Head above water 🌊
Some mini reviews plus 7 new shows added to rush!
I’m taking a bit of break from theatre trips this week after cramming in four shows in three days since my last newsletter! There’s a bunch of productions on my wish list that close by mid-June so I’m desperately trying to fit them all in, but even I needed a few days of gym trips and nights in!
I was chuffed to finally see the acclaimed People, Places and Things on Saturday. Mental health in theatre is a major focus of mine, and it’s always interesting to see how people portray it both in vision and character. I thought it was a great show, with a stunning performance from Denise Gough in a tough role. I’m still trying to get my head around elements of it - it was one where you constantly search for a twist or deeper meaning but it’s not entirely clear that it’s actually there. It is likely just a good portrayal of the realities of addiction and rehab, with a look at nature/nurture too. I got great £25 rush seats in row C of the dress circle - there seemed to be plenty available if you’re planning a visit.
I also finally made it to London Tide at the National Theatre. Now here’s one that really aggravated me! Not because it was a terrible production, just that it could have easily been so much better. I fell in love with the story (based on Charles Dickens’ final novel Our Mutual Friend), to the point that I am now reading the book itself. At 1,000 pages one of the team’s biggest achievements with the production was cutting it down and making the complex plot way more accessible. The stripped back staging was also great - the undulating stage floor and lighting rig representing the Thames tide was really well done. Unfortunately the music and lyrics were just not up to par. Most people I’ve spoken to who have also seen it agreed it could do without them completely! It’s rare I yearn for something to not be a musical but this begged to be a straight play with some atmospheric underscoring. Still worth a visit though - don’t forget the NT’s Friday Rush for £10 tickets!
My favourite trip of the week has to be the show with one of the best titles and blurbs in a long time. It’s not press night yet, so I won’t go into detail, but Fun at the Beach Romp-Bomp-A-Lomp is an absolute scream (literally). Billed as ‘Grease meets Squid Game’, it’s definitely one for fans of musical parody. I just loved it, so funny! There’s some tracks from the show on the webpage if you want a taster. It’s at Southwark Playhouse Borough until 22 June with tickets from £28 (or £15 if you buy one of their fab pay as you go subscriptions).
Happy ticket-buying!
Rochelle 🎭🎫
Carrying the banner
In the news this week…
Grease producers and Ipswich Regent Theatre issue statements following reported hate crime incident
Matthew Warchus to step down as the Old Vic artistic director
I’m kind of a big deal
It’s all been happening on the TodayTix rush front this week! So much so that it warrants it's own section in this edition. If you haven't yet taken advantage of rush tickets then maybe it’s time to look into it…
Every morning at 10am TodayTix releases hundreds of amazing seats for West End and off-West End shows through their app. I’ve sat in £100 seats for under £30 so many times. If you can afford to be last minute then its a great way to get top price seats for an incredibly reasonable price. Loads of new shows have just been added:
The hugely anticipated West End transfer of Mean Girls has just been added to rush! It opens on 5 June and there’ll be £25 rush tickets.
Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder! has just opened and you can get £25 rush tickets.
The new musical Babies opens at The Other Palace on 31 May and you’ll be able to get £25.50 rush tickets.
Heathers has just returned to the West End for a limited run, and there’s £25 rush tickets for that too.
Ian McKellen fans will be excited to hear that Player Kings has been added for its final few weeks - get rush tickets for £25.
You can get £25 rush tickets for Jerry’s Girls at the Menier Chocolate Factory.
And the award-winning Stranger Things: The First Shadow has had a bit of a switch up - it was previously a lottery but it’s now on rush with £25 tickets.
It’s rare so many are added in one week, but there’s always new shows appearing as they open. Download the app and check out everything they have on offer.
Hey big spender
Here’s your discounts, offers and cheap seats this week.
🎲 There’s going to be a weekly 2:22: A Ghost Story £22 lottery! Information has been sent to those already subscribed to the mailing list so might be worth signing up now to be included later on.
Get 2 for 1 tickets for A Birthday for Bear during half term at Upstairs at the Gatehouse, making them just £7.50 each. Use code THEATRECAKE.
There’s also 2 for 1 tickets to Birthmarked at the Lowry in Manchester - it makes it £12.75 per ticket.
There’s £15 tickets for Mr Toad in Greenwich! Use code TOAD15.
Get £15 tickets for Fawlty Towers.
There’s still loads of £15 tickets for The Hills of California in its final weeks.
Get £15 tickets for The Enormous Crocodile at the Open Air Theatre.
There are a few £15/£20 tickets for Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder!
Get £18 tickets for Blippi in the West End.
There’s £20 tickets for The Secret Garden.
Best seats are £22.50 for Laughing Boy in Bath next week. Use code JANIE2250, Fri & Sat evenings only.
You can get a family ticket for £90 for Madagascar the Musical in Nottingham - that’s just £22.50 each. Discount is applied automatically when you add two adult and two under 26 tickets.
Get £25 tickets for the return of Next to Normal.
There’s £25 tickets for Tina - The Tina Turner Musical.
Get £25 general admission tickets for Closer to Heaven at the Turbine.
And I’ve seen some £27.50 tickets for 2:22 A Ghost Story on TKTS this week.
Don’t throw away your shot
Competitions, on-sales and announcements.
Some theatrical TV has been included in the NTA longlist. Let’s support some on-screen musical action - you never know, it might convince the TV gods to give us the full Olivier Awards next year! You can vote for Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream and National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals.
Curve in Leicester will stage the UK premiere of Muriel’s Wedding the Musical in 2025. Tickets go on general sale at midday on 14 June.
The 39 Steps will return to the West End this summer before touring the UK - tickets are on sale now.
Elf the Musical will tour again this Christmas! It’s visiting loads of venues - check individual venues for on-sale and ticket information.
More festive fun… There will be a world premiere stage adaptation of Christmas Comes to Moominvalley in London this December. Tickets are on sale now - some performances are already sold out!
Rob Madge will star in a new production of Buyer & Cellar later this year. It’ll open at the King’s Head Theatre in London from September (tickets are on sale now), then it will go to The Drum at Theatre Royal Plymouth in October (tickets not on sale yet but keep an eye out here).
Cabaret has extended, which means lots more £30 tickets on sale! It is now booking until May 2025, but there’s the odd cheap ticket available from early July 2024.
To celebrate 500 performances, Guys & Dolls is giving away some tickets and Skinny Dip goodies on Instagram.
And finally, win tickets to Aladdin in Manchester, Bristol or Glasgow.
That’s all for this week. If you enjoyed the newsletter, please tell your friends. I’m also open to suggestions and requests for certain discounts, so do drop into my DMs. Right, time to make my favourite Hairy Biker recipe for dinner! 🍗
