Jackstage

 🌟 LAODS' All Shook Up 🌟 21 June 2023 at 7:30pm at Lincoln Arts Centre, Lincoln ★★★★★ All Shook Up, directed by Steve Gillard, sets a premise of an Elvis Presley jukebox musical-comedy, heavily inspired by the twirling and unrequited lovers of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. On paper, this is a very quirky concept – two stimuli which have very little in common. Joe DiPietro’s book is jam packed with cheeky one liners and an ultimately heart-warming storyline, and tonight, LAODS theatrical company bring to life a beautiful and inspiring show. The danger of jukebox musicals is the potential to become karaoke-like, but this diverse cast (of a few generations!) are an absolute marvel, working so cohesively as an ensemble where not one cast member is overshadowed. The cast boasts a high number from the Lincoln community, and the spirit is so evident to make this a stunning performance. You can see how well rehearsed the show is, which no doubt will encourage so many audience members to b...

 🌟 The Ocean At The End Of The Lane 🌟 15 June 2023 at 7:30pm at Theatre Royal, Nottingham ★★★★★ This was my second time experiencing the stage phenomenon The Ocean At The End Of The Lane, and the eerie magic is just unparalleled with anything I've ever seen. Adapted from Neil Gaiman's fantasy novel, it is a huge risk for a show to tackle thriller elements, but through Katy Rudd's direction, the land of the unknown doesn't seek to petrify audiences, rather leaving us curiously unsettled. I will admit, there are moments that, both times watching the show, it still send shivers as you feel the need to shrink in your seat, where such a visceral reaction is never felt from most plays, to feel so frighteningly immersed. The audience remained deathly quiet, other than the exclamations of amazement from the pure magical, jaw-dropping sequences.  Both watches I remember turning to my mum next to me and just being rendered speechless, such a clever craft never ceasing to shock....

 🌟 Rose 🌟 08 June 2023 at 7:30pm at Ambassadors Theatre, London ★★★★★ Rose, a one woman play written by Martin Sherman, and performed by Maureen Lipman, is an exemplary performance of what's best about pure theatre today. Upon original concept, watching a show where a woman sits upon a wooden bench for over 2 hours seems rather slow paced and dull, though Rose is such an incredibly moving and thought provoking performance that brings up many important questions regarding morality and the power of life.  I really liked the minimalist set design from David Shields, using the somewhat confined box as a site for rising tension, dramatizing the story to become a pressure cooker scenario. The wooden bench holds great importance, using the performance time to condense and reflect the Jewish mourning tradition of 'sitting shiva'. As a demonstration of respect for loved ones lost, we immediately begin to sympathise with Rose, as the script does describe the concept of shiva, for t...

 🌟 Hamilton 🌟 08 June 2023 at 2:30pm at Victoria Palace Theatre, London ★★★★ The musical sensation Hamilton has really dominated the musical theatre scene since its original premiere on Broadway in 2015, created by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Controversially, I had never been a huge fan of the soundtrack, as it wasn't necessarily to my music taste, and I'd never streamed the pro-shot because I thought it'd be a show to experience live first-hand. I will say that I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed the show, and personally, I don't believe the soundtrack does the stage presence justice. Initially, I hadn't understood the hype surrounding Hamilton, but it is now more than definitely clear why! Introducing the review, I will say giving a star rating was very challenging between 4 and 5 stars, because I immensely enjoyed the overall experience of the show. The Victoria Palace Theatre is a beautiful venue which I adore, and sitting on the front row of the stalls, you ...

🌟 Kinky Boots 🌟 03 June 2023 at 7:30pm at Nottingham Theatre Royal ★★ Before seeing this production of Kinky Boots, presented by Carlton Operatic Society, I'd never come across anything about the show, and I'd initially thought it would be right up by street, though I left feeling very divided. As this production is brought to audiences through an amateur group, I will not base my view on certain production elements, as my opinion of the show largely falls with the original scripting. Needless to say that there were still many positives to talk about for the show. The overall message is one of acceptance, and finding yourself within a world than can be cruel, but rising against it. This was really uplifting, and particularly with the art of drag coming under attack in recent weeks, this musical feels all the more relevant and important for the community. And to see that proceeds help towards the Notts LGBT+ Network, providing a safe space for all those concerned, is such an i...

🌟 42nd Street 🌟 03 June 2023 at 2:15pm at Leicester Curve ★★★★★ 42nd Street is an absolutely monumental show, one which from the get go, I had very high expectations for. With the stage show originating in 1980, this Curve adaptation felt so fresh and modernized. It wants you to believe it is the most expensive show you will ever see, and it executes this brilliantly without overdoing the grandeur. With unbeatable set design (Robert Jones), transitions were glorious to render some phenomenal show-stoppers, but also finding the perfect balance of light/shade with quieter, more sombre moments, the script structured beautifully. Story arcs were very pleasing in the sense characters were well balanced, and generally remained with a positive outlook. The atmosphere in the audience, across the whole show, is one of the best I've seen in a long time, such warmth and joy shared between all ages, all types of people, proving to be a musical for everyone. Featuring hit songs such as "...