If anyone is worried that the West End is getting a touch too fruity these days then I suggest you look away now. Because the latest summer show confirmed for the capital is from one of the creators of South Park.

Complete with one of the tastiest titles in theatre history, Cannibal! The Musical is set to open in London’s Leicester Square Theatre on 27 July.

Adapted from his 1996 film of the same name, South Park co-creator Trey Parker’s musical promises to bring his uncommonly offensive humour to the London stage. Billed as “The only and best cannibalistic cowboy musical on the planet”, Cannibal was a bit of a cult hit when it premiered at an off-Broadway theatre in 2001.

‘Big deal,’ I hear you say, puffing on your metropolitan pipe. ‘We’ve seen Avenue Q‘.

Well, if Cannibal is anything like Parker’s earlier forays into the glittery world of the musical, then the West End had better brace itself. After all, the film South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for containing the most swearing in an animated film. There’s a jaw-dropping total of 399 profanities.

Now that’s what I’m talking about.

After all, I’m not sure that America’s recent risque transfers were all that strong. Spring Awakening and the upcoming revival of Hair certainly like to bill themselves as being a touch on the blue side but, in actuality, you’d have to be fairly prim to take offence at either of those. Maybe the sort of person that blushes at adverts for haemorrhoid cream might get a little hot under the collar, but they’re a bit PG.

We have to go right the way back to Sarah Kane’s Blasted or Jerry Springer: The Opera before we seriously start getting into the dizzying realms of obscenity.

That’s, sir, is the good stuff.

So will this new musical finally give the West End back its bad taste mojo? I for one certainly hope so. After all, without the capacity to shock and shake us up from time to time, the West End might get a little stagnant, no?

So, I’ll be at the airport to welcome Mr Parker and his troupe off the plane. If he doesn’t make me run screaming from the theatre, I’m at least confident he’ll keep me on my toes.

Since yesterday’s Diana Vickers blog drama I’ve felt the need to step in and defend her.

As you no doubt know, X Factor’s Diana is coming to the West End in The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, and an old debate about the West End and reality television has been reignited.

I can’t help but point out that mixing reality television with the theatre has had quite a positive effect on the West End. In fact, it’s genius.

A whole new generation of theatregoers have been drawn to theatreland by the performances of those plucky little wannabes whose progress they’ve followed so faithfully on the telly.

Hollywood actor and Old Vic theatre artistic director, Kevin Spacey, actually complained that reality shows give an unfair advantage to some of the musicals, if that’s not proof that the format is working I don’t know what is.

Yet for some reason the casting of Diana Vickers has attracted more scorn and debate than Ray Quinn’s casting in Grease, Rachel Tucker’s casting in We Will Rock You or Daniel Boys’ in Avenue Q.

Perhaps it’s because she’s from the X Factor? During the X Factor, Vickers faced a lot of criticism and was called everything from a “yodelling Barbie” to “the one to beat” (by Simon Cowell), came under scrutiny for missing a show due to illness and shortly after being photographed out having a gay old time with some pals. Add to that her relationship with Eoghan Quigg (another X Factor contestant) and you have a name that draws quite a bit of attention.

Some (the theatre purists) recoil at the very mention of a reality TV personality appearing on the stage. In 2007 Susan McFadden and Danny Bayne, winners of Grease Is The Word were slammed by critics who said that their performances lacked “sincerity and sex appeal” while the supporting cast comprised of real actors received rather more favourable reviews. These opinions are often not reflected in the comments of audience members who are not regular theatre-goers. This makes me question whether the professionals are being less than fair and producing petty reviews, and as a result I’ve decided to take them with a pinch of salt.

The hilarious thing is that television has revived the theatre. These shows bring the theatre back to the hearts of the people and reminds them what it is all about. Stories like those of Diana, of a girl realising her dreams and becoming a star, are inspiring.

Unfortunately there will always be some who struggle to accept that reality TV fame is legitimate fame. Just look at Diana’s following on Facebook to see how she’s touched the hearts of a nation. People’s problem with these reality TV types seems to be more often about where they came from rather than their actual ability.

It makes you wonder if the problem is that theatre types object to a new form of competition, competition from people who ordinarily would never sing publicly. An argument regularly employed by theatre purists and critics is that there are lots of actors who are out of work who are being overlooked for parts because of these shows. A wonderful and cute excuse, but the truth is a lot of the people who take part in these reality shows are trained actors who have been given a chance to shine early on in their careers (examples include Ray Quinn and Diana).

This debate isn’t really about talent or about actors. It’s about keeping theatre traditions pure, it would appear that purists think that television is dirty or unworthy – they believe in separation: there is theatre and there is television and never the twain shall meet.

I say to hell with it, Diana Vickers is welcome in the West End, I’ll see her in Little Voice and I imagine I’ll probably like it.

As you may or may not have noticed, it’s snowing and following one of Britain’s longest-lived traditions, the entire nation’s travel system has collapsed at the slightest touch of the chilly white stuff.

The South East is pretty much blanketed, forcing schools and workplaces to close, leaving thousands (myself sadly not included) with a free day in which to enjoy all manner of wintry frolics. While the masses hurl snowballs, make snowmen and put damp mittens over radiators, the snow is causing problems in theatreland.

Performances are swathed in uncertainty as the ‘extreme’ weather wreaks havoc with London’s transport system. Even the underground (which I assumed would be safe due to the fact it’s, you know, under the ground) has been affected.

Reportedly, phone calls are being frantically made by production offices making sure that staff, performers and technical bods can all get to work. Even if everyone makes it to their theatres, their ability to get home afterwards may well be hampered by tonight’s forecast snow and sleet.

The latest reports confirm the worst, it’s going to be a quiet night in the West End tonight. Oliver, Phantom of the Opera, Billy Elliot, Mamma Mia!, Jersey Boys, Avenue Q, Wicked, Dirty Dancing, Hairspray and Les Miserables have already been cancelled. I really wish I could tell you more but decisions are still being made and with cast and crew travelling to the West End from all over London and beyond, there are an awful lot of variables to take into account. Early reports suggest that most shows will unfortunately be cancelled. For the latest information, calling the theatres directly seems to be the best course of action.

If you have any further information let us know, and if you are worried about a show tonight then our best advice is to keep checking the relevant theatre’s website and if need be, give them a ring but be aware tonight’s entire audience is probably doing the same.

Stuck for gift ideas? Well look no further than Show and Stay! Whether you want to treat a loved one or just fancy treating yourself, we have THE Christmas gift package to suit any stocking.

Step one: choose a show
From the shining colours of Joseph’s coat to the wild plains of Africa in the Lion King, we have all the TOP West End shows for you to choose from. Dads, mums, daughters and sons – we have something for everyone.

Step two: choose your hotel and pre-theatre dinner.
We have a delightful range of two star to five star hotels in London and a mouthwatering selection of pre-theatre restaurants to sample.

Step Three: Adding an attraction.
Whether you want to see iconic London attractions or get in the festive spirit we have something for you. As Christmas is nearly upon us we have a great selection of festive attractions to add on to your package, including ice skating at the Tower of London and festive fun at Winter Wonderland Hyde Park.

Christmas in London is simply magical and chock-a-block with festive attractions, from Spitalfields Winter Festival to Trafalgar Square Tree Lighting – check out our Christmas events in London page for more information on these activities.

In response to BBC’s Any Dream Will Do and ITV’s Grease Is the Word, Channel four has created Musicool. A group of talented unsigned singers have been chosen from all over the UK to be trained up to star in a musical which will be aired on T4. It’s not quite as big as Any Dream Will Do and Grease Is the Word but nevertheless it is still gaining a huge following as it is shown on the popular programme T4 and on a sunday afternoon. It has a range of bold personalities which each bring something to the show and has a Big Brother style living arrangement. The 11-part series has already had a head start on BBC and ITV and secured many fans of the show – check out the finalist profiles for details on the lucky finalists and their myspace page.

Here is a couple of episodes of Musicool in which they go to see the fantastic Avenue Q and have a go at acting with puppets.

For a fantastically funny night out I highly recommend going to see Avenue Q at the Noel Coward theatre. It was like watching an ‘adult’ version of Sesame Street, with crudely funny puppets and laugh out loud songs such as “The Internet is for porn”. It’s a show that you really have to experience for yourself to see the hilarity of the plot and musical numbers, and also see these actors doing an amazing job of making the audience believe these puppets are real.
To emphasize the amusing ‘Sesame Street’ connections further the show featured two plasma screens which would come down at regular intervals and feature child like learning sketches. For example one character wanted to know what his purpose was in life and the Sketch ran through a series of amusing jobs whilst merging the puppets face onto the pictures and the audience would hear children chant “manicurist”. All in all it was a superb night out and well worth going to see, here is a taster I found on YouTube for you to enjoy!