James Tradgett

See it if you love a good score, fantastic acting and singing, and a thoroughly profound and relevant storyline

Don't see it if you don't enjoy heavier and more serious subject matter being addressed

Also in a world where there is so much darkness and issues with mental health, this show provides some much needed solace, as even though it deals with some really heavy hitting issues, it still managed to retain a degree of positivity, and warms the heart whilst simultaneously shattering it to pieces. It has some of the best original songs and one of the best original storylines in recent theatrical history, and the cast are all absolutely fantastic, whether you get all main cast or an understudy or two, you are guaranteed amazing individual and collective performances.... Read more Read less

See it if you love great, well written theatre, performed excellent

Don't see it if N/A: there is no reason to not see this

Also wherever you see this musical it is utterly wonderful, but if you are able to get a ticket for where it all started, you simply must see Hamilton on Broadway!... Read more Read less

See it if you love a show that looks incredible and aren't fazed by a weak storyline or a mediocre score

Don't see it if you want a well written story or score

Also the first thing that comes to mind with this show is "style over substance", everything about this show visually is stunning, the entire auditorium is decked out to look like a fancy Parisian nightclub, they really went all out on the set and costume design; the big problem with this musical is that the soundtrack is pretty much made up of pop songs randomly stitched together without any kind of care or attention, and the plot is so paper thin it's a wonder they manage to eke it out to 2 and a half hours. On top of the visuals, the cast really are what carry this show, the individual and collective performances are excellent, just a shame that in terms of substantial content this show leaves a lot to be desired.... Read more Read less

See it if you are a Disney fan, or love impressive staging, set, costume and sound design, as well as great individual and collective performances

Don't see it if you aren't a fan of family shows, or audiences than don't know how to shut up

Also I often say about Disney that their shows are always going to be extremely impressive in terms of staging, costumes, sound, casts, etc, because they have the big budget to make these productions, so for the price of the ticket you're getting more than your money's worth. And what more can you say about Frozen that hasn't been said? It's a cultural phenomenon, and whilst the staged production is pretty close to the original film from 2013, the new songs added to the score manage to keep it feeling fresh. And the performances from the entire cast, especially Sam Barks, Stephanie McKeon and Craig Gallivan, are absolutely fantastic. I'm not going to pretend it's a masterclass in musical theatre writing, because it is what it is, a staged adaptation of a Disney film, however that doesn't stop this being a thoroughly entertaining and engaging piece of stage magic. Main down side of this is that it's possibly one of the worst audiences you can be part of, so little theatre etiquette!... Read more Read less

See it if you like a really engaging soundtrack with some brilliant songs, a phenomenal cast, and beautiful staging

Don't see it if you aren't a fan of loud bangs and flashing lights

Also this might be one of the strongest London casts I have ever seen, Frances McCann in particular is an absolute star and I hope we see more of her in future after this closes; also a massive fan of Natalie McQueen who is incredible as Blanche, hilarious with so much sass, but also knows how to act seriously. The singing, oh my goodness, is also some of the best in a West End show that I have seen, two highlights are McCann singing "How About a Dance" so beautifully, and Jordan Luke Gage absolutely killing it in "Raise a Little Hell". My only complaint is that I wish the run was longer so I could have another chance to see it again!... Read more Read less

See it if you like theatre that's a bit out there and unusual, as well as a diverse and vibrant cast who do their absolute best

Don't see it if you're looking for some kind of narrative and directorial masterpiece, or a plot that makes any kind of sense

Also upon viewing this it becomes clear that there was a reason this was such a broadway flop for Sondheim in the late 60s, the well written soundtrack can't save this show from the fact that the plot is rather confusing and unengaging, and which is sad because it has potential to be really great, it just kind of feels like Sondheim's heart wasn't really in it when he first wrote it.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to laugh, enjoy good singing and dancing, and don’t mind a little edgy humour

Don't see it if you’re easily offended

Also over ten years later the Book of Mormon still remains one of the funniest musicals ever created, it’s steeped in realism with regards to the religion itself, but doesn’t take itself too seriously, and feels more like a satirical tribute to the church of Latter Day Saints, as opposed to explicitly making fun of it. Also having Robert Lopez as the primary composer was a master stroke, the guy knows how to write a damn good musical soundtrack, combined with Stone and Parker’s collective wit, and that’s a winning combination. Perhaps my only criticism is that a couple of jokes feel slightly dated, even by this point, but if you enter expecting to be offended then that’s what you’ll get, this is a show to be taken with a pinch of salt, and a highly enjoyable one at that.... Read more Read less

See it if you want a fantastic original score, heartwarming true stories in the face of tragedy, and a hugely talented cast all playing multiple roles

Don't see it if N/A

Also in the face of real tragedy, uncertainty and fear, Come From Away provides some much needed solace, it displays the very best of humanity, and how our race can come together and lift each other up in spite of all of the misery the world can sometimes deliver. This show is a true masterpiece, the minimal staging is utilised expertly, the cast, as well as being phenomenal singers, are all able to portray several different characters within the space of the hour and a half run time, but what I perhaps love most is the fact that the band feel like part of the story, rather than being a separate entity, making this feel like a full on ensemble piece. I haven’t met a single person who doesn’t like this production, and for very good reason, this is simply a must-see!... Read more Read less

See it if you like Alexandra Burke

Don't see it if you like good theatre

Also it’s beyond me why Alexandra Burke keeps getting cast when there are so many better options, Burke is not a theatre performer, she’s a pop star who keeps getting cast simply to boost ticket sales, she can’t act, and her singing is bang average. As for the show itself, the soundtrack is boring and simplistic, the story is dull, and even with it’s fairly short length it still feels too long.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy fun music, a party atmosphere, and female empowerment being at the forefront

Don't see it if you’re looking a thorough and well rounded narrative, or any form of high-art.

Also worth mentioning is that it’s not REALLY a “musical” by the traditional and well-established definition of the genre, it is a show for certain, but not sure you could say it’s a musical in its purest form. And though Six is never going to be anywhere near as much of a phenomenon as Hamilton, West Side Story or Phantom, it still makes for a thoroughly entertaining 90 minutes or so, each queen has a story to tell, and culminate in a reimagining of how their stories could have ended. The big appeal is the queens themselves, and their individual and collective charms, they emanate extremely distinctive, individual personalities, both in their acting choices and the song each sings during the show. It isn’t a masterpiece by any stretch, but it will certainly entertain and amuse you.... Read more Read less

See it if you love theatre

Don't see it if N/A: there is no reason not to see this

Also I don’t think there’s any doubt that this is a masterclass in writing, staging, direction, orchestration, lighting, set and costume design, and just theatrical execution in general, even if you don’t know anything about the story of America’s founding, you will leave wanting to learn more, with the delightful side effect of having the many fantastic songs stuck in your head.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy Sondheim, stories about being in your mid-30s, or a good laugh

Don't see it if you’re confused by too many story threads overlapping, and can’t keep up with clever, fast paced lyrics

See it if you don’t mind a production that’s visually appealing and well performed, but aren’t bothered by a mediocre score

Don't see it if you hate Lloyd Webber, boring narratives or productions lacking in substance

Also the problem with Phantom, aside from it having a fairly unengaging soundtrack, is that it has a horribly dated plot, and relies too heavily on its extravagant staging, set design, costumes, sound design, and anything else that on the surface seems like it would make an impressive piece of theatre. I won’t lie, the show entertained me, but it felt very much style over substance, which I feel is fairly typical of Andrew Lloyd Webber, but I suppose if you have the budget to have such impressive set designs, costumes, actors and singers, etc, who needs a good score right?... Read more Read less

See it if you are a fan of the film, and don’t mind a little campiness, as it’s very faithful to the source material

Don't see it if you’re looking for a piece of “high art” or a theatrical masterpiece.

Also first and foremost, the most prominent fan base of this musical will be those who love the film, that said though it was absolutely the right call to have Zemeckis, Gale and Silvestri on board for this project. The biggest positive of this show is the staging, costumes, set design and tech, I don’t think I’ve ever seen better technical set pieces than I did with the scenes with the DeLorean, pure theatre magic that will simultaneously have you scratching your head and standing in applause. The soundtrack, although not the most memorable, is well written and great fun, and fabulously well executed by the live orchestra. I’m not going to sit here and tell you it’s one of the best musicals ever written, however you can’t deny it’s absolutely an achievement in theatre, and definitely worth checking out if you can.... Read more Read less

See it if You love theatre, or music, or being entertained in any way!

Don't see it if You hate theatre, or music, or being entertained in any way!

Also Few pieces of art have ever had such a profound effect on me, I don’t think there’s a single thing about this show I don’t like, the soundtrack and score are just phenomenal, the set, lighting, sound and costume design are all fabulous, the reimagining of the Ancient Greek love story is genius, I adore the diversity of the cast all around, and that the story both manages to remain relevant and be faithful to the source material. I simply can’t think of the words to describe how much I adore this show, so much that after seeing it for the first time, I immediately got a ticket for the following day to see it again! If you haven’t had the utter pleasure and privilege of experiencing this masterpiece, you simply have to grab yourself tickets!... Read more Read less

See it if You are a fan of Hugh Jackman, of great dancing from the ensemble, or highly impressive child performers.

Don't see it if You are looking for a perfect revival of a beloved classic

Also I think that, although they charm individually and collectively, Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster are far from their best in this revival, Jackman’s dancing isn’t as refined as many of his co-stars, and Foster’s voice I don’t think is suited to the role of Marian, nowhere near as full bodied as her predecessors. I also think this revival relies too heavily on the stature of its two leads, rather than letting the production speak for itself, I reckon if they had got a duo more along the lines of Stephen Pasquale and Sierra Boggess it would have been a far more solid showing all around, rather than having Jackman and Foster largely relying on their supporting cast to essentially support them. That's not to say this isn't a thoroughly joyful and entertaining piece of theatre though, because I did have a fantastic time throughout watching this!... Read more Read less