TIL XMAS 2017 Final

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Welcome to London 

3 

CONTENTS 

Events 4 

Christmas Tours at Houses of Parliament 

Christmas in Leicester Square 

Music 10 

English National Ballet Nutcracker 

Hamilton Opens at Victoria Palace 

Nicola Benedetti performs in London 

Exhibitions 14 

Postal Museum Christmas tickets 

ABBA: Super Troupers 

Theatre 22 

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie 

A Woman of No Importance 

An American in Paris final weeks 

Eating Out 34 

York & Albany Winter Terrace 

Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park 

Proprietor Julie Jones 

Publishing Consultant Terry Mansfield CBE 

Associate Publisher Beth Jones 

Editorial Clive Hirschhorn Sue Webster Emma Skahill 

© This is London Magazine Limited 

This is London at the Olympic Park 

Stour Space, 7 Roach Road, 

Fish Island, London E3 2PA 

Telephone: 020 7434 1281 

www.til.com 

www.thisislondonmagazine.com 

It’s Showtime – Roll Up, Roll Up to the 

Greatest Show on Earth! 

Let me bid you the warmest of welcomes 

to our great city – and deliver you a special 

invitation to come as our guests to one of the 

World’s great street spectaculars. 

London’s New Year’s Day Parade, a turn-of-year 

tradition, which we first produced 32 years ago – 

is a wonderful way to blow away the Christmas cobwebs and welcome in 2018. 

Our theme celebrates London’s unrivalled reputation for putting on a show – 

whether it be theatre, circus, concerts, royal events, rock and roll extravaganzas – 

we know how to entertain the World. 

The event is totally free and runs along an iconic route from Green Park Station 

to Parliament Square via Piccadilly, Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street. 

St James’s, Pall Mall, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall. 

More than 8,000 performers from numerous nations will fill the streets with 

colour, creatures and curiosities from 12 Noon to 15.30 on January 1st. 

And London’s boroughs will be represented with some wonderful theme related 

entries and use the opportunity to raise some much needed money for their 

mayoral charities. 

We are expecting a bumper turn out – so make sure you secure your place early. 

We thank our partners that have helped make the event such a success: 

BBC London 94.9, The Corinthia Hotel, TicketMaster, Transport For London, 

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and The City of Westminster. 

Now every great show needs a great audience – and that’s where you play a 

starring role. We need you to have a wonderful day, enjoy the spectacle and show 

your appreciation. 

Bob Bone 

Executive Director of London’s New Year’s Day Parade 

VISITOR INFORMATION 

Emergencies 999 Police Ambulance Fire 

24 Hour Casualty 020 8746 8000 

Dentistry 0808 155 3256 

Victim Support 0845 30 30 900 

free and confidential service 

Visit London 020 7234 5833 

Heathrow Airport 0844 335 1801 

Gatwick Airport 0844 892 0322 

Taxis 020 7272 5471 

Dry Cleaner 7491 3426 Florist 7831 6776 

Optician 7581 6336 Watches 7493 5916 

Weather 0870 9000100 

t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g a z i n e • t h i s i s l o n d o n o n l i n e

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CHRISTMAS TOURS AT 

THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT 

Christmas Tours at the Houses of 

Parliament offer visitors an opportunity to 

take a glimpse into a busy 21st century 

working building, steeped in history and 

filled with an array of stunning art and 

architecture. Admire the exquisite 

craftsmanship of the finest British artists 

who designed the sumptuous interiors 

that are waiting to be explored and absorb 

the atmosphere of the season with the 

scent of pine from the enormous tree in 

medieval Westminster Hall. 

Choose between a popular Blue 

Badge Guide-led tour which takes 90 

minutes or the flexible self-guided audio 

option which takes approximately 60 to 

75 minutes. There is also a family 

version of the audio tour, produced for 

children aged 7 to 12, in English as well 

as a fun, hour-long guided tour led by 

one of the Visitor Assistant guides. 

Houses of Parliament Tours are 

available every Saturday and Tuesday to 

Friday between 22 December and 

5 January (except 26 December). 

Advanced booking is recommended but 

not essential. 

Visitors to London this winter can 

also take part in ‘Unlock Parliament’, a 

brand new immersive experience at the 

home of the UK Parliament. Have you 

ever wanted to make your own laws? 

You can over the festive season on this 

unique and challenging experience 

inside the Palace of Westminster. 

The mysterious ‘Agent N’ will set you 

a series of puzzles and other clues 

(including some via video link). Your 

objective is to move Agent N’s rather 

surprising new Bill through Parliament. 

With the clock ticking, you will need 

to work as a team to make some tough 

decisions as quickly as possible. Can 

you solve the puzzles and clues in time 

to pass the Bill into Law? ‘Unlock 

Parliament’ is fun and suitable for all 

ages (minimum recommended age 8 

years). Perfect for couples, families and 

groups of friends, and all kids go free! 

As well as successfully completing 

the challenge, discover where lawmaking 

takes place for real by booking 

the audio tour, too. ‘Unlock Parliament’ 

takes place from 27 to 30 December and 

2 January. Tickets can be booked online 

or by telephoning 020 7219 4114. 

WICKED ADDS TWO EXTRA 

CHRISTMAS SHOWS 

Wicked, the smash hit musical that 

tells the incredible untold story of the 

Witches of Oz, has added two extra 

matinee shows (14.30) this Christmas 

on Tuesday 26 December and Friday 

29 December at London’s Apollo Victoria 

Theatre. Acclaimed as 'a magical 

mystery tour through the fantasyland of 

Oz' (London Evening Standard), Wicked 

is already the 15th longest running show 

in London theatre history (and the 10th 

longest running musical), having 

recently surpassed the run of We Will 

Rock You. 

Based on the acclaimed, best-selling 

novel by Gregory Maguire that 

ingeniously re-imagines the stories and 

characters created by L. Frank Baum in 

‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’, Wicked 

tells the story of an unlikely but 

profound friendship between two sorcery 

students. Their extraordinary adventures 

in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their 

destinies as Glinda The Good and the 

Wicked Witch of the West. 

Telephone bookings: 0844 871 3001. 

www.WickedTheMusical.co.uk 

Alice Fearn as Elphaba in WICKED. 

Photo: Matt Crockett. 


HAMLEYS: THE FINEST TOY SHOP 

IN THE WORLD 

As a boy, William Hamley dreamed of 

opening the best toy shop in the world, 

and in fact, he did. In 1760, he opened 

‘Noah’s Ark’ and filled it with every type 

of toy, from rag dolls to tin soldiers. By 

the time Queen Victoria came to the 

throne in 1837, Hamleys was already a 

London landmark. 

The shop was so successful that a 

new branch was opened on Regent 

Street in 1881 and added a further five 

floors of toys. Hamleys, filled with 

everything from toy theatres, puppets, 

pedal cars and miniature railways trains, 

had become the largest toy shop in the 

world. 

Just like everyone else, Hamleys 

faced hard times in the 1920s, and was 

forced to close in 1931. But the story 

has a happy ending. Walter Lines bought 

Hamleys and worked hard to bring 

customers back. In 1938, his efforts 

were rewarded when Queen Mary gave 

Hamleys the Royal Warrant. 

Even though it was bombed five times 

during World War II, Hamleys did not 

stop. Wearing tin hats, staff served at the 

shop entrance, rushing in to collect the 

toys then handing them over at the door. 

When she came to the throne, Queen 

Elizabeth II showed she still remembered 

the toys her grandmother had given her, 

and in turn gave Hamleys toys to her 

own children. In 1955, she honored 

Walter Lines with a second Royal 

Warrant as a ‘Toys and Sports Merchant.’ 

The toys may have changed, but if he 

were here today, William Hamley would 

recognise the same delighted faces that 

he dreamt of in his shop as a boy. Its 

famous location at 188-196 Regent 

Street has over seven floors of toys and 

games that are sure to delight any child. 

With over 255 years of experience in 

bringing smiles and joy to children, 

Hamleys is known and trusted by 

families all over the world. 

Hamleys Toy Shop is situated 

mid-way along Regent Street. The 

nearest underground is Oxford Circus. 

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6 

CHRISTMAS IN LEICESTER SQUARE 

Christmas in Leicester Square offers 

a diverse, unique programme of festive 

entertainment for grown-ups, kids and 

the whole family, as well as a magical 

storytelling Santa’s Grotto, a vibrant 

Winter Windows art installation by local 

schools, and a beautiful Christmas 

Market with over 25 stalls encompassing 

a range of food, drink and original 

handmade gifts. 

Charles Dickens’ classic story 

A Christmas Carol appears in the 

traditional 1920s spiegeltent, reimagined 

as a 1940s Christmas special. Spiffing 

scenes and Victorian stereotypes keep 

coming, despite visitations from more 

ghosts than the cast are expecting. 

Featuring spectacular sound effects 

created live, cut-glass accents and sharp 

suits, this production creates a unique 

festive entertainment for the holiday 

season. 

The Showstopper’s Kids Christmas 

show is sure to be a hit with families. 

The Showstoppers Elves are ready to 

make kids’ Christmas story wishes come 

true, taking their ideas and transforming 

them on the spot into magical, musical 

interactive adventures. Kids (and only 

kids!) are in charge, and they get to 

decide who the heroes are and what 

happens next. 

Returning after last year’s huge 

success is Santa’s Grotto – open every 

day until Christmas Eve. This special 

North Pole experience will see Father 

Christmas himself (the real one) regale 

children with a special festive tale before 

hearing their Christmas wishes, having a 

photo with them, and giving them a 

special early Christmas present. 

In addition to this amazing seasonal 

entertainment, London’s iconic Leicester 

Square will be transformed into a 

wintery haven with a European-style 

Christmas Market with over 25 different 

stalls featuring a range of fascinating 

Christmas curios, excellent food and 

delicious drinks. 

Have a mulled wine and a pretzel, 

visit Santa, take in a show, and immerse 

yourself in a complete Christmas 

experience in Leicester Square. 

Tickets and more information at 

www.christmasinleicestersquare.com 

ANIMALS ENJOY FESTIVE TREATS 

AT ZSL LONDON ZOO 

It’s time for some extra holiday fun at 

ZSL London Zoo, as zookeepers have 

been busy preparing some very seasonal 

surprises for the Zoo’s residents to 

enjoy. Asiatic lionesses Heidi, Indi and 

Rubi will wake up to a pile of pretty 

presents to rip open – thanks to 

specialist fund management group 

Liontrust – while the Zoo’s Humboldt 

penguin colony will be pecking for 

pressies underneath their very own 

Christmas tree. 

No stranger to a nativity, the Zoo’s 

donkeys will also be joining in the 

festivities, tucking into juicy carrots from 

giant santa sacks hung in their stables, 

while the squirrel monkeys delve into 

mini santa stockings stuffed with their 

favourite treats. 

Sumatran Tiger Achilles in the snow. 

ZSL’s Zoological Manager Mark 

Habben said: ‘We love a bit of Christmas 

cheer at ZSL London Zoo, and like to 

find fun ways for the animals to join in 

the celebrations. We’ve come up with a 

variety of activities to encourage them to 

use their natural skills, like foraging or 

sniffing out their next meal: our 

lionesses will love using their hunting 

prowess to rip open their presents, while 

our penguins will be searching for treats 

under the tree – just like kids all over 

the country on Christmas day.’ 

www.zsl.org.uk 

Photo: ZSL London Zoo. 


LNYDP 2018 – IT’S SHOWTIME! 

GRAB YOUR TICKETS NOW 

It’s Showtime – Roll Up, Roll Up and 

get your tickets for the greatest show 

on Earth. 

Visitors can marvel at one of the 

greatest street spectaculars – and blow 

away the cobwebs on New Year’s Day. 

The turn of year tradition – broadcast 

live around the World – brings three and 

a half hours of pomp, circumstance, 

music and excitement to the streets of 

the West End of London. 

More than 500,000 people will be 

gathering to enjoy performances from 

8,000 musicians, dancers, acrobats from 

numerous nations. 

All the Queen’s Horses, vintage 

vehicles, stunt drivers, iconic balloons 

and entries from more than 20 London 

boroughs will join American marching 

bands and cheerleaders. 

Every year, London boroughs from 

across the capital go head to head, 

entering a unique performance or float 

into LNYDP, with the aim of winning 

thousands of pounds for their chosen 

charity. 

The parade is free of charge – but you 

can secure grandstand seats for 

London’s New Year’s Day Parade 2018 

and festival concerts from Ticketmaster. 

The sixteen grandstands along the 

iconic 2.2mile route are certain to sell 

out soon so don’t miss your moment 

and reserve your seats now. 

Start your New Year in style in the 

exclusive LNYDP VIP section positioned 

in the heart of Whitehall, which includes 

unlimited access to a host of high-end 

food outlets for the ultimate New Year’s 

Day Parade experience. 

The parade starts at 12 noon near 

Green Park Station, runs along 

Piccadilly to Piccadilly Circus, turns 

right down Regent Street, St. James’s, 

Pall Mall, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall 

to Parliament Square. 

Spectators are advised to secure their 

space early – as around 500,000 are 

expected along the route. 

Further details at LNYDP.com 

SLAVA’S SNOW SHOW RETURNS TO 

SOUTHBANK CENTRE 

The multi-award winning international 

sensation Slava’s Snowshow returns to 

London’s Southbank Centre for an 

unprecedented fifth season of festive 

magic from 18 December – 4 January. 

The Snowshow is produced by Matthew 

Gale and Mark Goucher. 

A combination of theatrical clowning 

and stunning visual spectacle, the show is 

performed by a world-renowned company 

of clowns led by Slava Polunin, Artistic 

Director of the St Petersburg Circus. 

Slava’s Snowshow is the internationally 

acclaimed winner of the Time Out, Olivier 

and Drama Desk awards for unique 

theatrical experience. Now in its 25th year 

since its inception, it had its UK premiere 

at the Edinburgh Festival in 1994, and has 

since toured all over the country, 

delighting audiences of all ages and 

winning an Olivier Award for Best 

Entertainment during its run at the Old Vic 

in 1998. The show’s popularity overseas 

has seen it performed in 80 cities around 

the globe including New York, Los 

Angeles, Paris, Rome, Hong Kong, Rio de 

Janeiro and Moscow. 

The show’s triumphant return to the 

Royal Festival Hall after four highly 

successful winter seasons will mark the 

culmination of the latest stage in an 

extraordinary journey. 

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CHRISTMAS POP UP SPA FOR 

CHESSINGTON REINDEER 

This December, Chessington World of 

Adventures Resort is pampering its 

antlered inhabitants with the offering of 

’Reindeer R&R‘ sessions. 

It can be a stressful time of year, not 

least for Santa's reindeer who have to 

circumnavigate the globe come 

Christmas Eve. The special pop-up spa 

has been designed by Chessington’s Zoo 

Keepers to help the reindeer cope with 

the stresses and strains of the festive 

season with some truly relaxing 

treatments. 

What's more, reindeer Willow and 

Drizzle – who guests can see now at 

Chessington’s Winter’s Tail event – have 

an entire menu of spa sessions to 

choose from, including a Merry Mud 

Bath, Elk-Aseltzer Soak, Christmas Party 

Antler Polish and a Finnish Full Body 

Massage for ultimate relaxation this 

Christmas. 

Reindeer Keeper Charlotte Drummond 

from Chessington World of Adventures 

Resort said: ‘With Christmas just around 

the corner, our reindeer are gearing up 

for a pretty hectic festive period. We 

wanted to make sure they had the 

opportunity to put their hooves up and 

relax beforehand – and where better than 

at their very own spa!’ 

Information on opening times and to 

book tickets, visit www.chessington.com 

SANDERSON EMBRACES A WHITE 

CHRISTMAS WITH LET IT SNOW 

Christmas isn’t Christmas unless it 

snows, and the iconic Long Bar at 

Sanderson is prolonging the season’s 

snow in order to give Londoners the 

White Christmas they’ve been hoping 

for. Running until Christmas Eve, the bar 

has been transformed into a winter 

alpine forest, complete with dangling 

birches, frosted pinecones and falling 

snow. Flickering candles welcome 

guests to the bar, decorated in crystal 

blues and shimmering icy whites, where 

a selection of festive cocktails awaits. 

For those looking to prolong the 

falling snow this holiday season, Let It 

Snow is at the Long Bar, Sanderson 

until Sunday 24 December. The hotel is 

situated at 50 Berners Street, Fitzrovia, 

London W1T 3NG. 

THE FRANCE SHOW 2018 

The UK’s biggest celebration of all 

things French is returning to London 

Olympia from 26 – 28 January. The 

popular lifestyle and property show 

brings the very best of the country to the 

UK capital – from tasting fine French 

wines and food, to discovering holiday 

ideas and your dream property. 

The Flavours of France stage, hosted 

by celebrity chef Guy Wolley, will return 

for 2018 with a lineup bursting with 

celebrated icons from French 

gastronomy, culture and travel. 

Visitors will enjoy a special 

appearance from celebrated actress Celia 

Imrie and cooking demonstrations from 

chefs including Michelin-starred Daniel 

Galmiche and Master Pâtissier Eric 

Lanlard. Award-winning crime writer 

Peter May will introduce his newest 

best-seller, broadcaster and Tour de 

France insider Ned Boutling will give an 

inside look at life in the cycle lane, and 

Anna Ryder Richardson will be talking 

about her plans on restoring a property 

abroad. Wine expert and columnist for 

The Sunday Telegraph, Susy Atkins is 

back again for 2018, hosting live 

tastings throughout the weekend and 

discussing some of the best wines 

currently produced from France’s famous 

wine regions. 

With a programme of live 

entertainment each day, visitors can 

experience first hand all that France has 

to offer. For tickets and full programme 

details, visit www.thefranceshow.com 


10 

WEMBLEY STADIUM TOURS – 

A HOLIDAY TREAT 

The Wembley Stadium Tour takes 

visitors deep into the heart of the 

stadium and into areas usually reserved 

for the biggest and best names in sport 

and music such as Beckham, Messi, 

Ronaldo, Tom Brady, Anthony Joshua, 

Ed Sheeran and Beyonce. 

The award-winning, 75 minute, 

guided tour includes access to the 

Dressing Rooms, Press Room, Players 

Tunnel, Pitchside and the iconic Royal 

Box to have a photograph taken with a 

replica of the world-famous FA Cup. 

With multiple accessible train routes, 

ample parking, a café, plentiful restroom 

facilities and the London Designer Outlet 

shopping centre next door, the Wembley 

Tour caters for all visitor needs. It is 

open 12 months a year and 7 days a 

week with the exception of certain event 

dates in the calendar. Tours depart at 

10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 

15:00 with pre-booking advised. 

Easily accessible via any of these 

stations; Wembley Park via Metropolitan 

and Jubilee Lines, Wembley Stadium 

Station via Chiltern Line and Wembley 

Central Station via Bakerloo Line, 

London Overground and National Rail. 

All tours are conducted in English. 

Printed translation guides are available 

in 9 languages. Book online at visiting 

www.wembleystadium.com/tours or 

calling 0800 169 9933. 

CHRISTMAS FUN IN THE ROYAL 

PARKS 

What could be more magical than a 

horse-drawn carriage ride in stunning 

Richmond Park? This winter, The Royal 

Parks has teamed up with Operation 

Centaur to offer a six-person carriage 

ride through Richmond Park, drawn by 

majestic Shire Horses. Enjoy the sounds 

of hoofs and bells, revel in the crisp air 

and watch the wildlife up close while 

you snuggle under a blanket and have 

some sloe gin and a mince pie to truly 

get into the festive spirit! The 90-minute 

experience begins at Holly Lodge, 

Richmond Park, where you'll be met with 

refreshments. You will take your place in 

the carriage, embarking on a 60-minute 

ride through the park in all its winter 

beauty. Visitors will also be treated to a 

unique behind-the-scenes tour of the 

working stables. The rides are on 

selected dates until 30 December (at 

12.00 and 13.00). 

Since 1864, swimmers have been 

taking to the water in Hyde Park to 

compete in an icy 100 yard race before 

heading home to tuck into their 

Christmas dinner on 25 December. Only 

members of the Serpentine Swimming 

Club can take part but the public can 

watch from the sidelines. 

The Royal Parks is a charity created 

in March 2017 to manage 5,000 acres of 

historic Royal parkland across London. 

www.royalparks.org.uk 

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AND NEW 

YEAR’S EVE ON THE RIVER THAMES 

Christmas comes but once a year and 

as ever, there are good times to be had 

on the river, from family fun and 

sightseeing to party boats and merriment 

or traditional lunch and sightseeing on 

Christmas Day itself. 

This year, City Cruises is really 

pushing the boat out with its Christmas 

line-up. In the run-up to Christmas, take 

the kids to Sail with Santa, or sign up 

for Yuletide merriment at lunchtime or 

on a night-time cruise. 

Enjoy Christmas Day with a cruise 

down the River Thames. See the heart of 

London as you go from Big Ben to 

Tower Bridge and beyond. With City 

Cruises the only company operating 

boats, it’s the day of the year when the 

river is at its calmest and most serene. 

Christmas Day Traditional Lunch 

offers visitors delicious food, all the 

sightseeing you could ask for and 

Yuletide cheer with a live singer. Sip a 

welcome drink then dig into a luxurious 

4-course menu with a delightful, 

seasonal atmosphere. There’s not 

another Christmas experience like it. 

On New Year’s Eve, you can see the 

spectacular London Fireworks from the 

River Thames. New Year's Eve Thames 

cruises are the most sought after events 

on City Cruises’ calendar and it's no 

wonder because the cruises help visitors 

feel the excitement of the night. 


NEW ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS 

OPENS IN MAY 

The Royal Academy of Arts, the 

world’s foremost artist and architect-led 

institution, will open its new campus on 

19 May as part of the celebrations of its 

250th anniversary year. 

Following a transformational 

redevelopment, designed by 

internationally-acclaimed architect 

Sir David Chipperfield CBE RA and 

supported by the National Lottery, the 

new Royal Academy will open up and 

reveal more of the elements that make 

the RA unique – sharing with the public 

historic treasures from its Collection, the 

work of its Royal Academicians and the 

Royal Academy Schools, alongside its 

world-class exhibitions programme. 

One of the most significant outcomes 

of the redevelopment is the link between 

Burlington House and Burlington 

Gardens, uniting the two-acre campus. 

This will provide 70% more space than 

the RA’s original Burlington House 

footprint, enabling the RA to expand its 

exhibition programme and to create new 

and free displays of art and architecture 

across the campus for visitors yearround. 

From dedicated galleries to 

surprising interventions, a dynamic 

series of changing exhibits and 

installations will present the living 

heritage of the Royal Academy; exploring 

its foundation and history in training 

artists as well as showcasing 

contemporary works by Royal 

Academicians and students at the RA 

Schools. To animate the display there 

will be a new range of free tours, taster 

talks and object handling stations. 

The magnificent new Royal Academy 

Collection Gallery will present The 

Making of an Artist: The Great Tradition 

highlighting works from the RA 

Collection, including the ‘Taddei Tondo’ 

by Michelangelo and the RA’s almost 

full-size sixteenth century copy of 

Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, 

along with paintings by Reynolds, 

Kauffman, Thornhill, Constable, 

Gainsborough and Turner. 

The first ever Christmas Market at The Cheesegrater in the City of London features 

seventeen German-style wooden chalets, with global street food, homemade crafts 

and a pop-up champagne and prosecco bar. The stunning 91ft atrium is sparkling 

with festive fever, as the market entrance is dominated by a 30ft Christmas tree. 

11 


12 

Photos: © Laurent Liotardo. 

ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET NUTCRACKER AT THE COLISEUM 

This Christmas season, English National Ballet will be 

returning to the London Coliseum from 13 December until 

6 January with Nutcracker. 

On a sparkling Christmas Eve in a 

frost-dusted Edwardian London, Clara 

and her enchanted Nutcracker doll 

discover a magical world, where she 

battles with the Mouse King and meets a 

handsome stranger. As the air grows 

colder, Clara and her valiant Nutcracker 

take a hot air balloon ride across 

London to the glistening Land of Snow 

where her adventure really begins. 

Performances of Nutcracker in 

London see Lead Principals Jurgita 

Dronina and Aaron Robison debut 

alongside each other as Clara and the 

Nephew. Guest Lead Principal, Jeffery 

Cirio also debuts in the role of the 

Nephew partnering Lead Principal 

Erina Takahashi. Soloist Ken Saruhashi 

will also perform the role of the 

Nephew opposite fellow Soloist Katja 

Khaniukova, with Artist of the Company 

Eric Woolhouse who debuts in the role 

of Nutcracker. First Soloist, Alison 

McWhinney debuts in the role of Clara 

partnering First Soloist James Forbat as 

the Nephew, whilst First Artist, 

Francesca Velicu performs the role for 

the first time, partnering Ken Saruhashi 

as the Nephew. 

Further Principal casting sees Lead 

Principal Fernanda Oliveira partner 

James Forbat, Lead Principal Begoña 

Cao partner Aaron Robison, and Lead 

Principals Tamara Rojo and Isaac 

Hernández perform together in the roles 

of Clara and the Nephew. The role of 

Nutcracker will also be performed by 

Guilherme Menezes, Junor Souza, Aitor 

Arrieta and James Forbat. 

Based on a concept by Toer van 

Schayk and Wayne Eagling, Nutcracker is 

choreographed by Eagling and 

accompanied by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s 

memorable score performed live by 

English National Ballet Philharmonic. 

From the sound of the orchestra tuning 

up to the final bows and cheers, a trip to 

English National Ballet’s Nutcracker in the 

splendour of the London Coliseum is an 

unforgettable Christmas treat only a ballet 

step away from the sights of Trafalgar 

Square, Leicester Square and Covent 

Garden, so ideal for international visitors. 

Last year saw English National 

Ballet’s most successful Nutcracker run 

on record, when over 79,000 people 

made a performance at the London 

Coliseum a part of their holiday 

celebrations. This year’s tour of Wayne 

Eagling’s version continues the 

Company’s tradition of presenting a 

Nutcracker production every year since 

1950, its founding year. 

Tickets from the Box Office telephone 

020 7845 9300. 


14 

Andrew Polec as Strat & Christina Bennington as 

Raven in Bat Out of Hell. Photo: Specular 

JIM STEINMAN’S BAT OUT OF HELL 

– THE MUSICAL RETURNS 

Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell – The 

Musical will be returning to London’s 

West End in 2018, with performances 

beginning at the Dominion Theatre on 

2 April. Andrew Polec and Christina 

Bennington are in positive negotiations 

to recreate their roles as the romantic 

leads, Strat and Raven. The show wowed 

critics and public alike when it played at 

the London Coliseum earlier this year. 

Bat Out Of Hell became one of the 

best-selling albums in history, selling 

over 50 million copies worldwide. 16 

years later, Steinman scored again with 

Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell, which 

contained the massive hit I Would Do 

Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That). 

For the stage musical, the legendary 

and award-winning Jim Steinman has 

incorporated iconic songs from the Bat 

Out Of Hell albums, including You Took 

The Words Right Out Of My Mouth, Bat 

Out Of Hell, I Would Do Anything For 

Love (But I Won’t Do That) and Two Out 

Of Three Ain’t Bad. 

Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell – The 

Musical is a romantic adventure about 

rebellious youth and passionate love, set 

against the backdrop of a postcataclysmic 

city adrift from the 

mainland. Strat, the forever young leader 

of The Lost, has fallen for Raven, 

daughter of Falco, the tyrannical, ruler of 

Obsidian. 

LONDON PREMIERE OF 

HISTO-REMIX SIX 

From Tudor queens to pop princesses, 

the six wives of Henry VIII sing their way 

out of the history books and into the 

spotlight in the London premiere of SIX the 

musical, the pop concert which remixes 

five hundred years of historical heartbreak 

into one hour of 21st century sass. 

SIX started life with Cambridge 

University Musical Theatre Society at the 

Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2017, where it 

was nominated for the inaugural Musical 

Theatre Review Best Musical Award. The 

original production attracted the 

attention of producers Kenny Wax and 

Global Musicals, who are presenting the 

professional premiere at the Arts Theatre 

in London on 18 December, 8, 15 and 

22 January. Box office 020 7836 8463. 

THE BOX OF DELIGHTS AT 

WILTON’S MUSIC HALL 

Matthew Kelly and Josefina Gabrielle 

star in the world premiere stage 

adaptation of The Box of Delights this 

Christmas time. Originally a 1935 festive 

novel by Poet Laureate John Masefield, 

the show tells the story of orphan Kay 

Harker who meets an old magician, who 

tasks Kay with protecting his Box of 

Delights, a wondrous device with time 

travelling powers. This begins a tale of 

adventure that transports Kay through 

time and space, as he encounters talking 

animals, magical snow and a flying car. 

NICOLA BENEDETTI AT ST JOHN’S 

SMITH SQUARE 

Dispel the January gloom with a 

scintillating performance by one of the 

UK’s favourite classical stars, violin 

virtuoso Nicola Benedetti, who joins the 

London Mozart Players at St John’s 

Smith Square on Thursday 11 January 

to showcase the music of Brahms: his 

Violin Concerto in D and Symphony 

No. 1 in C minor. 

Technically demanding yet packed 

with lyrical melodies, Brahms’ Violin 

Concerto is one of the four great German 

concerti and perhaps the most romantic. 

Brahms was influenced by Beethoven for 

both this concerto and his first 

symphony – the shadow of Beethoven’s 

magnificent ninth symphony was such 

that it took Brahms at least fourteen 

years to complete his own work. It was 

worth the wait – Brahms’ Symphony No. 

1 has even been called ‘Beethoven’s 

Tenth’ such is its quality. Beethoven 

does get a look in – his Coriolan 

Overture providing a dramatic start for 

this world-class concert. 

Founded in 1949 by Harry Blech, the 

London Mozart Players is the UK’s longest 

established chamber orchestra. The 

orchestra has developed an outstanding 

reputation for adventurous, ambitious 

programming, from Baroque through to 

genre-crossing contemporary music 

For tickets, telephone 020 7222 1061. 

Nicola Benedetti 


16 

TICKETS RELEASED FOR POSTAL 

MUSEUM AND MAIL RAIL 

The Postal Museum has released a 

new wave of tickets for Mail Rail rides 

departing in February and March. 

With Christmas looming, the Mail 

Rail tickets are expected to be a big hit 

among adults and children of all ages 

looking to explore London’s newest 

attraction. Interim Director of The Postal 

Museum and Mail Rail, Simon Opie, 

said: ‘If you’re looking for a unique 

Christmas present for the person that 

has (nearly!) everything, tickets to ride 

Mail Rail first-hand make for a fantastic, 

adventure-filled experience. What’s 

more, it’s a gift they are sure to talk 

about well after 25 December. We expect 

this new wave of tickets to sell quickly, 

so we would advise those seeking to 

book a visit to do as soon as possible to 

avoid disappointment.’ 

‘We’ve been absolutely thrilled with 

the public response following the 

opening of The Postal Museum and Mail 

Rail. It has clearly tapped into a public 

desire to explore a forgotten piece of 

hidden London.’ Tickets at 

www.postalmuseum.org 

SLIDEATRON AT WEMBLEY PARK 

A world first has landed at Wembley 

Park in the form of Slideatron, a fully 

immersive Christmas attraction. Open 

until 2 January and free to visit, 

Slideatron is a futuristic, illuminated 

18 metre Christmas tree with a slide you 

can ride. The slide will propel visitors 

down Slideatron in 18 seconds, giving 

the opportunity to have a festive thrill for 

anyone with the baubles. 

On the hour, every hour, the tree will 

go onto ‘dance mode’, with a lights show 

set to a bespoke remixed Christmas 

classic playlist. This will usually take 

place between 16.00 to 21.00 on 

weekdays; 11.00-21.00 on Saturdays; 

and 11.00-17.00 on Sundays. 

An open air viewing platform is 

located at the top of the structure, where 

visitors can enjoy views across Wembley 

Park and beyond. Those visiting 

Slideatron can choose to either ride the 

slide, go to the viewing platform, or 

both. With 60 steps to reach the top, it is 

recommended to take the easy (and fun) 

way down! 

Check the website for opening times; 

slideatron.co.uk 

THE ARSENAL MUSEUM AND 

STADIUM TOURS 

The Arsenal Museum at Emirates 

Stadium was re-opened last year 

following a complete renovation. 

Founded in 1886, Arsenal has an 

impressive history from the club’s time 

at Woolwich, Highbury and Emirates 

Stadium and the refurbished museum 

offers visitors the chance to take in a 

number of exciting exhibits. 

Many of the items on display were 

donated by former players who hold a 

special place in Arsenal’s history. 

Highlights include Jens Lehmann’s 

goalkeeper gloves that he wore for every 

league match of the unbeaten Invincibles 

season in 2003/4. The museum also 

features two impressive video theatres 

and twenty major displays based on 

Arsenal's proud history, from its 

formation in 1886 to the present day. 

These displays include a selection of 

iconic shirts including those worn by 

Alex James in 1936 FA Cup Final and 

the 2015 FA Cup Final shirt signed by 

the winning squad. 

Visitors can see a collection of shirts, 

medals and trophies from former Arsenal 

captain Joe Mercer and the shield 

commemorating the hat-trick of League 

Championships from 1933-1935. The 

self-guided tour enables visitors to 

explore behind-the-scenes of Emirates 

Stadium, home of Arsenal Football Club. 

Charlie George at The Arsenal Museum. 


18 

Torbjorn Calvero © Premium Rockshot. 

ABBA: SUPER TROUPERS – NEW 

IMMERSIVE EXHIBITION 

Musician, author, actor and BBC Music 

presenter Jarvis Cocker is narrator for 

ABBA: Super Troupers, the brand new, 

immersive exhibition at London’s 

Southbank Centre. The exhibition recreates 

the extraordinary rise to worldwide fame 

and lasting legacy of ABBA (Agnetha 

Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, 

and Anni-Frid Lyngstad), set against the 

shifting socio-economic and political 

conditions of the time. 

Transforming a traditional exhibition 

experience, immersive guided tours 

include an audio narrative voiced by 

Jarvis Cocker and written by journalist 

and documentary maker Jude Rogers. 

White boots worn by Benny Andersson on 

ABBA’s European and North America tours in 

1977 and 1979, hand-painted to match his outfit. 

Audiences are transported on a journey 

through previously unseen archive 

material including ABBA’s original 

costumes, handwritten notes and 

sketches, personal photographs, music 

and instruments, plus album artwork, 

photography and film by notable 

Gold cape from ABBA’s 1977 Australian Tour 

designed by Owe Sandstrom. Photo by Mikael 

Bodner. Courtesy of ABBA The Museum. 

collaborators such as film director Lasse 

Hallström. Theatrical backdrops recreate 

some of the most significant events from 

their heyday – including the Brighton 

hotel room where ABBA celebrated their 

Eurovision win, the Polar music studio 

and a 1970s disco – and provide context 

to the evolution of their creative process 

and their enduring appeal, from the 

Mamma Mia! phenomenon to their multimillion 

record sales worldwide. 

ABBA: Super Troupers is at 

Southbank Centre from 14 December to 

29 April as part of Nordic Matters and 

Wintertime. For further information, visit 

www.southbankcentre.co.uk 

FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF 

WORLD ATHLETES AT LONDON 

STADIUM 

Hot on the heels of the IAAF World 

Athletics and World Para Athletics 

Championships this summer, tours 

around the former Olympic Stadium are 

available to book now. 

The tour gives exclusive access to 

usually private areas of the stadium, 

superstar interviews and unique photo 

opportunities. Visitors will be able to 

reimagine the success of the Super 

Saturday athletes as they made their 

preparations on the warm up track and out 

to the main arena where the roar of the 

crowds spurred them on to gold. And 

football fans will not be left disappointed 

as they follow in the footsteps of their 

heroes from the changing rooms and 

make the walk along the players’ tunnel, 

out to the manager’s dug out before 

standing pitch side. 

Ideal for all, including families, the 

stadium comes alive through a 75 

minute interactive multimedia tour that 

has been specifically developed for the 

venue. Tours are running between 

27 – 30 December and would make an 

ideal post-Christmas family day out. 

While you’re in the area, visitors can 

also enjoy the many facilities in the 

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. 

www.london-stadium.com 

The nearest underground station is 

Stratford, which is on the Central, 

Jubilee and Overground Lines. 


20 

THE HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY MUSEUM 

The Household Cavalry Museum in 

Whitehall holds the history of some of 

London’s most well-known and 

recognisable soldiers, the Queen’s Life 

Guard and the Blues and Royals. Known 

by the distinctive red and white plumes 

on their helmets, they stand guard both 

on foot and horseback in Whitehall and 

at St James’s Palace. 

Formed in 1660 by King Charles II, 

the Household Cavalry has served both 

on and off the battlefield, always 

accompanied by their horses. Originally 

composed of three regiments, the Life 

Guards, the Royal Horse Guards or 

‘The Blues,’ and the Royal Dragoons or 

‘The Royals’, the soldiers’ purpose was 

to act as a bodyguard for the King and 

preserve the peace. In 1969, the Royal 

Horse Guards and Royal Dragoons 

combined to form the Blues and Royals, 

meaning that the Household Cavalry 

now consists of two regiments. 

Museum visitors should arrive early to 

attend the daily changing of the guard at 

11.00. Part way through the ceremony, go 

back inside the museum and watch the 

horses being brought back into the 

stables. This perspective offers a close up 

look at the horses and soldiers dressed in 

full uniform and is only available to 

museum visitors. It offers a chance to 

have a behind the scenes look at what 

takes place in the stables of the 

Household Cavalry. 

The museum is home to military 

history and artifacts from wars spanning 

300 years. Highlights include the 

Zetland Trophy, a solid silver trophy 

from 1874 that cost £1000 at the time 

and takes several soldiers to lift; 

memorabilia from the Battle of Waterloo, 

including a replica of the captured silver 

eagle and the Earl of Uxbridge’s 

prosthetic leg; and a look at drums 

played by members of the Household 

Cavalry bands. Visitors also have a 

chance to try on the uniforms before 

leaving the museum, but beware... they 

are surprisingly heavy! 

This year is special as it celebrates 

the 10th anniversary of the Museum 

opening. Make sure to look at the book 

signed by Her Majesty the Queen, who 

is Colonel-in-Chief of the Life Guards 

and the Blues and Royals. 

For more information, telephone 

020 7930 3070. The Household Cavalry 

Museum is situated in Whitehall, 

opposite St. James’s Park. 

Emma Skahill 

FESTIVE POP UP AT KING’S CROSS 

This Christmas, visitors can head to 

King’s Cross to eat, drink, shop and be 

merry, alongside a backdrop of festive 

lights, carols and a very special 

alternative Christmas tree. 

The King’s Cross tree is always a 

showstopper and this year is no 

different. ‘Does The Iterative Fit’, a new 

artwork by Joanne Tatham and Tom 

O’Sullivan, is a chaos of shapes, colours 

and lights, with an alternative Christmas 

soundtrack to boot. The tree is the latest 

commission for The King’s Cross 

Project, curated by Tamsin Dillon and 

Rebecca Heald. 

A festive pop-up space is in full 

swing at N1C featuring DJ’s, cocktails, 

mulled wine, a Christmas Makers 

Boutique and more. Other festive diary 

essentials include the Illustrator’s 

Christmas Fair, the School of Life’s 

Alternative Christmas Carol Concert, as 

well as Dishoom’s Christmas Carols and 

a Christmas themed Canopy Market. 

King’s Cross Musician in Residence, 

Dame Evelyn Glennie, will be performing 

the world premiere of a new composition 

inspired by the sights and sounds 

captured by the local community during 

the past year. 

Finally, if you are looking to see in 

the New Year in lavish style, head to 

Spiritland for a night of indulgent 

dining, drinking and dancing, featuring 

a special menu and top DJs. 

www.kingscross.co.uk 


WINDSOR HOUSE 

A N T I Q U E S 

E N T E R T H E I N S P I R I N G W O R L D O F 

W I N D S O R H O U S E A N T I Q U E S 

B A R N W E L L M A N O R 

The Ultimate Gift delivered 

anywhere in the world in time for Christmas 

BARNWELL, NR OUNDLE, PETERBOROUGH, NORTHANTS PE8 5PJ 

T +44 (0) 1832 274595 www.windsorhouseantiques.co.uk

PERFECT PRESENTS FROM 

WINDSOR HOUSE ANTIQUES 

Christmas is nearly here! Where do 

you go for those difficult to find 

presents? 

If you are stuck for the ‘perfect’ 

present for the person who seems to 

have everything? Look no further than 

the globally recognised Windsor House 

Antiques, the go-to location for interior 

designers, architects and collectors for 

sixty years. Based at Barnwell Manor, the 

former Royal residence. And whilst 

giving, don’t forget yourself! 

Browse through a 19th century pillar 

box as seen in ‘Downton Abbey’ 

(pictured), an ancient spice box or a 

Barnwell Manor – Flagship Gallery of Windsor House Antiques. 

23 

19th century country house ‘pillar box’ 

Staffordshire hen basket from £190 for a 

keen cook; or a selection of wine coolers 

from the 18th and 19th centuries for 

festive champagne. For those with an 

interest in the sea, choose from a wide 

selection of naval models of the Victory 

or the Pomone from 1820. What could 

be better for the man cave than a model 

of the triceratops or a bronze of a 

leaping salmon to celebrate landing that 

fish earlier in the season. 

Windsor House Antiques really does 

have something for every home and 

budget, with one of the broadest 

collections of antiques available online, 

from Sèvres porcelain chargers to four 

poster beds, pieces from the 16th 

century right up to the Art Deco period. 

If redesigning a house, perhaps a 

George III Neoclassical fireplace or a 

pair of monumental 19th century arched 

doors fits the bill. 

Perhaps a pair of stone urns or 

columns for your park or city courtyard 

would work? Not to mention a blackbuck 

head for a shooting lodge or chalet. For 

seating all those guests eighteen 19th 

century dining chairs may be useful or a 

set of four 19th century faux bamboo 

chairs for the conservatory. 

For collectors of porcelain, pieces 

include Meissen groups, a 92 piece 

Spode Imperial service decorated in 

Japanese style, or an 18th century 

Famille Rose bowl? Add ambience by 

choosing from the collection of period 

and unusual table lamps or the wide 

collection of 18th and 19th silk cushions. 

An exquisite Chippendale secretaire 

bookcase less than a metre wide is ideal 

for a small apartment. Whereas a triple 

breakfront bookcase at four metres 

would be equally at home in a country 

house a spacious loft apartment. 

Let your fingers do the walking on 

the Windsor House Antiques website 

(www.windsorhouseantiques.co.uk) for 

your ‘perfect’ present for friends, family 

and yourself. All pieces can be delivered 

worldwide in time for Christmas. 

19th century Syrian seat. 


24 

FOYLES LAUNCHES CHRISTMAS 

GROTTO 

Foyles, Charing Cross Road have 

launched their brand new Christmas 

Grotto experience where children can 

enjoy a magical festive visit to the city's 

leading bookstore for just £20, with 

adults visiting for free. 

Families will be met by a team of 

friendly elves to get into the mood for a 

Christmas treat, before taking them to 

meet the inimitable Spruce Bruce, a 

unique animatronic singing Christmas 

tree. After leading the children in song, 

there's more fun and games with the 

elves, before each family is taken one by 

one for a private meet and greet with 

Santa Claus himself. 

Foyles, Charing Cross Road have 

provided Santa with books for all 

children visiting the grotto, to make sure 

each child gets an early Christmas gift. 

Ruby Padwick, Sales and Events Hire 

Manager at Foyles, Charing Cross Road 

said: 'We're so excited to be bringing a 

full scale Christmas experience to the 

store this year; it's the perfect addition to 

our Winter events programme and will 

encourage children and families to get 

into reading in a thoroughly festive 

fashion!' 

Tickets are limited and on sale at 

www.foyles.co.uk/events 

PLANET EARTH II GOES LIVE AT 

ROYAL ALBERT HALL 

Experience sensational footage from 

the natural world, and Hans Zimmer’s 

stunning score performed live at the 

Royal Albert Hall next spring, at a 

special celebration of the landmark 

television series, Planet Earth II. 

Planet Earth II Live in Concert, from 

BBC Worldwide and the acclaimed BBC 

Natural History Unit that created this 

year’s TV sensation, Blue Planet II, 

receives its UK premiere on Sunday 

13 May, bringing audiences closer to 

the planet’s spellbinding animals, 

landscapes and wildlife dramas than 

ever before. 

The event will feature breathtaking, 

specially-selected footage from the 

BAFTA and EMMY award-winning BBC 

series, shown in high-definition on the 

big screen, as the BBC Concert 

Orchestra and BBC Singers, conducted 

by Jessica Cottis, play the remarkable 

music by Oscar winner Hans Zimmer 

and his composers, Jacob Shea and 

Jasha Klebe. 

Lucy Noble, Artistic Director at the 

Royal Albert Hall, said: 'We’re delighted 

to present the UK premiere of Planet 

Earth II Live in Concert, a stunning 

televisual achievement given the 

treatment it truly deserves.’ 

In this spectacular, the audience gets 

to rub shoulders with our acrobatic 

primate cousins in the steaming jungles 

of Madagascar, race alongside fearsome 

hunting lions in the remote sandy 

deserts of Namibia, face stormy Antarctic 

seas with a family of penguins and feel 

the raw tension as a baby iguana tries to 

escape the clutches of deadly racer 

snakes. And they will no doubt tap their 

toes along with dancing grizzly bears 

and be swept away by the bravery of a 

mother snow leopard. 

Tickets telephone 020 7959 0531 or 

visit www.royalalberthall.com The 

nearest station is South Kensington. 

Nature Productions. 


26 

EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT 

JAMIE 

Apollo Theatre 

Everybody’s talking about Jamie, 

and they’re over-praising him. Or, rather, 

they’re over-praising the show he’s 

giving his name to. Yes, it’s heart is 

emphatically in the right place, it offers 

a cornucopia of feelgood emotions, and 

there’s no doubt that you’re rooting all the 

way for its teenage hero to fulfil his dream 

of becoming a drag queen. 

But, although it’s based on the true 

story of Jamie Campbell who, in 2011 

fearlessly and spectacularly attended 

his school-leaving dance in County 

Durham in full drag, I somehow felt I’d 

seen it all before. Let’s face it, bucking 

prejudice and accepted standards of 

behaviour in the provinces is hardly 

ground-breaking territory. 

It was, most recently, the fulcrum on 

which Calendar Girls swung, the driving 

force behind The Full Monty, and of 

course, personified by Billy Elliot, whose 

ethos it seeks to replicate. 

On this occasion, County Durham 

becomes Sheffield and as sixteen yearold 

Jamie New (John McRea) and his 

co-ed class-mates prepare for life after 

their final term at school, their 

immediate futures loom large. What 

Jamie wants, ultimately, is to become a 

drag queen. More immediately, though, 

he hopes to attend the school-leaving 

prom wearing a dress. He succeeds on 

both counts, but not without a struggle. 

Rejection from his estranged father 

(Ken Christiansen), obligatory bullying 

from an equally homophobic class mate 

(Luke Baker) and a refusal from his 

basically sympathetic head mistress 

(Tamsin Carroll) to wear a frock at the 

prom, makes him even more determined 

to succeed than ever. 

Fortunately, he also has his supporters 

– especially his understanding mother 

Photo: Johan Persson 

(Josie Walker), his best friend Pritti 

Pasha (Lucie Shorthouse), and Hugo 

(Phil Nichol) an ex drag queen who, in his 

heyday, performed under the name Loco 

Chanel. It’s Hugo who tells his protege 

‘A boy wearing a dress is someone you 

laugh at; a drag queen is someone 

you fear.’ 

Though the book and lyrics by Tom 

Macrae (music by Dan Gillespie Sells) 

has its fair share of one-liners and some 

good observations (‘don’t wait for 

permission to be the person you are’ 

Jamie is advised), it borrows liberally 

from several other musicals. 

A trio of drag queens are the stripper 

equivalents from Gypsy, and the first half 

closer in which Jamie makes his debut 

at a local drag venue echoes Gypsy Rose 

Lee’s debut in the same musical. In Act 

Two, we’re told Jamie was the sensation 

of the evening, though given the buildup 

to the occasion, isn’t it a bit odd we 

never actually see him perform? Not 

only that but neither do we ever see him 

creating or rehearsing the act. It just 

happens overnight, fully formed and out 

of nowhere. Really? 

Several other musicals are referenced. 

There’s a Follies moment when Hugo’s 

younger self materialises and performs 

in his prime; we get a nod in the 

direction of La Cage aux Folles when 

Jamie sings his version of I Am What I 

am (called Ugly in this Ugly World); and 

straight out of How To Succeed in 

Business Without Really trying we get 

the same visual gag in which two of 

Jamie’s class-mates fetch up at the prom 

wearing identical dresses. The Kinky 

Boots references are pretty obvious too. 

The best number in the show, He’s 

My Boy (wonderfully sung by Josie 

Walker) and all about the warts-and-all 

love she feels for her son, is a variation 

of (He’s Just) My Bill – from Showboat; 

while the Billy Elliot echoes reverberate 

all over the place. 

The generic score is awash with 

infectious toe-tapping rhythmic beats, 

but you’ll be hard-pressed to hum a 

single bar of any of it. 

The lyrics (what I heard of them 

through the rather strident sound 

system) were serviceable, ditto Kate 

Prince’s choreography and Jonathan 

Butterell’s energised direction. 

In the title role, lanky McCrea, who 

like all the youngsters in the class struck 

me as too, er, mature to be playing a 

sixteen year old, makes up in some 

really sensual body language what he 

lacks in vocal heft. He works hard and 

gets there in the end, but only just. 

Though Jamie is unequivocally gay, 

his sex life (if, indeed, he has one) is 

never even hinted at. 

Jamie may enjoy being a girl but it’s 

the genuine females in the cast who give 

the strongest most endearing 

performances in this well-intentioned 

but derivative musical. 

That said, the audience loved every 

second of it and gave it a standing 

ovation. 

CLIVE HIRSCHHORN 


28 

Photo: Mitzi de Margary 

Venice van Someren in Dear Brutus. 

DEAR BRUTUS AT SOUTHWARK 

PLAYHOUSE 

In a remote English village in 1917, 

there are rumours of an enchanted 

wood. One of the inhabitants – a 

mysterious old man – invites eight 

strangers to stay. They all have 

something in common. When, one 

evening, the wood miraculously appears 

the guests feel compelled to enter. What 

happens there has the power to change 

their lives forever. 

From J. M. Barrie, the celebrated 

writer of Peter Pan, The Admirable 

Crichton and Quality Street, comes this 

haunting drama of self-revelation. Darkly 

comic, and presented in a sumptuous 

production for the play’s centenary year, 

Dear Brutus is Barrie at his most 

magical. 

Dear Brutus is directed by Jonathan 

O’Boyle and produced by Troupe, who 

return to Southwark Playhouse after their 

critically acclaimed production of The 

Cardinal. The production stars Miles 

Richardson and runs until Saturday 

30 December. 

For tickets telephone 020 7407 0234 

or visit southwarkplayhouse.co.uk 

Photo: Darren Bell. 

THE WOMAN IN WHITE 

A tempestuous tale of love, betrayal 

and greed, The Woman in White is a 

wildly exciting romantic musical adapted 

from Wilkie Collins’ haunting Victorian 

thriller of the same name. Walter 

Hartright’s life is changed forever after a 

chance encounter with a mysterious 

woman dressed in white, desperate to 

reveal a chilling secret. When he takes 

up his position as drawing master to the 

beautiful Laura Fairlie and her half sister, 

Marian, he sees in Laura’s face an eerie 

reflection of the forlorn woman in white. 

Featuring one of Andrew Lloyd 

Webber’s greatest and most romantic 

scores, The Woman in White premiered 

in the West End in 2004. Now, in its first 

major revival at Charing Cross Theatre, 

Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Zippel 

have revisited their original work to 

refresh the storytelling for a new 

generation of theatregoers. 

Thom Southerland will direct this 

premiere. He says: ‘I am so excited 

about this new production. The Woman 

in White is a wildly exciting romantic 

thriller which is frequently tender and 

personal. The music is grand, sweeping 

and instantly captivating. Having long 

been an admirer of The Woman in 

White, I know that Charing Cross 

Theatre is the ideal intimate space for 

audiences to experience it for the first 

time or rediscover this lush Victorian 

Gothic thriller.’ 

For tickets, telephone 0844 493 0650 

or visit www.charingcrosstheatre.co.uk 

SIMON CALLOW IN DE PROFUNDIS 

Simon Callow will perform Frank 

McGuinness’s new stage adaptation of 

Oscar Wilde’s De Profundis at the 

Vaudeville Theatre in January, for a 

limited run of just six performances. 

De Profundis is Wilde’s searing and 

passionately eloquent meditation on his 

life, and address of love and reproach to 

his lover Lord Alfred ‘Bosie’ Douglas. 

Imprisoned in Reading Gaol and 

forbidden from writing works of fiction, 

Wilde was permitted to write – though 

not to send – the ‘letter’ that became 

De Profundis ‘for medicinal purposes’ by 

the prison governor. McGuinness 

describes it as ‘Wilde’s last great play’. 

Directed by Mark Rosenblatt, the 

show runs Wednesday 3 to Saturday 

6 January, as part of Classic Spring’s 

year-long celebration of the life and work 

of Oscar Wilde. Mark Rosenblatt was 

Associate at the National Theatre Studio 

from 2011 to 2013, and Associate 

Director at West Yorkshire Playhouse 

from 2013 to 2016. 

De Profundis will be an ‘interlude’ 

between Dominic Dromgoole’s A Woman 

of No Importance, which closes on 

Saturday 30 December, and Kathy 

Burke’s Lady Windermere’s Fan, which 

begins previews on Friday 12 January. 

For tickets and more information, 

visit www.classicspring.co.uk 


30 

Photo: Matt Crocket 

Simon-Anthony Rhoden (Lola) and the 

Angels in Kinky Boots London company. 

OLIVIER AWARD-WINNING 

KINKY BOOTS 

Kinky Boots at the Adelphi Theatre has 

become a firm favourite amongst 

theatregoers. Inspired by true events, the 

show takes you from a gentlemen’s shoe 

factory in Northampton to the glamorous 

catwalks of Milan. Charlie Price is 

struggling to live up to his father’s 

expectations and continue the family 

business of Price & Son. With the 

factory’s future hanging in the balance, 

help arrives in the unlikely but spectacular 

form of Lola, a fabulous performer in need 

of some sturdy new stilettos. 

With a book by Broadway legend and 

four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey 

Fierstein and songs by Grammy and 

Tony winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper, 

this joyous musical celebration is about 

the friendships we discover, and the 

belief that you can change the world 

when you change your mind. 

Kinky Boots is the winner of every 

major Best Musical award, including three 

Olivier Awards for Best New Musical, Best 

Costume Design and Best Actor in a 

Musical. Kinky Boots also won the 

London Evening Standard BBC Radio 2 

Audience Award for Best Musical. 

Direction and choreography is by twotime 

Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell. 

For tickets and Christmas show times, 

telephone 020 3725 7060 or visit 

www.kinkybootsthemusical.co.uk 

QDOS ENTERTAINMENT’S DICK 

WHITTINGTON AT THE PALLADIUM 

Qdos Entertainment’s production of 

Dick Whittington runs at the London 

Palladium for five weeks over the Festive 

season, until Sunday 14 January. 

The cast is led by Julian Clary (Spirit 

of the Bells), Elaine Paige (Queen Rat), 

Ashley Banjo (The Sultan) and Diversity 

(The Sultan’s Special Advisors), Paul 

Zerdin (Idle Jack), Nigel Havers (Captain 

Nigel), Gary Wilmot (Sarah the Cook) 

Charlie Stemp (Dick Whittington), Emma 

Williams (Alice Fitzwarren) and Lukus 

Alexander (Eileen the Cat). 

Dick Whittington is produced by Nick 

Thomas and Michael Harrison for Qdos 

Entertainment, the team behind last 

year’s twice Olivier-nominated London 

Palladium production of Cinderella, 

which broke box office records for the 

highest grossing week in West End 

theatre history. The show is written by 

Alan McHugh, directed by Michael 

Harrison, choreographed by Karen Bruce 

with musical supervision and 

orchestrations by Gary Hind, lighting by 

Ben Cracknell, set designs by Ian 

Westbrook, 3D Creations and costumes 

by Hugh Durrant. 

Box Office telephone 0844 874 0667. 

Charlie Stemp as Dick Whittington. 

Photo: Paul Coltas. 

Isabel Pollen (Laura) & Jim Sturgeon 

(Alec), in Brief Encounter. 

Photo: Simon Turtle. 

EMMA RICE’S PRODUCTION OF 

NOËL COWARD’S BRIEF ENCOUNTER 

Kneehigh’s production of Noël 

Coward’s Brief Encounter, adapted and 

directed by Emma Rice, will be produced 

live on stage at the Empire Cinema 

Haymarket in London’s West End by 

David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers, Jenny & 

Steve Wiener and The Old Vic from 

2 March until 2 September. 

A chance meeting in a railway station 

café where they were brought together 

by Laura ‘getting a little piece of grit in 

my eye’, led to one of the most haunting 

and heart-breaking love stories ever told. 

The award-winning Kneehigh production 

of Noël Coward’s Brief Encounter, which 

was originally produced at Birmingham 

Repertory Theatre, triumphed in the West 

End in 2008 and subsequently received 

great critical acclaim on Broadway and 

went on to tour worldwide. It was 

described by Ben Brantley in the New 

York Times as ‘surely the most 

enchanting work of stagecraft ever 

inspired by a movie.’ 

Box Office telephone 0844 8717628. 

briefencounterwestend.com 


32 

Photo: Marc Brenner 

Anne Reid as Lady Hunstanton with Crystal Clarke as Hester Worsley. 

WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE AT 

VAUDEVILLE THEATRE 

Anne Reid is currently performing in 

A Woman of No Importance at the 

Vaudeville Theatre, and will play Lady 

Hunstanton until 30 December. Directed 

by Dominic Dromgoole, the production 

is the first in a year-long celebration of 

Oscar Wilde at the Vaudeville Theatre. 

Anne Reid MBE, is best-known for 

her BAFTA Award-nominated role as 

Celia Dawson in Last Tango in Halifax 

(BBC). The award-winning show also 

starred Derek Jacobi and Sarah 

Lancashire, with the final episode 

attracting over 8 million viewers. Anne 

received a BAFTA nomination for her 

performance in The Mother (Best 

Actress, 2004) and an Olivier Award 

nomination for her role in Epitaph for 

George Dillon (Best Supporting Actress, 

2006). Anne’s extensive TV credits 

include Doc Martin, Curtain: Poirot’s 

Last Case (ITV), Shameless (Channel 4), 

Bleak House, Jane Eyre, Dr Who, New 

Tricks, Upstairs Downstairs and 

Dinnerladies (BBC). 

Dominic Dromgoole, director, said: 

‘It will be a delight to welcome Anne 

back to the London stage, since she has 

become an even more loved star with 

Last Tango. She has long been one of 

my favourite actresses, and her 

performance in Peter Gill’s beautiful The 

York Realist was one of my greatest 

experiences in the theatre. It will also be 

nice to celebrate her recent successes as 

a cabaret performer by cutting her loose 

with a song or two from the Victorian 

songbook.’ 

Classic Spring is a new theatre 

company from former Artistic Director of 

Shakespeare’s Globe Dominic 

Dromgoole. As part of its year-long 

celebration of Oscar Wilde at the 

Vaudeville Theatre, the company will 

stage A Woman of No Importance, Lady 

Windermere’s Fan, An Ideal Husband 

and The Importance of Being Earnest. 

An iconoclast, a socialist and a gay 

Irishman in the socially conservative 

late-Victorian era, Oscar Wilde broke the 

mould in his work and in his life. 

Opening in the year of the fiftieth 

anniversary of the decriminalisation of 

homosexuality in the UK, this season 

aims to offer a much fuller picture of the 

man and the artist, and reveal this 

much-loved playwright as the brilliant 

renegade he was in his own time. 

Interspersed with the plays will be a 

curated series of interludes and ‘Wilde 

Talks’ that will reveal the deep current of 

radicalism and subversiveness that runs 

through all of Wilde’s writing. There will 

be 20,000 tickets under £20 offered 

across the season. 

Visit classicspring.co.uk for a detailed 

performance schedule. For tickets 

telephone 0330 333 4814. 

FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE EXTENDS 

RUN AT MARBLE ARCH THEATRE 

Clarke Peters’ Olivier Award-winning 

and Tony-Award nominated musical, 

Five Guys Named Moe, has extended its 

run for the second time due to popular 

demand. The show is playing at the 

brand new Marble Arch Theatre, which 

was custom built for the production. The 

venue is designed to take audiences to 

an 1940s all-swinging New Orleans 

club, complete with festooned courtyard, 

bespoke cocktail bar, smoky corners and 

band-stand as a centrepiece. Performed 

in the round for the first time, 

theatregoers will be able to take their 

seats at the cabaret tables in the Funky 

Butt Club and have drinks served 

directly to their tables for an up-close 

and personal musical experience all 

around them. 

First seen at the Theatre Royal 

Stratford East in 1990, Cameron 

Mackintosh brought Five Guys Named 

Moe to the West End where it played for 

four years, subsequently playing on 

Broadway and around the world. Clarke 

Peters' career defining musical features 

the irresistible hits of trailblazing ‘King 

of the Jukebox’ Louis Jordan, including 

Early In The Morning, Is You Is or Is You 

Ain’t My Baby, Choo Choo Ch’Boogie 

and Saturday Night Fish Fry. 


Helen Maybanks. 


33 

Jamael Westman (Alexander Hamilton) with West End cast of Hamilton. 

Michael Jibson (King George). 

Photos: Matthew Murphy 

HAMILTON OPENS AT THE NEWLY 

REBUILT VICTORIA PALACE THEATRE 

The long awaited West End 

production of Hamilton re-opens the 

newly rebuilt and restored Victoria 

Palace Theatre with the official opening 

night taking place on 21 December. 

Hamilton is the story of America’s 

Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an 

immigrant from the West Indies who 

became George Washington’s right-hand 

man during the Revolutionary War and 

helped shape the very foundations of the 

America we know today. The score 

blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B 

and Broadway – the story of America 

then, as told by America now. 

The West End cast includes Christine 

Allado (Peggy Schuyler/Maria 

Reynolds), Rachelle Ann Go (Eliza 

Hamilton), Tarinn Callender (Hercules 

Mulligan/James Madison), Michael 

Jibson (King George), Rachel John 

(Angelica Schuyler), Jason Pennycooke 

(Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas 

Jefferson), Cleve September (John 

Laurens/Philip Hamilton), Giles Terera 

(Aaron Burr), Obioma Ugoala (George 

Washington) and Jamael Westman 

(Alexander Hamilton). 

Full ticketing information can be 

found on the official website at 

hamiltonthemusical.co.uk which 

includes details of the Hamilton West 

End £10 daily Lottery. The producers of 

Hamilton are working to combat the 

unauthorised profiteering of third party 

resellers and ticket touts. Delfont 

Mackintosh Theatres has pioneered for 

the West End a paperless ticket system 

for this production. 

Hamilton has book, music and lyrics 

by Lin-Manuel Miranda, is directed by 

Thomas Kail, with choreography by 

Andy Blankenbuehler and musical 

supervision and orchestrations by Alex 

Lacamoire and is based on Ron 

Giles Terera (Aaron Burr) in Hamilton. 

Chernow’s biography of Alexander 

Hamilton. 

Winner of 11 Tony Awards including 

Best Musical, the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for 

Drama and the 2016 Grammy Award for 

Best Musical Theater Album, Hamilton 

continues its runs at The Richard 

Rodgers Theatre on Broadway, at the 

CIBC PrivateBank Theatre in Chicago 

and cities across North America. 

Hamilton is produced in London by 

Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill 

Furman, The Public Theater and 

Cameron Mackintosh. 


34 

Photo: Angela Sterling 

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS PLAYS 

FINAL WEEKS AT DOMINION 

The new musical, An American in 

Paris, was uniformly critically acclaimed 

when it opened earlier this year. Inspired 

by the Hollywood classic, it is now 

playing its final weeks at the Dominion 

Theatre. The London production of An 

American in Paris has been filmed for 

future release in cinemas, featuring the 

original cast led by Robert Fairchild and 

Leanne Cope. 

Written by Craig Lucas, it features the 

timeless music and lyrics of George 

Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, including 

the songs I Got Rhythm, ‘S Wonderful, 

I’ll Build a Stairway To Paradise and 

They Can't Take That Away from Me, 

together with George Gershwin’s 

sweeping compositions including 

‘Concerto in F’ and ‘An American in 

Paris’. An American in Paris premiered 

in 2014 at the Theatre du Chatelet in 

Paris to ecstatic reviews before 

transferring to the Palace Theatre on 

Broadway, where it received 12 Tony® 

nominations and won 4. 

Jerry Mulligan is an American GI 

pursuing his dream to make it as a 

painter in a city suddenly bursting with 

hope and possibility. Following a chance 

encounter with a beautiful young dancer 

named Lise, the streets of Paris become 

the backdrop to a sensuous, modern 

romance of art, friendship and love in 

the aftermath of war. 


Justine Mitchell and Sam Troughton in Beginning by David Eldridge. 

HOT TICKETS’ FOR 2018 AT THE 

NATIONAL THEATRE 

Following a sell-out run last year, 

Amadeus returns to the Olivier in 2018. 

Michael Longhurst’s acclaimed 

production of Peter Shaffer’s iconic play 

features live orchestral accompaniment 

by the Southbank Sinfonia. Adam Gillen 

and Lucian Msamati reprise the roles of 

Mozart and Salieri. From 11 January. 

Having enjoyed a critically-acclaimed, 

sold-out run at the National Theatre, 

David Eldridge’s Beginning transfers to 

the Ambassadors Theatre from 

15 January. Justine Mitchell and Sam 

Troughton reprise their highly praised 

roles in this season’s must-see hit, 

directed by Polly Findlay. 

William Shakespeare’s most intense 

and terrifying tragedy, directed by Rufus 

Norris with Rory Kinnear and Anne- 

Marie Duff as Macbeth and Lady 

Macbeth will preview from 26 February, 

with performances in repertory until 

12 May. NT Live will broadcast the 

production worldwide to cinemas on 

10 May. 

The Curious Incident of the Dog in 

the Night-Time continues to tour the 

world, including Melbourne, Hong Kong 

and Singapore, and Angels in America 

transfers to the Neil Simon Theatre, 

Broadway from February for a strictly 

limited run. 

MISCHIEF MOVIE NIGHT 

Mischief Theatre, the award-winning 

company behind The Play That Goes 

Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and The 

Comedy About A Bank Robbery, return to 

their comedy roots this Christmas with 

Mischief Movie Night, the improvised 

movie live on stage. 

The audience suggests a genre, 

location and title and Mischief Theatre’s 

improvisers bring the show to life, 

complete with rewinds, fast forwards, 

directors cuts and a live score. Starring 

them, directed by you, a guaranteed 

comedy blockbuster. Performances at 

the Arts Theatre from 13 December until 

27 January. 

NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE 

ANNOUNCES A SPRING SEASON 

The UK’s leading youth arts 

organisation, The National Youth Theatre 

of Great Britain (NYT) has announced a 

spring 2018 programme. Nessah Muthy’s 

award-nominated The Host, which follows 

the life of a Syrian refugee in the UK, will 

return in February following its acclaimed 

run at The Yard Theatre. For the first time, 

NYT will have a three-week engagement at 

Southwark Playhouse with Olivier Award 

nominee and NYT Alumni James Fritz’s 

(Parliament Square, Four Minutes Twelve 

Seconds) The Fall alongside Dennis 

Kelly’s DNA. www.nyt.org.uk 

Photo: Johan Persson. 


36 

PLAYS 

YOUNG MARX 

World premiere of a new comedy by Richard 

Bean and Clive Coleman, reuniting the 

creative team behind One Man, Two Guvnors. 

Directed by Nicholas Hytner. Until 31 Dec. 

BRIDGE THEATRE 

One Tower Bridge, SE1 (0843 208 1846) 

THE COMEDY ABOUT A BANK ROBBERY 

One enormous diamond, eight incompetent 

crooks and a snoozing security guard. What 

could possibly go right? 

CRITERION THEATRE 

Piccadilly Circus, (020 7492 0810) 

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG 

A Polytechnic amateur drama group are 

putting on a 1920s murder mystery and 

everything that can go wrong... does! 

DUCHESS THEATRE 

Catherine Street, WC2 (0330 333 4810) 

INK 

James Graham's new play transfers from the 

Almeida. The story behind the birth of 

Britain's popular and controversial newspaper. 

DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE 

St Martin’s Lane, WC2 (020 7492 1552) 

THE WOMAN IN BLACK 

An innocent outsider, a suspicious rural 

community, a gothic house and a misty marsh 

are the ingredients of this Victorian ghost story. 

FORTUNE THEATRE 

Russell Street, WC2 (0844 871 7626) 

THE FERRYMAN 

In Jez Butterworth’s new major drama, multi 

award-winning actor, director and writer Paddy 

Considine is joined by Laura Donnelly and 

Genevieve O’Reilly. Directed by Sam Mendes. 

GIELGUD THEATRE 

Shaftesbury Avenue, W1 (0844 482 5130) 

OSLO 

Bartlett Sher's acclaimed production of 

J.T. Rogers' new Tony Award-winning play. 

A darkly funny political thriller. Until 30 Dec. 

HAROLD PINTER THEATRE 

Panton Street, SW1 (0844 871 7627) 

Royal National Theatre 

Plays in repertory 

OLIVIER THEATRE 

FOLLIES 

Tracie Bennett, Janie Dee and Imelda Staunton 

play the magnificent Follies in a dazzling new 

production of Stephen Sondheim’s legendary 

musical staged for the first time at the National. 

Pinocchio at the Lyttelton Theatre. 

Photo: Manuel Harlan. 

LYTTELTON THEATRE 

NETWORK 

Hilarious and horrifying by turns, Lee Hall 

and director Ivo Van Hove bring Paddy 

Chayefsky’s iconic film to the stage for the 

first time. 

PINOCCHIO 

On a quest to be truly alive, Pinocchio leaves 

Geppetto’s workshop with Jiminy Cricket in 

tow. Their electrifying adventure takes them 

from alpine forests to Pleasure Island to the 

bottom of the ocean. 

DORFMAN THEATRE 

BARBER SHOP CHRONICLES 

This dynamic new plays jumps from a barber 

shop in Peckham to Johannesburg, Harare, 

Kampala, Lagos and Accra. 

NATIONAL THEATRE 

South Bank, SE1 (020 7452 3000) 

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED 

CHILD PARTS I & II 

A new stage play based on the Harry Potter 

franchise written by Jack Thorne, based on 

an original story by J.K Rowling. 

PALACE THEATRE 


THE EXORCIST 

John Pielmeier's stage adaptation of William 

Peter Blatty's novel, starring Jenny Seagrove, 

Peter Bowles and Adam Garcia. 

PHOENIX THEATRE 

Charing Cross Road, WC2 (0844 871 7627) 

GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS 

David Mamet's modern classic is set in an 

office of cut-throat Chicago salesmen. Pitched 

in competition against each other, they will do 

anything, legal or otherwise, to sell the most 

real estate. Until 3 February. 

PLAYHOUSE THEATRE 

Northumberland Ave, WC2, (0844 871 7631) 

THE MOUSETRAP 

Agatha Christie’s whodunnit is the longest 

running play of its kind in the history of the 

British theatre. 

ST MARTIN’S THEATRE 

West Street, WC2 (0844 499 1515) 

A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE 

A major revival of Oscar Wilde's classic 

starring Eve Best and Anne Reid and directed 

by Dominic Dromgoole. Until 30 December. 

VAUDEVILLE THEATRE 

Strand, WC2 (020 7400 1257) 

HEISENBERG: THE UNCERTAINTY 

PRINCIPLE 

Marianne Elliott's West End Premiere of 

Simon Stephens' play starring Anne-Marie 

Duff and Kenneth Cranham. The inaugural 

production by Elliott & Harper Productions. 

WYNDHAM’S THEATRE 

Charing Cross Road, WC2 (0844 482 5120) 

MUSICALS 

KINKY BOOTS 

Inspired by a true story and based on the 

Miramax film, the show tells the story of Charlie 

Price who has reluctantly inherited his father's 

Northampton shoe factory. 

ADELPHI THEATRE 

Strand, WC2 (020 3725 7060) 

LA SOIREE 

The show promises to amaze audiences with its 

heady cocktail of cabaret, new burlesque, circus 

sideshow and contemporary variety in an 

inspirational night of live entertainment. 

ALDWYCH THEATRE 

Aldwych, WC2 (0845 200 7981) 

STOMP 

This multi-award winning show continues to 

astound audiences across the world with its 

universal language of rhythm, theatre, comedy 

and dance. 

AMBASSADORS THEATRE 

West Street, WC2 (020 7395 5405) 

WICKED 

Hit Broadway story of how a clever, 

misunderstood girl with emerald green skin 

and a girl who is beautiful and popular turn 

into the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda 

the Good Witch in the Land of Oz. 

APOLLO VICTORIA THEATRE 

Wilton Road, SW1 (0844 826 8000) 


EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE 

New musical starring John McCrea transfers 

to the West End following a sold-out run at 

Sheffield's Crucible Theatre. 

APOLLO THEATRE 


MATILDA 

Critically acclaimed Royal Shakespeare 

Company production of Roald Dahl’s book, 

directed by Matthew Warchus. 

CAMBRIDGE THEATRE 

Earlham Street, WC2 (0844 800 1110) 

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS 

The award-winning, thrillingly staged and 

astonishingly danced Broadway Gershwin 

musical featuring some of the greatest music 

and lyrics ever written. Until 6 January. 

DOMINION THEATRE 

Tottenham Court Rd, W1 (020 7927 0900) 

GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY 

The World Premiere of Conor McPherson's new 

play in London, featuring classic songs by Bob 

Dylan. Opens 29 December. 

NOEL COWARD THEATRE 

St. Martin’s Lane, WC2 (0844 482 5140) 

MAMMA MIA! 

Hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, set 

around the story of a mother and daughter on 

the eve of the daughter’s wedding. 

NOVELLO THEATRE 

Aldwych, WC2 (0844 482 5170) 

ANNIE 

Revival of the famous musical starring Meera 

Syall. A Depression-era rags-to-riches story 

featuring the songs It's The Hard-Knock Life, 

Easy Street and Tomorrow. 

PICCADILLY THEATRE 

Denman Street, W1 (0844 871 7630) 

THE GRINNING MAN 

A new musical adaptation of Victor Hugo's 

1869 novel The Laughing Man, about a 

travelling sideshow freak whose face has been 

carved with a permanent smile. 

TRAFALGAR STUDIO 

Whitehall, SW1 (0844 871 7632) 

HAMILTON 

Lin-Manuel Miranda's multi award-winning 

musical, based on Ron Chernow's biography 

of one of the American 'Founding Fathers' 

Alexander Hamilton. 

VICTORIA PALACE THEATRE 

Victoria Street, SW1 (0844 248 5000) 

CHRISTMAS SHOWS 

37 

THE RAT PACK: LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS 

This production celebrates the incredible 

singing talent of three world famous 

entertainers and performers Frank Sinatra, 

Sammy Davis Jr and Dean Martin. 

HAYMARKET THEATRE ROYAL 

Haymarkett, SW1 (020 7930 8800) 

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA 

Long running epic romance by Andrew Lloyd 

Webber, set behind the scenes of a Paris opera 

house where a deformed phantom stalks his prey. 

HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE 

Haymarket, SW1 (0844 412 2707) 

THE LION KING 

Disney‘s phenomenally successful animated 

film is transformed into a spectacular stage 

musical, a superb evening of visual delight. 

LYCEUM THEATRE 

Wellington Street, WC2 (0844 871 3000) 

THRILLER – LIVE 

High octane show celebrating the career of the 

King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Over two hours 

of the non-stop hit songs that marked his 

legendary live performances. 

LYRIC THEATRE 

Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2 (0330 333 4812) 

FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE 

Director Clarke Peters calls the show a 

'revusical’, a 90-minute tribute to the black 

song-writer/saxophonist, Louis Jordan. 

MARBLE ARCH THEATRE 

Marble Arch, W1 (020 7400 1257) 

SCHOOL OF ROCK 

Andrew Lloyd Webber's new stage musical 

with lyrics by Glenn Slater and book by Julian 

Fellowes, adapted from the film. 

NEW LONDON THEATRE 

Drury Lane, WC2 (020 7492 0810) 

ALADDIN 

The classic hit film has been brought to thrilling 

life on stage by Disney, featuring all the songs 

from the Academy Award winning score. 

PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE 

Old Compton Street, W1 (0844 482 5151) 

BOOK OF MORMON 

Broadway musical takes shots at everything 

from organised religion to consumerism, state 

of the economy and the musical theatre genre. 

PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE 

Coventry Street, W1 (0844 482 5115) 

LES MISERABLES 

A spectacularly staged version of Victor Hugo’s 

epic novel about an escaped convict’s 

search for redemption in Revolutionary France. 

QUEEN’S THEATRE 


DREAMGIRLS 

West End premiere, starring Marisha Wallace. 

Set in the USA during the late 1960s and 

early 1970s, it follows a young female singing 

trio as they become music superstars. 

SAVOY THEATRE 

Strand, WC2 (020 7492 0810) 

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL 

Featuring all the much loved classics from 

Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, and the Jackson 5, 

the show tells the story behind the hits. 

SHAFTESBURY THEATRE 


42ND STREET 

The song and dance, American dream fable, 

where af small town girl, Peggy Sawyer’s rise 

from chorus line to Broadway star. 

THEATRE ROYAL 

Drury Lane, WC2 (020 7492 0810) 

CINDERELLA 

The classic rags to riches tale of Cinderella 

will be told in true Hackney style by the award 

winning pantomime team as they prove a new 

pair of shoes really can change your life. 

HACKNEY EMPIRE 

Mare Street, E8 (020 8985 433) 

STICK MAN 

One day whilst out for a jog, Stick Man is 

pounced on by a playful dog mistaken for an 

ordinary stick, passing through all the 

seasons in a joyful Christmas celebration. 

LEICESTER SQUARE THEATRE 

Leicester Place, WC2 (08448 733 433) 

DICK WHITTINGTON 

Following last year's hugely successful staging 

of Cinderella, which brought back pantomime to 

the world famous London Palladium for the first 

time in nearly 30 years, Dick Whittington has an 

all-star cast that includes Elaine Paige, Julian 

Clary, and Charlie Stemp as 'Dick Whittington'. 

LONDON PALLADIUM 

Argyll St, W1 (020 7087 7755) 

THE GRUFFALO 

Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the 

deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical 

adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia 

Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. 

LYRIC THEATRE 


THE SNOWMAN 

Stage show based on the book by Raymond 

Briggs has become a festive tradition, 

transporting children into the wonderful wintery 

world of a boy and his magical snowman. 

PEACOCK THEATRE 

Portugal Street, WC2 (020 7863 8222) 


38 

YORK & ALBANY'S WINTER CABIN 

Following the sell-out success of the 

Gingerbread Cabin last Christmas, 

townhouse restaurant and boutique hotel 

York & Albany has returned with its 

‘Awfully British Winter Cabin’, a playful 

and festive pop-up experience that 

celebrates all things British and quirky, 

and will be in residence at 127 Parkway 

until February. 

With their own smoking jackets and 

slippers provided on arrival, guests are 

welcomed to sit back and relax whilst 

they enjoy a spot of afternoon tea, 

extraordinarily unusual British cocktails, 

lunch or dinner canapés, all while they 

revel in the best of traditional British 

cuisine in the privacy of their own 

‘home’, served by their personal butler. 

Available for private hire for groups of 

up to ten guests, the dog-friendly cabin 

is adorned with an old-fashion 

telephone, grand chandelier, vintage 

books, as well as Union Jacks and 

cushions decorating the armchairs, 

sofas and poufs, creating the scene of an 

eccentric British lounge, celebrating all 

things wonderfully weird in British 

tradition. The mirrored drinks trolley 

takes centre stage as guests can help 

themselves to festive cocktails and 

aromatic mulled wine. Lunch and dinner 

sharing menus include haggis sausage 

rolls, venison pigs in blankets, gincured 

salmon vol au vents and stilton 

and red onion tartlets. For afternoon tea, 

guests can enjoy scones with clotted 

cream and season jam, open sandwiches 

including roast turkey & cranberry 

sauce, smoked salmon & dill and duck 

egg mayo, alongside cranberry 

cheesecake, blackberry Bakewell, mince 

pies and ‘awfully British’ cups of tea. 

FESTIVE FOOD AND DRINK AT 

HYDE PARK WINTER WONDERLAND 

As the UK’s number one Christmas 

destination, Hyde Park Winter 

Wonderland hosts a variety of food and 

drink. With an offering bigger than ever 

before, there’s something for everyone at 

one of the many bars and eateries. 

Making its London debut this year, 

Bar Hütte creates a mini alpine-style 

village complete with its own bar and 

restaurant. A unique take on ‘Alpine 

Après Ski’, Bar Hütte is the ultimate 

place for festive get-togethers with 

karaoke and cocktails. Visitors can enjoy 

a tasty sit down meal, with fresh stonebaked 

pizzas on offer. For those who 

have a sweet tooth, the chocolate 

calzone will make for a delicious 

dessert. 

Soak up the festive atmosphere in the 

rustic wooden chalets of the ever-popular 

Bavarian Village. Enjoy a Bratwurst 

washed down with a hot cider or beer 

from one of the outdoor bars. At night, 

relax in the covered seating area of the 

Hall and experience live music 

entertainment all evening long in true 

Bavarian style.

TIL XMAS 2017 Final

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