Latest news with #King'sTheatre
Glasgow Times
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
I saw Gary Barlow perform in Glasgow's Armadillo
Singer Gary Barlow stripped it back to basics from the big production shows his fans are used to for an intimate set in Glasgow's Armadillo tonight - and the results were simply wonderful. The razzmatazz of the Take That shows was nowhere to be seen as he opted for a set featuring incredible musicians showing off their talent. Opening up with his 1997 solo track Open Road, the 54-year-old quickly switched things back to familiar territory with the Take That smash Greatest Day as confetti fell into the crowd. (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) Smiling from ear to ear, Barlow beamed: 'Good evening Glasgow 'It's always loud in Scotland.' And the screams echoed around the arena as he rearranged Take That classics Sure and Everything Changes. (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) The Piano star Brad Keller then joined Barlow on stage for a performance of A Million Love Songs with saxophonist Mike Stevens in tow, and it sounded just gorgeous. The Flood - the song which launched Robbie Williams' brief return to Take That in 2010 - was a moment to remember, with the crowd singing in unison with their arms in the air. (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) What's great about Barlow's solo gigs is that he gets to show his true self on stage. You can see glimpses of what he learned in his early career performing in the working men's clubs from the humour he honed from the comedians to encouragement of audience participation, it makes you feel part of the show - and it's something that can be easily lost the bigger the crowd, yet Barlow has mastered it. (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) Patience put Barlow's voice in the spotlight, and he sounded incredible. We know he can write songs, his talent is exceptional, but when he sings them on his own, you feel the meaning even more. This was the case during a piano performance of Forever Love, it was just beautiful. READ NEXT: I saw Take That at the Glasgow Hydro - my verdict READ NEXT: Review of Gary Barlow with Leona Lewis at the Glasgow Hydro READ NEXT: Review: Take That musical The Band at the King's Theatre (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) Shine delighted the crowd, let's face it that song just makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, it's a complete mood lifter while Relight my Fire got the party started. The pop masterpiece Back for Good then delivered reminding fans of the beauty of Barlow's writing, it's pure genius and a song that's stood the test of time. (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) Finishing things off, Barlow flattered: 'The fact you've chosen to spend your evening with us means the world,' before performing Rule the World and Never Forget.
Glasgow Times
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Here & Now musical brings Steps hits to Glasgow stage
The King's Theatre is set to host Here & Now as part of its UK and Ireland tour from September 16 to 20. Rebecca Lock will reprise her role as Caz, while Finty Williams and Blake Patrick Anderson return as Patricia and Robbie, respectively. River Medway, a fan favourite from RuPaul's Drag Race UK, is returning as Jem. Edward Baker Duly will play Max and John Stacey as Lesley. READ MORE: Glasgow's Lulu reveals dream to sing to former US President The principal cast is being joined by new faces, including Jacqui Dubois as Vel, Chris Grahamson as Gareth, and Rosie Singha as Neeta. Here & Now features Steps' most popular songs and a book by Shaun Kitchener. It is produced by the band and ROYO, with Pete Waterman. Rachel Kavanaugh is signed on as director, with Olivier Award-winning Matt Cole as choreographer and Matt Spencer-Smith as musical supervisor, orchestrator, and arranger. Set in the seaside superstore Better Best Bargains, the story unfolds on a Friday night. READ MORE: Megastar announces exciting Glasgow gig as part of arena tour But when Caz uncovers lies and betrayal on the shelves, her dream summer of love begins to unravel. The plot follows the characters' journey as they grapple with the possibility of losing happiness or cling to hope for a happy ending. Additional artistic contributors include Tom Rogers for set design, Gabriella Slade for costume design, Howard Hudson for lighting design, Adam Fisher for sound design, and Sam Cox for wigs, hair, and makeup design. The cast was selected by Will Burton at Grindrod Burton Casting. Further casting announcements will be made.
The Herald Scotland
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Review: Book of Mormon is potty-mouthed but surprisingly sweet
King's Theatre, Glasgow Neil Cooper Four stars The missionary position, as set down in the gospel according to Mormon, is to spread the word of the Lord as far and as peachy-keenly as possible. Such is the premise behind Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone's now fourteen-year-old Broadway smash, which returns to Glasgow for a three-week run. For those not already keeping the faith, the show transforms the perfectly-coiffed door-stopping evangelists from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints into an all singing, all dancing, perma-smiling showbiz troupe. In-between throwing shapes cheesy enough to have graced a 1950s family friendly variety show, like the animals in the Ark, our heroes go forth two by two as they are packed off to far-flung climes in need of salvation. In the case of goody-two-shoes himbo Elder Price and puppy-dog terminal liar Elder Cunningham, they are tasked to convert the masses in a seemingly godless Uganda. Read more For the locals, alas, a few other things take priority over being saved; gun-toting warlords, disease, genital eating maggots, that sort of thing. Price and Cunningham sure ain't in Salt Lake City anymore. Through a mix of Bible study, sci-fi film references and out and out porkies, however, Elder Cunningham gradually wins the natives round. While a broken Elder Price wakes up from his personal Hell dream involving the likes of Jeffrey Dahmer and Ghengis Khan occupying a positively Freudian underground, Cunningham's conversion results in a mass show and tell of such unintended phallic outrage that something has clearly been lost in translation. As one might expect from the creators of South Park and Avenue Q, this is all pretty scurrilous stuff in Parker and choreographer Casey Nicholaw's well-drilled production, in which satire and show-tunes co-exist in a heavenly manner. Adam Bailey as Cunningham and Sam Glen as Price lead a large cast through hell and back, with Nyah Nish in terrific voice as the comically mispronounced Nabulingi, with even a certain ex First Minister getting a tongue-tied mention. For all its cheerfully potty-mouthed barbs, there is something very sweet going on here that offsets any desire to shock in a show that is both too slick and too wilfully ridiculous to in any way upset even the most devout of believers. Hallelujah to that.
Glasgow Times
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Podcaster hails new Glasgow restaurant as 'best ever'
Brooke Schofield was in the city with her co-host, Tana Mongeau, for their Cancelled Podcast: International Disaster tour, which was at the King's Theatre in the city centre on May 8. Taking to TikTok, the Arizona-born internet star revealed she loved her visit to SSAMM Korean BBQ on Blythswood Street. READ NEXT: Opening date revealed for new Korean BBQ restaurant in Glasgow The Glasgow Times previously reported that the new eatery, which opened on April 25, has replaced what was formerly Two Fat Ladies. Posting a video of her eating some mouth-watering dishes, Brooke said: "Not exaggerating, best restaurant I've ever been to." The restaurant left a comment on the video, thanking the star for stopping by. They said: "Thank you so much for visiting SSAMM Korean Restaurant. We are delighted to hear you enjoyed the food! "Wishing you a wonderful rest of your trip in Glasgow. We hope to welcome you back again someday." READ NEXT: New restaurant to open in place of Glasgow 'institution' Brooke's video has over 16,000 likes and over a 100 comments.
The Herald Scotland
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
'En route to the West End, it looks like the winner it already is'
King's Theatre, Glasgow Neil Cooper Four stars The irresistible rise of theatre built on the premise of dramatic calamity both on and back stage has come a long way since it was arguably spawned by Michael Frayn's ingenious 1982 farce, Noises Off. Since then, the likes of the tellingly named The Play that Goes Wrong has seen a younger generation of artists take what was once a fringe pursuit into the theatrical mainstream. So it goes as well for the Say it Again, Sorry? company, whose starting point may be Oscar Wilde's subversive drawing room comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest, but who manage to disrupt it with the sort of anarchic intent that might appeal to dear Oscar himself. All seems well at first in what looks like a decidedly old school wheeze, as man about town Algernon awaits a visitation from his chum Ernest. When his arrival is announced, alas, his absence is more akin to Waiting for Godot. This prompts an intervention from the show's director, who enlists volunteers from the audience, not just to play Ernie, but also unseen love interest Cecily after the actress cast din the role itches the show for a stint on Harry Potter on Ice. READ MORE: 'The set is like an HBO epic': Shakespeare classic sparks with an erotic charge Truth is out stars for hypnotic rendition of When Prophecy Fails A mesmerising experience with a talking monkey As Trynity Silk's ingénue Jennifer gets quietly hammered while playing Gwendolen and Judith Amsenga's old luv Eleanor loses her voice while playing Lady Bracknell, this necessitates further emergency measures. By the end of the show, everyone on stage has been co-opted from the crowd for a chaotic cosplay that looks somewhere between a university drama club in-joke, a Crackerjack panto and a reboot of Bruce Forsyth's Generation Game. Of course, how funny Simon Paris' production of his and Josh King's loose knit script created with the company of seven actors depends on who is willing to join in. It's all well and good on the Edinburgh Fringe, where the show premiered in 2021, where the entire audience is desperate to do a turn, but what of Glasgow in May? Mercifully, Saturday night's show was blessed with a game Cecily and a scientist who had never been to a play before. Shown the ropes by Josh Haberfield as director Simon Slough, the pair rise to the occasion as they are fed lines somewhere in the vicinity of Wilde's original. Drunken spoonerisms abound from Jennifer regarding hope in souls and shining wit, while Ben Mann as stage manager Josh introduces some physical jerks into the mix whilst manning an impromptu on-stage merch stall. As the show does the rounds en route to the West End, it looks like the winner it already is. What could possibly go wrong?
