ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS: Kylie Minogue was headliner at marathon British Summertime Festival in London’s Hyde Park. Photo: Courtesy of www.telegraph.co.uk

KYLIE
Opening Acts: Years & Years, Mika, Chic Featuring Nile Rodgers, & Grace Jones
Barclaycard Presents British Summertime at Hyde Park
London, United Kingdom
Sunday, June 21, 2015
www.Kylie.com

By Scott Harrah

It was a long day’s wait to see the Princess of Pop, Kylie Minogue, and her headlining live act in London’s Hyde Park as part of the British Summertime festival back on June 21, 2015. An estimated 60,000 fans started filling the park around 1pm (those with premium or VIP entry were let in at noon), but “Her Royal Ky-ness” (as one British newspaper nicknamed her) didn’t start her show until 8:30pm. Still, for Kylie fans, it was well worth the wait.

For this reviewer, seeing Kylie live in the U.K. (where fans appreciate her the most) was always a dream. I’ve seen her twice in New York, but I’d always wanted to see Our Kyles in London, a place where she’s bigger than Madonna (according to two guys from Manchester that were camped out next to us all day). British fans are indeed the maddest of all for La Minogue because, as a middle-aged man (there with his daughter, sporting a “Kylie and Jason” T-shirt) next to us explained, Australian native Kylie is considered an “honorary Brit” because her mother is from Wales, and the pint-sized Princess of Pop has been a superstar in the British Isles ever since the TV soap “Neighbours” started airing several times a day there in the late 1980s.

Kylie isn’t known for doing outdoor events much, other than a previous Hyde Park concert, “Proms in the Park,” and she was supposedly going to perform at the famous outdoor Glastonbury Festival 10 years ago, but had to cancel after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Glastonbury this wasn’t (thank God). It was more like “Kyliestock.” Our Kyles entered the stage sporting a rose-covered crown that looked similar to the official “Hyde Park” logo, and an ermine-trimmed robe, with a sparkly mini-dress underneath. She launched right into one of her biggest early hits, “Better the Devil You Know.” It was just what the crowd had been waiting for, and this was essentially a Kylie “greatest hits” package, a nonstop, energetic evening of the infectious songs that made her a legend.

WONDER FROM DOWN UNDER: Kylie in full Pop Princess regalia at Hyde Park concert. Photo: www.digitalspy.co.uk

The concert had all the usual touches of a live Kylie show: Dancers dressed as some type of power rangers, backup singers, a band, multimedia projections of the singer, with Jumbotrons so everyone could see the beloved singer. Those who caught her two North American tours, “KylieUSA2009” and “Aphrodite 2011” will remember the countless dancers, acrobats and other distractions. Although this was no scaled-down show, Kylie performed with a refreshing level of intimacy and crowd participation. Of course, this being fashion icon Kylie, there were numerous costume changes, and at one point she sashayed around in red thigh-high boots (with her trademark killer stiletto heels) and a matching sparkly dress.

THE LADY IN RED: Kylie sports some fabulous boots on stage. Photo: Pinterest/Instagram

Kylie performed most but not all of her golden oldies, from “In Your Eyes” to “On a Night Like This” to “Your Disco Needs You,” “Spinning Around,” “Can’t Get You Out of My Head,” “In My Arms” to more recent tracks like “Get Outta My Way” and such early hits such as “Step Back in Time” and “The Loco-Motion.” When she sang “I Should Be So Lucky,” she was hoisted onto the shoulders of two security guys and went out into the crowd to greet her screaming fans.

CROWD-PLEASER: Kylie, hoisted by security staff, ventures out into the audience at Hyde Park. Photo: Scott Harrah

Whether Kylie was doing “Slow” or “Kids,” she was in fine voice, and her bubbly banter was a crowd-pleaser at all times. She also did her hit cover of Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration,” plus a new version of Kim Carnes’ “Bette Davis Eyes.”

STEP BACK IN TIME: Kylie performed nearly all her classic pop hits. Photo: www.VisitLondon.com

Toward the end of the show, Kylie apologized that she wouldn’t be able to perform too late because of a 10pm Hyde Park curfew due to “the neighbors.” This started a bit of crowd reaction in our section near the front of the stage as fans sang the theme song from “Neighbours” in unison, and eventually Kylie joined in the fun.

She ended the show with the anthemic “All the Lovers,” complete with projections of lovers of all types and phrases about marriage equality. For the encore, she performed “Into the Blue,” the hit single from the Kiss Me Once album. It’s easy to see why this multi-talented woman has been on top for nearly three decades. For her fans, we all hope Our Kyles will keep “Spinning Around” for years to come and, oh yes—do a North American tour. Kylie, your disco needs you—and so do your fans on the other side of the Atlantic, too.

Opening Acts Years & Years, Chic & Grace Jones

The highlights of the earlier opening acts included Mika (who is best known in the U.S. for a duet with Ariana Grande). One of the best of the newer acts was Years and Years, fronted by the golden-voiced Olly Armstrong. Years and Years has already had hits in the U.K. with “King” and “Desire” and the new album “Communion,” just released in the USA, has received rave reviews and is climbing up the charts. Years and Years has a funky synth-pop dance sound that will remind some of the Pet Shop Boys or Jimmy Somerville.

Chic, fronted by Nile Rodgers, performed an electrifying set of their classics “Le Freak,” “Good Times” and more. Rodgers moved the crowd by talking about beating cancer a few years back, and writing songs for everyone from Duran Duran to Diana Ross, Madonna and others. At the end of Chic’s show, they were joined on the stage by none other than pop star Sam Smith and U2’s The Edge. It was the hottest party in London indeed, right in Hyde Park.

Finally, Grace Jones played shortly before Kylie came on. At age 67, Miss Jones still looks amazing, especially when she ran around topless and half-naked, covered only in body paint and several silly outfits. While singing “Pull Up to the Bumper,” she jumped on top of a bouncer’s shoulders and worked her way through the crowd. At other times, she seemed more concerned about changing into tribal headdresses backstage than performing even a medley of her greatest hits. She even went on a rant about wanting to smoke a joint (and was vilified for doing so in the U.K. tabloids the next day). The lady made quite a name for herself in the gay disco scene in the 1970s and 1980s, but what Grace Jones was doing opening for Kylie in 2015 in the first place is anyone’s guess.

CAN’T GET HER OUTTA OUR HEADS: Kylie works the crowd. Photo: www.mirror.co.uk

FABULOUSLY LATE: Although the British Summertime concert doors opened around 1pm, fans waited (through various opening acts) for her 8:30pm show. Photo: Pinterest/Fropky.com

SPINNING AROUND: Kylie Minogue as seen on the huge screens in Hyde Park at British Summertime concert on June 21, 2015. Photo: Scott Harrah

WAITING FOR MINOGUE: ‘Kylie! Kylie! Kylie!’ screamed the crowd of thousands. Photo: Scott Harrah

HOLDING COURT: Pop Princess Kylie sings to her subjects. Photo: Kylie Minogue Instagram

Opening Acts: Years & Years, Chic Featuring Nile Rodgers & Grace Jones

RISING STARS YEARS & YEARS: Olly Armstrong performs hit song “King” from his brand-new album, “Companion.” Photo: Scott Harrah

GOOD TIMES: The legendary Nile Rodgers rocks out to one of the many Chic hits at British Summertime in Hyde Park, London. Nile Rodgers has written hit tracks for David Bowie, Madonna, Duran Duran & countless others. Photo: Scott Harrah

AHH…FREAK OUT! LE FREAK, C’EST CHIC: Sam Smith, U2’s The Edge & others jam on stage with Nile Rodgers & Chic. Photo: Scott Harrah

SLAVE TO THE RHYTHM: Ladies & gentlemen, Miss Grace Jones at Hyde Park, London. Photo: Courtesy of www.telegraph.co.uk

The post Kylie Minogue madness at Hyde Park in London appeared first on StageZine.

MUST-SEE SHOW: Imelda Staunton in ‘Gypsy’ at the Savoy. Photo: Scott Harrah

By Scott Harrah

The two great capitals of the English-language theater are New York and London. In honor of StageZine.com’s 5th Anniversary, we crossed the Atlantic to review the best West End shows and pre-theater restaurants in London, to give a heads-up to our readers bound for Europe this summer.

This was not our first time in London. It is one of our favorite cities and we’ve been many times, but it was our inaugural visit as theater critics.

London, ‘Capital of Cool’

London means different things to people. For some, the largest city in “Old Blighty” means West End theater, and the theaters here are absolutely gorgeous. This is the land of Shakespeare and Noel Coward, Sir Laurence Olivier, Harold Pinter, George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde, Joe Orton and more. For others, it’s about visiting literary haunts, shopping at Harrods and Harvey Nichols, grooving to the latest music in the many nightclubs, doing all the touristy stuff like going to Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace, marveling at exhibits at the Victoria and Albert Museum, or touring Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London. London is the capital of “cool,” where Vivienne Westwood, the Sex Pistols and Malcom McLaren created “Anarchy in the U.K.” with punk. London is the epicenter for 1980s new wave and classic British pop and rock, ranging from the Beatles and David Bowie to Duran Duran to the Spice Girls, the Pet Shop Boys, Boy George, Morrissey and the Smiths, Ozzy Osbourne, the Kinks, the Rolling Stones and others. London is known for the 1960s scene on Carnaby Street. It’s home to Notting Hill, the Portobello Road and Baker Street, Jack the Ripper, Ian Fleming’s James Bond, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, the BBC, and more.

PICCADILLY CIRCUS: One of London’s most famous areas. Photo: Scott Harrah

For royal enthusiasts, it’s home to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and Camilla, William and Kate, Fergie and Prince Andrew, and the late Princess Diana and Princess Margaret. It’s the capital of the British Commonwealth and former Empire, a melting pot of British, Indian, West Indian and Arab cultures.

There are many similarities between New York and London. Both are crowded, congested, English-speaking cities full of culture, but London is cleaner. And, oh yes, be prepared for the high prices, but there’s good news for the budget-conscious.

NATIONAL THEATRE: Featuring cutting-edge shows, such as ‘Everyman.’ Photo: Scott Harrah

If you have not been to London in a while, now is the time to revisit. The currency exchange rate from dollars to pounds sterling is the best it has been in many years (and the dollars-to-euro rate is even better if you go to the Continent and explore France, Italy and other countries). Even so, London is perhaps the most expensive city in Europe, but many of the best things about the place are totally free. Explore Hyde Park by foot, walk around Piccadilly Circus or Covent Garden, window shop at the trendy stores on the Kings Road, or buy a sandwich and walk across Waterloo Bridge and take some snapshots of the River Thames, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben and Parliament and the Coca-Cola London Eye. Across the Thames, you’ll find the marvelous National Theatre, which currently has Everyman and The Motherfu***r with the Hat. Sure, it’s touristy, but splurge a bit and take a ride on the Coca-Cola London Eye for gorgeous panoramic views of the city. Book a “fast track” ticket so you don’t need to wait in any long line. Full rotation only takes 30 minutes, and the whole operation is clean and well organized. It is best to purchase tickets online and reserve a specified time to visit. From July 3 to August 21, 2015, the Coca-Cola London Eye is open until midnight for late-night rides. For tickets, please visit https://www.londoneye.com/

Over the next several days, we will be posting reviews of West End shows and pre-theater restaurants. We hope you will visit London and enjoy the city, the theater and the restaurants as much as we did.

OFFICIAL LONDON THEATRE & TKTS

For information and tickets to all the West End shows, please visit Official London Theatre at http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk

For discounted West End show tickets, visit the Clocktower at TKTS Leicester Square. You can even see what shows are on sale today, tomorrow and the following day by visiting http://www.tkts.co.uk/ and http://www.tkts.co.uk/whats-on-sale/

VISITLONDON.COM

A great website for everything about the British capital is http://www.visitlondon.com/

StageZine.com would like to thank the following people who made our visit possible and enjoyable: Anthony McNeill at Society of London Theatre; Mary Parker at the National Theatre; Stephen Pidcock and Philippa Redfern at Corner Shop PR; Lana Lay at Arthur Leone PR; Amy Barder and Catherine Rolle at Raw PR; Janine Shalom at Premier Comms PR; Mark Armstrong at the Savoy Theatre; Howard Rombrough at the Indigo Restaurant at One Aldwych;  Irena Pogarcic at Kitchen Communications (Hawksmoor Seven Dials); Petra Costandi at Dishoom; Elizabeth Broad at the Coca-Cola London Eye; and Rebekah Clement at London and Partners/VisitLondon.com.

BEST WAY TO GET AROUND LONDON: The Underground or “Tube.” Be forewarned, the “Tube” can be even more mobbed than the NYC subways. Photo: Scott Harrah

LONDON EYE AT NIGHT: Overlooking the Thames. Photo: Coca-Cola London Eye

ON TOP OF LONDON: A private capsule on the Coca-Cola London Eye. Photo: Coca-Cola London Eye

The post London Calling: StageZine Crosses ‘The Pond’ appeared first on StageZine.

Heading across “the Pond” to London this summer with the kids? Kids Week, slated for August 1 to 31, 2015, can more than help you save some money in the British capital, which is a vacation favorite for American theatre lovers. Why? Kids aged 16 and under can actually go free to top West End shows this summer when accompanied by an adult paying full price.

Following are all the details on this year’s Kids Week from our friends at Official London Theatre.

This year, Kids Week offers the following:

•    A record-breaking 45 shows offering free tickets for children plus activities announced at www.kidsweek.co.uk (one child free with an adult paying full price)
•    93% of those who attended Kids Week 2014 were inspired to take their family to the theatre more often because of the initiative
•    Tickets now on sale (no booking or postage fees) for performances in August
•    Stage characters from across the West End united for a very memorable train journey to celebrate the UK’s longest-running theatre audience development initiative

The annual London theatre initiative Kids Week (www.kidsweek.co.uk) returns this summer from 1 – 31 August with an exciting line-up of more than 40 shows offering free tickets for children. Tickets are now on sale.

This year’s Kids Week, now in its 18th year, is set to be the biggest yet with more shows than ever offering free tickets for children. During Kids Week, a child aged 16 or under can go free to participating shows when accompanied by an adult paying full price. Up to two extra children’s tickets can also be purchased at half price, per transaction.

Kids Week has gone from strength to strength and 2014 proved to be a record breaking year with 85,336 tickets selling in the first 24 hours – a 77% increase year-on-year. In that time period, revenue from paid tickets surpassed £2m. A 2014 survey, carried out by Society of London Theatre, found that 60% of bookers were new to Kids Week and 99% would recommend the initiative to a friend.

Emma De Souza, founder of Kids Week, said: ‘It has been great to see Kids Week grow over the years. The West End has long been family friendly but we are finding that more and more producers are scheduling children’s shows for Kids Week which is a testament to the popularity of this fantastic initiative.’

To celebrate the return of Kids Week, stage characters from across the West End boarded a special train, one of the stars of the current production of The Railway Children, for a magical trip to London.

Making its Kids Week debut is The 3 Little Pigs, one of the first West End musicals specifically written for children. The musical, which stars Simon Webbe, Alison Jiear, Leanne Jones, Taofique Folarin and Daniel Buckley, opens on 5 August 2015. Webbe, who plays Wolf, said: “I think Kids Week is such a great opportunity for everyone to go to the theatre, maybe for the first time this summer, so watch out as I huff and puff and blow the audience down!”

Kids Week also has a fantastic range of free activities and events – many new ones and others that are back by popular demand! Children can take a Billy Elliot ballet class, or take part in a storytelling workshop for I Believe In Unicorns. Under 5s are invited to meet The Gruffalo or enjoy fun activities with Aliens Love Underpants and, for older children, there’s the chance to perform the choreographic moves from the hit musical Jersey Boys, go backstage with The Mousetrap and meet the current cast of the longest-running play in the world, learn some of Wicked’s secrets or discover the art of improvisation from The Play That Goes Wrong.

The Kids Week activity listings can be found at www.kidsweek.co.uk

In addition to the free children’s tickets, families will be able to enjoy Kids Eat Free meal deals at selected London restaurants and take advantage of travel and hotel offers.

Tickets for Kids Week are available at www.kidsweek.co.uk or via the dedicated ticket hotline 0844 248 5151 supported by Ticketmaster with no booking or postage fees.  

For the latest Kids Week news and conversation, join our thriving social media community on Facebook (www.facebook.com/KidsWeekLondon) and follow Kids Week on Twitter @KidsWeek

For the full list of shows taking part in Kids Week 2015 visit www.kidsweek.co.uk

Please note:

• All offers are subject to availability for specific performances (especially at weekends). Shows on offer may change throughout the promotion. The offer does not apply to tickets already booked and cannot be used with any other offer.  Maximum 8 tickets per booking.

Official London Theatre is the consumer brand for Society of London Theatre, the not-for-profit organisation which provides a collective voice for the theatre owners, producers and managers of all the major commercial and grant-aided theatres across London. As well as protecting the interests of all its member theatres, SOLT promotes theatregoing through activities including the Olivier Awards with MasterCard, the TKTS ticket booth, the Official London Theatre website and its printed fortnightly listings guide, Theatre Tokens and the popular annual celebration West End LIVE in association with MasterCard. It also administers the audience development initiatives Kids Week and Get Into London Theatre, and supports a number of theatrical charities, including Stage One and Mousetrap Theatre Projects..

The post Kids Go Free During London Kids Week 2015 appeared first on StageZine.