BCR Live
Bringing you the best in entertainment news, reviews, film, gigs and much much more from across the Black Country and beyond.
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REVIEW: Sylvia The Musical at Birmingham Hippodrome
Posted by Dan Richards at Wednesday, 7 October 2026 00:53
I'm going to level with you. I've been sat at my desk for the last 20 minutes, eating rice pudding, drinking tea and just absorbing the production I've had the honour to watch on stage at Birmingham Hippodrome this evening.
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REVIEW: We Will Rock You at Wolverhampton Grand
Posted by Dan Richards at Wednesday, 30 September 2026 00:05
We Will Rock You is a jukebox musical based on the songs of Queen and tells the story of a group of Bohemians who struggle to revive live music in a distant future where everyone dresses, thinks and acts the same.
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REVIEW: The Last Laugh at Wolverhampton Grand
Posted by Dan Richards at Wednesday, 9 September 2026 23:40
There's something nostalgic and intrinsically British about seeing three of our most beloved comedians in an imaginary scenario, filling a dressing room with the same charm, charisma and jokes we remember them for.
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REVIEW: The Mousetrap at The Alexandra
Posted by Dan Richards at Tuesday, 8 September 2026 23:07
The Mousetrap is the epitome of murder mystery, created by Dame Agatha Christie who herself is the undisputed queen of the genre.
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REVIEW: The Choir of Man at The Alexandra
Posted by Dan Richards at Tuesday, 14 July 2026 23:45
Two of the greatest nights out are popping to your local or sitting in the auditorium of your local theatre...so imagine my joy when a show came along which does both!
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REVIEW: The Rocky Horror Show at The Alexandra
Posted by Dan Richards at Monday, 6 July 2026 23:59
Where do you even begin with a show that's so iconic, it almost transcends the genre? The current UK tour of The Rocky Horror Show once again justifies why this musical gained - and retains - cult status.
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REVIEW: Matilda The Musical at Birmingham Hippodrome
Posted by Dan Richards at Thursday, 2 July 2026 23:55
The last - and only- time I've seen Matilda was sitting in this very auditorium, almost 8 years ago to the day and let's not beat around the bush - it's as amazing now as it was back then!
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REVIEW: The Spy Who Came In From The Cold at The Alexandra
Posted by Dan Richards at Tuesday, 30 June 2026 23:59
On the face of it, the storyline of this production seems incredibly niche - and without an interest in Cold War espionage, it did cross my mind that this might not be 'for me'.
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REVIEW: Mean Girls at Wolverhampton Grand
Posted by Dan Richards at Tuesday, 23 June 2026 23:45
Based on the 2004 big-screen cult classic, Mean Girls is a rock musical which introduces us to Cady Heron, a teenage girl who transfers to a public high school after being home-schooled her whole life in Africa.
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REVIEW: Derren Brown - Only Human at Birmingham Hippodrome
Posted by Dan Richards at Wednesday, 3 June 2026 00:26
When you review a performance, the intention is to tick a couple of boxes. You need to tell the audience what to expect and to talk about the quality of performance on stage. However there's only one of those things that can be done on this occasion.
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REVIEW: Waitress at Wolverhampton Grand
Posted by Dan Richards at Tuesday, 2 June 2026 00:19
What's always an absolute joy is walking into a theatre to see a show you've seen previously and still being blown away by the story, the soundtrack and the company on stage - and that's the feeling Waitress gives time after time.
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REVIEW: 2:22 A Ghost Story at Wolverhampton Grand
Posted by Dan Richards at Monday, 18 May 2026 23:23
Some shows generate hype when they arrive in a city or perform in the capital and, on occasion, the reality can be less exciting. However 2:22 A Ghost Story is the epitome of a hyped-up stage-show that couldn't be more justified in its title.
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REVIEW: Mamma Mia at Birmingham Hippodrome
Posted by Dan Richards at Wednesday, 13 May 2026 23:39
Whenever I think of Mamma Mia, it still falls into the category of 'new musical', so it's mind blowing to think it's been around for almost three decades and is still making audiences faces ache from over-smiling!
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REVIEW: Single White Female at The Alexandra
Posted by Dan Richards at Tuesday, 5 May 2026 23:05
If you’re looking for a night at the theatre that’s equal parts gripping, stylish, and unnervingly relevant, the stage adaptation of Single White Female at the The Alexandra Theatre delivers in spades.
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REVIEW: Waitress at Birmingham Hippodrome
Posted by Dan Richards at Tuesday, 28 April 2026 23:55
It's fair to say that Waitress has become something of a musical theatre phenomenon. Thanks to a mix of social media and a new generation of theatre fan's latching on to the story, it's become the must-see ticket of the last few years - and it's easy to see why.
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REVIEW: Barnum at Birmingham Hippodrome
Posted by Dan Richards at Wednesday, 22 April 2026 00:08
It's rare nowadays to find a show to revive that hasn't really seen the light of day for a number of years. Barnum was last staged professionally almost a decade ago but this tour reminded everyone in the auditorium why the show is a modern-day classic.
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REVIEW: Legally Blonde at The Alexandra
Posted by Dan Richards at Tuesday, 31 March 2026 23:40
Legally Blonde is a musical based on the novel of the same name by Amanda Brown and the 2001 film starring Reese Witherspoon.
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REVIEW: The Signalman at Wolverhampton Grand
Posted by Dan Richards at Thursday, 26 March 2026 23:34
The Signalman is an atmospheric stage adaptation of Charles Dickens' ghost story of the same name. Set in 1880, it follows a lonely signalman haunted by spectral visions of impending train disasters and his interactions with a visiting traveler.
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REVIEW: Priscilla Queen Of The Desert at Birmingham Hippodrome
Posted by Dan Richards at Tuesday, 24 March 2026 23:59
Priscilla is a hard show to describe. It's a bit like someone's taken 'Now That's What I Call Camp', some Vivienne Westwood designs and thrown it together (with a disco ball) in a blender...but it's also absolute genius!
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REVIEW: Operation Mincemeat at Wolverhampton Grand
Posted by Dan Richards at Tuesday, 17 March 2026 23:05
Billed for a long time as the hottest ticket in the West End, Operation Mincemeat is bringing its own brand of humour to Wolverhampton Grand this week.
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REVIEW: Here and Now at Wolverhampton Grand
Posted by Dan Richards at Tuesday, 10 March 2026 23:59
When I first saw Here & Now back in 2024, the show was new, untested and fresh for criticism. It was unashamedly a jukebox show and the critics were ready to pull it apart.
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REVIEW: Top Hat at Birmingham Hippodrome
Posted by Dan Richards at Tuesday, 3 March 2026 23:05
Based on the classic 1935 movie starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Top Hat is a sparkling romantic cocktail laced with witty comedy, stunning choreography and tap-dancing brilliance.
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REVIEW: Fawlty Towers The Play at Wolverhampton Grand
Posted by Dan Richards at Tuesday, 10 February 2026 23:53
Some shows don't stop at 'iconic' and Fawlty Towers is definitely one of them. In fact such is the gravitas of this sitcom classic that the audience in Wolverhampton this evening was a perfect split of 'cautiously optimistic' and 'I'm not sure this will work'.
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REVIEW: Woman In Black at The Alexandra
Posted by Dan Richards at Tuesday, 27 January 2026 23:20
When there's a distinct atmosphere in the foyer before you even enter the auditorium, you can be fairly sure that you're in for a good night.
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REVIEW: Six The Musical at Wolverhampton Grand
Posted by Dan Richards at Tuesday, 20 January 2026 23:40
It's the original social media smash-hit. Described as a homegrown histo-remixed pop concert musical, Six is as uplifting as it is spectacular and the current UK tour absolutely met that standard this evening!
Credit: Pamela Raith Photography
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REVIEW: Robin Hood at Birmingham Hippodrome
Posted by Dan Richards at Tuesday, 23 December 2025 00:21
In what seems like one of the purest moments of escapism this year, the star-studded cast of Robin Hood are bringing some much-needed laughter to Birmingham this festive season.
Credit: Paul Coltas.
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REVIEW: Fiddler On The Roof at The Alexandra
Posted by Dan Richards at Tuesday, 9 December 2025 23:58
It's not often that a production delivers both a message and a performance so profound and so emotionally charged that you just have to sit back in your seat and absorb the action on stage - but Fiddler On The Roof is one of those productions.
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REVIEW: Sleeping Beauty at Wolverhampton Grand
Posted by Dan Richards at Thursday, 4 December 2025 00:18
Each and every year I sit down to write my review of the Wolverhampton Grand pantomime, and each and every year I find it increasingly difficult to do so - because this is a show which just keeps getting better and better.
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REVIEW: Calendar Girls at The Crescent Theatre
Posted by Dan Richards at Wednesday, 26 November 2025 00:05
Calendar Girls is a typically British, typically northern musical with a gorgeous soundtrack, moments of laugh-out-loud humour and a whole lot of heart that means you leave the theatre beaming from ear to ear.
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REVIEW: Slava's Snow Show at The Alexandra
Posted by Dan Richards at Wednesday, 12 November 2025 23:32
It's almost impossible to pin down exactly what Slava's Snow Show is. Maybe it's a circus, perhaps it's a pantomime - but one thing's for sure, it's an exceptional piece of artistry.
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