February was our busiest month to date, with ten shows attended by our Young Reporters!
Our first theatre ticket winner for February was Charlotte Liu from Lady Eleanor Holles, who won tickets to see My Cousin Rachel at Richmond Theatre.
Alluring, exotic and unconventional, Countess Rachel Sangalletti travels from Florence to the Ashley Estate in Cornwall, home of her recently deceased husband. Her presence in the house arouses dark suspicions and uncontrollable desires, not least in young Philip, cousin and heir to the Ashley home. This menacing psychological thriller by the author of Rebecca and Don’t Look Now, enthralled readers when it was first published in 1951 and went on to become an international best seller and has now come to Richmond Theatre.
Click here to read Charlotte's review.
The second theatre production on offer to our Young Reporters was The Paper Dolls at the Little Angel Theatre, which was attended by Georgina Featherston from Ursuline High School.
When a little girl cuts out a string of paper dolls she takes them by the hand and together they go on a fantastical adventure whirling through their home and garden. They face the Jurassic clutches of a toy dinosaur and the snapping jaws of the oven-glove crocodile, and then a very real boy with very real scissors threatens to snip their adventure short…
Click here to read Georgina's review.
Next up to attend a performance was Lakavi Suthan from Woodford County High School. She won tickets to see Blood Brothers at Richmond Theatre.
Written by Willy Russell, the legendary Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences.
Lakavi said: "Thank you so much for the tickets. Me and my friend had the time of our lives and it honestly was such a once in a lifetime opportunity."
Click here to read Lakavi's review.
The next winner to see a performance was Georgina Featherston again, who won tickets to see I, Cinna (the poet) at the Unicorn Theatre.
The poet Cinna hardly says a word in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar before he’s mistaken for someone else and torn to pieces by an angry mob. He’s Shakespeare’s unluckiest character. Now Cinna searches for the subject of his next poem and invites us, the audience, to write with him, live. This brilliantly clear introduction to Julius Caesar is a unique and warmly engaging solo show about words and actions, art, protest and power.
Click here to read Georgina's review.
Our fifth theatre ticket winner was Allie Gruber from The Henrietta Barnett School, who won tickets to see The Visit at the National Theatre.
In the town of Slurry, New York, post-war recession has bitten. Claire Zachanassian, improbably beautiful and impenetrably terrifying, returns to her hometown as the world’s richest woman. The locals hope her arrival signals a change in their fortunes, but they soon realise that prosperity will only come at a terrible price.
Click here to read Allie's review.
The next winner was Samantha Hardaker from Turing House School, who won tickets to see Blithe Spirit at Richmond Theatre.
Novelist Charles Condomine and his second wife Ruth are literally haunted by a past relationship when an eccentric medium – Madame Arcati – inadvertently conjures up the ghost of his first wife, Elvira, at a séance. When she appears, visible only to Charles, and determined to sabotage his current marriage, life – and the afterlife – get complicated.
Click here to read Samantha's review.
Our seventh theatre ticket winner was Hannah Padbury from Gumley House School FCJ, who won tickets to see Cabaret at New Wimbledon Theatre.
It’s 1931, Berlin is a haven of divine decadence and the legendary Sally Bowles is about to take the stage at the infamous Kit Kat Klub… Cabaret features show-stopping choreography, dazzling costumes and iconic songs ‘Money Makes the World Go Round’, ‘Maybe This Time’, ‘Cabaret’ and more.
Click here to read Hannah's review.
Next up was Yasmin Burt from Lady Eleanor Holles, who won tickets to see The Wolves in The Walls at the Little Angel Theatre.
When Lucy hears noises from behind the walls, she tries to warn her family that there are wolves lurking inside their house, but her family doesn’t believe her. Then one day, Lucy’s fears come true when a pack of wolves comes bursting out of the walls, forcing Lucy and her family to live at the bottom of the garden. But the story is far from over – Lucy must gather her courage, as her battle against the wolves is only just beginning.
Click here to read Yasmin's review.
The penultimate winner for February was Emily Parsons from Lady Eleanor Holles, who won tickets to see On Your Feet at New Wimbledon Theatre.
Direct from London and featuring many of the original West End cast, this ‘exhilarating extravaganza’ is the inspiring true love story of Emilio and Gloria and charts their journey from its origins in Cuba, onto the streets of Miami and finally to international superstardom. Featuring all of their smash hits including ‘Rhythm Is Gonna Get You’, ‘Conga’, ‘Get On Your Feet’, ‘Don’t Want To Lose You Now’ ‘Dr.Beat’ and ‘1-2-3’.
Emily said: "Thank you so much for the opportunity!"
Click here to read Emily's review.
Finally, our last winner for February was Alyssa Gobin from Reigate College, who won tickets to see The creature at the Rose Theatre Kingston.
An arctic vessel trapped in the frozen ocean, takes on a stranger far from shore, who warns of an impending attack from a creature of superhuman strength. As the captain tries to find some way of defending his cargo, a horrifying story emerges. This unflinching, contemporary retelling of Mary Shelley’s masterpiece is a professional debut for alumni of the Rose Youth Theatre.
Alyssa said: "Thank you so much for the tickets!"
Click here to read Alyssa's review.
As usual, thank you to all the theatres for their generosity with donating tickets to us!