Theatre Review 41 To Kill A Mockingbird ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Theatre Royal, Bath Saturday 22nd November 2025

Do have a read of @ajhlovestheatre.bsky.social's review of Ragtime. Or alternatively just enjoy this extract detailing the performance of the incredible Caissie Levy and just marvel at Alun's exquisite writing talent. This is how proper theatre critics do it.

You know I'm always a massive fan of @andrewtomlins.bsky.social and his brilliant @westendframe.bsky.social content but Andrew has completely excelled himself with this week's Diego Andres Rodriguez interview. Really really loved listening to this. I miss Evita Summer so much!

Theatre Review 40 Mamma Mia ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Bristol Hippodrome Saturday 15th November 2025

Theatre Review 40 Show: Mamma Mia Theatre: Bristol Hippodrome Review to follow

The build-up to Edinburgh Fringe each year is almost as exciting as the event itself. I haven't booked accommodation yet because I'm still undecided when to go as it's starting a week later than usual.

Top Forty Favourite 'S' Songs From Musicals

Theatre Review 39 Mark Watson: Before It Overtakes Us ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cheese and Grain, Frome Wednesday 5th November 2025

@watsoncomedian.bsky.social A brilliant evening in Frome. It was my fourth Mark Watson gig so you've now matched Ivo Graham as my joint most seen comedians. But your pre-show playlist is still far superior to Ivo's! Not heard Happiness by Goldfrapp in years! Thanks for battling to get there tonight!

Theatre Show 39 Show: Mark Watson: Before It Overtakes Us Theatre: Cheese and Grain, Frome Review to follow.

Remember this extract from Mortification by @watsoncomedian.bsky.social? I'm off to the Cheese and Grain tomorrow night to see my favourite comedian and I've also booked to see Jason Manford there in February next year. Comparing the ticket availability, Jason isn't as popular as he used to be! 😂

On the left is July 2026 Paddington availability. Notice Stalls B1 is £95. On the right is January 2026 Paddington availability. Notice Stalls B1 is £180. Make it make sense.

Door of the Day 22 The Stage Door where the wonderful, lovely legends Joel Montague and Carrie Hope Fletcher came out between shows to meet the fans, even though it was pouring with rain... Aldwych Theatre, London

Theatre Review 38 Elf The Musical ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Aldwych Theatre, London Saturday 1st November 2025

Theatre Show 38 Show: Elf The Musical Theatre: Aldwych Theatre, London Review to follow.

Theatre Review 37 The Book Of Mormon ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Bristol Hippodrome Saturday 31st October 2025

@watsoncomedian.bsky.social Goodish idea to dress up as Dave Gorman for Halloween. Think your outfit would look better with a checked shirt though.

Here we go! I'm in the queue! If the 8000 people ahead of me could hurry up a bit, that would be fab! Thank you!

As both a Dear Evan Hansen and Rachel Zegler superfan, news doesn't get much more thrilling than this. Questions: 1) Can I get to London that week? I'm already at The Choir Of Man in Bath that Saturday 2) Will I get a ticket before it is sold out? 3) How ridiculous are the ticket prices going to be?

Well, that was quite the Strictly results show. Was expecting: The dazzlingly exquisite superstar extraordinaire Rachel Zegler to of course deliver the absolutely perfect performance. Wasn't expecting: Amber to be in the dance off. She got all of my five votes as always.

A couple of theatre trips booked in for this week. 1) The Book Of Mormon (Bristol Hippodrome) which is a show I've never seen before. 2) Elf The Musical (Aldwych Theatre, London) as Christmas begins early for me in 2025 before ticket prices for this show go stupid.

I'm so happy to see Musical Theatre Review's continued support for Hot Mess. We all loved it in Edinburgh and I've been so surprised by the reviews I've seen recently during its London run. Because for me, it's clearly a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ show.

Listening to the Evita cast recording and getting goosebumps remembering 1) The moment in Oh What A Circus when Rachel first appears 2) The visual spectacle of the Act One confetti ending 3) The audience reaction at the end of High Flying Adored when Rachel reappears on stage after the balcony scene

I'm thrilled for Max Mirza. He's one of the loveliest people I've ever met at Stage Door. At Clueless, I wasn't necessarily the typical demographic for that show so I hung back while the cool kids were talking to the cast. Max saw me waiting at the back, waved and came over for a chat. So lovely!

Joe Locke choosing Next To Normal as his favourite musical! Our little gang is beginning to form. That's Joe, Gerardine Sacdalan and me. Anybody else joining us?

Theatre Review 36 Small Hotel ⭐⭐ Theatre Royal, Bath Saturday 18th October 2025

For the very first time, there is finally a theatre situated on St Martin's Lane whose name doesn't make me feel quite so uneasy.

Interesting! 👀

Sometimes it's a bit good to know you live so close to Bristol! If you're looking for me between March and May next year, you know where to find me!

It's like rai-eee-aiiin on your wedding day and It's like a West End show telling you how audience members using phones is really distracting for the people onstage whilst also then posting videos showing its own cast members doing everything they can to distract the people onstage

To anybody waiting for my list of favourite 'S' songs from musicals, this could take a bit of time. There are a LOT of songs beginning with 'S'. It's by far the most popular letter so far. This will be a long process. It may take a LOT of minutes to sort this one out!

Remember when Paloma Faith said this? Never trust anybody who doesn't like musicals. Warranted a lily pollen face poisoning exit! 😂

My favourite comedian says something brilliant yet again!

Caissie's return to the West End is long overdue. I miss her - and the mountains!

Have I got a Fantasy Premier League team this season? Yes Has it got a musical theatre team name? Yes

Here's someone who could never be disrespectful or unprofessional. What an absolute superstar! Rachel's version of Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again is ASTONISHING! Ridiculous levels of talent! Stay over here in the UK, Rachel, where you're loved and appreciated!

I've seen more footage today of the cast of The Great Gatsby clowning around during performances. And this has actually been released by their official channels. Good grief! It's so disrespectful and unprofessional. Are they not aware how much we had to pay to go and see their show?

Do I overscore the musicals that I see when I review them? The answer (unsurprisingly) seems to be YES! Here is the evidence. These are my scores versus my favourite go-to professional reviewers. The last ten shows that we all saw and reviewed.

All five votes, pretty obviously! #TeamAmber #Strictly

Top Twenty Favourite 'R' Songs From Musicals

After seeing Mean Girls three times at the Savoy Theatre and really loving it, I'd already booked to see it again at Bristol Hippodrome next year. And this casting is so brilliant. I saw Dear Evan Hansen four times with Vivian as Alana. She is a truly amazing talent and will be a fantastic Regina!

Yes, absolutely this! And Screech Out playing as everybody leaves the plane! Great idea!

Hopefully this is just the first of many awards for Rachel. Evita Summer was so epic. The way Rachel clearly loved and felt honoured to be performing in the West End was matched equally by the love shown to her by those amazing audience reactions. She is absolutely world class!

Theatre Review 35 Calamity Jane ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Bristol Hippodrome Saturday 27th September 2025

Theatre Show 35 Show: Calamity Jane Theatre: Bristol Hippodrome

I think it's such a shame that someone (whose theatre content I always really enjoy and who I'm a big fan of) is continuing this week to besmirch the ovation Evita received. That show was flipping awesome and it was a truly magical moment to share that love with the cast and creatives at the end.

I am sorry to have to announce that due to the lack of interest shown by musical theatre composers in writing songs that begin with this particular letter, there will unfortunately be no 'Top __ Favourite 'Q' Songs From Musicals'.

The latest In The Frame podcast with David Hunter is just the best listen. A really captivating and beautiful chat between Andrew and David. Fun, revealing and the perfect platform to confirm what a lovely guy David must be. He's definitely at the top of my list of people I would love to meet.

Top Thirty Favourite 'P' Songs From Musicals

Not much need for me to travel up to London (although I obviously will) in the next twelve months with this superb line-up of shows at Bristol Hippodrome and Theatre Royal, Bath. And the cost of tickets for great seats is very lovely compared with those ludicrous West End prices.