Onstage with Natalie Anglesey

LES MISERABLES AT THE PALACE THEATRE until March 30 2019.  5 star Review by Natalie Anglesey Since Cameron Mackintosh first conceived this new production of Les Misérables to celebrate the shows 25 th  anniversary in 2009, it has taken the world by storm and enjoyed thunderous applause throughout in Manchester tonight followed by standing ovations.  Modern audiences have embraced this production as Les Mis for the 21 st century. It has played to packed houses all over the world in many languages and this particular tour has so far sold out - so you may have to fight for a ticket!  It also inspired the hugely successful movie version starring Hugh Jackman, and Anne Hathaway.   Now I've seen this version and previous others  several times and enjoyed each one for different reasons. I've also had the privilege of meeting the original creators, Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg as I've mentioned previously. However there is on this tour a new Valjean to me.

AN EVENING WITH STEPHEN SCHWARTZ WAS PRESENTED BY HOPE ARIA PRODUCTIONS AT HOPE MILL THEATRE, MANCHESTER ON SUNDAY 17 FEBRUARY  Last night was a truly magical evening as Katy Lipson of Aria Entertainment and Joseph Houston and William Whelton of Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester held AN EVENING WITH STEPHEN SCHWARTZ. This showcase highlighted the work of the multi-award-winning American lyricist and composer’s best loved repertoire including Schwartz’s first ever UK panel discussion about his life and work. In a career that spans four decades, Schwartz has written such critically acclaimed shows as Wicked , Pippin and Godspell and contributed lyrics to the films Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame and songs for The Prince of Egypt .   A group of talented actors and musicians performed the work with the maestro himself singing and playing his favourite songs. The sell-out show was a delight from start to finish not only demonstrating the talent of this