Alun Hood
@ajhlovestheatre
Writer of scripts, theatre reviewer for WhatsOnStage, Musicals Magazine and my ajhlovestheatre blog. Critics Circle member. Runs a lot, eats a lot, over enthusiastic.
The rumours were true then. This will be a very hot ticket. The original production was thrilling. Interesting to see if people will moan about the length….
Absolutely gutted for the cast, crew and team behind CATS THE JELLICLE BALL on Broadway. It deserved to run for years.
And in tonight’s nail-biting instalment of “how long is Simon Stone’s Oresteia NOW?!”….this evening’s preview ran 3 hours 40 mins at the Bridge Theatre - and holy HELL is it thrilling. All the acting is stunning, but Mary-Louise Parker is next level. Get tickets for this. Seriously.
Emphatically NOT a review as it’s still in preview but Sam Ryder really is a Jesus to haunt your dreams. Experiencing his Gethsemane ‘live’ is transcendental. Also, fascinating to see how Sheader’s #jesuschristsuperstar changes each time it’s mounted. #SamRyder #LondonPalladium
Probably one of the most exciting Broadway casting announcements in quite some time, and the script is 🔥too
Happy 48th Birthday to Evita on stage Prince Edward Theatre, London 21.6.78
Kudos to Finsbury Park’s #ParkTheatre for not just complaining (rightfully) about lack of arts subsidy: they put the FUN into Funding by producing #WhodunnitUnrehearsed to raise £. This 4th edition’s the most hilarious yet. Delightful cast, daft script, new celeb guest each night. 2 more weeks. GO!
Sherie Rene Scott joining #RockyHorror as Magenta is the factor that will be propelling me into Studio 54
Well THE LOST BOYS on Broadway is certainly spectacular, even if it isn’t quite my favourite vampire musical🧛♂️
As if #Schmigadoon on B’way wasn’t special enough (and it is), here’s the cast of last nights show paying tribute to #Rent on its 30th anniversary at the Nederlander where Jonathan Larson’s masterpiece played for over a decade. Christ I love Broadway
Not sure why it’s taken me so long to get to #Oliver at the Gielgud Theatre - maybe I wasn’t that fussed cos I worked on the magnificent Palladium version years ago? Anyhoo, I FINALLY went and now I WANT SOME MORE! God what a wonderful night in the theatre. It doesn’t get better than this. ❤️❤️
His Pseudolus in the National’s production of Sondheim & Shevelove’s AFTHOTWTT FORUM was a lugubrious joy (he’s the one on the left) RIP #DesBarrit you total star
Fab time at #six last night, celebrating the new Queens - it’s still a heartpounding, roofraising crowdpleaser and looks set to run forever #queendom - worked out I’ve now seen 42 Queens inc original cast and current team 💜💜💜💜💜💜👑👑👑👑👑👑 #sixthemusical @nimaxtheatres.bsky.social
I’ll be honest. When I first heard about a #Trainspotting musical, and at Theatre Royal Haymarket of all places, I thought it was an April Fool type wind-up….but I’m slowly becoming borderline obsessed with it
Will she get the hat-trick (i.e. the Olivier after the Standard and WhatsOnStage award)? OF COURSE SHE WILL #RachelZegler #Evita
This is a lot of fun - 3 Marty’s for the price of one tonight at the Adelphi in BACK TO THE FUTURE - celebrating 40 years of joyful time travel
Tarzan in Hamburg. There aren’t enough exhilarating ape musicals imho
Interval at Disney’s TARZAN in Hamburg - I swear, whatever the physio on this is getting paid, it’s probably not enough
In German with a cast full of covers (all fabulous btw, so that is an observation not a complaint), and & JULIET (or rather & JULIA as it is here in Hamburg) remains my favourite jukebox musical 💓
It’s the interval, and the very nice front of house attendant just announced “I know it seems long, but you’ll make it” and I’m genuinely unsure if she was referring to the bathroom queue or the show itself 😳
Nurse! I need the saline drip urgently. I’ve just seen #LincolnCenterTheatre #Ragtime and sobbed for nearly 3 hours solid so am very dehydrated. Absolutely wonderful.
“Goodbye. Goodbye Shirley Valentine” So sad to hear she’s left us. My Mum took me to see Shirley Valentine in the West End when I was pretty young. We sat in the Vaudeville’s front row and Pauline Collins delivered one of her “kids, eh” asides straight at me. I was in love. #RIPPaulineCollins
Brilliantly played by the team at this new musical to release images of the beloved titular character just as they do their first preview. Paddington is Paddington-ing beautifully. I have got something in my eye. #Paddington #PaddingtonMusical
Fabulous night at #BlackBritishTheatreAwards last night. The sense of community, love and mutual respect in the room is so moving. Here’s co-founder Omar Okai with the roof raising current Lady Marmalades of Moulin Rouge West End ❤️🖤#BBTA
The only thing more delightful than her own surprise at winning Best Actress in a Play at last night’s #BBTAs was the way #BeverleyKnight bigged up her co-star #NtombizodwaNdlovu. Can’t wait to see them both in #MarieAndRosetta next year @sohoplacelondon