Latest news with #LondonPalladium
Time Out
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Cynthia Erivo will return to London's West End to play 26 roles in a one-woman ‘Dracula'
Cynthia Erivo got her big break on the London stage, though probably not when she expected to. In 2014 the then-unknown Brit was cast in the lead role of the massive West End folly I Can't Sing!, a parody of The X-Factor that turned up years too late for the zeitgeist and duly died a death at the gargantuan London Palladium. But unbenownst to her, she'd already made it: the previous year she'd got great reviews in the tiny Menier Chocolate Factory's production of the musical adaptation of Alice Walker's classic novel The Colour Purple. It never went to the West End. But it did go to Broadway, and after that Erivo's reputation was duly made, Hollywood came calling, and she's not acted on a British stage since. That will change next year, though, when she makes the mother of all returns in not one role but 26 in a high tech one-woman stage adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula. If that rings a bell, then it'll be because last year Sarah Snook took the West End by storm in the conceptually similar The Portrait of Dorian Gray. Dracula isn't a rip-off: it's by the same Australian creative team from Sydney Theatre, headed by director-adaptor Kip Williams (who has in fact made a trilogy of Victorian horror adaptations with Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde currently unseen outside Oz). Paying moody homage to classic horror movies – so a very different look to the very fabulous Dorian Gray – it scored great reviews domestically and should be a proper showcase for Erivo, who'll take on every role from Jonathan Harker to the Count himself. Quoth Erivo: 'Returning to the stage feels like a homecoming, one that I've been craving for a long time. To do so with a story as rich, complex, and haunting as DRACULA offers a beautiful opportunity to delve into character, into myth, and into the heart of what makes us human. 'From the moment I was asked, I could not get the role out of my mind. Kip's vision is thrilling, terrifying, and deeply resonant, offering a chance to sit with not only the darkness in the world, but also the light we fight to hold onto. It's a rare gift for an actor to inhabit so many voices and perspectives in one piece, and I'm honoured to do it for West End audiences in this extraordinary production. The prospect of doing this show scares me and I know it will be a huge challenge. This show will ask everything of me — and I'm ready to give it.'
Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Elaine Paige nearly quit acting - until major Hollywood icon intervened
Celebrating 60 years in showbiz, Elaine Paige is looking back on her glittering career for the BBC. But she once had doubts she'd make it, leaving one legend to set her straight. Before Elaine Paige was catapulted to stardom as Eva Perón in Evita, she nearly quit show business altogether - but one Hollywood A-lister intervened before it was too late. 'I was nearing 30 and everyone around me was either getting married, having children or succeeding in their own careers,' Elaine Paige says. 'Though I worked, I couldn't land a really good role.' Tired of rejection and uncertain about her future, she even considered retraining as a nursery nurse. 'I was just trying to think of other things that I might do if working in theatre didn't come to pass,' she says. Elaine, 77, partly blames her height for those early struggles. 'They would often cast a 6ft tall man,' she quips. 'It was awkward. They sometimes put a board down to lift me up so I could be in the same frame.' It was Hollywood legend Dustin Hoffman who convinced her to hang on, offering her the perfect encouragement at a time when rejection felt relentless. 'I was thinking of throwing in the towel because there's only so much rejection one can take. But he encouraged me to stick with it,' Elaine says. 'He told me not to give up, to keep singing and, if necessary, sing on the streets like Édith Piaf.' Shortly afterwards, Elaine won the role that made her a star and, ironically, her petit 5ft stature worked in her favour. 'Eva Perón herself was a small person,' Elaine says. 'She was only about 5ft 2in or something!' Since her star turn in Andrew Lloyd Webber 's 1978 hit, Elaine has lived many lives on stage, taking on iconic roles in Cats, Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease and Sunset Boulevard. In 2014, she bid farewell to full-time stage work with a sold-out 50th anniversary tour. Although she still performs selectively, the Olivier Award winner has transitioned to the small screen, appearing in the BBC 's A Midsummer Night's Dream , the comedy Home From Home and the drama series Life . Now, the BBC is celebrating her six decades in show business. 'I was amazed when they told me' she says. 'It's both flattering and slightly overwhelming.' And the longevity of her own career is still daunting. 'It's hard to believe, it's gone by in a blink of an eye.' The celebrations kicked off with a starry BBC Radio 2 concert at the London Palladium, broadcast on 4 May. Hosted by Zoe Ball, the show featured big names from the West End and Broadway, including Samantha Barks and Charlie Stemp. And this Sunday, 11 May, BBC Four airs an exclusive interview where Zoe sits down with Elaine for a candid career-spanning conversation. 'I'd never met Zoe before, even though we're colleagues at the BBC,' Elaine says, 'so it was a pleasure to meet her. She's very easygoing, and friendly. We got on terribly well. It felt like a bit of a chat rather than a two-hour interview.' Elaine's glittering career has brought her face to face with royalty and showbiz legends alike, but few moments have matched a surreal encounter with the late Queen Elizabeth II during a private concert at Windsor Castle with Barbara Dickson, when a wardrobe malfunction struck mid-performance. 'My earring fell out of my ear,' she recalls. 'I picked it up and placed it on the lid of the piano and carried on singing.' After the concert, the Queen came to greet her. 'She threw her arms around me in this enormous hug,' Elaine recalls, 'then she said, 'It's such a nuisance when that happens, isn't it?'' Today, the star is realistic about her future on the stage. 'Never say never,' she says, 'but I honestly can't imagine performing in musicals ever again. Musical theatre demands everything you've got. You have to be incredibly fit, strong and have endless energy. 'When I played Eva or Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard , I couldn't play these roles with my heart and soul and live an ordinary life,' she says. 'It was so demanding in every aspect. You have to be dedicated to giving up your life. But I loved every minute.' These days, Elaine is content to pass the baton to a new generation, yet she admits there's still a part of her that misses it. 'I watch others now,' she says. 'I sometimes think, 'I wish I could still do it.' But I don't know if I can ever do it again.' She's thrilled, however, that musical theatre has finally captured the mainstream's imagination. 'Twenty years ago, it was a niche subject,' she says. 'It wasn't as cool as it is now!'
Daily Mirror
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Strictly Come Dancing star has 'dangerous' reunion with Giovanni Pernice after axe
Kai Widdrington reunited with his axed Strictly Come Dancing co-star Giovanni Pernice as the pair continue to work with each other following the Italian dancer's scandal Strictly Come Dancing's Kai Widdrington has reunited with his axed co-star Giovanni Pernice, in a move he labelled "dangerous". The professional dancers are back working together on a new project, months after Giovanni's sudden departure. He was caught up in scandal following his 2023 stint with actress Amanda Abbington, who made a series of claims about bullying behaviour. Giovanni decided to take a break from the public eye following the scandal. However, he recently won the Italian version of Strictly and has returned to the UK for a series of dance projects. His passion is clearly still alive as he performed a sold-out show at the London Palladium as part of his Last Dance tour. Now, Giovanni has teamed up with Kai, who is about to head out on his own tour. Gioavnni shared a snap of Kai on the dancefloor as he gushed: "Just watched a full run of his brand new show lead by @kaiwidd... "...and let me tell you!! They are super ready." He then added a link urging fans to buy tickets. Kai also shared his own post as he reunited with Giovanni. The pair sat next to each other in a dance studio as Kai wrote: "The team," while tagging Giovanni. He decided to add the Michael Jackson track Dangerous over the photo. Back in January, Giovanni revealed he was working with Kai as he returned to British soil. Kai shared a video from a London rehearsal studio about his upcoming 2025 tour. In the clip, he said: "Hello everyone, it's Kai Widdrington here from Strictly Come Dancing. I'm here in London getting ready for my tour - Evolution - in 2025 and I would like to introduce you to one of the creative producers from my tour. He's very shy but you may know who he is." His mate Giovanni popped into the frame adding: "I am very shy. I can't help myself. I can't help myself." He rounded off with a cheerful statement: "Ladies and gents, we're back together and it feels good!" The video was paired with a caption hyping up fans which read: "Introducing one of the creative producers of the EVOLUTION team. A familiar face I think you may know." However, things haven't been so easy for the pair since Giovanni's Strictly drama. Last summer, Kai pulled out of a scheduled dance class with Giovanni, which set fans back £100 per class. It was reported a scheduling clash was the reason for the cancellation. Kai isn't the only Strictly star to be showing their support to Giovanni, however. Head judge Shirley Ballas has continued to stand by the star and had a sweet reunion this week. Shirley made sure to support Giovanni as she watched from the audience and made sure to catch up with him backstage afterwards on the final night of his tour. Sharing photos from the reunion, Shirley said: "Amazing and beyond the stars… Gio set the night on fire last night @giovannipernice. "Congratulations on a superb closing show to if last night is anything to go by a remarkable last dance tour. So many fabulous numbers, dancers, singers to which all were revived with standing ovations. "You entertain, you inspire and you bring the house down. I only hope when I do my one night at the Palladium that I could wish for a reception like that. Truly amazing."
New York Post
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
We found the best prices on last-minute Ricky Gervais ‘Mortality Tour' tickets
Vivid Seats is the New York Post's official ticketing partner. We may receive revenue from this partnership for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. Featured pricing is subject to change. David Brent Ricky Gervais is headed stateside. The button-pushing comic kicks off the North American leg of his ongoing 'Mortality Tour' on Friday, April 25 at NYC's Radio City Music Hall. After that, he'll return for an encore performance at the Midtown Manhattan venue the following night, on Saturday, April 26. In total, the 63-year-old funnyman has just five gigs lined up in the U.S. and Canada. All other shows go down in Gervais' native Great Britain. 'I think 'Mortality' is my most honest and personal show so far,' he shared via Instagram. 'I also seem to be making use of my Philosophy degree more than I ever have. Don't worry though. There's still loads of stuff about Hitler & wanking.' When all is said and done, Gervais will film take the material from his 'Mortality Tour' and film a new Netflix special, his fourth with the streamer 'We're all gonna die,' Gervais said in a statement. 'May as well have a laugh about it. Mortality looks at the absurdities of life. And death. Bring it on.' Sound like the show for you? As of now, tickets are available for all upcoming Gervais gigs. At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on tickets for his two Radio City shows was $176 before fees on Vivid Seats. Other shows are much cheaper. Based on our findings, seats start anywhere from $48 to $85 before fees for his other North American gigs. For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about Ricky Gervais' 2025 'Mortality Tour' below. A complete calendar including all tour dates, venues and links to buy tickets can be found below. Ricky Gervais tour schedule 2025 A complete calendar, including all tour dates, venues, and links to the cheapest tickets available can be found here: Ricky Gervais tour dates Ticket prices start at April 25 at Radio City Music Hall in New York, NY $208 April 26 at Radio City Music Hall in New York, NY $176 May 7 at the Alban Arena in St. Albans, GB $170 May 31 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA $61 (including fees) June 26 at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, GB $282 Aug. 14 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, CA $85 Aug. 16 at Place Bell in Laval, QC, CA $48 Oct. 10 at the London Palladium in London, GB $250 Oct. 11 at the London Palladium in London, GB $700 Oct. 16 at the London Palladium in London, GB N/A Oct. 17 at the London Palladium in London, GB N/A Oct. 18 at the London Palladium in London, GB N/A Oct. 25 at the London Palladium in London, GB $271 Oct. 31 at the OVO Arena Wembley in London, GB $123 Nov. 14 at the OVO Arena Wembley in London, GB $247 Nov. 15 at the OVO Arena Wembley in London, GB $111 (Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are in US dollars, subject to fluctuation and, if it isn't noted, will include additional fees at checkout.) Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event. Still curious about Vivid Seats? You can find an article from their team about why the company is legit here. John Krasinski in 'Angry Alan' off-Broadway Gervais isn't the only 'Office' alum leaving the paper industry behind this year. John Krasinski, who you may know as Jim from the American version of the popular sitcom, is starring in the one-man off-Broadway show 'Angry Alan' starting May 23. In the darkly comedic one-man show, Krasinski plays a divorced dad named Roger who becomes obsessed with Angry Alan, a fictional conspiracy theorist and men's right activist. In a four-star review of an earlier iteration of the show, Time Out London raved '[playwright Penelope] Skinner's script is not only extremely funny, but it also makes Roger unexpectedly likeable, even as it condemns his views.' '[My] agent sent me this play and I think I texted them on page five that I was doing this play. Like, I have to do this play. [Playwright Penelope Skinner] is so talented. She wrote such an unbelievable play…with one of the most human characters I've seen onstage in a long time.' Want to go? Tickets for all 66 'Angry Alan' shows can be found here. Ricky Gervais comedy specials 'The Office' creator's intercontinental jaunt follows the smash success of his 2023 special 'Armageddon.' 'My last tour 'Armageddon' broke the world record, won a Golden Globe, and was the Number 1 special on Netflix. The first tickets to my new tour 'Mortality' go on sale today. No pressure,' Gervais joked on Instagram. If you haven't seen 'Armageddon' — or any of Gervais' other past specials — here's how you can find them: 'Animals' (2003) is streaming on Apple TV 'Politics' (2004) can be purchased on Amazon 'Fame' (2007) is streaming on YouTube 'Science' (2010) is streaming on Google Play 'Humanity' (2018) is streaming on Netflix 'SuperNature' (2021) is streaming on Netflix 'Armageddon' (2023) is streaming on Netflix Gervais has received blowback for making jokes about transgender people, cancer patients and other groups over the years. In 2022, GLAAD issued a statement about 'SuperNature' saying 'We watched the Ricky Gervais 'comedy' special on Netflix so you don't have to. It's full of graphic, dangerous, anti-trans rants masquerading as jokes. He also spouts anti-gay rhetoric and spreads inaccurate information about HIV.' Huge comedians on tour in 2025 Many exciting comics that march to the beat of their own drum will be out and about this year. Here are just five you won't want to miss live. • John Mulaney • Tina Fey with Amy Poehler • Steve Martin with Martin Short • Seth Meyers with John Oliver • Nikki Glaser Who else is on the road? Take a look at our list of all the biggest comics on tour in 2025 to find the show for you. This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change
The Guardian
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘It's distressing': Elton John speaks of pain of losing his eyesight
Elton John has spoken of his distress at losing his eyesight and how he can no longer watch his young sons playing. John revealed in a social media post last year that a 'severe eye infection' had left him 'with only limited vision in one eye'. In an interview with the Times, the singer and songwriter, who has two children, Zachary, 14, and Elijah, 12, with his husband, the filmmaker David Furnish, said he 'can't see the telly' and he had not 'been able to see anything since last July'. He added: 'I can't read. I can't see my boys playing rugby and soccer, and it has been a very stressful time because I'm used to soaking it all up. It's distressing. 'You get emotional, but you have to get used to it because I'm lucky to have the life I have. I still have my wonderful family, and I can still see something out of here,' he said, pointing to his left eye. He added: 'You say to yourself, just get on with it.' John has previously said his eye issues have affected his ability to record music and left him feeling 'stuck'. However, he recently recorded Who Believes In Angels?, a collaboration with the US singer Brandi Carlile, which involved working with the producer Andrew Watt and his long-term songwriting partner Bernie Taupin. Last month, and before the album's release on Friday, John and Carlile hosted an evening of performance and storytelling at the London Palladium. His headline set at Glastonbury in 2023 had previously been his last UK performance as part of his 330-date Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which ended with an emotionally charged show in Stockholm, Sweden. John reflected on how he used to do '120 shows a year' but said having children had made him entirely shift his perspective. 'I always said I wanted to die on stage,' he said. 'Now I want my gravestone to read: 'He was a great dad.' My career has been wonderful, but the kids are what matters.' Reflecting on his career he said he was 'riddled with music' and it was the 'greatest gift' he had ever been given. 'Here I am at 78, feeling better than I have ever been,' he said. Gesturing to his eyes, he added: 'This is a bastard, but we'll get over it. There is a lot more to do.'
