Phil Willmott
20 Oct
News 
West End and Broadway Stars, up Close, in Cabaret
By Phil Willmott Tuesday, October 20 2015, 11:14
In the 1960's many people's idea of a swanky night out in the West End was watching acts in chic little nightclub cabaret rooms.
The tradition is enjoying a resurgence thanks to two very smart venues around Leicester Square. There's an elegant lounge in the Hippodrome Casino but my favourite is the Crazy Coqs cabaret room, in a side street off Piccadilly Circus.
20 Oct
News
Take a chance on Showstopper!
By Phil Willmott Tuesday, October 20 2015, 09:24
We have some great offers at the moment to see 
Showstopper!, the West End's "improvised musical" show.
I know the producers were very nervous about launching it and the challenges of both getting people to understand what the show entails and enticing them to book. So if you're one of those people that's hesitated over whether it's for you or not I'd like to try and answer any concerns you may have because you're missing a treat.
12 Oct
Reviews
Review MEASURE FOR MEASURE at the Young Vic
By Phil Willmott Monday, October 12 2015, 09:53
In my favourite Shakespeare play, the subtle, complex and troubling MEASURE FOR MEASURE, Vienna is in a state of lawlessness and immorality. In Joe Hill-Gibbins production for the Young Vic this is represented by a huge pile of blow up sex dolls.
The Duke decides to travel, disguised as a friar, amongst the people to understand them a little better whilest he leaves a strict disciplinarian, Angelo to enforce harsh laws curbbing the city's excess. Angelo's reighn is represented by clearing away the dolls to leave a bleakly lit, empty space with unadorned cheap wooden panels.
12 Oct
Reviews
Review of THE FATHER at the Wyndham’s Theatre
By Phil Willmott Monday, October 12 2015, 08:52
Authors often write a programme notes to explain their hopes for their piece but I’ve never read one that clarifies so precisely the intentions behind a play as writer Florian Zeller’s concise summary of his objectives with THE FATHER.
It concerns a Parisian senior, Andre (beautifully played by national treasure Kenneth Cranham) who has a series of encounters that quickly begin to defy logic.
09 Oct
Reviews
Review: THE WARS OF THE ROSES at The Rose Theatre in Kingston
By Phil Willmott Friday, October 9 2015, 09:21
In the early nineteen sixties, according to the programme, celebrated Shakespeare directors John Barton and Peter Hall tied them selves up in knots and reached the point of nervous breakdown over adapting Shakespeare's HENRY VI trilogy into two plays.
I'm not quite sure why. I've adapted and directed them twice and although it's challenging it's not exactly working down a coal mine. Anyway they tacked a production of RICHARD III on the end, historically England’s next monarch and a continuation of the story.
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