The Hobbit was great, especially Mr Bilbo Baggins, played by Peter Howe, who was amazing. I like the way he talks and acts, I don’t know how he does it. I know one thing, I could never do anything like that. He is my favourite character. He is really funny.

Gandalf, played by Christopher Robbie, was outstanding. I was shot down when he did his magic – it was brilliant!!
Gollum, played by Antony Gabriel, was really scary. Gollum is a slimy, creepy creature who was once a hobbit. I can’t believe that ring changed Gollum into that slimy, smelly monster.

I know many different versions of this story, for example The Hobbit book, the CD story and they are also making a film. This play was another great way of telling the story, written by JRR Tolkein.

At the end of the story, Thorin, played by Andrew Coppin, started to get obsessed with the treasure. It’s good to remember Thorin’s story: do not get obsessed with treasure otherwise something bad will always happen to you!!

All in all a very, very brilliant play – it was an AMAZING, GENIUS, OUTSTANDING play. The only way to improve it would be to make it a tiny bit shorter.

Find out if it is coming to a theatre near you!

These productions are opening this week.

All’s Well That Ends Well
Showing at National Theatre Olivier
Opening Night: 28 May 2009
Sexism, snobbery and inter-generational battles in Shakespeare’s bittersweet tale.

Amongst Friends
Showing at Hampstead Theatre
Opening Night: 26 May 2009
A darkly comic social satire about people living in ‘gated communities’

Andy Zaltzman: Answers The Five Or Six Most Important Questions In The World
Showing at Soho Theatre
Opening Night: 29 May 2009
Andy Zaltzman, one of Britain’s leading 34-year-old political comedians, returns to Soho theatre to confront the biggest questions facing the world.

Aunt Dan And Lemon
Showing at Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Downstairs
Opening Night: 27 May 2009
Jane Horrocks leads the cast of this tale of the people who influence us and the dark side of nostalgia.

Bern:Ballett – Wuthering Heights
Showing at Linbury Studio (Royal Opera House)
Opening Night: 27 May 2009
The UK premiere of Cathy Marston’s ballet inspired by the famous Brontë novel.

Bruno Beltrão: H3
Showing at Sadler’s Wells
Opening Night: 29 May 2009
Brazilian hip hop choreographer Bruno Beltrão makes his Sadler’s Wells debut.

Collaboration
Showing at Duchess Theatre
Opening Night: 27 May 2009
A new play about the conflict between art and politics in the Second World War, written as a companion piece to Taking Sides. 

Cosi Fan Tutte
Showing at London Coliseum
Opening Night: 29 May 2009
Mozart’s comic opera is given a period setting in this new production. 

Feedback
Showing at artsdepot
Opening Night: 30 May 2009
Musical show for children featuring clowning, comedy and audience participation.

Feedback
Showing at Hackney Empire
Opening Night: 28 May 2009
A magical interactive show for children which makes music out of ordinary objects.

Foreplay
Showing at Stratford East, Theatre Royal
Opening Night: 26 May 2009
An adaptation of La Ronde, updating the action to contemporary South Africa obsessed with sex and violence.

Isy Suttie: The Suttie Show
Showing at Soho Theatre
Opening Night: 29 May 2009
The versatile musical comedian Isy Suttie brings her sell-out 2008 Edinburgh show to Soho.

Jesus The Wasted Years
Showing at Old Red Lion Theatre
Opening Night: 28 May 2009
Comedic play about the ultimate dysfunctional family of God.

LazyTown Live! – The Pirate Adventure
Showing at Hammersmith Apollo
Opening Night: 29 May 2009
Swashbuckling fun for all the family starring the CBBC’s UK cast.

Lily And The Magical Moonbeam
Showing at Greenwich Theatre
Opening Night: 30 May 2009
A bewitching tale about true friendship based on the popular children’s book by Stephen Gulbis.

The Little Mermaid
Showing at Greenwich Theatre
Opening Night: 29 May 2009
Enter a world where man and woman do not walk with legs but swim with tails…

Naked Boys Singing 2009
Showing at King’s Head Theatre
Opening Night: 29 May 2009
Cabaret show celebrating the glories of the naked male body.

Sandra Bernhard:Without You I’m Nothing
Showing at Leicester Square Theatre
Opening Night: 26 May 2009
Tenth anniversary tour of the outrageous and controversial American comedy icon Sandra Bernhard.

Scott Capurro: Goes Much Deeper
Showing at Soho Theatre
Opening Night: 25 May 2009
Leave it to shock comic Scott Capurro to ask the tough questions everyone wonders about, but never brings up.

The Sun Dragon
Showing at Lyric Hammersmith Studio
Opening Night: 26 May 2009
The adventures of Jacob, a boy who dreams of flying.

Taking Sides
Showing at Duchess Theatre
Opening Night: 27 May 2009
The first of two plays about the conflict between art and politics during the Second World War.

Toby Hadoke: Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf
Showing at Greenwich Theatre
Opening Night: 28 May 2009
This Edinburgh Festival hit sees comedian Hadoke chart the rise, fall and rise again of a TV legend and a personal passion.

The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Showing at Landor Theatre
Opening Night: 29 May 2009
The spirited tale of a real-life American legend who survived the sinking of the Titanic and rose from impoverished beginnings to the highest echelons of society.

A View From The Bridge
Showing at Richmond Theatre
Opening Night: 26 May 2009
Lindsay Posner’s production comes to Richmond theatre as part of a UK tour following its West End success.

Voice Of The Heart: Karen Carpenter
Showing at Greenwich Theatre
Opening Night: 31 May 2009
A two hour show recreating and celebrating the music of The Carpenters.

The Voice Of Tomorrow
Showing at Bloomsbury Theatre
Opening Night: 28 May 2009
A three-day search to find the new voice of musical theatre.

YarnBards
Showing at Udderbelly
Opening Night: 29 May 2009
Improvised family comedy for ages 7 to 107.

Opening 11th-17th May 2009

These productions are opening this week.

Boo
Showing at Oval House ?
Opening Night: 13 May 2009?
Ever wondered what it’s like to get away with murder??

The Doorbells of Florence?
Showing at Rosemary Branch Theatre ?
Opening Night: 15 May 2009?
Adapted from an award-winning book, two unnamed storytellers take you on a journey through a strange and mystical Italian city.?

Duet For One ?
Showing at Vaudeville Theatre ?
Opening Night: 12 May 2009?
Juliet Stevenson and Henry Goodman star as client and psychiatrist in this two-hander first seen at the Almeida.?

L’Elisir D’Amore ?
Showing at Royal Opera House ?
Opening Night: 12 May 2009?
The Royal Opera’s revival of L’Elisir D’Amore provides a delightful evening of charm and good humour.?

If That’s All There Is
Showing at Lyric Hammersmith Studio
Opening Night: 12 May 2009
A mini-epic about our obsession with finding happiness.

Jan Ravens – A Funny Look At Impressions
Showing at artsdepot
Opening Night: 14 May 2009
Solo stage debut of the famous impressionist.

Kirsten And Kurt
Showing at Bloomsbury Theatre
Opening Night: 15 May 2009
Kirsten Schall and Kurt Braunohler return to London with their 2008 if.comedy award-nominated show.

The Little Mermaid
Showing at Stratford Circus
Opening Night: 16 May 2009
Hans Christian Anderson’s tale of the mermaid desperate to be a part of the human world.

More Light
Showing at Arcola Theatre
Opening Night: 15 May 2009
Poetic play that delves beyond the British Museums’s popular exhibition, past the Terracotta Army and into the inner tomb of China’s “First Emperor”.

New Work In The Linbury
Showing at Linbury Studio (Royal Opera House)
Opening Night: 14 May 2009
Thought-provoking and imaginative new works choreographed by young dancers from within the Royal Ballet.

Ordinary Dreams
Showing at Trafalgar Studios 2
Opening Night: 14 May 2009
A pertinent new comedy about middle-aged anxiety in a time of recession and ASBOs.

Painting A Wall
Showing at Finborough Theatre
Opening Night: 12 May 2009
Play about a group of South African painters living under apartheid rule in Cape Town in 1970.

Pictures From An Exhibition
Showing at Young Vic
Opening Night: 13 May 2009
A new dance theatre piece set to Modest Mussorgsky’s classic piano suite.

Rambert Dance Company
Showing at Sadler’s Wells
Opening Night: 12 May 2009
Rambert Dance Company’s spring visit to Sadler’s Wells features two very diverse London premieres; Christopher Bruce’s Hush and Itzik Galili’s A Linha Curva.

Rob Brydon Live!
Showing at Apollo Theatre
Opening Night: 11 May 2009
The star of Gavin And Stacey and Marion And Geoff bring his own inimitable stand up show to London.

tick… tick… BOOM!
Showing at Duchess Theatre
Opening Night: 13 May 2009
Jonathan Larson’s autobiographical musical about his struggle to be accepted as a new musical voice.

These productions are opening this week.

Waiting For Godot
Showing at Haymarket, Theatre Royal
Opening Night: 06 May 2009
Beckett’s famous play starring Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart

The Winslow Boy
Showing at Rose Theatre, Kingston
Opening Night: 07 May 2009
A powerful drama about a father’s attempt to clear his son’s name.

Seven Other Children
Showing at New End Theatre
Opening Night: 06 May 2009
Theatrical response to Seven Jewish Children by Caryl Churchill, which caused such controversy at the Royal Court in February.

Paul Merton’s Silent Clowns
Showing at Hackney Empire
Opening Night: 10 May 2009
Comedian Merton shares his love of silent comedy in this witty, enlightening show.

Peter Grimes
Showing at London Coliseum
Opening Night: 09 May 2009
Britten’s astonishing 1945 masterpiece

The Mozart Question
Showing at artsdepot
Opening Night: 09 May 2009
New dramatisation from the author of War Horse about a violinist who tells the story of his Jewish parents lives as prisoners of war.

Monsters
Showing at Arcola Theatre
Opening Night: 08 May 2009
Poetic play that explores the events surrounding the killing of toddler James Bulger in February 1993.

The Last 5 Years
Showing at Duchess Theatre
Opening Night: 07 May 2009
Jason Robert Brown’s musical following a five year relationship told both chronologically and from back to front.

The Frontline
Showing at Globe Theatre
Opening Night: 08 May 2009
Ché Walker’s tale of life outside Camden tube returns to Shakespeare’s Globe for a second season.

The Frog Princess
Showing at artsdepot
Opening Night: 10 May 2009
Heart-warming story based on a Russian folktale using puppetry and live Eastern European gypsy music.

Dusa, Fish, Stas And Vi
Showing at Hampstead Theatre: Michael Frayn Space ?
Opening Night: 09 May 2009?
Pam Gems’s 1970s tale of four women helping each other to find new meaning in their lives.?

Elemental
Showing at Bloomsbury Theatre
Opening Night: 09 May 2009?
A new show blending Arabic belly dance with a rich mix of African dance, flamenco, tango, bollywood, gypsy, burlesque and more.?

The Contingency Plan ?
Showing at Bush Theatre
Opening Night: 07 May 2009?
A double bill of plays adressing the most pressing issue of our times – climate change.?

Death Of A Blackman ?
Showing at Hampstead Theatre: Michael Frayn Space ?
Opening Night: 07 May 2009?
Alfred Fagon’s play about 19-year-old entrepreneur Shakie is revived for one night only.?

Are You Taking The Peace? ?
Showing at Bloomsbury Theatre ?
Opening Night: 07 May 2009?
Stewart Lee leads an all-star comedy show in aid of International Alert.?

The Barber Of Seville
Showing at Bloomsbury Theatre
Opening Night: 06 May 2009
Rossini’s remarkable comic opera performed for one night only at the Bloomsbury theatre.

Opening 13th-19th

These productions are opening this week.

Birmingham Royal Ballet: Pomp And Circumstances
Showing at London Coliseum
Opening Night: 14 Apr 2009?

After Dido ?
Showing at Young Vic ?
Opening Night: 15 Apr 2009?

Birmingham Royal Ballet: Sylvia ?
Showing at London Coliseum ?
Opening Night: 16 Apr 2009?

Charlotte’s Web ?
Showing at Greenwich Theatre ?
Opening Night: 14 Apr 2009?

Country Magic ?
Showing at Finborough Theatre ?
Opening Night: 16 Apr 2009?

Kim Noble: Kim Noble Will Die
Showing at Soho Theatre
Opening Night: 14 Apr 2009

Look Mummy, I’m Dancing
Showing at Soho Theatre
Opening Night: 14 Apr 2009

The Man Who Planted Trees
Showing at Unicorn Theatre
Opening Night: 14 Apr 2009

Panic
Showing at Barbican: The Pit Theatre
Opening Night: 16 Apr 2009

Peter Pan
Showing at Unicorn Theatre
Opening Night: 15 Apr 2009

Pinocchio
Showing at Greenwich Theatre
Opening Night: 15 Apr 2009

A Place At The Table
Showing at Camden People’s Theatre
Opening Night: 15 Apr 2009

The Porcelain Project
Showing at Barbican: Silk Street Theatre
Opening Night: 14 Apr 2009

Prototypes
Showing at Soho Theatre
Opening Night: 16 Apr 2009

Pub Rock
Showing at Lyric Hammersmith
Opening Night: 14 Apr 2009

The Serious Business Of Choosing A Mate
Showing at Pleasance Stage Space
Opening Night: 16 Apr 2009

Spoonface Steinberg
Showing at Greenwich Theatre
Opening Night: 16 Apr 2009

The Tin Horizon
Showing at Theatre 503
Opening Night: 15 Apr 2009

Il Trovatore
Showing at Royal Opera House
Opening Night: 13 Apr 2009

The Vagina Monologues
Showing at Rose Theatre, Kingston
Opening Night: 16 Apr 2009

Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?
Showing at Trafalgar Studios 2
Opening Night: 14 Apr 2009

Opening 6th-12th

These productions are opening this week.

The Book Of Beasts
Showing at Unicorn Theatre 
Opening Night: 08 Apr 2009?

Dan Leno: The King’s Jester 
Showing at Greenwich Theatre 
Opening Night: 08 Apr 2009?

Death And The King’s Horseman 
Showing at National Theatre Olivier 
Opening Night: 08 Apr 2009?

The Fever 
Showing at Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Downstairs 
Opening Night: 06 Apr 2009?

A Forest ?
Showing at Barbican: The Pit Theatre ?
Opening Night: 07 Apr 2009?

Gandini
Showing at Greenwich Theatre
Opening Night: 12 Apr 2009

Giselle
Showing at Royal Opera House
Opening Night: 06 Apr 2009

Grandpa Joe’s Magic Show
Showing at Greenwich Theatre
Opening Night: 11 Apr 2009

Laurence Clark: Spastic Fantastic
Showing at Soho Theatre
Opening Night: 09 Apr 2009

Lie of the Land
Showing at Arcola Theatre
Opening Night: 08 Apr 2009

A Little Night Music
Showing at Garrick Theatre
Opening Night: 07 Apr 2009

Once And For All We’re Gonna Tell You Who We Are So Shut Up And Listen
Showing at BAC
Opening Night: 07 Apr 2009

Private Peaceful
Showing at Bloomsbury Theatre
Opening Night: 07 Apr 2009

Purgatorio
Showing at Barbican Theatre
Opening Night: 08 Apr 2009

Put On A Happy Face
Showing at Landor Theatre
Opening Night: 10 Apr 2009

Rainbow Fish
Showing at Greenwich Theatre
Opening Night: 11 Apr 2009

The Red Balloon
Showing at Linbury Studio (Royal Opera House)
Opening Night: 09 Apr 2009

Russell Maliphant
Showing at London Coliseum
Opening Night: 07 Apr 2009

Sherlock Holmes – The Last Act!
Showing at Greenwich Theatre
Opening Night: 09 Apr 2009

What A Wonderful World!
Showing at Lyric Hammersmith Studio
Opening Night: 06 Apr 2009

Billy Twinkle Requiem For A Golden Boy

16th – 22nd March 2009

These productions are opening this week.
Billy Twinkle Requiem For A Golden Boy
Showing at Barbican: Silk Street Theatre
Opening Night: 19 Mar 2009

Antonio Gades’ Carmen
Showing at Sadler’s Wells
Opening Night: 19 Mar 2009

The Attraction
Showing at Chickenshed
Opening Night: 18 Mar 2009

The Convict’s Opera
Showing at Rose Theatre, Kingston
Opening Night: 17 Mar 2009

Horrible Histories: Frightful First World War
Showing at New Wimbledon Theatre
Opening Night: 17 Mar 2009

Horrible Histories: Woeful Second World War
Showing at New Wimbledon Theatre
Opening Night: 18 Mar 2009

Kafka’s Monkey
Showing at Young Vic
Opening Night: 19 Mar 2009

Madame De Sade
Showing at Wyndham’s Theatre
Opening Night: 18 Mar 2009

The Murder Game
Showing at King’s Head Theatre
Opening Night: 17 Mar 2009

New Boy
Showing at Trafalgar Studios 2
Opening Night: 19 Mar 2009

Sir Gawain And The Green Knight
Showing at Greenwich Theatre
Opening Night: 17 Mar 2009

Tango Fire
Showing at Peacock Theatre
Opening Night: 17 Mar 2009

The Tempest
Showing at Richmond Theatre
Opening Night: 19 Mar 2009

Where's My Desi Soulmate?

9th – 15th March 2009

These productions are opening this week.
Where’s My Desi Soulmate?
Showing at Stratford East, Theatre Royal
Opening Night: 12 Mar 2009

Verdi Gala
Showing at London Coliseum
Opening Night: 15 Mar 2009

Voices Of The Future
Showing at Royal Opera House
Opening Night: 14 Mar 2009

Wall
Showing at Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Downstairs
Opening Night: 12 Mar 2009

Whiter Than Snow
Showing at Unicorn Theatre
Opening Night: 11 Mar 2009

Stovepipe
Showing at West 12
Opening Night: 09 Mar 2009

Pajama Men: Versus Vs Versus
Showing at Soho Theatre
Opening Night: 12 Mar 2009

The Magic Flute
Showing at Hackney Empire
Opening Night: 12 Mar 2009

Katya Kabanova
Showing at Hackney Empire
Opening Night: 13 Mar 2009

The Key In The Sea
Showing at Little Angel Theatre
Opening Night: 11 Mar 2009

Invasion!
Showing at Soho Theatre
Opening Night: 12 Mar 2009

Isadora / Dances At A Gathering
Showing at Royal Opera House
Opening Night: 11 Mar 2009

Jenufa
Showing at London Coliseum
Opening Night: 12 Mar 2009

Dance United / Hofesh Shechter / Russell Maliphant & Adam Benjamin: Destino
Showing at Sadler’s Wells
Opening Night: 12 Mar 2009

Deep Cut
Showing at Tricycle Theatre
Opening Night: 11 Mar 2009

Estrella Morente
Showing at Sadler’s Wells
Opening Night: 14 Mar 2009

Berlin Hanover Express
Showing at Hampstead Theatre
Opening Night: 10 Mar 2009

Billy Liar
Showing at Greenwich Theatre
Opening Night: 10 Mar 2009

Alex Horne: Birdwatching
Showing at Soho Theatre
Opening Night: 11 Mar 2009

So you thought Ian ‘H’ Watkins was scary when he was in Steps? Just wait until you see him as the Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! Whirling onto the stage on a caged wagon dragged by a nightmarish carousel steed, he flawlessly embodies those dark childhood terrors usually kept hidden in the void under the bed or in shadowed wardrobes. Children in the audience cringe and peek between their fingers while even the adults grip tight to their (very comfortable) seats and ensure they don’t look the Catcher in the eye…

The Child Catcher is only on stage for a relatively short period, but even so, he steals the show. But that’s not to deride the other excellent performances – it’s just that (as writer Ian Fleming and original screenwriter Roald Dahl both knew) such a truly scary character, when played well, would always loom large in the imaginations of the audience.

Former choirboy Aled Jones is also superb as crackpot inventor Caractacus Potts, although he’s clearly not quite as limber as Dick Van Dyke (the film original), judging from the dance scenes. And Truly Scrumptious (played by Rachel Stanley) is so close to the film original you’d almost believe it was Sally Ann Howes up there.

And it’s not just the great performances all-round that make the show a success. The sets and special effects are truly amazing. And, of course, some of the most memorable songs in the history of the musical make the show a winner with both kids and adults alike.

It’s a long show for younger children, but the all-encompassing intensity of a live stage performance should keep their imaginations captured for the duration and will make for an unforgettable experience.
It runs in Cardiff until August 30th and if you can afford the £40 per ticket price tag (although you can get some for £19.50 + booking fee), go and see it.

Leon Lopez

The Royal Court has confirmed the cast for Tarell Alvin McCraney’s “Wig Out!”, opening at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs on 28 November, with previews from 20 November.

The cast includes Danny Sapani, Leon Lopez, Kate Gillespie, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Kevin Harvey, Alex Lanipekun, Holly Quin-Ankrah, Craig Stein and Jessika Williams.

“Wig Out!” transforms the Royal Court into the legendary House of Light, a hyper-glamorous, über-competitive drag queen refuge where a daughter who was once a son can find a family. While the members of the House are primping and preening for a catwalk showdown with the other houses, drag queen Nina is wooing the delectable Eric under the guise of ‘Wilson’, a de-camped, make-up free ‘straight’ gay man.