truly talented

Thanks Pam. Hope you receive some Darius news. In further interviews, Will has said he has already written a song, the first in a couple of years. He hopes to have a single out in October, then tour in March and the summer.

The interviewer on BBC radio Oxford introduced Will as working on Jealousy part 2. He working with the same writers. Fingers crossed Richard X is back onboard.

So unexpected but delighted to hear Will announce on the radio that once he finishes Strictly Ballroom at the end of July he's going back in the studio. Single out by the end of this year and a tour next year. Sounds from what he said that it will be in the vein of Jealousy/ Echoes.

Will In Conversation with John Bishop. "Estimable interviewer" (Daily Telegraph) John Bishop has sat down with some of the biggest names in film, music, television, politics and sport for heart-warming and candid conversations in his critically-acclaimed interview series John Bishop: In Conversation With... Described by The Times as being "the most revelatory chat show on TV" and "very watchable" by the The Guardian, the fourth series in less than two years is no different. Each week John embarks on an in-depth, open and inspiring conversation with a well-known guest to talk poignant career moments and personal reflection. Once again John welcomes an incredible line-up of famous faces for this series of inspiring and fascinating conversations including; Hollywood superstar Cuba Gooding Jr, rapper, singer and songwriter Professor Green, actor and writer Ruth Jones, singer-songwriter Will Young, presenter Gabby Logan, comedian Katherine Ryan, singer and talent show judge Alesha Dixon, actor and singer Martine McCutcheon, comedian Paddy McGuinness and former Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole. It will be on the Watch Channel, Will is on Episode 6, but we don't know the confirmed date yet.

I agree appalling. Lots of revelations about his career in the Homosapiens podcast, now in it's second series. Will and Chris are pure comedy gold running alongside serious interviews.

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Will is on Graham Norton's radio 2 show on March 24th most likely to talk about Strictly Ballroom which opens in the Wesr End on the 29th. :cheer:

From PressParty http://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/Mcpr/view/173892/ SERIES 2 KICKS OFF WITH WILL AND CHRIS VISITING JEREMY CORBYN IN WESTMINSTER LAUNCHED TO ALIGN WITH LGBT HISTORY MONTH, SERIES 2 WILL SEE WILL AND CHRIS GO ‘ON THE ROAD’ ACROSS THE UK TO TACKLE A DIVERSE MIX OF LGBTQ+ SUBJECTS INCLUDING CHEMSEX, PrEP, LGBTQ+ LIFE IN RURAL BRITAIN, LGBTQ+ ISSUES IN MAINSTREAM EDUCATION AND MUCH MORE GUESTS THIS SERIES INCLUDE ALAN CUMMING, JACK MONROE, TIM WALKER, MICKY BLANCO, ASIFA LAHORE AND MANY MORE ‘ The surprise hit of the summer…it’s a riot!’ - Evening Standard 'Absolute podcast naturals!’ - Radio Times ‘The perfect podcast raconteurs’ - The Guardian 'Will and Chris are at once both uproariously funny and unerringly discerning’ - ES Magazine ‘Hugely enjoyable listening’ - Financial Times ‘Begs the question…why didn’t anyone think of this earlier?’ - Mr Porter (#2 in ‘Podcasts You Really Need to Know About’) ‘ Swings from touchingly candid to downright hilarious’
- The Observer’s ‘10 Best Podcasts of 2017’ Today, Will Young and Chris Sweeney announce the return of their critically acclaimed debut podcast series ‘Homo Sapiens’ – back for a second run, the hilarious ‘in conversation’ programme will return on 20th February, kicking off with an exclusive interview with leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn. In the chat alongside Gay Times, Will, Chris and Jeremy discuss LGBTQ+ heroes, bullying and LGBTQ+ education in schools, mental health and depression, homophobic language and the use of the word “gay”, Jeremy’s recipe for jam, how he tends to his allotment, how he stays ‘Monsieur Zen’ in parliament, Glastonbury Festival and much more. In ‘Homo Sapiens Extra’ to be released on Friday, Corbyn discusses Donald Trump, trans people in politics and homophobia on TV. Elsewhere in the episode, Will and Chris discuss their hopes of a knighthood (when Jeremy’s elected Prime Minister, of course), their invitation to PMQs, what happened when they finally (!) appeared as guests on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Woman’s Hour’, Will tries to fix Chris’ boiler (to no avail) whilst he relives his nightmare rehearsal for new Baz Luhrmann West End show, Strictly Ballroom The Musical. To listen, please visit – https://www.acast.com/homosapiens/s02ep01-jeremycorbyn Inspired by the aforementioned ‘Woman’s Hour’, the series will once again bring Homo Sapiens’ signature mix of wit and warmth to 12 weekly episodes, which see Will and Chris chat to a range of personalities, whilst touching on a variety of topical LGBTQ+ issues. All this comes with a healthy dose of random chatter about what is going on in their lives. For the first time, this new series sees Will and Chris take to the road to uncover stories that matter to LGBTQ+ communities across the UK. Stop off points included, Birmingham (to meet a gay teacher about LGBTQ+ issues in education), Manchester (to meet with an LGBT Foundation to discuss the effects of Chemsex and PrEP), Hebden Bridge (to report on LGBTQ+ life in rural Yorkshire), Northern Ireland (to visit the UK’s most remote gay club) and the Yorkshire Dales (to meet Francis Lee, director and writer of ‘God’s Own Country’) and many more. Will and Chris said: “We’re beyond excited about ‘Homo Sapiens’ Series 2. The guests we have are truly inspirational and span the world’s of sport, acting, politics and music. Along with this, we went around the UK to speak to people outside of the main metropolises to hear about LGBT life across Britain. From homophobic abuse from a London bus driver as we set off, to unwittingly being booked in to unveil a statue in Yorkshire, we had quite a week…the people we met were funny and heartwarming and we can’t wait to share their stories.” Will and Chris are longstanding friends, having previously worked together when Chris directed the music videos for Will’s singles ‘Come On’ and ‘Hopes and Fears’.

LondonTheatre1@LondonTheatre1 "Personally, I think @strictlystage is going to be the most anticipated musical of the year and, based on what I have seen today, I can’t wait to get my hands on a ticket." https://www.londontheatre1.com/news/196 ... -de-paris/ … Strictly Ballroom The Musical launch at the Café de Paris FEBRUARY 14, 2018 LAST UPDATED: FEBRUARY 14, 2018 10:55 PM BY TERRY EASTHAM LEAVE A COMMENT Will Young, Zizi Strallen and Jonny Labey – Photo by Bonnie Britain On the most romantic day of the year, what could be better than grabbing a glass of fizz and attending the press launch of Strictly Ballroom at the Café de Paris. Quite a crowd had gathered, including everyone who was anyone in musical theatre reporting – plus me – and there was a real air of excitement as we got nearer to the start of proceedings. Will Young, who plays Wally Strand in the show, kicked off the event with a wonderfully soulful rendition of ‘Time After Time’ with the two lead actors Jonny Labey, who plays Scott Hastings and Zizi Strallen, playing Fran dancing along. Will then gave an opening address which was rather sweet and self-deprecating as he talked about his feelings for the show. He then introduced producer Carmen Pavlovic who talked about the ethos behind her company and other productions they have put on, including a brand new version of Moulin Rouge going to America. Strictly Ballroom, which is based on the original and much-loved 1992 Baz Luhrmann movie of the same name, opens in April in the West End at the Piccadilly Theatre and the company has worked closely with Baz and the original film team. Director & Choreographer Drew McOnie talked about how the show has been updated for a UK audience from its Australian version with the introduction of Will Young’s character, bandleader Wally Strand. However, he said ultimately, the show stays true to the original themes of the movies – being who you are and standing up for yourself – which are as relevant today as when it first came out. At the launch, many of the cast were dressed in their fantastic costumes by Catherine Martin with wonderfully sequined gowns and elaborate hairstyles reflected in every surface. The show looks amazing, sounds amazing and, a particular highlight for me was witnessing Fernando Mira – who originated the role of Fran’s father, Rico – perform a truly superb pasodoble. Proceedings were nearly at an end and the launch finished with Will Young back at the microphone singing ‘Love is in the Air’ accompanied by the other members of the cast to rapturous applause from the assembled audience. Personally, I think Strictly Ballroom is going to be the most anticipated musical of the year and, based on what I have seen today, I can’t wait to get my hands on a ticket. By Terry Eastham STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL tells the inspiring story of Scott Hastings, a championship ballroom dancer who defies all the rules and follows his heart, not only to find his true calling but also his true love. Directed and choreographed by Olivier Award winner Drew McOnie and featuring songs from the hit film including Love Is In The Air, Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps and Time After Time, this dazzling new musical is the perfect show for all the family. Strictly Ballroom The Musical Piccadilly Theatre 16 Denman Street, London, W1D 7DY London Booking from 29th March 2018 Currently Booking to 21st July 2018

2nd series of Homo Sapiens coming soon. :cheer:

Both will probably chart top 10 down to Mother's Day then drop like a stone. Neither are likely to sell 50k in total.

Tweet from Will. Well rather a fun gig has come in.....@pubinthepark in marlowe #pubinthepark May19th. I shall be with my old band which I am very excited about! Great food and setting and music

Surprised but delighted. :dance: We’re now ready to unveil our headline music acts to bring that true festival vibe to Pub in the Park. We hope you’ll agree we’ve got the 'Golden Touch' & that we'll have you 'Dancing in the Moonlight'! The line-ups includes Razorlight, Will Young & Tom Odell...check them out! https://www.pubintheparkuk.com/marlow/music/all-acts Hope there's more.

Showbiz › Celebrity News Will Young: I’ve learned to live with my anxiety ALISTAIR FOSTER Will Young says he has “learned to live” with the anxiety that led him to quit Strictly — and is ready for his return to ballroom dancing. The singer, 38, was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder in 2012 and walked out of last year’s BBC dancing competition after three weeks. Last month it was announced he will join the cast of the musical Strictly Ballroom, which debuts at the Piccadilly Theatre in March. Speaking about his casting for the first time, Young told the Standard: “I would separate Strictly on the BBC from Strictly on the West End. They all exist in their own right. “With PTSD, sometimes it could be difficult for me to go to the coffee shop, or visit the bank — but I now know when to expect it. It’s just something I’ve learned to live with the best I can, and listen to my body. “If my nervous system is too much then I might not want to go round to a friend’s for dinner. If I push myself to do things it gets worse. It’s like having a broken leg if you are an athlete — you need time to recover and can’t push yourself. “I’ve got really good at looking after my nervous system — it’s been the making of me. Self-care is what everyone should aspire to. “I’m a very content person. People think that PTSD must be depressing. That’s not the case.” Young, who won the first Pop Idol in 2002, is working on a second series of his podcast Homo Sapiens, which focuses on LGBTQ+ issues. He starts preparing for his West End role next month. “I work on things that pique my interest,” he said. “With Strictly Ballroom, I’m excited and slightly scared.”

FB message from Will. I will be hosting a Carol concert 22nd December at Hall for Cornwall for Shiresholt horse sanctuary tickets available at hallforcornwall.co.uk tickets £15 Lots of carols and mince pies !

Radio 2 Essential R'n'B Good to see there are 4 shows in total. :D The first two to be aired on 20th & New Year's Day.

Yes the Brighton dates sold out quickly as did much of the tour.

DUBLIN NOVEMBER 28th - DECEMBER 2nd Theatre Review: ‘Cabaret’ Starring Will Young, a lavish production of ‘Cabaret’, the iconic musical about a nightclub singer, doomed love, and the rise of the Nazi party, is in Dublin this week. But does it all add up to a good night out? THEATRE 29 NOVEMBER, 2017. WRITTEN BY DANIEL CAHILL. Theatre-Review-Cabaret For over half a century Kander and Ebb’s Cabaret has existed in some guise or another, be it the hugely successful stage show (which has had more revivals than Cher has had farewell tours) or Bob Fosse’s 1972 Oscar-winning film adaptation. That version has rightly earned its place amongst the annals of queer cinema history, due in part to its progressive views of sexuality and, of course, Liza Minnelli’s career-defining turn as the loveable mess that is Sally Bowles. The Rufus Norris revival opens with Will Young singing the apropos ‘Willkommen’. At tonight’s performance the Bord Gáis house lights have mistakenly been left on, but the seasoned Young remains unfazed and cleverly incorporates this gaffe into his performance by interacting with the audience. The role of Emcee is a well-worn one for Will. He was nominated for an Olivier Award for his 2013 stint in the role, and given his pop-star credentials, his particular portrayal of Emcee can lean more towards whimsical than menacing at times. That being said, there’s no doubt his performance is the glue that binds this entire production together. You cannot avert your eyes when he is on stage and his voice takes on a new timbre, not heard in his pop offerings. You May Be Surprised If you are a fan of the film version as I am, you may be surprised to find that the stage version differs greatly in parts. The iconic Sally Bowles feels almost like a bit part in this version, sidelined to make way for other story arcs. This is not helped by Louise Redknapp’s performance. There’s no doubt that she has the vocal chops for the part but her acting often feels stilted and on occasion her delivery was almost robotic. Sally Bowles impish pixie cut was also usurped for a soccer-mom type hairstyle, which rather detracted from the sex appeal we expect from the part. In one early scene, Sally tries to seduce the charming writer Clifford Bradshaw. Redknapp succumbs to multiple bouts of coughing during her dialogue, resulting in Sally Bowles sounding less seductress and more serial chain-smoker. In fairness, Redknapp managed to soldier through and perform a song at the end of her scene without any further interruption. The songs that feature in both the movie and stage production are rambunctious, provocative and are the musical highlights of the show. Some of the lesser-known songs performed by Clifford and Sally’s landlady, Fraulein Schneider, lack the same umph and slow the pace at times. Cabaret’s staging is incredible and the audience is transported from Fraulein Schneider’s boarding house and the bright lights of the Kit Kat club and back again with seamless precision. The dancers are sizzling hot and fill every inch of the stage with their slick choreography and statuesque physiques. Catchy Nazi Youth Ditty While the central theme of the stage and the film version remain the same, the mechanics in which it is conveyed on stage are completely different to the film. In the stage version a love story between Fraulein Schneider and Herr Schultz becomes the catalyst for the burgeoning distrust of Jewish people and the imminent rise of the Nazi party in Germany. It does takes an hour or so into the piece for this plot point to be uncovered, signalled by Young triumphantly singing Kander and Ebb’s catchy Nazi Youth ditty, ‘Tomorrow Belongs to Me’. Ramped up with Nazi involvement, the second act takes a more definitive shape. It’s a story that rather depressingly is still as pertinent today as it was when Cabaret was first staged on Broadway in 1966, which may also be part of the reason this production feels so fresh and relevant. Cabaret is a jewel among Bord Gáis Energy Theatre’s run of top international productions this year and is well worth the price of admission. As Sally Bowles famously bellows in the show’s titular song ‘What good is sitting alone in your room? Come to the Cabaret.’ Cabaret runs at The Bord Gáis Energy Theatre until December 2, tickets here. https://gcn.ie/theatre-review-cabaret/? ... =hootsuite

http://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/show ... re_20dec Will Young presents with Great Pleasure at Christmas. Will Young takes us on a tour of his favourite bits of writing, songs, entertanment and art including Lord of the Rings, Joni Mitchell, Magritte, Cabaret and King Lear. Along the way he'll talk about his life and his career. And there'll be live music and performance from Will himself :party6: plus a range of special guests. Wonder if this could be the start of more radio work for Will.

EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE NOVEMBER 14 -18th EDINBURGH REPORTER Review: Cabaret **** SHARE THIS Add to Delicious Share on FriendFeed Digg submit to reddit TAGS CabaretEdinburgh PlayhouseLouise RedknappSusan PenhaligonWill Young When I was asked to do a review of Cabaret, performing this week at the Edinburgh Playhouse, I have to say I had reservations. I have never watched the famous 1972 film version starring Liza Minelli and I’m in the dark about the story behind the musical, apart from the fact it’s set in Berlin in the early 1930s. When I read that two of the leading cast were Will Young, forever associated with Pop Idol, the talent show which launched his career ten years ago and Louise Redknapp, formerly of girl band Eternal, my anticipation didn’t exactly reach stratospheric levels. However, when the show ended shortly after 10.00pm on Tuesday’s opening night, my opinion had changed. The story of a young American, Clifford Bradshaw, played by Charles Hagerty, arriving in Berlin hoping the city will inspire him to write a novel is the premise. However, Clifford finds himself in a surreal world of cabaret acts, black market traders and an ever-darkening political landscape. Cabaret comes with the inevitable fishnets, suspenders and corsets – and that’s just the ebullient host for the evening Emcee, played quite brilliantly by Will Young! Bold, impish and clearly loving this role, Young gives arguably the performance of his life, even adding the odd ad-lib (when his address to the Edinburgh audience produced a somewhat muted response, he mocked to the front row ‘well three people liked it!’) Hagerty’s performance as Bradshaw is also impressive, an antidote to Emcee with Clifford clearly alarmed at what was happening in 1930s Berlin as Hitler’s Nazi Party gained more and more influence on Germany’s politics. The role of Sally Bowles – Bradshaw’s girlfriend – is played by Louise Redknapp. Now you could scarcely call me a fan of Eternal, but I was surprised by her powerful performance at the Playhouse. Those who still remember the film will inevitably compare Redknapp’s role with Liza Minelli, but the former runner-up of BBC Television’s Strictly Come Dancing was impressive throughout. Those of us who are old enough to remember that classic television drama from the 1970s – A Bouquet of Barbed Wire – will remember Susan Penhaligon’s brilliant performance as Prue. More than 40 years have passed since that memorable series (yes, really) but Penhaligon’s performance as Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret was superb and her relationship with Herr Schultz – played by the wonderful Linal Haft – touched many hearts with the inevitable outcome of a German woman contemplating marriage to a Jew in 1930s Germany. Without giving too much away, the end of the show will leave you spellbound and is a tribute to the superb performances of a highly talented cast. My only bone of contention was that, on occasion, I did struggle to hear what Will Young was saying in his mock German accent. However, this might have been something to do with the acoustics of the theatre. If you’re thinking of how to escape the relentless pre-Christmas tosh on television this week, then what good is sitting alone in your room? Come hear the music play – for life is a cabaret, old chum. Come to the cabaret – at the Edinburgh Playhouse this week until Saturday. You’ll be glad you did! Cabaret is at the Edinburgh Playhouse until Saturday 18th November 2017. Tickets here. Edinburgh Reporter rating: **** Fife Today Debbie Clarke, 15th November 2017: Come hear the music play at the Edinburgh Playhouse this week as the popular West End musical Cabaret takes to the stage. Rufus Norris’ acclaimed production is in the city for a five-night run as part of its current UK tour. The award winning musical stars Will Young as the eccentric Emcee. International singer/songwriter Will Young reprises his role as the enigmatic Emcee while singer and presenter Louise Redknapp makes her stage debut as Sally Bowles in this multi award-winning production. The show takes place in 1931 in Weimar Berlin and begins with the stirring Wilkommen when the audience is first introduced to the eccentric Master of Ceremonies, performed superbly by Will Young who previously played the role in 2012. While he has big shoes to fill following in the footsteps of the original Emcee Joel Grey, Will does a fantastic job of making the part his own. He perfectly captures the character’s ambiguity as well as a vulnerability which is masked by Emcee’s cheeky persona and flair for showmanship. While Louise Redknapp is fantastic in her role as sassy English cabaret singer Sally Bowles. She gave really strong vocal performances particularly in ‘Maybe This Time’ and ‘Cabaret’. Louise Redknapp stars as Sally Bowles As well as the two leads, I also thought Charles Hagerty was impressive as Bowles’ love interest Clifford Bradshow and Susan Penhaligon was excellent as landlady Fraulein Schneider. The secondary love story of Penhaligon’s character and Herr Schultz, played by Linal Haft was very touching, especially the scene when he offered the lady of his affections a pineapple as a special gift! Cabaret features amazing choreography, which is raunchy and dazzling, drawing the audience into the world of the infamous Kit Kat Klub and showing, quite poignantly, how its members were affected by the impending rise of the Nazis. This production certainly captures that sizzling era of decadence and hedonism with an ending that is very powerful. Cabaret is a musical not to be missed. Southside Advertiser Tom King, 14th November 2017: **** Cabaret starring Will Young and Louise Redknapp is at The Playhouse Theatre Edinburgh this week (until Saturday 18th November) turning time back and re-creating the Kit Kat Club of 1931 Berlin on stage. Cabaret is one of these productions that has a long history in different media – I Am a Camera (play), Goodbye to Berlin (short novel), stage musical and of course the iconic film from 1972 that brought the talents of writers Kander and Ebb, director Bob Fosse and of course Liza Minnelli as Sally Bowles. It is perhaps a little unfair that to anyone who has seen the film, Liza Minnelli is the benchmark that many will judge any Sally Bowles against. Adding to this problem of course is the fact that this role has over the years been played by some of the great stage performance artists of their time, and to expect Louise Redknapp to compete against this background in her first dramatic role is perhaps expecting a little too much from anyone – particularly in a production where Will Young has had the time to firmly establish his role as Emcee to perfection. Louise Redknapp is a very good vocalist, but this is Sally Bowles on stage, one of the most iconic roles in musical theatre and there is so much more to this part than just hitting the right notes, there is real dramatic weight to this part and to her songs. Sally Bowles to me always is a bit of a fake as underneath her exterior of “exquisite decadence” there is a very vulnerable woman wanting love and security more than anything else. Sally does not just perform at the Kit Kat Club, she is trapped there by many demons and knows it all too well. There should be a sharp contrast between on stage Sally and the off stage Sally as her relationship with Clifford develops, and that was not there for me in this production. That vulnerability I want to hear in “Maybe This Time” is just not there either. Everything about Sally is in the song “Cabaret” – whatever your troubles in life, put a brave smile on your face and just get on with things, and Louise does a far stronger performance with this number. For some reason the relationship between American writer Clifford Bradshaw (Charles Hagerty) and Sally Bowles (Louse Redknapp) is just not producing any emotion here for me, and that may be down to some factors outside of their control. The triangle between Clifford, Sally and nightclub performer Bobby also seems very weak here. Instead, the real relationship in this story and the one I remember the strongest when I left the theatre is the one between Fraulein Schneider (Susan Penhaligon) and Herr Schultz (Linal Haft). There are some wonderfully touching and delicate moments in this relationship, and both Susan and Linal have the background of dramatic experience to bring these characters to life. Fraulein Schneider also has some wonderful songs and, unlike Sally Bowles, her way of coping with the “Cabaret” that is life is simply to become very still, become almost invisible and simply survive whatever larger events are happening around her. This re-imagining of Cabaret works still though on many levels, and part of that is the bold move to create something very different on the Kit Kat Club stage, a wise move too as so many people have the Bob Fosse visuals in their heads still and any attempt to slightly change these would probably have ended badly. Instead, this new vision (which I last saw in 2013) has allowed Will Young to firmly establish himself as the new Emcee here, and he is simply getting better and better at this role. I was not too sure how this production would work on one of the largest stages in the UK as it is best suited for a smaller and more intimate theatre, but it works very well, and a big part of that success is the ability of Will Young to pull an audience right into the stage with him. There is also something unnerving at times to his performance – his closing performance of “Tomorrow Belongs To Me” in Act 1 has chilling overtones to it. This production of Cabaret is a bit like a story in two very distinct parts, and the music, dance and laughter of Act 1 contrast sharply with the far more dramatic and darker events of Act 2 as the Nazi party start to consolidate their hold on the German political scene. Out of the two, the second half of this show for me is always where the power of this story lies, and nothing in this production is more powerful than the final scene. If you have not seen this production yet I have no intention of giving that final scene away and hope no reviewers do either. This is not a perfect production of Cabaret, but it is a very good one. Louise Redknapp has the unenviable job of having to learn very swiftly the skill sets required for a dramatic role of this weight on stage and in front of audiences, and with the depth of dramatic talent around her, I have no doubt that this will be a very swift learning curve. Daily Business Magazine Pauline Taylor, 15th November 2017: ***** Young grabs the limelight in dazzling show In her theatrical debut Louise Redknapp, the former Eternal singer, brings to life Sally Bowles, the fictional burlesque performer who entertained in the sleazy nightclubs of 1930s Berlin. Redknapp does a decent job of emulating the role made famous in film by Liza Minnelli, but the show stealer of this performance at the Edinburgh Playhouse is the singer Will Young. Painted in clown face for most of the show, Young is a revelation as Emcee with his range going far beyond his reality pop star status. Young, who reprises his Olivier Award-nominated role, opens the action by proclaiming “Wilkommen” and it heralds a night of bawdy entertainment typifying the mood of a city on the cusp of Nazism. Susan Penhaligon with a long pedigree in theatre and television (Upstairs Downstairs, Bouquet of Barbed Wire) plays Fraulein Schneider, the landlady of a louche rooming house with plenty of characters passing through. The era, in all its depravity, is suitably depicted in the dazzling sets by Katrina Lindsay and choreography from Javier de Frutos. Mood changes see the backdrop change from the colourful Kit Kat Club with to Fraulein Schneider’s grey and oppressive looking house where she constantly rebukes the ladies for bringing home their “nephews” and “brothers.” The original songwriting from John Kander and Fred Ebb includes stand-outs Maybe This Time and, of course, Life Is A Cabaret. Redknapp delivers these with perfect range though the performance would benefit from her growing into the tragedy of the role as the tour progresses. The overall pervading mood of the action is impending doom as swastikas start to appear just before Hitler takes power in 1933. As the city shudders no-one is holding their breath and the whole company shows how these free-living Berliners partied until they were powerless against the impending doom. Young is central to the change of tone as the tragicomic Emcee. This is a very physical performance showing a range of comic buffoonery and clown-like lamentations as the era comes to an end. The choreography is simply stunning with many set pieces including Emcee as a puppet master while some of the company dance robotically. There’s a lot of symbolism in this production. Penhaligon and Linal Haft as Herr Schultz bring some serious acting to the stage but Young is not far behind – his performance is outstanding and the whole company should be praised for their dazzling energy. The poignancy of the finale gives the production a twist that was missing from the movie version. It’s not hard to see why the hype around this filled almost every seat on opening night. Highly recommended.

Will & Chris are the guests on Jesse Ware's podcast this week. https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/tabl ... e-23158026 So for Ep 2 I thought it was only right and proper that I invite over my dear, dear family friend and awesome promo video director Chris Sweeney, along with his partner in podcast crime and Cabaret star Will Young, a.k.a. the Homo Sapiens boys!

Will has tweeted. 'Strictly Ballroom is an iconic film by iconic director and now I am thrilled and excited to be a part of it on west end. They are an amazingly talented company and it's an honour'.

Will Young, Jonny Labey and Zizi Strallen to Lead Baz Luhrmann's STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL Will Young, Jonny Labey and Zizi Strallen will lead the cast of Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom The Musical when it makes its West End debut in 2018. Based on Baz Luhrmann's classic film that inspired the world to dance, Strictly Ballroom The Musical will begin performances at the Piccadilly Theatre on Friday 16th March 2018 (Press Night Wednesday 11th April). Will Young will play the brand new role of band leader, Wally Strand. Ever since winning the inaugural series of Pop Idol in 2001, Will has been one of the UK's most popular and successful music artists. He holds the record for the fastest selling debut single in British chart history, and has enjoyed a phenomenal career in music with four No1 albums, as well as acting alongside Dame Judi Dench in the film Mr. Henderson Presents, and his hugely acclaimed stage debut as the Emcee in the West End production of Cabaret. Jonny Labey will make his West End debut in the leading role of Scott Hastings, the maverick ballroom dancer torn between his passion and his pride. Jonny burst into the national spotlight by winning the ITV show Dance Dance Dance. Jonny, well known for playing the role of Paul Coker in EastEnders, has also starred in the film Soft Lad, headlined the play Verge of Strife, and can currently be seen as a new judge on CBBC's Taking The Next Step. Zizi Strallen will play the role of Fran, the fledgling dancer who partners with Scott and catches his eye following his fall from grace. Having shot to stardom as the lead in Mary Poppins, Zizi's additional West End credits include Follies, Cats, Dirty Dancing, Hairspray and Chicago. The cast includes Michelle Bishop (Thoroughly Modern Milly, Sunset Boulevard) as Pam Short, Ivan de Freitas (Jesus Christ Superstar, Aladdin) as Merv, Gabriela Garcia (In The Heights, Ghost) as Vanessa Cronin, Charlotte Gooch (Top Hat, Dirty Dancing) as Tina Sparkle, Richard Grieve (Neighbours, Emmerdale and Priscilla Queen of the Desert) as Les Kendall, Liam Marcellino (Cabaret, Miss Saigon) as Wayne Burns, Stephen Matthews (The Lion King, The Producers) as Doug Hastings, Fernando Mira (ENO, Victorian State Opera) as Rico, Eve Polycarpou (Villa Thalia, In The Heights) as Abuela, Lauren Stroud (Top Hat, Hairspray) as Liz Holt & Gary Watson (Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be, A Chorus Line, Jersey Boys) as Ken Railings. The cast also includes Chris Bennett, Chrissy Brooke, Hannah Fairclough, Selina Hamilton, Christopher D Hunt, Luke Jackson, Justin-Lee Jones, Robin Kent, Jacob Maynard, Leanne Pinder, Tinovimbanashe Sibanda & Dale White. The full cast is yet to be announced. Strictly Ballroom is the romantic story that was embraced around the world, and went on to put the Strictly into Come Dancing! Based on the multi award-winning movie, the first instalment from Baz Luhrmann's acclaimed Red Curtain Trilogy, the musical production is a kaleidoscope of colour and fun. When rogue championship ballroom dancer Scott defies all the rules of competition to follow his heart, he teams up with left-footed partner Fran to compete in the Pan Pacific Championship his own way. Their love blossoms as their routines flourish, and together they triumph in bringing down the sequin-clad regime of the Dance Federation. Featuring the film's iconic music such as Love is in the Air, Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps and Time After Time, Strictly Ballroom The Musical will also include electrifying songs from a host of internationally acclaimed artists. The production originated in Australia where it was created by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin. Drew McOnie (whose dazzling choreography for In the Heights earned him the 2016 Olivier Award) will direct and choreograph the West End premiere, with a book by Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce. Strictly Ballroom The Musical is produced by Global Creatures the team behind Walking With Dinosaurs - The Arena Spectacular, Muriel's Wedding The Musical and the Broadway-bound King Kong and Moulin Rouge! The Musical. For all information about STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL, please see http://www.strictlyballroomthemusical.com.

A special role has been written for Will, as the bandleader, when Strictly Ballroom the Musical transfers to the West End next March. :D Strictly Ballroom the Musical plays at the Piccadilly Theatre London from 16th March to 21st July 2018, with an official press night on 11th April 2018. Performances are at 7:30pm every day, excluding Sundays, with matinees at 2:30pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays.