Blog / Saturday Night Live

Check here for the latest musical news with links to all your #StageFaves performers, shows and theatres. Also look out for our regular #GetSocial features and contributions from our syndicate media partners including MyTheatreMates.com and the Musical Theatre Appreciation Society.

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O'Bree attending the West End opening of GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY, which has transferred for a limited season at the Noel Coward Theatre following its lauded world premiere at the Old Vic. Can you name all the celebs Perry spotted on the red carpet? (Hint: They include Hollywood royalty Cate Blanchett!)

20 Dec
2017

THE GRINNING MAN got its London premiere this week at the West End's Trafalgar Studios and is capturing the hearts of audiences and reviewers alike. Whether it's the puppets, the haunting score or the fantastic lead performance from Louis Maskell, we've rounded up the best reviews for your pleasure and perusal...

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O'Bree attending the West End premiere (on 14 December 2017) of macabre musical masterpiece THE GRINNING MAN, which has transferred to Trafalgar Studios after its award-winning 2016 world premiere at Bristol Old Vic. In addition to capturing the creepy atmosphere and Trafalgar transformation, Perry caught up with show stars Louis Maskell, Sanne den Besten and Amanda Wilkin, as well as fellow #StageFave Hannah Waddingham, who recently recorded her own version of one of the show's songs...

23 Nov
2017

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O'Bree attending the West End premiere (on 22 November 2017) of EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE at the Apollo Theatre. What happened when he met the real-life teen drag queen Jamie Campbell, who inspired the musical?

There really is no party like a Perry O'Bree party! Our StageFaves vlogger was back in the West End for the opening night of the Mel Brooks musical YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (10 October 2017) and didn't stop laughing all night. Check out the twitter collection, watch the First Night Takeover video (with all the interviews!) and say a big CONGRATS to all the stars on a super-successful opening night on London's West End...

The latest entry in our #FirstNightTakeover series sees Perry O'Bree visiting the brand new purpose-built Marble Arch Theatre for the opening night (14 September 2017) of the new revival of FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE. Featuring photo booths, interval conga lines, Elaine Paige, original cast members, new cast members, Matt Lucas, after-show parties, Cameron Mackintosh, specially made cocktails and more - there really ain't no party like a Perry-O'Bree-meets-Five-Guys-Named-Moe party!

Everybody go #PoopPoop!! Toad is in town and he's hopped his way to the London Palladium! Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O'Bree attending the opening night of THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS on 29 June 2017 and chatting to Mr. Toad himself, Rufus Hound (amongst others!) on the red carpet! This new adaptation of the world-famous children's book was composed by Stiles and Drewe and is sure to be a West-End smash! Watch Perry's #FirstNightTakeover vlog and check out his tweets and photos from the red carpet.

27 Jun
2017

Forget Glastonbury, this weekend the only place to be was WEST END LIVE with amazing performances from all of our favourite shows! We’re rounded up 20 of our favourite tweets from performers and shows that capture some of the magic! You can find our full social media coverage, features and more on our dedicated WEST END LIVE page.

26 Jun
2017

How do you measure success when it comes to one of Europe's largest free performing arts festivals? Check out these stats for West End Live, both in terms of what happened in Trafalgar Square, and how the event became a top trending topic across both Twitter and Facebook. We think the organisers definitely #GetSocial!

26 Jun
2017

Who'd our vlogger Perry O'Bree catch up with at West End Live? Watch all his backstage video interviews from both days with West End stars including Ben Forster, Jade Ewen, Danny Mac, Cassidy Janson, Marisha Wallace, Kerry Ellis, Rachel Tucker, Tyrone Huntley, John Partridge (in drag!), Lucie Jones, Jason Manford and many others from Aladdin, An American in Paris, The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia!, Five Guys Named Moe, On the Town, The Lion King, Everybody Loves Jamie, Half a Sixpence and The Wind in the Willows - to name a few!

25 Jun
2017

Disney knows a thing or two about getting people talking - and sharing. We loved their use of social media at West End Live this year. In the Disney hut, fans were encouraged to get pics of themselves with props and costumes from Disney's two current West End hits, ALADDIN and THE LION KING, both of which performed at this weekend's festival....

25 Jun
2017

Did you make it back for Day Two of West End Live 2017 (25 June) in Trafalgar Square? In addition to several more top productions, fans were treated by special performances from West End stars as they may not have seen or heard them before, including Rachel Tucker, Kerry Ellis, Matt Cardle, Marisha Wallace, Ben Forster, Willemijn Verkaik, Trevor Dion Nicholas, Lucie Jones and John Partridge (in drag). Watch video highlights of Day Two below...

25 Jun
2017

Illustrator Andy Robinson's 'inky mission' is to see as many shows as possible and try to capture them within an ink drawing - which he does with extraordinary flair, each creation a real work of art in itself. Over this weekend's #WestEndLive, he set himself an even more gargantuan task - capture ALL of the shows in one drawing before the end of the two-day event. See how he got on...

25 Jun
2017

We took an awful lot of photos ourselves at West End Live this year, and we looked at thousands more over the weekend. But as #WestEndLive trended globally, there was one snapper whose pics we were continually favouriting: Ollie Cole (a.k.a. @ProducerOllie). Check out some of his Twitter collections of your #StageFaves below...

25 Jun
2017

With all the #StageFaves super-stars treading the boards at West End Live, the 'real stars' were positioned just offstage. The British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters, and in particular bearded super-mover 'Jack' during performances of Dreamgirls, Motown and Thriller Live, won over scores of fans on social media. See them in action here...

24 Jun
2017

Were you in the sea of theatre fans on Day One of West End Live 2017 (24 June) in Trafalgar Square? How many of these incredible performances - including Aladdin, Dreamgirls, Kinky Boots, Half a Sixpence, Les Miserables, Wicked and a first London look at Everybody's Talking About Jamie - did you catch? Watch anew or watch again (and again) with our video list in order of appearance. They never get old. Ready for Day Two?

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O'Bree attending the official world premiere (on 20 June 2017) of BAT OUT OF HELL at the London Coliseum. Which rock 'n' roll celebrities did he meet on the red carpet and at the after-party? (Here's a hint. The names include: McFly's Tom Fletcher, Craig Revel Horwood, Steps' Lisa Scott Lee and Faye Tozer, Arlene Phillips, Richard Fleeshman, Nathan Amzi and, well, tons of the cast and creatives!)

06 Jun
2017

The Brilliant boys and girls of BAT OUT OF HELL are now in previews at the London Coliseum, but the road to the West End was rock & rolling the whole way. They made a pit stop on the way to wow the audience at Britain's Got Talent and one thing's for sure - they didn't disappoint! Watch the full performance and check out these wicked images of the cast and crew behind the scenes...

18 May
2017

This week saw the raucous, riotous OUR LADIES OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR rock its way back onto the London stage for its West End opening night at the Duke Of York's Theatre. The Olivier Award winning show promised "really rude language, flashing lights, pyrotechnics, lots of sexual references, excessive drinking, and extensive use of the smoke machine" and it didn't disappoint...Here's our round up of the best reviews from opening night and where you can get all the gossip from the red carpet...

Our #FirstNightTakeover series continues with Perry O'Bree attending the West End premiere (on 15 May 2017) of OUR LADIES OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR. Which celebrities did he meet on the red carpet? And how was it painting the town red (very red-tinged party venue!) with the girls who 'went mental' after their success at last month's Olivier Awards? FULL VIDEO INTERVIEWS NOW LIVE!