As ‘Any Dream Will Do’ continues, I’m starting to have my favourites. I’ve developed a real soft spot for Lee Mead, the curly haired crooner from Southend-on-Sea. As a professional singer/actor who’s been a West End understudy, he certainly has the most polished performing ability and wowed both lil’ old me and the audience with his rendition of ‘Old Makie’s Back’ on Saturday evening. But to be honest, I’m not sure if he’s got what it takes to win the show. There are others who, although I personally like them less, have more charisma. The two guys who really stood out for me were the last to perform - Chris Barton and Keith Jack. Chris has fab stage presence and a gorgeous voice as well as cheekbones to die for. But it’s Keith who I’d put money on to win the show - his performance of ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ was bouncy, bright and energetic. He has a the cheeky charm that the British public seem to go crazy for, plus a great voice and the star quality in spades. I believe Zoe Tyler called him her ‘little singing star’ and I’ve no doubt that with Zoe backing him, Keith could well go all the way.

Now to the not so fortunate Chris Crosby. He’s a sweet boy, but from the start he’s seemed to fragile to keep up with the competition. He lacked confidence in his singing and looked worried throughout his performance of ‘This Love’. Although I’m sorry to see him go, I think he was the weakest of a very strong bunch.

So will my prediction be right? Will Keith be king? Only time will tell…

Technorati Tags: any dream will do, chris barton, keith jack, lee mead

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Who would have guessed that an oyster would be the best way to travel around London? To most people, an oyster generally means a shellfish with aphrodisiacal properties and occassionally containing a pearl…but to Londoners, Oyster means cheaper travel on the tube and bus networks in and around the capital.

Oyster cards are the fastest, cheapest and easiest way to travel around London. Whether you travel to London regularly or just every so often, you’ll find that this cute little card offers a much better value way of getting around the city. With Oyster. single journeys on the London underground, London buses, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and London trams are cheaper and more efficient. Getting plenty of use out of mine!

For more details and to order an Oyster card, visit www.tfl.gov.uk and enjoy cheaper London travel.

Technorati Tags: bus, good value london transport, london travel, london underground, oyster, oyster card, transport for london, travel to london theatre, tube

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Just when you thought the age of the boy band was over, the biggest group of their kind make a come back with their latest single; Patience. Yummy mummys across the country are flocking to the shops to grab a copy of the new album. The legacy doesn’t end there though, the band also have a musical about to hit the theatres across the country which showcases the story of an unlikely tribute band and their journey to stardom. The show is making it’s way across the country before the big finale at the West End sometime next year. Take That have categorically denied any involvement with the show but it has however been put together by the biggest fans of the group over the last 15 or so years. It is set to be a box office sell out, so come on girls get your old CD’s out, re-learn the words to the songs and mosey on down to theatreland for a night that’s bound to take you back, back for good.

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After recovering from a vocal strain, Connie Fisher is now stepping down from her full time roll as Maria Rainer. That’s right folks, on her doctor’s orders, the star is now taking Monday night and Wednesday afternoon off so she can relax and catch up with what’s going on Wisteria Lane and keep an eye on Mo’s dodgy dealings in Albert Square. Fear not, the show will go on as Aoife Mulholland will be stepping in as a replacement on these nights. Fourth placed in the show, ‘How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria’ Aoife finally gets her chance to shine in the show after her huge success in Chicago. As from 9th april, you will be able to catch Aoife live on stage.

Technorati Tags: aoife mulholland, connie fisher, how do you solve a problem like maria, musicals, sound of music, west end show

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Susie Blake is set to step into Miriam Margoyles witchy shoes as Madame Morrible in the West End production of Wicked at the Apollo Victoria. Susie is best known for her role as Bev Unwin in Corrie, but she’s had a number of theatre roles since leaving the soap, including ‘Noises Off’ and ‘High Society’. She also did a star turn as the Fairy Godmother in ITV’s 2005 Christmas Pantomine, a version of Cinderella set on the street - check it out for festive feel good factor!

Susie will be performing in Wicked from 2nd April, but she’ll be no fairy godmother this time!

Technorati Tags: london theatre, susie blake, west end, wicked, wicked cast

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Billie Piper is fighting fit again after a bout of gastric flu stopped her from performing in her West End debut play, ‘Treats’. She missed a preview performance on Tuesday because she was so ill and also missed another preview on 26th February, due to collapsing shortly before the show. With her illness and the pressure of a West End debut, Billie’s been having a difficult time - she was seen crying on her ex-husband, Chris Evan’s shoulder after Monday night’s performance, and has said “I’m quite stressed out and I’m having a tough time. I’m still very green.”

‘Treats’ is a darkly funny play by Christopher Hampton, in which Billie plays a journalist torn between two men… one of which is her real-life boyfriend Laurence Fox (most recently seen in ITV’s excellent series ‘Lewis’). Kris Marshall of ‘My Family’, ‘Love Actually’ and BT advert fame also stars. The play is a translation of Ibsen’s ‘A Dolls House’ and was hugely popular when it was first performed in 1976. The addition of a new, young cast, all famous for their TV work promises to make ‘Treats’ just as successful this time around.

Technorati Tags: billie piper, kris marshall, laurence fox, treats, treats west end

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The Whatsonstage Theatregoer’s Choice winners have been announced…Unsurprisingly new shows Wicked and The Sound of Music topped the polls with Spamalot hot on their heels.

Wicked stole the show with four awards including the Best Show Award which it won in a landslide victory with over half the votes! Wicked also scooped the awards for Best New Musical and Best Actress in a Musical for Idina Menzel who was the original Elphaba. Idina’s West End run ended just before the New Year when young British actress, Kerry Ellis took on the role - we’re sure to see her name in the award winners list next year!

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sound of Music took home 3 awards, including Newcomer of the Year and Best Musical Revival. The Newcomer of the Year award was presented to Connie Fisher who won the role of Maria on BBC talent search, “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?” The BBC show itself received an award for ‘Now Theatre Event of the Year.’ You can read more aout Connie’s rise to West End stardom in her biography.

It was also a good night for West End comedy shows. Spamalot and Avenue Q both picked up awards. Tim Curry won the prestigious Best Actor in a Musical award for Spamalot with his co-star, Tom Goodman Hill, collecting the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical. Avenue Q, the hilarious show with a huge cast of puppets and actors, was awarded the Whatsonstage Theatregoer’s Choice Award for Best Ensemble Performance.

All in all, the Whatsonstage Theatregoer’s Choice Award was a fantastic night for British Theatre. These awards recognised the shows that real theatre fans have loved and the performances that have impressed them in this past year. Well done to Wicked, The Sound of Music, Spamalot and Avenue Q and well done theatre fans for picking some fabulous winners!

Technorati Tags: andrew lloyd webber, avenue q, british theatre, comedy, connie fisher, idina menzel, shows, sound of music, spamalot, theatre, theatre fans, theatregoers choice, tim curry, west end, whatsonsage, wicked

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