News: Secret Cinema launches Secret Sofa – immersive cinematic experiences at home. @haagendazsuk @secretcinema #secretcinema #staycreative #immersivetheatre

Do you enjoy luxury and decadence? Are you Rich, old, insecure, vain, superficial, needy and liberally perfumed? Well The Grand Budapest Hotel is the place for you, and this Friday you get to escape lockdown and head there with many 1000s of other new clientele.

This might be one of the most exciting things I have seen for a while!

Secret Cinema, have been helping fans since 2008 to immerse themselves in their favourite imaginary worlds for real. Stranger Things, Dirty Dancing, Back to the Future, Blade Runner and many more have been tackled by them so far and now they are creating a weekly Secret Sofa for us to enjoy from our homes.

It is time to escape this madness and join 1000s of other households (potentially from all over the world) and immerse ourselves in the Secret Sofa world.

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More places to stream shows this Easter Sunday (and beyond) #CultureInQuarantine #staycreative

And the shows available for you to stream just keep rolling in.

One of the only positives I can see about this whole thing right now is that people who might not usually get the opportunity to go to the theatre (too far away, too expensive) have the chance to see some of the best shows around.

So here are the next batch for your enjoyment.

We will of course get reviewing as many as we can.

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News: The Barn Theatre streaming Henry V on 27th March at 6pm #staycreative #CultureDuringQuarantine #WorldTheatreDay, @aaronsidwell @Laurensamuels88 #saveourbarn #HenryV

The Barn Theatre have announced plans to live stream their critically acclaimed production of William Shakespeare’s Henry V on World Theatre Day (27 March).
The production, which stars Aaron Sidwell (Wicked, American Idiot, Loserville, Ghost,
EastEnders) and Lauren Samuels (Bend It Like Beckham, Romantics Anonymous, We Will Rock You, Grease, Water Babies, Over The Rainbow), will be streamed live to the theatre’s Facebook, YouTube and Twitter accounts on Friday 27th March at 6pm.

Henry V, which was called “a populist Hal for a post-Brexit world” by Dominic Cavendish from The Telegraph, is directed by Hal Chambers, with designs by Emily Leonard, fight direction by Christos Dante, movement direction by Kate Webster, composition by Harry Smith, BroadwayWorld UK award-nominated projection designs by Benjamin Collins, sound design by Chris Cleal and lighting by Sam Rowcliffe-Tanner.

Since launching in 2018, the Barn Theatre has gained national recognition by producing 12 Built By Barn shows to upwards of 80,000 audience members and being awarded The Stage Awards’ Best Fringe Theatre of the Year Award 2019. Their contribution to the local community stretches further than just the theatre with large scale outreach programmes, school workshops and collaborative projects around the centenary of the First World War, the ‘record-breaking’ Cirencester Human Poppy, and The Cirencester Advent Festival that have enhanced the well-being of the community and draw thousands of visitors to the town.

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We’ve got this! Helping you find where you can watch theatre, concerts and more online in these weird times

When you can’t go to see your favourite sport, what do we do? Watch an old event on the TV.

When you can’t go to a gig, what do you do? Listen to it on Spotify or watch last year’s Glastonbury on BBCiplayer.

When you can’t go to the pub for a pub quiz, what do you do? I mean, I would create my own with friends which we would do virtually, but there is also the option of a boardgame at home or an online quiz over a drink.

But what do you do when your love is theatre? When faced with heightened anxiety about when we can next get out and do the things we enjoy and a feeling of being trapped in our homes, it is important to make the most of what is available to us.

Here at Playhouse Pickings, we are going to do our best to share things with you which might make these bizarre times feel a bit more bearable. We will be speaking to actors, directors and people in the industry about how this is affecting them personally and how it is affecting their work. We will also be reviewing online shows. Finally, we might just tell some of our own stories about what we are up to, why we enjoy the theatre, things we have seen in the past and musings on art and culture in general.

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News: What more can you need to know on a cold Friday morning to cheer you up than the news that JASON DONAVAN IS BACK IN JOSEPH @JDonOfficial @LondonPalladium @JosephMusical @jacyarrow

Following his critically acclaimed professional debut this summer Jac Yarrow is to wear the Dreamcoat again while Jason Donovan returns to the role of Pharaoh from 2 July 2020!!!

Michael Harrison and the Really Useful Group are delighted to announce that Jason Donovan and Jac Yarrow will be back at the London Palladium in 2020, as the new, smash hit production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat returns following its triumphant season this year.

Jason Donovan will return in the role of Pharaoh. He was originally in the show when he made his defining stage performance as the title character of Joseph in the 1990s, in a sold-out 18-month run which produced a No.1 single and best-selling soundtrack album. Jason raised the roof of the London Palladium this year as Pharaoh, who rocks ‘Song of the King’ in the iconic musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

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News: Moulin Rouge! The Musical coming to Piccadilly Theatre in March 2021!! @MoulinRougeBway @moulinmusicaluk #PiccadillyTheatre #Voulez-vousCoucherAvecMoiCeSoir

If this doesn’t make your Friday, I don’t know what will…..

The Moulin Rouge. A night club, a dance hall and a bordello. Ruled over by Harold Zidler. A kingdom of night time pleasures. Where the rich and powerful came to play with the young and beautiful creatures of the underworld. AND NOW IT IS COMING TO LONDON

Global Creatures, the producers of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, are thrilled to announce today that the first UK production of the acclaimed show will open at the Piccadilly Theatre in London in March 2021.

“After ten years in development, and following the fantastic response to Moulin Rouge! The Musical in New York, we are thrilled to be sharing this musical with audiences in the UK. We can’t wait to bring the show to London!,” said producer Carmen Pavlovic, Global Creatures.

Enter a world of splendour and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur and glory! A world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Pop the champagne and prepare for the spectacular spectacular…Welcome to Moulin Rouge! The Musical.

Watch the trailer here

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News: Arlene Philips, Tom Allen and John Partridge are the Judges for Westend Eurovision @MADTrust @arlenephillips @mustbejp @tomallencomedy ‏ @DickyGauntlett ‏ @HamiltonWestEnd @youngfrankldn @KinkyBootsUK @PhantomOpera

What more can one want that all your favourite West-End stars on one stage? All your favourite West-end stars competing to be the champions of West End Eurovision? Yes, that will work! And to top that off, there are musical theatre, stage and screen legends as the host and judges. And I am going to see it all THIS SUNDAY!

Stand up star Tom Allen, John Partridge, star of La Cage Aux Folles, A Chorus Line and EastEnders, and choreographer, Judges-Announced-for-West-End-Eurovision-e1523026398933.jpg director and showbiz legend Arlene Phillips, honoured as a CBE for her services to dance, will be in the judging hot seats on Sunday 22 April at the Shaftesbury Theatre.

Richard Gauntlett will once again be in charge of hosting.

Continue reading “News: Arlene Philips, Tom Allen and John Partridge are the Judges for Westend Eurovision @MADTrust @arlenephillips @mustbejp @tomallencomedy ‏ @DickyGauntlett ‏ @HamiltonWestEnd @youngfrankldn @KinkyBootsUK @PhantomOpera” →

News: The Labyrinth to be made into a stage show @Labyrinth

“Once upon a time, there was a beautiful young girl whose stepmother always made her stay home with the baby. And the baby was a spoiled child, and wanted everything to himself, and the young girl was practically a slave. 5783f3381b00002700f6d479 But what no one knew is that the king of the goblins had fallen in love with the girl, and he had given her certain powers. So one night, when the baby had been particularly cruel to her, she called on the goblins for help!”

And, you can imagine my excitement when news came that Sarah may be calling the goblins for help once more…

Continue reading “News: The Labyrinth to be made into a stage show @Labyrinth” →

Upcoming events: 40 Winks @MR40WINKS

40 Winks is a unique place. Described as the most beautiful hotel in the world, a place where you are treated not as a paying guest, but as a new friend, a place where you will be enchanted by the sheer beauty of the house and its unique ambiance, somewhere with a dreamy fairytale quality which offers a welcome respite from the harsh realities of everyday life. images (1)

Owned by Mr Carter – frequently lauded as one of the world’s most influential interior designers by magazines like Architectural Digest, twice shortlisted for the International Interior Designer of the Year Award, the Economist’s Intelligent Life called him an ‘elegant sliver of fin-de-siecle aestheticism’ – this place has a lot to live up to and I cannot wait to experience it for myself in their May event.

Previous events organised by Mr Carter have been some of the most highly acclaimed events in London, including extravagant and theatrical life drawing evenings, parties like ‘Tart’ and ‘Coquette’ 40Winks (spoiling afternoons of naughty self- indulgence, seductive style and decadent pampering for girls), the famous ‘Jacques Townhouse’ (London’s first pop-up hotel), and the inaugural meeting of the ‘Champagne Charlie Society’. There has also been a magical ‘Bedtime Story Nights’ and the newest event, ‘Supernatural’.

And May’s event sees the very witty Viv Groskop performing. Viv is a journalist, writer, occasional agony aunt and comedian. She is the star of BBC1’s This Week and BBC Radio 4’s It’s Just a Joke, Comrade. Bedtime-Stories-1 VIVALICIOUS is a brand new show that will be officially launched at the Edinburgh Festival, but 40 Winks have managed to lure her hre for a special preview date. In an age of therapy and reinvention, Viv humorously explores how we all want to become the very best versions of ourselves, and frequently fail despite our most determined efforts. I have been told to expect enlightenment and lots and lots of laughter.

You don’t need to be a guest at the hotel to come, but you do need to book a ticket in advance. If you would like to attend one of the upcoming events (which often sell out within hours) receive a copy of the latest programme or join their exclusive mailing list, please email Daisy at reservations@40winks.org, or complete the .

Apparently I have to dress in my most glamorous boudoir attire but I expect it will be worth it to go and drink “intoxicating cocktails with London’s brightest and boldest, and find myself carried off on a delirious journey by some of this country’s most revered storytellers, mind-bending illusionists, comedians and topnotch (but tiny) theatre companies?”

Tickets: £30 per head (includes MAMAlicious Vodka cocktails and yummy nibbles)

Dates: The 17th of May 2018

Website: 40 W i nks

Office: +44 (0)20 7790 0259

Mobile: +44 (0)7973 653944

Address: 109 Mile End Road London E1 4UJ

Times: 7.00pm – 10.45pm (the shows start at 8.03)

Booking: Email Daisy at reservations@40winks.org

Dress code: Elegant pyjamas and glamorous nighties

Nearest tube: Stepney Green (a three minute stroll)

NEWS: It’s that time of year again – the big inflatable cow is gracing the Southbank again for UNDERBELLY 6th April – 30th September @UnderbellyFest ‏ @Robbotron

Whether you love music, comedy, circus, cabaret or something else – there is something for everyone at this year’s Underbelly! UnderbellyFestivalSouthbank_270517_25_preview

TWO WEEKS UNTIL BUMPER 10^thYEAR KICKS OFF – HERE’S WHAT’S COMING UP IN APRIL

Highlights include: Circus Abyssinia, Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho, The Dark Room, Nina Conti & Aliens Love Underpants
6 APRIL–30 SEPTEMBER, SOUTHBANK, LONDON SE1 8XX

Now preparing for a 10^th year on the Southbank and having smashed through the million-tickets-sold barrier last year, Underbelly Festival Southbank will open in just two weeks with a dazzling array of circus, comedy, cabaret, family entertainment, food and drink.

Continue reading “NEWS: It’s that time of year again – the big inflatable cow is gracing the Southbank again for UNDERBELLY 6th April – 30th September @UnderbellyFest ‏ @Robbotron” →

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