Tag Archives: christmas

Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol: a marvellously musical, disarmingly sincere take on Dickens

Posted on December 15, 2022 by mkmswain

Cold Feet alumnus Robert Bathurst is an iron-fisted Scrooge in Parton’s homespun, soulful interpretation of the famous novella. Read my full Telegraph review here

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This Snow White is as traditional as panto gets (for better or worse)

Posted on December 9, 2022 by mkmswain

New Wimbledon Theatre’s festive offering will keep youngsters happy, but a little more creativity wouldn’t have hurt. Read my full Telegraph review here

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What to do in London at Christmas

Posted on November 24, 2022 by mkmswain

From shows and restaurants to markets, ice skating and more. Read my full London Theatre article here

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London theatre’s best winter warmers

Posted on November 4, 2022 by mkmswain

Escape the winter chill – or embrace it with seasonal shows like Frozen. Read my full London Theatre article here

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A Christmas Carol, Old Vic

Posted on November 25, 2021 by mkmswain

Matthew Warchus’s Dickensian charmer is back at the Old Vic for a fifth year. Read my full Telegraph review here

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The West End panto forced to move to Easter – if it can survive

Posted on December 27, 2020 by mkmswain

Is Easter the new Christmas? Producer James Seabright certainly hopes so. His Potted Panto, a best-bits of compendium of seven different pantomimes, opened and then closed prematurely in the West End when London was put into Tier 3. So, he’s … Continue reading →

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The Nutcracker, Birmingham Royal Ballet online

Posted on December 22, 2020 by mkmswain

It’s a tough year for our festive favourite, with the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet’s (BRB) Nutcrackers all obstructed by the Government’s tier restrictions. But, 2020 style, it’s a pivot to digital for BRB, who live-streamed their production from Birmingham Rep … Continue reading →

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The theatre where Christmas is saved – thanks to ‘the Morecambe and Wise of Weston-super-Mare’

Posted on December 22, 2020 by mkmswain

Christmas has been cancelled for most of Britain’s theatres, thanks to the Government’s tightening of tier restrictions, with venues all having to close if placed into tiers 3 and 4. But amidst the slew of bad news for the West … Continue reading →

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‘Justin Bieber has been so supportive of the NHS’: the Covid nurse aiming for a Christmas number one

Posted on December 20, 2020 by mkmswain

Five years ago, pop star Justin Bieber faced surprising competition in the race for the Christmas number one: a choir formed of doctors, nurses and staff from the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. Bieber eventually threw his weight behind their … Continue reading →

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How are Britain’s cathedral choirs preparing for a Covid Christmas?

Posted on December 20, 2020 by mkmswain

For many, the official sound of Christmas is a cathedral choir in full voice, leading us in traditional music and favourite carols. But it’s been a tough year for choristers, with lockdowns and tier restrictions hampering their work. Three leading … Continue reading →

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