Ramin Karimloo-From Now On Tour- Leeds City Varieties- 26th Jan

This is the 2nd time seeing this man perform with his broadgrass band and yet again he did not disappoint, he went totally off set list and we probably got more songs and a set in the totally wrong order but it was SO good!

His interaction with the audience alone was just fun and laid back and he had such gratitude for people being there and supporting and he wanted them to have a good time and gave opportunity to an upcoming singer to perform with his just shows he has a big heart.

If you do not know who he is then where have you been? He has played some of the top iconic Musical theatre roles known, Jean Valjean, Enjolras, Marius,  Phantom (Adam) in the phantom of the opera and Love Never dies, Chris in Miss Saigon, Ché in Evita and General Gleb Vaganov. Broadway and West end he is top of his game.

But he also writes his own music so this tour he does with his broadgrass band bring a bit of all he loves into one singing, songs from roles he has played, songs he wrote, songs he likes etc.
His versions of Til i hear you sing and Bring Him Home from Phantom and Les Mis get me every time, goosebumps and a tear or two.

And new to the act were a few songs from The Greatest Showman! If we need a Barnum for  Stage version of this movie, Ramin is your guy for sure!

A great evening with beautiful performances and a lot of laughter!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 star rating!

Les Miserables UK Tour- Manchester Palace Theatre- Thursday 21st February Matinee

Well this was a day of firsts, first day seeing a production at the Manchester Palace Theatre and First time seeing this epic production.
Now i love the movie, i love he 25th and 10th anniversary DVDs, i am a fan of many person who has appeared in the production, Alfie Boe, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Ramin Karimloo etc.
And i like everyone i am sure no the songs.
i knew it was going to be good, i was so excited to see it and in such anticipation. But i didn't expect it to be as good as it truly was!

Cast- all amazing i won't name them all but we had an understudy for Jean Val jean (Zac Hamilton) my god that guy gave me goosebumps he was just as good in that role as some of the big names so never complain you have an understudy they are honestly just as good if not better! Katie Bell (Fantine) amazing performance going from Cosette to that just seemed such natural transgression and did it so well!
Nic Greenshields (Javert) scary, mysterious great vocals and great stage presence for such a iconic villain. Martin Ball and Sophie-Louise Dann (Thénardiers) hillarious added there own and yet familiar spin on 2 iconic characters.
Will Richardson (Enjolras) my fave character the chivalry and pride and leadership that just makes you love him and his cause, the vocals were epic and delivered with such passion for the cause.
Marius and Cosette (Harry Apps and Bronwen Hanson) young love sang so well and Harry singing empty chairs and empty tables broke my heart i cannot believe this was his theatre debut!

And whoever played our Gavroche! I'm not 100% but i just love that character anyway and the lad who played his did it so well!

All cast were truly amazing and great in there roles these are just ones that stood out most to me in my experience.

It is such a dark and oppressive musical, and it is a long musical this production is 2hours 55mins and is the new version from the Broadway staging that will not inhabit London from not on, no no evolve. i have no comparison  but i saw nothing lacking or missing from there not being a revolve. The effects the use for the battle and the deaths were beautiful with the lighting and sound really being used well. The use of candles as representing the fallen during empty Charis/ Turning really made the scene in the darkness of the theatre and the affects used during Javerts death on the screen and how they made him 'fall' were so well executed and nothing like i had scene in theatre before.

it is so much more than a musical it is a story and based on a story and done so well! you feel your there you feel how they feel, every tear you weep is for those characters and that story. and having now seen it I now understand why it has stood the test of time and why it will continue!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/ 5 star rating

Collabro- The Road to the Royal Albert Hall Tour-Leeds City Varieties- 16th February

Taking songs from their Road to the Royal Albert Hall Album and a few extra songs that made them most famous this night was such a feel good night with the best acoustics I have ever heard and the best vocals i have ever herd! gosh the power the have!

There warm up act as Georgia and the Vintage youth, a Woman front band with her on piano and a drummer and saxophonist, they have the sounds of the oldies with new lyrics, some of which humorous and gritty!

Also as a support act was the amazing Kerry Ellis who sang 3 songs alone and one with the boys and she was amazing! If you do not know her she played some majorly iconic parts in her career, Elphaba in Wicked, Meat in We Will Rock You, Nancy in Oliver! and Grizabella in Cats to name but a few!
her 2 songs one alone and with the boys songs from the greatest showman were amazing definitely a contender for a part if they ever turn it into a stage show!

Now to the boys! made famous from Britain's Got Talent when the gave amazing renditions of Bring him Home and Stars with each harmony creating pure magic! they have carved out a successful career and this tour highlighted there diverse music ranges and genres! Singing songs from musical theatre to the jersey boys and then to Motown. what can they not do!?

There banter between the audience and between themselves was hilarious and it was so natural and feel good it was a really lovely evening! dancing along, singing along crying along. it made for an amazing tour so is a definite must see.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 star rating

Matilda The Musical UK Tour Bradford Alhambra 19th February 2019

I did not know really what to expect. I'd Read the book as a child and seen the movie but not really seen or herd too much about the musical. I was a fan of Tim Minchin having seen his comedy routines a few times then in Andrew Lloyd Webber re imagining of Jesus Christ Superstar and knew he understood musical theatre and the power of song so i knew we were in good hands in that case.

As soon as it started the talent just oozed from the kids , almost as good if not better than the adults. Do bare in mind it is very kids orientated having gone during half term it was full of kids!

There was comedy some dry enough for kids some cheeky enough for the Adults and the topic through out related to both ages groups too. and it also kept the whole message about the power of reading very much apparent. 

The cast were great you hated Mrs Trunchbull and you adored Mrs Honey and loved Matilda and Bruce! The staging was so loud and creative with the letters all scrabbled all around the stage framing each scene (how many words could you find?) and the use of alphabet cubes for chairs and the kookiness of Matilda's house to the gloom of he school set each scene perfectly!

And the stunts/ special affects especially in that iconic scene with the pigtails! Just wow!

Now the songs were good some definitely better than others some maybe not delivered at best to be able to keep the story ticking at a good pace sometimes i was a bit like whats going on? or get on with it? slightly hard engagingly. some of the number were just brilliant, my heart broke for 'When i Grow up' but also my heart sang like it was a anthem, and 'Revolting Children' gave a great send off to that wicked teacher Mrs Trunchbull and showed off the children's amazing talent well during that performance. And then you fell in love with Matilda during 'Naughty'

A really fun kooky book paying homage to the original book and nostalgic movie with some great toe tapping numbers

⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 Star rating!