Phil Willmott
07 Dec
Reviews 
Review: WONDER.LAND at the National Theatre
By Phil Willmott Monday, December 7 2015, 13:47
Older audiences and critics were rather underwhelmed by this massive new show, inspired by the classic children’s book ALICE IN WONDERLAND, when it premièred in Manchester earlier this year. It has now transferred to London's Oliver Theatre and if the enthusiasm of the younger audience members at the late preview I attended is anything to go by, it could prove a massive hit if it can reach the urban teenage audience it’s aimed at.
07 Dec
Reviews
Review: FUNNY GIRL at the Menier Chocolate Factory
By Phil Willmott Monday, December 7 2015, 10:57
FUNNY GIRL is a Broadway musical written in the early 1960s by the same composer as GYPSY, Julie Styne.
Like GYPSY it’s set backstage, in the bygone variety theatre of the early 1900s. It’s the story of how a young comedienne, Fanny Brice, used her gift for comedy and her unusual looks to become a massive star in the Follies, a popular entertainment of the day which predominantly featured identical, beautiful girls moving in simple unison around a spectacular set.
04 Dec
News
Jake and Elwood get Festive at the Arts Theatre
By Phil Willmott Friday, December 4 2015, 11:37
I was very disappointed that heavy traffic prevented me from attending the press night of THE BLUES BROTHERS: XMAS SPECIAL at the Arts Theatre last night. It sounds great fun.
THE BLUES BROTHERS of course was a 1980 American musical crime comedy film directed by John Landis. It stared John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as "Joliet" Jake and Elwood Blues, characters developed from "The Blues Brothers" musical sketch on the NBC variety series SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.
29 Nov
News
Brush up on your Pantomime knowledge for London's Christmas theatre
By Phil Willmott Sunday, November 29 2015, 20:43
If you're British you probably know that the UK's traditional Christmas theatre is Pantomime. It's a multi-million pound industry, most theatres which don't house long running shows will present one, most kids will have been taken to such a show and many grow up taking their own off-spring to a pantomime every Christmas too.
If you're not from the UK you'll be forgiven for finding the whole thing baffling. There's no mime involved, as foreigners often assume. Instead it's a staging of one of around 6 children's stories but presented using a host of conventions which have become traditional, the origins of which are lost back in the mists of time.
28 Nov
News
Discover more about the children's author with two current hit West End musicals
By Phil Willmott Saturday, November 28 2015, 12:35
When we think of writers who have multiple shows running in the West End at the same time we tend to think of Shakespeare, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Alan Aykbourn and Noel Coward but a much loved children's author is currently catching them up.
The books of Roald Dahl are enjoying a whole new lease of theatrical life thanks to the efforts of agent Mel Kenyon who looks after the deceased writers legacy.
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