MickeyJoTheatre

In just a few weeks, the West End Theatre community will celebrate the annual Olivier Awards in London, while many of Broadway's most exciting new shows are opening in anticipation of the Tony Awards in New York. Though these two ceremonies and institutions seem to be comparable counterparts, there has always been distinct differences between them, beyond their geography. Today, as a frequent West...

A new revival of the play TEETH N SMILES by David Hare opened earlier this week at the Duke of York's Theatre in the West End. The play, originally seen 50 years ago at the Royal Court, stars Rebecca Lucy Taylor AKA Selfie Esteem as Maggie, the troubled lead singer of a derailing rock band. Check out what Mickey-Jo thought of the play, its captivating central performance, and the creative choices...

When Jessie Buckley won an Oscar earlier this month for her celebrated performance in Hamnet, it reminded Mickey-Jo of the 2008 BBC TV series I'd Do Anything. The programme was a weekly competition in which aspiring performers went head to head to win the role of Nancy in a major West End revival of Oliver! What's fascinating, on reflection, is how many of the show's alumni have gone on to achieve...

Mcikey-Jo recently visited the Omnibus Theatre in Clapham, where a new play SLIPPERY was readying for its final preview performance. Mickey-Jo sat down with one of the play's two cast members, John McCrea, known for his starring role in Everybody's Talking About Jamie as well as his recent appearances in Cabaret and Prince F*ggot, as well as the rising star playwright Louis Emmitt-Stern. Find out...

Over the last week, there has been debate about National press outlets being excluded from the opportunity to review ONE DAY the Musical at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh. The production, which is making its world premiere, is one of a handful that had declined certain critics, alongside The Greatest Showman, and the most recent tours of Legally Blonde, and Kinky Boots. Today, as well as sh...

Over the last week, drama and discourse has surrounded the new UK Tour of Legally Blonde. While the show was in Milton Keynes, leading lady Amber Davies became ongoingly indisposed due to ill health, with the role of Elle Woods being played thereafter by Hannah Lowther. In addition to the sensationalised reporting of this by the tabloids, the show encountered further challenges when several other...

As promised, Mickey-Jo made it to the Bristol Hippodrome to see the first preview performance of the world premiere of THE GREATEST SHOWMAN, finally on stage as a full musical. The show stars Oliver Tompsett as PT Barnum and Samantha Barks as Charity Barnum, with a supporting cast including Ben Joyce, Lorna Courtney, Vajèn van den Bosch, Malinda Parris and more. In lieue of a review, here is what...

Last week the nominations were announced for the 2026 Olivier Awards, celebrating the best of the last year of London Theatre. The most nominated shows this year were Paddington and Into the Woods, with recognition for 1536, Evita, Inter Alia, Punch, Kenrex, Stereophonic, and more. There were, however, some productions, performances and creatives who were snubbed from this year's nominations... ch...

Mickey-Jo recently checked out one of London's most talked about new arrivals, a limited workshop presentation of the new musical MIDNIGHT by Todrick Hall. The musical, written, directed and choreographed by as well as starring Todrick, also featured performers including Rachel Tucker, Marisha Wallace, Jeremy Beloate, Ayana George, Charlotte Jaconelli, and more. Ahead of the show's further develop...

Mickey-Jo's sharing reviews of four plays he's seen in the last couple of weeks in London: • While They Were Waiting at Upstairs at the Gatehouse (★★) • The Manningtree Witches at Mercury Theatre, Colchester (★★★★) • Our Town at Rose Theatre, Kingston (★★★) • Marie and Rosetta at @sohoplace (★★★★) Check out what Mickey-Jo thought of the writing, creative choices, and performances in each! check ou...

The Academy Award nominated actor Timothée Chalamet is currently experiencing backlash after publicly dismissing Opera and Ballet as dying, unpopular artforms. Chalamet, who has previously appeared on stage and worked alongside trained singers and dancers on screen, has since been criticised by major companies worldwide for his thoughtless comments. But what does this tell us about the mainstream...

Mickey-Jo finally had the chance to sit down with multi-hyphenate stage star, social media personality and musical theatre superfan Todrick Hall, ahead of a performance of his new musical, MIDNIGHT. The show, currently concluding a sold out workshop run at Sadler's Wells East, is the second London project which Todrick has appeared in, in addition to serving as writer, director, and choreographer....

On Sunday, London's theatregoers had the unique opportunity to see two different musicals, both offering insight into the backstory of the sea witch from the Little Mermaid. One of these was Unfortunate, a parody musical Mickey-Jo first enjoyed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe which is currently playing at the Other Palace Theatre, and the other was Sea Witch, a brand new musical in concert receiv...

A few days ago, Mickey-Jo bought a ticket to go see the brand new UK Tour of LEGALLY BLONDE at the Southampton Mayflower. The new production of the fan favourite musical, which began performances at Curve Leicester earlier in February, stars Amber Davies as Elle Woods. In this full description of the show (rather than a review at this time), find out what the new production is like, what's been cu...

On Thursday 5th March at 12pm, the nominations for the 2026 Olivier Awards will be announced, celebrating the best of the last year of London Theatre. In today's video, Mickey-Jo and his stagey fiancé Aeron James are predicting which shows, performers and creatives might be nominated amidst a hugely busy year that included the likes of Paddington the Musical, Evita, All My Sons, 1536, Inter Alia,...

With theatre fans once again talking about stunt casting, it's finally time to have a robust conversation about the controversial topic. From Whitney Leavitt in Chicago on Broadway to Natalie Bassingthwaite in the Australian premiere of Waitress, there are plenty of current examples of the practice which have been come under criticism. check out Mickey-Jo's brand new substack newsletter: www.micke...

Mickey-Jo is sharing reviews of four plays he's seen in the last couple of weeks in London: • Shadowlands, by William Nicholson at the Aldwych Theatre • Deep Azure, by Chadwick Boseman at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare's Globe • Guess How Much I Love You?, by Luke Norris at the Royal Court Theatre • Man and Boy, by Terence Rattigan at the Dorfman Theatre at the National Theatre Check o...

It was recently announced that Jamie Lloyd's acclaimed production of William Shakespeare’s MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING will transfer to Broadway in the next season later this year. The production, which will once again star Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell, will play at an as yet unannounced theatre, and is rumoured to be a precursor to the much talked about Broadway transfer of Evita starring Rachel Z...

Mickey-Jo was recently invited to attend a gala night at the West End production of CABARET, currently running at the Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre in London. The production, which has been directed by Rebecca Frecknall and originally starred Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley has recently welcomed new stars Matt Willis (Waitress, Little Shop of Horrors) and Katie Hall (Les Misérables, The...

It was announced yesterday that a stage play based on the stories by George RR Martin, a prequel to Game of Thrones, would receive its world premiere this Summer at the Royal Shakespeare Company. The play, titled Game of Thrones: The Mad King, will debut in Stratford Upon Avon, with full details to be confirmed, and will be written by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke. Check out Micke...

One of the most anticipated West End productions of 2026 has finally arrived, as Dracula starring Cynthia Erivo opened last night at the Noël Coward Theatre in London. The production, which has already been seen in Australia, has been adapted and directed by Kip Williams and comes on the heels of his previous staging of The Picture of Dorian Gray starring Sarah Snook. The production has divided cr...

One of the most anticipated West End productions of 2026 has finally arrived, as Dracula starring Cynthia Erivo opens tonight at the Noel Coward Theatre in London. The production, which has already been seen in Australia, will be adapted and directed by Kip Williams and comes on the heels of his previous staging of The Picture of Dorian Gray starring Sarah Snook. Check out this full review to find...

There has recently been a lot of online conversation about a couple of new stage productions in the UK, both of which were, at the time, in previews. The online criticism of early performances of Dracula starring Cynthia Erivo, and curtain call footage of Legally Blonde on tour starring Amber Davies has reignited the debate about whether or not a show's earliest performances should be criticised....

One of the most celebrated plays of the 20th century, and perhaps the finest work of Tom Stoppard, Arcadia, has recently returned to the stage in a new production at the Old Vic Theatre. This revival, opening only a few months after the celebrated playwright's passing, is directed by Carrie Cracknell. Check out Mickey-Jo's thoughts on the lauded play, its mathematical complexities, and this new pr...

Less than a year after it arrived in the West End, it has been announced that Disney's HERCULES will conclude its run in London. This perhaps surprising news has invited speculation as to why the popular show is ending so soon, and which show might be next at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane? Is this the soon to be announced West End home of THE GREATEST SHOWMAN, or is Broadway going to be that musical's...