker to life for an unforgettable Christmas treat.

Escape to a world of opera with Glyndebourne who this year bring Puccini’s Madama Butterfly and Mozart’s Don Giovanni, with the chance to go ‘Behind The Curtain’ with an exploration of opera designed for first time opera goers of aficionado’s who’d just like to get to know opera a little better!

A number of special events for one night only include music from, The Chicago Blues Brothers, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Illegal Eagles, One Night of Elvis, Motown’s Greatest Hits How Sweet It Is, That’ll be the Day Christmas 2016 and Bowie Experience.  With comedy from Adam Hills and Des O’Connor and Jimmy Tarbuck you can also have a taste of something a bit different with Psychic Sally, Professor Brian Cox and of course Peppa Pig in her brand new Live show Peppa Pig’s Surprise.

Pack up your knapsacks and lace up your boots ready for Christmas with this years ‘Purrrrfect’ family panto Dick Whittington. Join Samantha Womack as the Evil Queen Rat attempting to scupper Dick’s plans to seek his fortune (and remember if you book before 07 Nov you could win a prize bundle in the #DickWINNINGton competition)

A peep into 2017 (but on sale now) you can also book for Broadway’s award-winning comedy Thoroughly Modern Millie, Peter James’ thrilling new play Not Dead Enough, Matthew Bourne’s magical new adaptation of The Red Shoes, the iconic Funny Girl direct from the West End, WNO’s trio of opera’s, the all new production of Dirty Dancing, an MK debut of smash-hit show MAMMA MIA! and two fantastic shows from the National Theatre, Jane Eyre and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time .

Tickets are on sale now!  Book at Milton Keynes Theatre Box Office, call 0844 871 7652* (bkg fee**) or visit www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes  (bkg fee**)  for dates and ticket prices check the website for details or follow the theatre on Facebook www.facebook.com./miltonkeynestheatre, Twitter or Instagram @MKTheatre.

After Miss Julie
A version of Strindberg's "Miss Julie" by Patrick Marber
Milton Keynes Theatre 18th - 23rd July 2016

Set in 1945 in an English country house, on the eve of Labour's landslide victory at the end of the World War II, this compelling and erotic psychological thriller is by Strindberg's 1888 masterpiece.

During a summer ball, the beautiful daughter of the peer who owns the house, wanders into the servants' quarters.

As she flirts with  her father's handsome chauffeur, indifferent to the presence of his fiancee, what beings as game playing ignites into passion with devastating consequences.

Helen George plays Miss Julie. Well known for her role as Trixie Franklin in Call the Midwife, she recently received huge praise for her thrilling performances in Strictly Come Dancing.

Patrick Marber's plays include Dealer's Choice, which won the 1995 Evening Standard Award for Best Comedy and the phenomenal international hit, Closer, which won the Evening Standard Award for Best Comedy, the Critic's Circle and Olivier awards for Best New Play and was made into a BAFTA Award winning film in 2004.

"No one, but no one writes about sex wars like Patrick Marber" - Tribune

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)

Present Laughter by Noel Coward
Milton Keynes Theatre 11th - 16th July 2016


Prior to the West End comes Present Laughter, starring Samuel West.

Actor, charmer and diva, Garry Essendine is determined to disregard his advancing years and receding hairline by revelling in endless tantrums and casual affairs.

But just as he is about to depart for Africa, he finds himself besieged by a bevvy of would-be seductresses - not to mention his long suffering secretary, his estranged wife and an obsessed young playwright!

As he attempts to disentangle himself from their clutches and demands, the humour escalates, accompanied by delicious dialogue and sparkling repartee.

Samuel West (Notting Hill, Mr Selfridge, RSC's Hamlet) stars in undoubtedly one of Noel Coward's funniest plays as he looks at life behind the theatrical curtain and reveals a world of glittering wits, dashing dressing gowns and ostentatious personalities.


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)

Thriller Live - Milton Keynes Theatre
4th - 9th July 2016

Direct from London's West End and now in its 8th year, Thriller Live has been seen by over 3.5 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, the one and only Michael Jackson.

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...the list is endless. 

But of course there is Thriller! (and wow was that good!)

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 high octane from the start and didn't falter.

The choreography by Gary Lloyd is a massive part of Thriller Live, it is inventive, exhilarating and makes you feel exhausted just watching! 

The vocals from Ione Townsend, Tyrone Lee, Shaquille Hemmans and Adam J Bernard who sing the leads, were powerful and faultless.

However, for me, it was Sean Christopher that stole the show, his performance was breathtaking - Christopher is such a talent.

It was inevitable when the audience erupted when he performed the iconic "moonwalk".

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!

As the final curtain fell, a fellow audience member summed up exactly how I felt..."I could sit through that all over again, it was just brilliant"

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 28th June - 2nd July 2016

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, its 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 stars X Factor winner Joe McElderry - even back then you could hear he possessed a voice for musical theatre and he didn't disappoint.  He was simply fantastic.  Listening to Joe sing Close Every Door To Me, made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.  McElderry nailed it, the audience roared with applause and appreciation to show just how good it was.

I can't deny Joe had a few wooden moments on stage but his vocals more than made up for this.  His gorgeous, endearing smile and silken tones certainly won the Milton Keynes audience's hearts.

Lucy Kay as the Narrator was fantastic in the role - it requires a constant stage presence and versatile vocals, which Kay 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 - an exaggerated Elvis performance courtesy of Emilianos Stamatakis as the Pharaoh to the hilarious inflatable sheep that popped up... just when you weren't expecting it!

The audience thoroughly revelled in the finale and then best of all the curtain call - 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 Joseph...book your tickets now!

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)