ColumnsIt was only going to be a matter of time before the Jimmy Savile scandal made its way to the stage in some shape or form. But where would such a show find a home…
Chit Chat
Did Forbes fall foul of the Scottish play’s curse?
Not surprisingly, recent tributes to director Bryan Forbes have focused on his distinguished film career, only mentioning in passing the contribution he made to one of the great theatrical disasters of all time – namely,…
Half-century of mewling and puking in the nursery’s arms
Most actors working away from home with young children must find it rather tricky to find somewhere to keep their offspring occupied during rehearsals. This is not the case for those lucky performers in the…
Drummers brought bang to rights by Queen Helen
Tabard has long admired those committed performers who subscribe to method acting – staying in character even after the curtain falls – yet is concerned that Helen Mirren might be suffering some terrible side effects…
Has Ross opened the floodgates to desperate hopefuls?
Only the biggest and best Hollywood stars, singers and entertainers used to appear on presenter Jonathan Ross’ weekly primetime TV show to chat about their latest film/world tour/book, etc. But, oh, how the tides have…
Unusual setting makes this no bog-standard production
Toilets at theatres have, on the whole, acquired a bad name for themselves. Cramped conditions, the lack of lavatories available and the obligatory queue to get near one do not make for a pleasant interval…
Hasty imagination ends up saving late-arrival Ryan
Improvisation is something performers and directors are good at. Throwing ideas around and taking risks is all part of the job. The established setting for this kind of behaviour, though, is normally the rehearsal room…
How sharper than a serpent’s tooth is this pet
Cute and cuddly animals in shows can provide great entertainment. Take the corgis currently being used in Peter Morgan’s The Audience in the West End. It’s been reported that theatregoers will often sigh with delight…
If music be the food of politics, it’s gone stale
At last year’s Olympics, Jeremy Hunt agreed to ring a bell that fell apart to mark the start of the Games, David Cameron danced to the Spice Girls at the event’s closing ceremony, and Boris…
TV adaptation turns out to be a close-harmony call
This week, Tabard received word that a musical version of MTV reality show The Valleys – which has been described as “the filthiest thing on TV”– is set to (dis)grace the West End. The TV…
X Factor star to light up the stage in fairy role
Theatrical fairytales are more often than not confined to the world of panto during the Christmas season. They therefore seem a rather distant prospect at the beginning of spring. But this year, one production is…
Techs brought to book as pages fail to turn
The Book of Mormon is everywhere at the moment. Some might go as far as to say ‘omnipresent’. If it’s not the producers laying claim to breaking ticket sales records – they reported more than…
Viral dance craze shows how the mighty are fallen
We’ve seen the rise of Korean pop song Gangnam Style and the dance craze that followed. Everyone from Olympics sporting heroes Team GB to singer Britney Spears has performed a version of their own, complete…
Perfect blend of crooning and an Ashes-esque fray?
What do Disney soundtracks, the voice of the lady behind London Underground announcements and singer Rihanna all have in common? The answer is not the power to evoke feelings of annoyance and sometimes anger. It…
Kids’ company cabined, cribbed, confined by cold
The recent snowy conditions have proved to be a rather pesky matter. Across south-east England, blizzards, ice, train delays and traffic jams have become commonplace. And while the UK’s Highways Agency, which manages the country’s…
Curious incident of the writer who scorns his flatterers
When it comes to answering questions from the press at an awards ceremony, most theatremakers like to err on the side of ingratiating thanks – referring directly to friends, relatives and anyone else remotely linked…
Could opera’s Mediterranean flavour make an ass out of PR hopes?
Given the continuing horse meat scandal engulfing the UK’s supermarkets and frozen food suppliers, Tabard was amused by reports this week that opera promoter Ellen Kent would be using real donkeys on stage as part…
‘Outrage’ from the church of latter-day paint drying
Aids, female circumcision, babies being raped – is there anything that isn’t shocking in new musical The Book of Mormon? Tabard has been listening to some clips from the show through iTunes (it’s an online…
Come on, Eileen, it’s only drawing-room furniture
Tabard loves a good awards ceremony. The buzz of excitement in the room as each of the nominees prays to hear their name called out is priceless. As is the look of feigned indifference on…
Cabaret star won’t stop Queendom for a horse
There’s no denying that burgers could do with a bit of a PR boost right now. The recent supermarket horsemeat scandal has proved quite damaging to the reputation of the popular meal choice. This week…
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