Well Spook at the London Performance Studio is a hoot! Very funny and ripe for a full-on production if you ask me! Nice to see @thisisAlanTurk in full-on frustrated cleric mode!

So many worthy nominees on here. It’s going to be a tough call.

Or just have an adventure of your own. The energy of the Fringe is still amazing and the beauty of this city, inspirational. The Stage team Natasha Tripney Lyn Gardner, Fergus Morgan and Rachel Chambers have all helped me navigate my 10th year at the Ed Fringe, for which I am eternally grateful.

Heading home from the Ed Fringe. As ever, it’s been a real adventure. The Fringe continues for another week, so these shows were favourites :- Footballer’s Wives - The Musical Hot Mess DYKE Systems Ltd Jeezus!! No Apologies A Jaffa Cake Musical Orpheus Jonny Woo: Suburbia Edie Dreamscape

Actual footage of me today…

I have arrived in Edinburgh, after a mercifully easy journey. Lovely staff on the @lner.co.uk Now waiting for the keys to the flat. Can’t wait to unpack and head out. It’s a three-show day today.

Wow! Tonight I’m going to be back from the theatre on the same day that I left the house. Just. That’s a first this week!

In what has been an eventful couple of weeks, I’m heading out to Chichester now for Top Hat. It’s certainly Cheek To Cheek on this train!

I really loved this show. It had such a great energy to it.

Mmmm. This is ‘a 3 show day across town at the Edinburgh Fringe’ weather!

I really didn’t like Jamie Lloyd’s Sunset Boulevard and will bore many generations as to why. But in my opinion Evita is a very different kettle of fish. A modern envisioning of the concept album with a stunning lead in Rachel Zegler. Brilliant work! Go see, or join the descamisados on the streets!

I thought this was an incredible production

Legging it down the the @watermilltheatre.bsky.social for the other big Webber/Rice opening of the week. I first saw Jesus Christ, Superstar at the Palace on a church trip in the 1970s. My first West End show.

This afternoon I have landed in Manchester for a matinee performance of Come Fall In Love . Sorry Manchester. Too late :-)

Well The Empire Strips Back is completely nuts. Who knew that the Emperor Palpatine dancing naked on a glitter-studded Death Star to Wrecking Ball was what I needed?

Tonight I’m heading to @riversidelondon.bsky.social for a little culture. The Empire Strips Back - a burlesque based on the Star Wars franchise. I’ve got a very good feeling about this.

Playing catch-up following the nuptials - should be back on track next week.

At Reading Rep tonight for Three Hens In A Boat. A distaff update on Jerome K Jerome and a collab between the Rep and @watermilltheatre.bsky.social

Thoroughly enjoyed The Gang Of Three @kingsheadtheatre.bsky.social last night. A romp through 70s politics as seen through the eyes of Labour bigwigs Healey, Crossland and Jenkins. Lots of laughs along the way and yes, MPs are still arguing over the same stuff.

So here is our wedding day cocktail. The Lavender Marriage - 30ml Parfait Amour topped up with Prosecco, garnished with a band of gold.

Happy May Day

The Salty Brine 50ml London Dry Gin 20ml Lillet Blanc 10ml Fino Sherry Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a large cocktail olive - two if you've had to skip lunch for a late matinee.

This looks hilarious!

There’s lots to love about Clueless - The Musical, not least Emma Flynn’s golden turn as protagonist Cher.

Have to say I am very excited about this new season @watermilltheatre.bsky.social

Wow! Get along to the @ThePleasance to see what @RelishTheatre are up to. Exciting, thought provoking writing, told with imagination. So much talent and promise on stage. Even being showered with jizz by a drag king didn’t put me off this gig!

Back at the coal face tonight after a few theatre-lite weeks. Off to the @watermilltheatre.bsky.social for a new play from Hislop & Newman. I sense that the ‘between-the-war’ politician might be pretty familiar.

Watched Conclave last night. Very good indeed. I imagine it’ll be a stage play before too long.

Just back from a trip to the Opera House, Manchester. Fantastic to see the Watermill’s production of Calamity Jane seamlessly translate to the larger stage.

With the wonderful @NatashaTripney tonight for the hilarious One Man Musical @ubsoho - made a rookie mistake by sitting in the front row. At least I can say I danced on the Raymond Revue Bar stage and kept my clothes on! Other than some dodgy choreography, the show was a hoot!

The Stage Awards 2025 - Winners announced Read more: www.westendtheatre.com/271071/ The Stage has revealed the winners of its annual The Stage Awards 2025, at the Royal Opera House in London Congrats to all of this year's winners and nominees #TheStageAwards

#TheStageAwards would not be possible without our amazing sponsors. A huge shout out to: Harlequin Floors, TAIT, 3MillsStudios, Charcoalblue, @concordshows.bsky.social, @moorekingstonsmith.bsky.social, encore, Cabbells, Plann, and of course our headline sponsor, Tysers Live ⭐

A very different evening at The Stage Awards - all the same buzz and so many familiar faces. Congratulations to the hosts, nominees and winners @thestage.bsky.social

Looking forward to The Stage Awards tomorrow.

Will the detective investigating your murder be sad?

Wow! The Employees at the Southbank was a blast! Would have wandered more but concerned I’d miss something vital in the subtitles. 2001 meets Bladerunner at a rave! Part disturbing, utterly fascinating.

It’s been quite a busy January already, concentrating on a commission and preparing some new pieces for later in the year. Tonight I’m diving into the thick of it with a play in Polish at the Southbank Centre called The Employees.

www.thestage.co.uk/features/the... loving this list. A little ‘whoop’ everytime I come across a name or team I’ve made a connection with.

paulvale126.wordpress.com/2025/01/06/m... A few thoughts and observations on my panto season last year.

Very nerve wracking time in the loft today working on a commission. Satisfying but had to keep telling myself to breathe. Thank goodness for scented candles and BBC Focus Beats.

Tonight not only did the person sitting next to me sing along, she filmed several musical numbers until the usher stopped her. Then, for the post-curtain mega-mix, she turned her back to the stage so she could film herself singing along. Had better audience behaviour at a children’s panto matinee!

Heading off to my last pantomime of the season, making a personal record of 24 for the 2024/5. It’s press night at Cliffs Pavillions with Jack & The Beanstalk.

Thanks to pantomime 2024 I now know how to spell Hot To Go.

Very pleased and surprised that although Fairfield’s Snow White features a whirlwind romance, at least the Prince and Snow White get to tell it properly themselves.

As my panto season draws to a close (3 left to do) I have started drawing up a list of trends. We used to compare notes on which song would inevitably feature, but this is much broader.

"The Story of Panto with Gyles Brandreth” will be showing on Sunday 15th December at 7pm on Sky Arts. I may well be on it. Sky Arts is available on Freeview on channel 36.

I modelled at work today for a Hair Laying Course. Fascinating method and a glimpse in to my day job.

Happy National Panto Day 🤩 Are you seeing any pantomimes this Christmas? Let us know which ones are on your list. Catch up on all of The Stage's 2024 panto reviews so far here: www.thestage.co.uk/reviews?utm_...

The biggie tonight. Robin Hood at the London Palladium.