In 2013 I was absolutely blown away by Thom Southerland’s dazzling chamber version of the musical Titanic. However his Grand Hotel last year was a disappointment. I was therefore hoping he would be back on form with the UK premiere of the cult Broadway musical Grey Gardens. Sadly this is a weakly cast, and sloppily directed production of a show that is desperate for both real star wattage and clever direction if it is going to succeed.
Theatre News and Reviews
15 Jan
Reviews 
Review: Grey Gardens at the Southwark Playhouse
By Davor Golub Friday, January 15 2016, 16:23
15 Jan
News 
Making Brecht Topical
By Phil Willmott Friday, January 15 2016, 11:00
For once I'm writing about one of my own productions that I hope you'll come to see.
It's a revival I've directed at the Union Theatre of the rather grim sounding FEAR AND MISERY OF THE THIRD REICH. It is in fact a surprisingly funny play written in the early 1930s which is proving to be very relevant to today.
15 Jan
News
Enjoy some great performances at the National Theatre AND raise money for Syria
By Phil Willmott Friday, January 15 2016, 10:40
I recently heard from the actress Emma Manton about the chance for you to enjoy a no doubt superb afternoon at the National Theatre and raise money for a good cause.
She writes “the refugee crisis of last summer and autumn exposed a humanitarian disaster in Syria and huge suffering elsewhere in the middle east. And it's far from over. I've organised a star-studded benefit performance on the afternoon of Valentine's Day (Sunday 14 February) at the Lyttleton Theatre. All of the proceeds will go to the United Nations relief agency (the UNHCR). It's a great and important cause: do please buy a ticket or tickets if you can”.
13 Jan
News
Daddy’s Back!
By Phil Willmott Wednesday, January 13 2016, 21:30
It’s been announced that Florian Zeller’s smart and clever little play THE FATHER about an elderly dad loosing his mind is to return to the West End for five weeks prior to a tour.
Last years run at the Wyndham’s theatre was a massive box-office hit which only goes to show that serious drama can sell tickets if it’s got a big star in the lead and can capture the public and critic's hearts.
13 Jan
News
Will London theatregoers stay 'Friends' with Matthew Perry?
By Phil Willmott Wednesday, January 13 2016, 15:06
Is anyone looking forward to THE END OF LONGING, the new play by and starring Matthew Perry who found fame, many years ago as the handsome Chandler in TV’s FRIENDS?
Candid shots of him on the streets of London cruelly suggest his good looks are long gone and these days he’s a bloated figure with receding hair. Nothing wrong with that, age is tough on everyone but with young Matthew Perry on our TV’s in reruns of the 1990 sitcom every single day there are likely to be people disappointed that today’s Matthew Perry looks like he might have eaten Chandler.
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