YESTERDAY…From The Archives
STATE FAIR – 30 Years since Broadway
Presented by Rob Morrison 24th March 2026
Musical Theatre Melodies broadcast on Tuesday, 24th March will feature a 30th anniversary tribute to the Broadway premiere of the stage version of the Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II musical State Fair (based on the screenplay by Oscar Hammerstein II and the novel by Phil Strong), from the 1996 original Broadway cast recording starring John Davidson, Kathryn Crosby, Andrea McArdle, Donna McKechnie, Scott Wise and Ben Wright. This will be preceded by an interview with the former President of the Rodgers and Hammerstein …………Read More.……..
MY FAIR LADY – at 70
Presented by Rob Morrison 17th March 2026
Musical Theatre Melodies broadcast on Tuesday, 17th March will feature a 70th anniversary tribute to the Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner musical My Fair Lady (adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion), from the 1956 original Broadway cast recording starring Rex Harrison, Julie Andrews and Stanley Holloway, with Robert Coote, John Michael King, Philippa Bevans, Gordon Dilworth and Rod McLennan. This will be preceded by an archival interview with Alan Jay Lerner, plus an excerpt from an interview that I conducted with Miles Kreuger in 2018 recalling the writing of “On the Street Where You Live”. The pro……………Read More.…..
THE GRAND DUKE – premiered in 1896
Presented by Rob Morrison 10th March 2026
The next Musical Theatre Melodies broadcast on Tuesday, 10th March will feature a 130th anniversary tribute to the Gilbert and Sullivan’s final comic opera The Grand Duke (or, The Statutory Duel), from the 1973 University of Michigan Gilbert and Sullivan Society cast recording conducted by Eric Stern.
This will be preceded by an introduction by the British Musical Theatre historian, archivist and author – Rex Bunnett.………Read More………..
TODAY……… In The Moment
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD at Mayflower Theatre
Review: Pat Hayward – 24th March 2026
In 1960 Harper Lee published her novel “To Kill A Mockingbird”, a story about racial hatred in the Deep South of the USA in the 1930s. It’s initial reception was such that Universal Pictures bought the movie rights and in 1962 released a film version that went on to be nominated for eight academy awards. Over time the book has been acknowledged as one of the best examples of American literature of the second half of the twentieth century. It was inevitable that a stage version would follow, but no one would have expected it to have taken so long, or have to make such an …….Read More.…..
PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT – Mayflower Theatre
Review: Pat Hayward – 16th March 2026
Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert is back at Mayflower Theatre making its fifth visit since it first debuted in Southampton in 2013. On its journey it has climbed to the peak of jukebox musicals, so much so that it seems that the music has become more important than the story. Believe me though, this is not just another jukebox musical, it is drama, comedy, an adventure of discovery, all played out to a non-stop melody of remembered anthems, so well chosen and positioned that they could have been written specifically for the show…..Read More.…..
THE BOY AT THE BACK OF THE CLASS – Mayflower Studios – Southampton
Review: Pat Hayward – 12th March 2026
Amidst fanfares, rapturous applause and enthusiastic, energetic, younger people the 2024 comedic drama arrives in Southampton at Mayflower Studios. Along the way it has picked up an Olivier Award nomination in the category of ‘Best Family Show’ – just one of four shows in that category. It is easy to understand why The Boy At The Back Of The Class is such a success and Nick Ahad’s stage adaptation of the 2018 novel by Onjali Qatara Raúf continues to gather a huge following. The Boy at the Back……….Read More..……….
TOMORROW…..The Week’s News
NEWS UPDATE – 23rd March 2026
P Hayward 23rd March 2026
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo – are returning to the UK for a significant tour hosted by Dance Consortium. Over its 51+ year journey the company has grown into a crowd-pleasing, globe-spanning phenomenon, having performed in over 43 countries and 667 cities for enthusiastic crowds of all sizes, as well as connecting with small groups through engagement programs that focus on elements of their performance: The personas! The technique! The wigs! The world’s foremost gender-skewering comic ballet company now……….Read More.…….
NEWS UPDATE – 16th March 2026
P Hayward 16th March 2026
- Mayflower Theatre – is celebrating significant progress on its new rehearsal studio development, a major investment that strengthens its commitment to create inspiring experiences, accessibility and sustainability. The multi-million-pound development is across three floors and provides a dedicated studio for young performers as well as the purpose-built double-height rehearsal studio, along with two fully accessible dressing rooms and a combined reception and stage door, creating a high-qual…….Read More. ………
NEWS UPDATE – 9th March 2026
P Hayward 9th March 2026
- Top Hat – a casting update for the ongoing UK tour of Kenny Wax and Jonathan Church Theatre Productions of the stage version of the 1935 Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film features Irving Berlin standards including “Cheek to Cheek”, “Let’s Face the Music and Dance”, “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails” and “Puttin’ on the Ritz.” From 13 March, Nicole-Lily Baisden will be stepping into the role of Dale Tremont, taking over from Amara Okereke in the show. She will be joining Phillip Attmore as Jerry Travers, with Emma Williams……………Read More.……
