Our Favourite Musicals of the Last 25 Years

As much as we love clever revivals of the classics and long-running blockbuster shows, there’s been a wave of great new musicals in the last two and a half decades. Here are our picks for our favourite new musicals since 1995 (sorry Les Mis)!

As much as we love clever revivals of the classics and long-running blockbuster shows, there’s been a wave of great new musicals in the last two and a half decades…

 

Our Favourite Musicals of the Last 25 Years…

8. Once

Based on the independent Irish 2007 film of the same name, Once the musical maintained its stripped-down feel. It’s a story about a guy and a girl – literally, “Guy” and “Girl” – and their friendship formed over busking and music. The cast pull double-duty, also playing their instruments.

It’s an utterly charming experience, even as it explores themes of loneliness and lost loves.

 

7 Dear Evan Hansen

Premiering in 2015, the full impact of this new musical is yet to be seen – it only made it to the UK in late 2019. But the combination of pop music and serious subject matter, reflecting the difficult experiences of high school and being a teenager, has seriously resonated with audiences, making it a worthy addition on this list.

A film adaptation is in the works…

 

6 Hairspray

With 1960s R&B-influenced songs, Hairspray tells the story of a high school student who dreams of appearing on a local dance TV show. However, behind the catchy songs (we still have “Good morning Baltimore!” stuck in our heads), colourful sets and the TV smiles of The Corny Collins Show are some serious themes about body image and racial discrimination.

It was turned into a fun film in 2007 that more than did the show justice.

 

5 Billy Elliot the Musical

Another musical based on a film, but when the result is this great, we can’t complain! Set amidst the miners’ strike, the eponymous Billy Elliot is a young boy with a passion for ballet, much to the consternation of his father.

Elton John wrote the music for the stage version, none other than Tom Holland (the future Spider-Man!) played Billy for a time on the West End, and the musical’s powerful message of acceptance is still relevant today.

 

4 Matilda the Musical

Dennis Kelly adapted and Tim Minchon wrote music and lyrics for Matilda, based on the classic children’s book by Roald Dahl. It’s a powerful and timeless story of a neglected child, her unappreciated intelligence, her hidden powers and friendship with her teacher.

Premiering in late 2010, it swept the 2012 Olivier Awards and had a good run at the 2013 Tony Awards too. The musical has proven so successful that recently it was revealed a new film version is in the works!

 

3 Wicked

It feels like a West End institution by now, so it’s hard to believe that this clever part-prequel spin on The Wizard of Oz only premiered in 2003. It follows the story of two friends and how one becomes the Wicked Witch of the West and the other Glinda the Good Witch.

The Wicked team have gone all-in on educational resources and even a writing competition, which promise to keep this musical alive in children’s imaginations for years to come. Plus, the stand-out song ‘Defying Gravity’ still gives us shivers!

 

2 Hamilton

The American history is maybe a little lost on us in the UK – but there’s no denying the sheer fun of being in “the room where it happens” for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s rap-musical. Hamilton is now a global phenomenon, and Miranda has since written music for Moana and appeared in Mary Poppins Returns.

Now there’s news that a filmed version – with the original Broadway cast no less – is coming to our screens from Disney!

 

1 The Lion King

Just under the cut-off (it premiered in 1997), Julie Taymor’s adaptation of the Disney film has become a classic in its own right.

The way the performers interpret animal movements through puppetry was a game-changer and it’s still breath-taking to see on stage. Of course, the songs retained from the film – music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice – aren’t half-bad either!

(And Jigsaw Agency‘s Theo played Young Simba for over three years!)

What are your favourite musicals of recent years? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter!

Jigsaw Performing Arts, established 1995, is dedicated to developing performance skills, promoting self-expression and building confidence. We offer performing arts classes for children aged between 3 – 18. Find your nearest school by entering your postcode into the search on our home page. 

Why Everyone Can Enjoy a Theatre Trip

Whether it’s a challenging new work, a literary classic, a spectacular musical, or a good old-fashioned panto, the theatre can offer something for everyone. And a good theatre trip can be unforgettable!

This is the principle behind ‘Kids Week’ in London, which returns again for 2019.

Despite the name, it actually runs for the entire month of August, during which a child who’s 16 or under can go to any participating show for free, where tickets are available, as long as they’re accompanied by a full paying adult.

You can find the full list of shows here: officiallondontheatre.com/kids-week/

Make sure to check the show’s age recommendation to make sure it’s suitable!

And, if you’re after a taster of all the fantastic musicals London has to offer, West End Live is also returning for 2019. Over 50 performances will be taking place in Trafalgar Square across the weekend. Find out more here: www.westendlive.co.uk/

But what about theatre the rest of the year?

More and more, theatre is becoming fun and accessible for everyone.

Earlier in 2019, Emilia was the first West End play to have a ‘parent and baby’ performance. This is something cinemas have been doing for a while, so it’s great to see the idea start to catch on in theatre.

The play was about the Renaissance poet Emilia Bassano. Some believe she was the “dark lady” Shakespeare mentions in many of his sonnets. She was also the first woman in England to publish a full poetry collection under her own name! The play flips Shakespearean tradition on its head by having an all-female cast.

Most theatres have ticket schemes for young people, offering special rates or discounts. Then there are ticket lotteries, which, as the name implies, are a bit of a gamble. It’s fun and easy to enter, but you have to stay on your toes as you never know if or when you’ll get a ticket. It’s good publicity for the shows, but it also helps bring people into the theatre who might not normally consider it.

While London has traditionally been the centre for theatre in the UK, that’s also been changing, with more touring productions and more money and talent investing in regional theatres than ever before.

If cost or travel are prohibitive, many theatres have also installed camera systems that can beam live relays of stage productions into cinemas. It’s not an identical experience to being in the theatre, but it comes very close. You can catch performances from the National Theatre, the Globe, and even Broadway from the comfort of your local cinema.

And finally, local amateur dramatics societies can also prove to be an unexpectedly rich source of good theatre. (Adds Marketing & Office Assistant Martin: “I still remember going to local productions of Daphne du Maurier’s ‘Rebecca’ and Thomas Hardy’s ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’ as a child. Heavy stuff, but it was thrilling seeing them come alive on stage!”)

Really, they’re never too young to start enjoying a theatre trip!

Kids Week runs through the month of August at participating London shows. Find out more here. 

Jigsaw Performing Arts is dedicated to developing performance skills, promoting self-expression and building confidence. We offer performing arts classes for children aged between 3 – 18. Find your nearest school by entering your postcode into the search on our home page. 

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is currently playing at the Savoy Theatre and is based on the hit comedy film starring Sir Michael Caine. Set on the French Riviera, we follow the story of two con men that compete for a bet to swindle a millionaire soap heiress.

I get excited about going to the theatre when a) I’m about to see a show I already know off by heart and therefore I know I’m going to love it, and b) when I know absolutely nothing about the show I’m about to see other than it involves an absolute stellar cast. Last night’s show was certainly the latter, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a huge farcical musical led by three time Olivier and Tony award winner Robert Lindsay and comedy legend Rufus Hound. I was particularly impressed with their onstage partnership as they both commanded the stage with such a warm, charismatic and playful energy. So much so that at times they did corpse, but this made their characters seem even more endearing and one of the aspects of this show that was particularly unique was their direct relationship with the audience. Throughout the whole show it felt that the audience were in on all of their jokes and were discovering and uncurling the plot alongside them both. It was superbly directed that way, as the pair of them had the audience eating out of the palm of their hand and we so wanted them both to succeed despite the fact that they were conning the rather goofy and clumsy Christine (played by the beautiful soprano Kathryn Kingsley).

Samantha Bond is probably one of my favourite TV actresses, particularly as “Aunt Rosamund” in Downton Abbey, so I had high expectations from her performance. She certainly is a fabulous actress and brought great humour to the show, confident vocals and even a dance routine or two. I have to admit I found her a bit wooden and lacking in ‘spark’ during her movement sequences, but I later read that this was her first musical theatre show so perhaps dance classes haven’t been top of her list of priorities in the past. She wasn’t heavily featured in the show, but provided us with a cheeky side story so there was no question that the audience would ever lose interest with such a lot of action taking place, twist after twist.

This show provided a fantastic evening’s entertainment, with a strong ensemble delivering brilliant choreography, upbeat numbers and constant humour throughout both acts. It’s not an absolute must see as there isn’t any content that is particularly thought provoking or revolutionary, but for a chilled out evening to escape the busy lives we lead, this show won’t let you down. I award it with a generous 4 stars and urge you to see it with this current star-led cast as I feel that they really make the show the extravaganza that it is.

I can only speak for myself of course, but the fact that they received an impressive standing ovation on a Monday night pretty much says it all!

Jigsaw Performing Arts is dedicated to developing performance skills, promoting self-expression and building confidence. We offer performing arts classes for children aged between 3 – 18. Find your nearest school by entering your postcode into the search on our home page. 

Why is Dance Important?

This guest blog was written by Isabelle, who teaches dance at Jigsaw Balham, Jigsaw Bexleyheath and Jigsaw Croydon!

Dance has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. Many of my fondest childhood memories are of being in the vibrant heat of the dance studio learning new moves or bustling backstage amongst friends, in hushed anticipation for the ever exciting prospect of performing.

I was introduced to teaching as part of my practice whilst studying dance at State University of New York. Being a part of facilitating classes that provide joyous memories for young people has been an extremely rewarding part of my work ever since. I have been teaching dance at Jigsaw since 2016 when I relocated to London to undertake a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Choreography at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, and I am delighted to give some insight into our wonderful classes.

During a dance class, time is allocated for energetic, creative play, interaction with others and moments of quiet focus. These separate elements interweave seamlessly to build a varied and compelling learning platform that will enrich any child’s development, from early years all the way up to adolescence.

As the dance class begins, there is always a buzzing energy among the students as they ready themselves for the exhilarating hour of jumping, twisting and stretching that is about to commence.

The room is filled with excited chatter as bodies quickly ready themselves by pushing their belongings to the side and finding a space to move in, eagerly waiting for today’s pop song to warm up to.

Participation in performing arts and physical practice within a group setting enables children to engage with a sense of belonging and recognise the importance of community. During a dance class we regularly perform in front of each other, and equally learn how to be a supportive and respectful audience. When a child experiences what it feels like to be both a performer and an audience member, they learn to be compassionate towards others and themselves.

Mutual sharing of our skills in a safe and structured space allows a child’s confidence to blossom, and collectively we begin to recognise the importance of practice and progress over perfection. Instilling inclusivity and kindness during our learning establishes a solid foundation for social interactions and bonding throughout the day at Jigsaw. As a teacher, it’s amazing to witness the strength of the friendships that flourish in this environment.

Having fun and socialising while we dance at a young age can shape the positive associations we have with physical exercise for life.

Children who participate in dance understand and appreciate movement as an exhilarating, sensory experience that awakens our bodies and allows for absolute freedom of expression, in a way that counterpoints our usual verbal outlets. Movement that incorporates play, improvisation and spontaneity benefits young dancers as helps them build their own spatial awareness, coordination and choreographic creativity as they grow accustom to freely stringing together movement phrases.

As well as being physically liberating, dance also contributes to mindfulness, which is particularly beneficial for our teenage students who are approaching adulthood and facing all sorts of challenges, such as increased responsibilities and exam pressures. The structure of a dance class recognises the benefits of repetition and routine – therefore bringing about a sense of stability and a space away from the usual every day, where any worries can be left at the door.

When learning specific dance technique, there is an air of concentration and perseverance amongst dance students as they work hard to conquer detailed footwork, contemplate the effects of their posture and recall set routines. Words cannot describe the elated feeling of successfully landing a jazz leap or completing a full circle pirouette for the first time. Reaching milestones when learning dance technique gives children a sense of pride and achievement that sparks an inner desire for continued progression. Moments of triumph like this, shape young people into becoming enthusiastic, ambitious and resilient individuals. It is truly amazing to see these qualities shine through in our brilliant students at Jigsaw each weekend!

Jigsaw Performing Arts is dedicated to developing performance skills, promoting self-expression and building confidence. We offer performing arts classes for children aged between 3 – 18. Find your nearest school by entering your postcode into the search on our home page. 

We have a fantastic competition for a Jigsaw student to win tickets to The Comedy About A Bank Robbery at the Criterion Theatre! Read on to see how to enter…

Win tickets to see five-star show The Comedy About A Bank Robbery!

Breaking into its fourth year, Mischief Theatre’s smash-and-grab hit The Comedy About A Bank Robbery is a fast, fabulous comedy caper and the funniest show in the West End.

Summer 1958. Minneapolis City Bank has been entrusted with a priceless diamond. An escaped convict is dead set on pocketing the gem with the help of his screwball sidekick, trickster girlfriend… and the maintenance man. With mistaken identities, love triangles and hidden agendas, even the most reputable can’t be trusted. In a town where everyone’s a crook, who will end up bagging the jewel?

Book now for this dynamite comedy. It would be criminal to miss it!

★★★★★ ‘This is the funniest show in the West End’ – The Telegraph
★★★★★ ‘This fast and fabulous comedy caper is a joyful night out’ – The Times

For your the chance to win a family ticket, answer this question:

“What would you do with a priceless diamond?”

Send your answers to en*******@ji*********.uk with the subject line ‘Bank Robbery Competition’.

Include which Jigsaw school you attend.

Deadline: 5:30pm, Friday 8th November.

(Please note, the show is recommended for those 11+)

The Comedy About A Bank Robbery is playing at the Criterion Theatre until November 2020. For more information and to book tickets (from £10) call 03333 202 895 or visit bankrobberycomedy.com

Terms & conditions: One winner will receive a family ticket (four tickets, minimum one adult) to see The Comedy About A Bank Robbery, at the Criterion Theatre, valid for Tuesday to Thursday performances from 19 November to 13 December 2019 and 7 to 30 January 2020. Subject to availability. No cash alternative. Travel and accommodation not included.

 

Jigsaw Performing Arts is dedicated to developing performance skills, promoting self-expression and building confidence. We offer performing arts classes for children aged between 3 – 18. Find your nearest school by entering your postcode into the search on our home page. 

When you need a break from the usual rotation of animated family favourites, try introducing your children to some classic musicals!

What’s great about these classic musicals is that, unlike many other classic films, they can be broad, funny, colourful and fast-paced enough to hold younger ones’ attentions. Even if they don’t sit still for the whole film, or can’t quite follow the plot, the musical sequences are normally very entertaining just by themselves.

 

Annie Get Your Gun (1950)

Frank Butler, the sharpshooting star of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, loses a shooting challenge to Annie Oakley who becomes his rival when she joins the show.

The two main characters in this broad comedic musical often act like petulant children themselves, boasting in one number ‘Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better!’ There’s some enjoyable Wild West show stunts, and the whole film carries the message that women can compete in the same sports that men can (and sometimes, they’re actually better!).

There is a questionable musical number that you might want to fast-forward through (‘I’m an Indian, Too’), but otherwise the film is colourful, fast-moving and fun.

 

Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

While the jokes about Hollywood’s transition from the silent era to sound will fly over their heads, there’s still plenty here for younger viewers to love.

Many of the catchy songs (repurposed from earlier films) have become classics and the dancing is some of the best ever committed to film. ‘Make ‘Em Laugh’ and ‘Moses Supposes’ are especially goofy, energetic and anarchic. Overall, even in the quieter moments, there’s an infectious sense of joy to the entire film and a charm to the main trio of performers – Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor – that’s irresistible.

Do watch out for the long fantasy sequence in the middle of the film, which is spectacular in itself but, being completely divorced from the plot, might cause some attention spans to drag. But otherwise this is a film that’s still fun for the whole family.

 

Kiss Me Kate (1953)

A musical about a musical – a director entices his ex-wife to appear in his new show and then has to stop her from leaving half-way through. There are also some gangsters (silly rather than scary) who infiltrate the show, with hilarious slapstick results.

The costumes are outlandish and colourful, the dance numbers are surreal and spectacular as they were originally designed and shot in 3D (plus a young Bob Fosse makes an appearance), and the plot is easy to follow but not that important for enjoying the rest of the film.

 

The Music Man (1962)

The most charming con man alive brings music to a small Midwestern town. When he’s exposed, the town spare him because of how much he has enriched their lives.

Younger viewers will enjoy how “Professor” Harold Hill outsmarts the school board by causing them to constantly break into song, as well as the story of shy child Winthrop (a young Ron Howard) being drawn out of his shell through music.

There’s a wholesome message at the centre of it all – that anyone can sing, anyone can enjoy creating music! – and the parade that closes the film is an explosion of colour and music.

 

What classic musicals do your children enjoy? Let us know on Facebook or Instagram!