London's West End Wonders
IN WHAT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A PHASE OF WEST END DEBUTS, RECORD SALES AND AWARD-WINNING SHOWS, 2013 HAS BEEN INDISPUTABLY ONE OF THE BEST YEARS YET FOR LONDON'S THEATRE SCENE. WHEN SHOWS ARE SOLD OUT IN ADVANCE AND TICKETS ARE HOT PROPERTY, YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD SHOW. WELCOME THE NEW GOLDEN AGE OF MUSICALS.
The Book of Mormon
Prince of Wales Theatre
Matilda
Cambridge Theatre Inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl, with the play written by Dennis Kelly and original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda is the captivating musical masterpiece from the Royal Shakespeare Company that has captured the imagination of young and old alike, and continues to play to packed houses at London’s Cambridge Theatre. Since its West End opening in October 2011, the show has won over a staggering 25 awards, including every major Best Musical award and seven Olivier Awards. This truly inspiring story of a girl who dares to change her destiny in life is most certainly not one to be missed. www.matildathemusical.com
A religious satire musical that will have you rolling in your seats, the muchhyped Broadway smash, The Book of Mormon, opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London's West End to rave reviews and record sales back in March. The brainchild of South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the all-singing, all-dancing performance sold out shows months in advance and has since been highly praised by critics. With an overwhelmingly positive response and numerous awards, including nine Tony Awards and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album under its belt, this slice of comedic, theatrical brilliance is worth the trip. www.bookofmormonlondon.com
Let It Be
Savoy Theatre Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the world’s most successful rock’n’roll band, live in London’s West End. Let It Be is a spectacular theatrical concert jampacked with forty of The Beatles’ greatest hits. Relive The Beatles’ meteoric rise from their humble beginnings in Liverpool’s Cavern Club, through the heights of Beatlemania, to their later studio masterpieces with live performances of early tracks including “Twist and Shout”, “She Loves You” and “Drive My Car”, as well as global megahits “Yesterday”, “Hey Jude”, “Come Together” and, of course, “Let It Be”. Experience this multimedia-rich electrifying spectacle which takes you back to the magical sixties when all you needed was love, and a little help from your friends! www.letitbelondon.com
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane The summer's hottest theatre debut has to go to the premiere of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory— Roald Dahl's deliciously dark tale of Charlie Bucket and the peculiar, eccentric confectioner Willy Wonka. With a star-studded cast on board and Academy Award-winning ?lm and theatre director Sam Mendes directing, this much-loved classic has welcomed packed audiences night upon