Your haven't heard it til...

... you've heard Les Mis with a 50 piece orchestra. The score is so majestic when you can hear all of the orchestrations played that well and that loud!

I am, of course referring to the Les Miserables in concert that I took part in last weekend on the Ilse of Wight. In spite of the rain it was truly one of the most special evenings of my life. If anyone reading this was there then you'll know what I'm talking about. Singing that role with that orchestra in those grounds with that cast and a load of fireworks at the end was an astounding assault on the senses. One that is likely to take some beating in the future.

I've been having a summer holiday over the last few weeks and I've a few theatrical recommendations for y'all. Firstly the Union Theatre's all male production of "Pirates of Penzance". Not being the worlds greatest Gilbert and Sullivan fan, I was apprehensive about watching this show. By the end my face hurt from smiling and hands from clapping. What you get with this production is 2 hours of pure joyous silliness. Unashamed and skillfully delivered by a wonderful, all singing (at times in the girls octave!) all dancing cast. This Victorian romp is on for another week so if you can get down to see it as the space only holds 60 and tickets are going fast. www.uniontheatre.org.

Next for a dramatic change of pace, the Landor's new play "Stockwell". This is a verbatim piece, documenting the inquest into the 2005 shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes on the London Tube at Stockwell station. It is an hour and 40 mins without an interval and I've never had my attention held so well by a piece of theatre. Another must see for fringe fans.

I'll be in touch soon with a new project I'm working on for the Autumn. Watch this space...