United Kingdom John Barrowman – Camp as Christmas: Towngate Theatre, Basildon, Essex, 9.11.2025. (JPr)
Laughter and song, and not a little dancing, from John Barrowman’s joyously Camp as Christmas show
Jim Pritchard
Francesca Hayward and Marcelino Sambé are delightful in Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée ‘for 2025’
United Kingdom Sir Frederick Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée: Dancers of The Royal Ballet, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Jonathan Lo (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Ross MacGibbon) from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, to Cineworld Basildon, Essex, 5.11.2025. (JPr)
With laughter, song and dance, Anton Du Beke at the Musicals is a show you wish would never end
United Kingdom Anton Du Beke at the Musicals: Anton Du Beke, Lance Ellington (singer), Lucy Nolan and Lowri Beth Evans (singer/dancers), dancers and musicians. Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, 3.11.2025. (JPr)
Vienna’s darkly dramatic Pelléas et Mélisande is sung exceptionally by Villazón, Lindsey and Keenlyside
Austria Debussy, Pelléas et Mélisande: Soloists, Vienna State Opera Chorus and Orchestra / Alain Altinoglu (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Ella Gallieni) from Vienna State Opera, 2.11.2025. (JPr)
Nadine Sierra is the Amina of your dreams in the Met’s new La Sonnambula
United States Bellini, La Sonnambula: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera / Riccardo Frizza (conductor). Recorded live (directed by Gary Halbvorson) at the Metropolitan Opera, New York, 18.10.2025 and viewed as an encore showing at the Everyman Cinema, Chelmsford, Essex. (JPr)
(P)review of National Theatre Live’s Mrs. Warren’s Profession at a UK and Ireland cinema from 23 October
United Kingdom George Bernard Shaw’s Mrs. Warren’s Profession: Recorded live (directed by Tim Van Someren) at London’s Garrick Theatre and shown widely in cinemas by National Theatre Live across the UK and Ireland from 23rd October. (JPr)
A hardworking cast is the best thing about Torben Betts’s ‘theatrically ludicrous’ Murder at Midnight
United Kingdom Torben Betts’s Murder at Midnight: Palace Theatre, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, 13.10.2025. (JPr)
Fine singing and the splendid playing of the Paris Opera Orchestra redeems Shirin Neshat’s polemical Aida
France Verdi, Aida: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Opéra national de Paris / Michele Mariotti (conductor). Livestreamed (directed by Mathilde Jobbé-Duval) from Opéra Bastille, Paris, 10.10.2025. (JPr)
