Yesterday I was lucky enough to visit a couple of our spectacular attractions, The Tutankhamun Exhibition and The Tower of London.

Having researched and written about The Tutankhamun Exhibition for our website, I was extremely excited about the prospect of seeing such ancient artifacts and learning more about Egyptian history. The exhibition is jam packed with eye opening items - golden statues, granite figurines, Tut’s official crook and flail, a giant burial tomb and everyday objects used in Egyptian life. It was mind blowing to think that these objects had lasted over 3000 years and it felt as if we were Howard Carter discovering these precious things for the first time. If you are planning a theatre break I strongly recommend visiting this attraction as it’s a once in a lifetime experience and is due to close 31st August 2008.

I didn’t think anything could top that exhibition BUT the Tower of London surpassed my expectations, it was the highlight of my day. Having been given the once over at the door by a guard, we passed through and were greeted by a Yeoman Warder who promptly told us a tour was about to take place (he also commented on my outfit to which I would of gladly swapped for his red and blue number!). I can’t recommend having a guided Yeoman Warder (or Beefeater to you and me) tour enough - it enhanced my visit to the Tower and enlightened us with fascinating and amusing information.

Our Beefeater was Mr A.Fiddes, (for those of you looking to book the Tower attraction I urge you to go on his guided tour) he was full of wit, knowledgeable information and an utter treat to listen to. I made the mistake of standing quite close to him when he began his speech and soon became a dummy for his tale of beheading. Whipping off my hat, Mr Fiddes began his demonstration of how to behead a prisoner - much to everyone’s amusement he was chopping at my neck and mushing my cheeks as he pretend to stick my severed head onto a pole.

Once left to our own devices we explored the site and marveled at ancient graffiti, The Crown Jewels and torture devices amongst many other things. The Tower of London is a spectacular day out, I suggest you bring a picnic and spend the whole day!

So when you book your next theatre break be sure to check out these two attractions - you wont regret it!

Technorati Tags: beefeater, london theatre breaks, the tower of london, theatre breaks, tutankhamun and the golden age of the pharaohs, tutankhamun exhibition, tutankhamun exhibition 02, yeoman warders

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Wednesday night and the chosen few left the Shire to embark upon a journey to Middle-Earth, well the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. I have to say I had high expectations of this production after all the media-hype and with the nickname Samwise Gamgee I already had a strange affiliation with the surprising creatures, soft as butter yet sometimes as tough as old tree roots (I would like to point out at this point that I am neither short, big footed or have hairy toes!). Overall I wasn’t disappointed, although there were elements of the “what?!” factor particularly with the Ents - who looked amazing but were using a crazy voice distorter which was more Lord of the Trekkies than Lord of the Rings.

The stage is PHENOMENAL! I really haven’t seen anything like it before, stretching from the proscenium right out to the edges of the Dress Circle, tangled tree roots create a canopy under which the audience watch the adventure unfold. The production is crammed with special effects, optical illusions and acrobatic stunts that leave you questioning your eyesight. The costumes, particularly with the Orcs, Gollum, Galadriel and Shelob (the giant spider) were sensational and in the case of the darker characters had me quaking in my seat (that spider should come with a health warning!). The infiltration of Orcs into the audience raised a few screams, which I have to be honest I missed most of as there was a rather interesting spot on the floor…I wasn’t scared, merely intrigued at the carpeting!

Samwise Gamgee, my namesake, stole the show for me; he was quite simply the best hobbit i’ve ever seen, where would Frodo be without him! The character of Saruman was played to perfection, he truly owned the stage and emanated pure darkness. His bellowing voice and domineering presence reached to the very corners of the auditorium. In pure contrast, Galadriel played by Laura Michelle Kelly was unadulterated light, she shone through the darkness and haunted the audience with a voice I would kill to have.

Not everything was perfection however, I was disappointed with the glaring chunks of story cut from the plot and the lack of time spent on building the relationships between characters. Obviously, these “cuts” were needed to keep the lengthy production to a minimum but the continual recapping smacked of a Steven Spielberg film - sometimes the audience can work it out for themselves, thanks all the same!

Overall the fellowship of Show and Stay were pleased with the results of their journey to Mordor and back and even though none of us have been promised eternal life, at least our friendships stood the test, Orcs and all!

Technorati Tags: ents, fellowship of the rings, frodo, galadriel, laura michelle kelly, lord of the rings, orcs, samwise gamgee, saruman, show and stay, theatre royal drury lane

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Stuck for a half term activity? Well look no further than a London Theatre Break, it’s the perfect mini getaway for all the family.
Show and Stay have a range of shows to suit everyone, if you want action and adventure why not book to see Lord of the Rings - a powerful tale of good verses evil. If you loved the Wizard of Oz, then book the sensational Wicked and see how the good witch of the north and the wicked witch of the west came to be.
Family favorites Grease and Joseph are ideal for a half term theatre break, watch Susan McFadden, Danny Bayne and Lee Mead live on stage in the West End. The Sound of Music, Hairspray and The Lion King are just some more examples of great shows which will have your family smiling all half term.

Why not team your theatre break with a London Attraction, from as little as £12.50 per person you could be visiting celebrity wax works in Madame Tussauds or soaring above the clouds on the iconic London Eye.

If you book a family theatre break before the 14th March 2008 you will get one nights stay in a top London hotel for FREE - that’s right absolutely nothing! So get your skates on and book your family on a Show and Stay theatre break this half term.

Technorati Tags: cheap half term activities, cheap half term breaks, family breaks, half term, half term activities, london shows, london theatre, london theatre breaks, theatre breaks, west end theatre breaks

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Oh boy oh boy, theatre lovers you are in for a treat! We’ve got hold of some top gossip for you, The Mask of Zorro, Legally Blond and The Little Mermaid may be heading to the West End this year!

The swashbuckling Mask of Zorro is set to tour this spring and has been promised a West End transfer. The stage version boasts the same creative team behind We Will Rock You and features a score by The Gipsy Kings. The Mask of Zorro will receive it’s world premiere in Woking on the 13th March.

Screen to stage musical Legally Blond has been wowing theatre-goers in Broadway since 2005, and now it’s set to do the same in the West End this November. The producers have been in town this month to meet with the UK marketing agencies who are pitching for the account. This feel good musical is about a ditzy West Coast sorority queen who follows her ex-boyfriend to Harvard Law School in an attempt to win him back.

Ok so The Little Mermaid has yet to announce that it is coming over to the UK, but I predict that it will eventually. The show looks absolutely outstanding and has already proved to be a massive hit on Broadway. The Little Mermaid is one of Disney’s most popular fairy tales, with both children and adults enjoying it’s plot and catchy songs. Here is a little teaser for you ……

Technorati Tags: broadway musicals, legally blond musical, new west end musicals, the little mermaid musical, the mask of zorro musical, west end theatre

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Lilly Allen’s Brother Alfie is halfway through his stint as Alan Strang in the controversial play Equus, it’s about a troubled youngster who blinds horses. Like his predecessor Daniel Radcliff, Alfie has been baring all on stage alongside actress Laura O’Toole. Alfie is performing at the Chichester Festival Hall until the 9th of February - so get your skates on if you want to see him in action.

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Well all the theatrical worms have come out of the West End woodwork, it’s been discovered that Andrew Lloyd Webber had planted Summer Strallen in Hollyoaks!
Summer had been waiting in the wings on the popular teenage soap until it was her time to step into the bright lights of the West End to replace Connie Fisher. Summer had previously auditioned for The Sound of Music and expected to get the part of the alternate role - however it was decided that she would be cast in Hollyoaks and involved in a storyline with Andrew Lloyd Webber. This Hollyoaks storyline would see Summer go on to play Maria in the West End.

All we have to say is - congrats Mr Webber for deceiving us all and creating such a stir, you sure know how to catch people’s attention!

Technorati Tags: andrew lloyd webber, connie fisher, hollyoaks, summer shaw, summer strallen, the sound of music

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The guy we like to call the “King of Theatre”, Andrew Lloyd Webber, turns the grand old age of 60 this year. Will he be donning a paper party hat and nipping down to the local Spar to pick up a victoria sponge for his guests? I think not, good old Webber is going to party hard on a 60th birthday tour across the UK - how very rock and roll! P-diddy would be impressed by Webber’s partying skills as no other celeb has had a celebratory tour for their birthday - Paris Hilton must be pulling at her dad’s jumper as we speak.
All of Webber’s reality TV superstars simply must be involved in his birthday tour - Connie Fisher has already let slip that she’ll be making an appearance. Ladies you’ll just have to wait and see if the Joseph boys will jump on the Webber birthday bandwagon!

So start shopping for your party frock as this is one birthday you wont want to miss.

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We Will Rock You lovers hold onto your hats - a sequel is being penned as we speak! Queen’s Brian May and original scriptwriter Ben Elton are working on a follow up to this theatrical sensation and I predict it will be THE big thing in the West End next year.
The only question is which Queen song will they use next time around? I Want to Break Free? We are the Champions? It’s a kinda Magic?

Technorati Tags: ben elton, brian may, new we will rock you, rock, we, we will rock you, we will rock you london, we will rock you sequel, we will rock you west end, will, you

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We were left saying huh? when we heard this latest piece of theatre gossip, the pony-tailed, Britney Spears singing pop idol - Darius Danesh- has been cast as Rhett Butler in the up coming stage version of Gone with the Wind!
Ok he has been in Chicago and Guys and Dolls, but Rhett Butler - really? Personally I see Rhett Butler as suave and charming, someone who’d own the stage - however all I remember of Darius Danesh is a smarmy egotistical popstar wannabe!
Hats off to Danesh though as it would seem he’s been working on his ego, director Trevour Nunn hand picked Danesh from all the other hopefuls and wasn’t aware of his previous so called “fame”, he claims “I don’t get time to watch a great deal of television so when I first saw Darius at a casting session he was new to me”.
Once again theatre lovers, we will have to wait and see how this one will pan out. Will the Scotsman charm us? Or will he kill Rhett Butler like he did Britney Spear’s song?
Stay tuned to find out!

Technorati Tags: darius danesh, gone with the wind, gone with the wind west end, london theatre, rhett butler, trevour nunn, west end

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