Name: Pretty Woman: The Musical
Start: 2020-02-13
End: 2023-06-18
Location: Savoy Theatre

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Suitable for 12+, under 5's will not be admitted.

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Brought to life by a multi-award-winning creative team, who take theatrical storytelling and stagecraft to a whole new dimension, this gripping new adventure will take you right back to the beginning of the Stranger Things story – and may hold the key to the end.


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Why Am I So Single?

From the writers of SIX, Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, Why Am I So Single? is a brand-new British musical where the lonely little lives of two BFFs are transformed into an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza about dates, mates, and celebrating love in all its forms.


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From humble beginnings in Nutbush, Tennessee, to her transformation into the global Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Tina Turner didn’t just break the rules, she rewrote them. This new stage musical, presented in association with Tina Turner herself, reveals the untold story of a woman who dared to defy the bounds of her age, gender and race.

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Mrs. Doubtfire - LON [24395]  Product Media

Wonderful news, poppets! The beloved family film [*Mrs. Doubtfire*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/24395-mrs.-doubtfire) about a cross-dressing nanny is just as joyful a watch in this new [stage musical incarnation](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-mrs-doubtfire-in-the-west-end), which had its Broadway premiere in 2020 and now looks set to become a popular West End fixture. Appropriately enough for a tale all about transformations – inside and out – it’s surprisingly inventive, refashioning the original just enough to make it thoroughly theatrical and a smart 21st-century show.    

Those tweaks include giving the women in the story more of a voice. The opening number, “That’s Daniel,” establishes struggling actor Daniel Hillard as the endlessly fun dad – but, by being a man-child, he piles pressure onto already-overburdened wife Miranda, as she explains to their therapist (Daniel has ditched their sessions). Not having boundaries is affecting their three kids, too: youngest Natalie is anxiously biting her nails, Christopher is getting poor grades, and Lydia wishes her dad would grow up.

That creates a more satisfyingly balanced narrative. Though she’s still a bit of a killjoy, Miranda isn’t the villain here; you sympathise with her making a difficult decision to divorce Daniel and break up the family, just as you then believe his sincerity in the sweet song “I Want to Be There,” in which he pleads with the judge to let him stay in his children’s lives.

Likewise, when Daniel first approaches his brother Frank for help in transforming him into an elderly Scottish woman, Frank’s husband Andre rightly calls him out on his shady plan to deceive Miranda. A later nightmare sequence, involving multiple Mrs. Doubtfires doing *Riverdance* (no, really), cleverly riffs on her name to point out that Daniel is “playing with fire.”

None of that takes away from the zany, high-energy farce in Jerry Zaks’s dynamic production; rather, it gives you permission to fully enjoy it. Gabriel Vick is simply astonishing in the title role, coming close to Robin Williams’s sheer genius as an impressionist, while also singing, dancing, managing numerous quick-changes, and putting in a strong dramatic performance. 

He’s both endearing and maddening, petty in his jealousy of Miranda’s new boyfriend Stuart, yet always a loving father, if misguided. The actual Mrs. Doubtfire latex mask is rather creepy, but Vick makes the character a lovely one: warm, a tad eccentric, but firm in her convictions and – unlike Daniel himself – a really good listener. She makes him a better man. 

The engaging adaptation by brothers Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell features several contemporary updates (this *Mrs. Doubtfire* knows how to rein in the kids by switching off the Wi-Fi) and tailored British gags. Among Daniel’s impressions are Prince Charles squawking at a pen and Boris blustering about parties, while Glastonbury’s infamous loos get a shout-out.

When Daniel learns to cook by watching a video online, the host pops up in his kitchen and leads a lively tap number (exuberant choreography throughout by Lorin Latarro). A butter-stroking Nigella also appears – and is then interrupted by a commercial for IBS medication. It’s one of several instances where the creative team brilliantly finds a fresh theatrical, and modern, language for this familiar tale.

I also adored the ecstatically camp disco makeover number, inspired by Andre’s love for Donna Summers, which has winking fun with influential female icons – from Princess Di and Cher to Julia Child. Teenager Lydia gets an angsty rock song, buff  Stuart expresses his feelings while lifting weights (his gym buddies turn into earnest back-up singers), and Miranda, now a fitness wear designer, celebrates body positivity while leading a fashion parade. 

But the definite highlight is an uproariously over-the-top flamenco number that elevates the film’s infamous restaurant scene, with Daniel hopping between his two guises. Lisa Mathieson is an absolute riot as the singer lambasting the faithless ex who lied to her – further highlighting Daniel’s own dubious actions, but in a deliciously flamboyant way.

The whole company is strong here. As Miranda, Laura Tebbutt supplies powerhouse vocals; Cameron Blakely is hysterical as Frank, who involuntarily shouts when he lies (a fantastic farcical addition); and Marcus Collins is a showboating Andre, but also strikes a serious note when he talks of their struggle to adopt as a gay couple, while Daniel risks losing his own kids with his shenanigans. 

There’s also great support from Carla Dixon-Hernandez as a fiery Lydia, Samuel Edwards as sensitive hunk Stuart, Kelly Agbowu as Daniel’s suspicious case worker, Ian Talbot as the creaky kids’ entertainer Mr. Jolly, and Micha Richardson as a formidably humourless TV executive. On press night, Frankie Treadaway was very funny as Christopher, who seems to have inherited Frank’s panicked yelling, and Angelica-Pearl Scott was an adorable pipsqueak Natalie.

David Korins nods to the San Francisco setting with a stylish cityscape backdrop featuring the Golden Gate Bridge, and Catherine Zuber has a ball with the costumes. It all feels celebratory: of self-exploration and identity (although this is very clearly not a trans story, nor does it feel remotely prejudicial), of different types of families, and, finally, of honesty. Well, my dears, the truth is that *Mrs. Doubtfire* is this summer’s sizzling-hot ticket.

*Mrs. Doubtfire* is at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Book [*Mrs. Doubtfire* tickets](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/24395-mrs.-doubtfire) on London Theatre.

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*Photo credit: Mrs. Doubtfire. (Photo by Manuel Harlan)*

'Mrs Doubtfire' review – this exuberantly inventive musical adaptation is a sizzling-hot ticket

Read our four-star review of *Mrs. Doubtfire* in the West End, starring Gabriel Vick, currently in performances at the Shaftesbury Theatre.

**Shaftesbury Theatre** is an iconic theatre venue in the heart of London's West End. It's been a central part of London's theatre scene since its opening in 1911, boasting more than a century of remarkable performances. Widely esteemed for its architectural grandeur, it ordinarily retains a capacity of 1,400 seats that remain filled with regulars and tourists from around the globe. The theatre has primarily focused on musical-style performances but has also accommodated some premium works of drama over the years. Its historic record includes hosting some of the longest-running shows in London, like 'Hair’ and 'Hairspray'.

**How to get to Shaftesbury Theatre**

Located in the London Borough of Camden, Shaftesbury Theatre is easily accessible by various modes of transport. By Tube, the nearest station is Holborn, a short 6-minute walk away on Kingsway road. Alternatively, for those preferring to travel by bus, various routes stop near the theatre including numbers 1, 8, 19, 38, 55, 98, 242, and N98. If you're driving, parking facilities can be availed at Bloomsbury Square Car Park just 5 minutes away with a pre-booked parking space. If walking or biking, the theatre is within easy distance of several central London locations.

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Shaftesbury Theatre

The Shaftesbury Theatre is a historic London venue known for musicals, easily reached by tube and bus, with nearby parking.

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The Phoenix Theatre is a West End theatre situated in the heart of London, embracing a rich history of over a century. With a seating capacity of 1,012, the venue emanates elegance with refined gold and bronze interiors along with lush red velvet seats. Known for its magnificent portrayal of widely acclaimed arts from across the globe, the theatre has famously exhibited spectacularly thought-provoking plays and dramatic productions.

Since its inaugural production of Noel Coward's 'Private Lives' in 1930, Phoenix Theatre has circulated a diverse repertoire, from Shakespearean classics to rock musicals like 'Blood Brothers' that ran for 21 years. It also attracts an impressive roster of acting talents, including legendary artists like Dame Judi Dench and Ian McKellen.

**How to get to the venue:**

Phoenix Theatre is easily accessible, just a two-minute walk from the bustling Tottenham Court Road Underground station, which serves the Central and Northern lines. Multiple bus routes through Charing Cross road also connect it well with the rest of the city. Additionally, the nearest NCP car park is situated in Shaftesbury. It's recommended to use public transport due to restrictions on parking in the area.

**Additional Information**

Venue opens 1hr 30min before showtime.
Please arrive with plenty of time, latecomers will be admitted at a suitable point, which may be the interval.

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Phoenix Theatre

The Phoenix Theatre in London's West End showcases a diverse repertoire of theatrical productions, is easily accessible via public transport.

Ages 10+. Under 16s must be accompanied by and sat next to an adult (18+). Children under 3 years will not be admitted. 

Mean Girls - LON [35503]

Mean Girls

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IT’S NOT LIKE A REGULAR MUSICAL. 
IT’S A COOL MUSICAL. 

London's Savoy Theatre is one of the most renowned theatre venues in the heart of the city. This cherished venue exhibits a rich history that dates back to 1881. The Savoy indulges its patrons with a variety of performances, including plays, musicals, ballet, and concerts. The attractive architecture and interior details give the attendees a sense of a grand theatrical experience. The Savoy Theatre prides itself on having introduced electric lights to the theatre world. Remarkable luminaries such as Gilbert and Sullivan have graced its stage. The theatre has a seating capacity of 1,158, split between the Stalls, Dress Circle, and Upper Circle. Dedicated to providing full accessibility, the venue offers services for those with mobility, hearing, and visual impairments.

## How to get to the Savoy Theatre 
The Savoy Theatre is centrally located in London and is easily accessible by both public and private transport. The theatre is easily reachable by bus, tube, and rail services. The nearest tube stations are Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern lines), Embankment (District, Circle, Bakerloo, and Northern lines), and Covent Garden (Piccadilly line). For those who prefer buses, services 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 87, 91, 139, and 176 stop near the theatre. For patrons driving private vehicles, the closest Q-Park car park is available at the nearby Chinatown. The theatre also participates in the Q-Park Theatreland Scheme, offering a 50% discount on parking.

## Additional Information 

Venue opens 1hr 30min before showtime.

Please arrive with plenty of time, latecomers will be admitted at a suitable point, which may be the interval.

Savoy Theatre - LON

Savoy Theatre

The Savoy Theatre is a historic London venue offering diverse performances. It's centrally accessible by tube, bus, and car.

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Pretty Woman: The Musical

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It's time to head back to Beverly Hills and experience one of Hollywood’s most beloved romantic stories of all time live on stage at it’s glamorous new home - the Savoy Theatre. Get ready to fall in love London as the record breaking box office smash-hit musical returns.

Born in Stevenage in 1987, British actor Aimie Atkinson is best known for her Olivier Award-nominated performance in the orignal cast of *[Six](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/six-the-musical)* as Henry VIII's fifth wife, Katherine Howard. She's now portraying the iconic role of Vivian Ward in the West End premiere of *[Pretty Woman: The Musical](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/pretty-woman)* at the [Piccadilly Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/piccadilly-theatre).

With a father in a rock band, Atkinson was born into a musical family, inspiring and encouraging her to learn even more about musicianship. Growing up, she dreamed of a life in the theatre, taking part in numerous performing arts groups and school productions, later running a franchise of performing arts school, Stagecraft, in her hometown.

Successfully gaining a place at Arts Educational School in London, Atkinson entered BBC Radio 2’s musical theatre competition while in training. Even though she'd yet to begin her professional career, Atkinson went on to win both amateur and professional categories, taking the title of 'Voice of Musical Theatre'. Opening doors, Atkinson left Arts Educational School to make her professional debut, starring in a production of *Days and Hopes* at King’s Head Theatre. Later starting the Royal Academy of Music's intensive musical theatre programme, history repeated itself once again when Atkinson left training to star in a production, this time originating the role of Luisa in the UK tour of *Zorro*.

Atkinson’s no stranger to starring in musical theatre roles, taking over the role of Daniela in the London premiere of *In The Heights* at King’s Cross Theatre, as well as starring in off-West End productions of *Steel Pier* at the Union Theatre and *Legacy Falls* at [Charing Cross Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/charing-cross-theatre). She’s also performed in theatres across the country, appearing in regional and touring productions of *Legally Blonde*, *Dirty Dancing*, *Blockbuster*, *Carnaby Street* and *Never Forget*.

However, she’s best known for her critically-acclaimed performance in *Six*, originating the role of Katherine Howard and playing the role for over two years. Along with the five other queens in the West End cast, Atkinson was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical at the 2019 Olivier Awards.

Away from musical theatre, Atkinson is also the creative director of Goldstone, a British girl group that won ‘The Voice of Astana’, a Kazakh singing competition in 2018. As a solo artist, Atkinson released her debut album titled *Step Inside Love* in 2017.

Atkinson's latest role is in the West End premiere of *Pretty Woman: The Musical* as Vivian Ward, opposite [Danny Mac](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/actor-profile/danny-mac) as Edward Lewis.

Aimie Atkinson - LON

Ages 10+. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

SIX - LON [12201]

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The queens are back, and they're beautiful. Since their creation by Cambridge University students Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss in 2017, when they first sashayed before audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, these ritzily reincarnated wives of Henry VIII have stomped their way into the theatre history books. The show - more rock revue than musical - transferred to the West End and became an international hit. Its Broadway opening was delayed by the Covid crisis, but doubtless its conquering of the Great White Way is just a matter of time.A bedazzling sing-off by six women, each determined to wrest back control of her own narrative, Moss and Jamie Armitage's production is slick, witty, and so frenetically charged that resistance is pretty much useless. What's behind the glitter and the gloss, the astonishing vocals and the seductive strut, is in reality not much more profound than the Spice Girls' rallying cry of "Girl Power": it's a case of clever branding rather than serious substance. But it undeniably works: an audience dominated by young women and girls, many of them watching with their mums, whooped their appreciation, faces glowing. This may be feminism-lite, but it ignites powerful passions.And as a spectacle, it's eye-poppingly impressive. Emma Bailey's set, lit with blinding, blingy excess by Tim Deiling, is like a medieval chapel relocated to Las Vegas, purple neon in place of stained glass. Backed by an all-female band, the queens, in costume designer Gabriella Slade's mini farthingales or doublet and hose, crystal-encrusted and flesh-flashing, glide, pop and grind through choreographer Carrie-Ann Ingrouille's high-energy, geometric formations, to songs that musically reference a roll call of fabulous divas&nbsp;—&nbsp;Beyonce, Britney, Ariana Grande, Nicky Minaj, Rihanna, and Adele among them. They're here to decide who's life story was the most tragic - and she who had the worst of it will reign supreme.This is the show's major stumbling, if not chopping, block. Competing to be the biggest victim hardly sounds like empowerment, any more than the catfighting and bitchiness they indulge in; and the last-minute flipflop, in which they claim the whole thing was a set-up designed to make us question our own assumptions, feels like a bit of a cop-out. But if the sexual politics are hazy, the attitude is fierce. The current cast are all phenomenal, but I particularly enjoyed Courtney Bowman's faux-innocent Anne Boleyn, skipping insouciantly through her role in the Reformation via Lily Allen-ish rhymes ("everybody chill, it's totes God's will"), and Sophie Isaacs's Katherine Howard, radiating sparks of fury as she sings about the succession of men who have sexually exploited her.And there's a glorious sequence of overblown fantasy and pounding German techno when Alexa McIntosh's Anne of Cleves, who was famously (and, according to Henry, too flatteringly) painted by Holbein, recalls visiting the artist in his atelier: "Haus of Holbein" sends up beauty standards ("try these heels, so high it's naughty, but we can't guarantee you'll still walk at 40"), and, with the queens adopting oversized sunglasses and ludicrous posturing, reminded me deliciously of the eccentric, body-fascist fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld.The songs are insanely catchy, and if subtlety gets gleefully ground beneath the show's rhinestone-studded stiletto heel, that's not what anyone came for anyhow. It isn't profound, but this is a party - and it's unstoppable.SIX runs through 18 April at the <a href="https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/six-the-musical-lyric">Lyric Theatre</a>, then at the <a href="https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/six-the-musical">Arts Theatre</a> from 20 April.Photo credit:&nbsp;Courtney Bowman, center, in SIX: The Musical (Photo by Pamela Raith)

'SIX' brings the girl power party back to the West End

Read our review of the Olivier-nominated musical SIX at the Lyric Theatre on London Theatre.

SIX at the Lyric Theatre Review | London Theatre

SIX, ‘the most uplifting piece of new British musical theatre’ (✭✭✭✭✭ The Evening Standard) is the phenomenon everyone is losing their head over!

Critically acclaimed across the UK with a sound-track storming up the UK pop charts, the sell-out intoxicating Tudor take-off is back!

The Vaudeville Theatre is one of the most distinguished theatres in London. Perched on the Strand in London's West End district, the theatre has been a pillar of the city's performing arts scene and a symbol of London's rich cultural history. With a capacity of 690, it offers an intimate setting that brings audiences closer to the performances. The auditorium, embellished with opulent detailing, provides a breathtaking atmosphere that exalts the theatre experience. Historically, it has been home to notable plays and musicals featuring some of the world's most renowned actors and actresses. Beyond its aesthetic beauty and historic significance, it is celebrated for its commitment to presenting excellent productions which cater to a wide variety of theatrical tastes.### How to Get to the Venue ###It is readily accessible not only to the locals but also to foreign tourists. For those planning to arrive by tube, the nearest station is Covent Garden which is approximately 5 minutes walk. Alternative tube stations include Charing Cross (10 minutes walk) and Holborn Station (11 minutes walk). For anyone planning to use a bus, services 6, 9, 11, 15, 23, 77A, 91, 139, 176 all stop near the theatre. Those driving are suggested to use the MasterPark at Trafalgar Square and Chinatown car park.

Vaudeville Theatre - LON

Vaudeville Theatre

The Vaudeville Theatre is a historic venue in London's West End, known for its intimate setting and diverse productions.

There have been plenty of musicals about prostitution on Broadway, like the 60s classic Sweet Charity, set in a dance hall where the hostesses available for hire as dance companions say, "Who dances? We defend ourselves to music" and The Life, a 1997 show that portrayed a gritty, pre-Disneyfied Times Square and the hard realities of street sexual exploitation and its affiliations with drug interests. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, on the other hand, which premiered in 1978 and became a film with Dolly Parton starring as the whorehouse madame, offered a jiggling, country-and-western take on a brothel that presented it virtually as innocuous family entertainment.&nbsp;But <a href="/show/pretty-woman">Pretty Woman: The Musical</a>, based on the 1990 film that starred Julia Roberts as a Hollywood Boulevard street sex worker and Richard Gere as her billionaire investor executive client, is something else, seeking to combine a hard-edged reality with a real romance and happy ending (and not the kind that you might be offered in a massage parlour, either, on this same boulevard).&nbsp;In a post-Weinstein world, there are inevitably fears that the rich, entitled male might be seen to be exploiting the younger, more vulnerable female for his own purposes, seeking uncomplicated companionship and sex on demand during his time sealing a company take-over bid in LA, in return for a comparatively modest fee (for him). Early on, there's a slightly icky scene where she takes a cushion from the piano stool so that she can be more comfortable as she sinks to her knees to service him.&nbsp;But this is also a Cinderella-meets-Pygmalion story, in which the street prostitute is transformed into a society princess, cleaned up by a much-improved wardrobe (bought for her, of course, by the man) and eventually redeemed by acknowledging and meeting her needs as well as his. There may be a bit of wish-fulfillment to all of this -&nbsp;the score and book are both written by all-male teams, and the show its also written and directed by a man -&nbsp;but it also has a happy, eventually feel-good vibe to it.&nbsp;In the late Garry Marshall and JF Lawson's book (who respectively directed and wrote the original film), it is the woman who holds the cards -&nbsp;and the man who has the bigger journey to travel, from self-imposed isolation to finding real love.&nbsp; It's a relationship that ends up transforming them both -&nbsp;he even ends up making different, more moral business choices, too.&nbsp;But what makes it ultimately both digestible and credible are the sympathetic performances of the two leads. Yes, of course, it helps that <a href="/actor-profile/danny-mac">Danny Mac</a> is no physical monster in the style of Weinstein but easy on both the eyes and ears - and as with Sunset Boulevard in which he recently toured the UK, he removes his shirt for the undeniable pleasure of the audience. But Mac succeeds in having plenty of charm as well as pecs appeal. <a href="/actor-profile/aimie-atkinson">Aimie Atkinson</a>, in the Julia Roberts role of Vivian Ward, is ironically less objectified than him, and has a perfect combination of quirky vulnerability and the strength of a survivor; and there's good support from Rachael Wooding and Neil McDermott as friends to each of them. &nbsp;Jerry Mitchell, who has previously been responsible as director and/or choreographer to such film to hit stage properties as <a href="/show/kinky-boots">Kinky Boots</a>, Legally Blonde, The Full Monty, <a href="/show/hairspray">Hairspray</a> and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, knows just how to make these transformations work. He ups the energy and momentum throughout. If Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance's score lacks serious break-out hits of its own, there's at least a curtain call reprise of Roy Orbison's famous 1964 hit single that gave the original film its title to send you out on a high. &nbsp;<a href="/show/pretty-woman">Pretty Woman: The Musical</a>&nbsp;is at the Savoy Theatre.&nbsp;<a href="/show/pretty-woman">Pretty Woman: The Musical tickets</a>&nbsp;are available now.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Review - 'Pretty Woman: The Musical' starring Danny Mac and Aimie Atkinson

British actor Aimie Atkinson is best known for her Olivier Award-nominated performance in the orignal cast of Six as Katherine Howard. She's now portraying the iconic role of Vivian Ward in the West End premiere of Pretty Woman: The Musical.

Aimie Atkinson - Stars on Stage | London Theatre

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