308 stories by "Helen McWilliams"
An evening with the extraordinary gentleman Brian Blessed promised to be informative, fascinating and barmy. It was all of those things and more.
When a show really blows you away, mentally and physically, it's a rare and beautiful thing. Evita, one of Andrew Lloyd Webber's classics, has been on my radar for years and I have reviewed …
Bing Live! has long been a favourite of my four-year-old son, Cbeebies being his channel of choice and the young bunny having been a frequent 'visitor' in our living room over the past few y…
This musical was adored by a late, great friend of mine so watching Jersey Boys for the first time, at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, was an emotional performance even before curtain up.
Peppa Pig remains such a popular television programme for children of varying ages, that the live show has something for everyone, from a tiny age to school age and beyond.
In Switzerland, Joanna Murray-Smith has written an intricately woven script so intense that 1 hour 40 minutes without an interval is thoroughly necessary.
With a few tongue-in-cheek nods to other musicals such as Gypsy, Wicked and Les Miserables for good measure, Shrek The Musical has it all " outrageous comedy moments, catchy songs and a cast…
Star rating: ***** Dinosaurs were on the loose in Birmingham last week and they were humongous, ferocious and hungry for an arena packed full of dino enthusiasts at Arena Birmingham. It̵…
If you are looking for a feel-good film to take at face value and a good unashamed sing-along " Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again fits that bill. There are also many laugh-out-loud moments and you…
The stage at Milton Keynes Theatre was stormed by dinosaurs " from the plant-eating Triceratops to the terrifying T-Rex, all Dino life could be found, in the capable hands of Explorer, Miran…
As an entertainment and lifestyle blogger, I'm always asked about my favourites, especially when I interview performers and creatives, so here goes.
If you're looking for a local production set locally with live music from Tony Christie, then you've got until 28 July to get yourself a ticket.
SWAP'ra is a charitable organisation founded by a group of artists working in the opera industry. The group has come together as a team of volunteers to build a supportive community to effec…
Do you need to be a fan of Abba to enjoy the twists, turns and laugh out loud comedy of this gleeful show? No! Even if you're not a fan of Abba's music, I wager that a trip to see Mamma Mia!…
Soprano, Eleanor Dennis arrived on my radar when I attended Three Choirs Festival at Worcester Cathedral. Her voice is so exquisite that it still resonates almost a year on. Since then IR…
Kiss Me, Kate is full of moments, that remind you of the magic of Cole Porter's timeless music when performed by a truly remarkable cast and orchestra. Opera North has a triumph on its hands…
If you're not an opera aficionado, this is a perfect introduction to Italian Opera, the comedy element alone offers insight into the synopsis.
A captivating and energetic production that holds your attention entirely, throughout. In fact, I've never been at a show that seemingly passes so quickly.
Catch Brian Conley's tour while you can. If you miss it you'll have missed out. It's like watching Tommy Cooper, with a dash of Russ Abbot and a sprinkling of Morecambe and Wise.
Theatre Royal Haymarket's new production reimagines the classic Molière comedy Tartuffe in the West End's first ever dual-language production. The play is adapted by Christopher Hampton and…
In essence you don't have to be a massive Take That fan (but knowing their popular songs is an obvious bonus) and you don't have to have been a teenage girl during the 90s to enjoy The Band …
Fundamentally In The Shadow Of The Mountain is about a couple, conceived in two people's mental health struggles with BPD and depression, but it is also about what it means to be human and a…
Does Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em work as a stage show? A resounding yes, the story lends itself to the stage and has been cleverly and intricately written. Joe Pasquale is not trying to imperso…
If you want a fun, light-hearted, albeit slightly complex belly laugh-inducing farce to get your teeth into " this is the one to go and see. I'd watch it again if I could!
Miss Beautiful at your peril, the reason it was such a success in the West End couldn't be clearer and I for one feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to have caught this show at one of…
