The Musical Traveller

Hi Guys! I thought that today, I would share some of my favourite musical theatre movies. I first discovered my passion for musical theatre through some of these films, and I have found that they are great to watch whilst we are all stuck inside. The soundtracks are great and they provide some much needed escapism from all the chaos that is going on in the world right now, which I think we all need sometimes!  Let me know your favourite movie musicals - especially if they aren't on the list- as I'm always on the lookout for new musicals to obsess over! Here's mine... 1. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1999) This was the first movie musical I ever saw as a kid and it holds a dear place in my heart. I used to watch it (on tape!!) at my grandparent's house and I fell in love with it. I think I must have watched it every week for about 2 years! It is definitely one of the older ones on the list and you can tell from the quality of the p...

The Coronavirus Pandemic has brought the whole world to a halt, with countries completely shutting down and travel now becoming a distant memory of the past. For people like me, who love to travel and explore new countries, this has been a devastating thing to come to terms with. Whilst it is definitely not the worst part of this pandemic, especially considering the horrendous mortality rates around the world, many people have still had their lives interrupted and exciting plans put on hold. For me personally, my holiday of a lifetime: a trip to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Hawaii is hanging in the balance. I am not feeling hopeful, due to the US having the largest death toll in the world, as well as many airlines currently facing troubling times, with most expected to be bankrupt by the end of May if they do not receive financial support from the Government, during this pressing time. Travel plays a massive role in the British Economy, connecting us to countries all over the wo...

★★★★★ I'm being completely honest when I say that before I went to see Gypsy on Thursday, at the Royal Exchange in Manchester, I knew nothing about the show. Usually I like to go into a musical knowing the plot and at least a few of the songs but I went to see this completely blind. And it was incredible!  The show is set in the round, meaning the audience is facing inwards, circling the performance space, whilst the performance takes place in the centre. This style of staging made the performance much more intimate and allowed you to get to know the characters in a much closer proximity. In the round is something I've never experienced in a performance before and it opened my eyes to a whole new style of theatre. For those who don't know the plot of Gypsy, I'll give a quick summary. The show begins with an ambitious mother trying to convince a theatre owner that her daughters' Vaudeville act is the best and should be used in his show. This is a long...

★★★★★ The Bodyguard Musical has always had a very special place in my heart as it was the first musical that I properly remember watching, back when I was 11. It was also the first time I  waited at stage door after the show and it transformed going to the theatre for me. I know I will never forget the time that little Year 7 me met Alexandra Burke for the first time and I was completely start struck. I've met her twice since then and she is really lovely. Last night I went to see The Bodyguard for the fourth time, my second time in two weeks, and it just gets better every time! Alexandra Burke wowed once again as Rachel Marron. Every time I have seen the Bodyguard, Alexandra has played Rachel and every time she manages to encapture the audience with her portrayal of the complex character who on the outside is tough and acts like she doesn't need anyone yet internally she is terrified about being alone. The singing throughout the show was on a whole other level, with...

★★★★★ I know I'm late to the bandwagon but I finally got to see Waitress in the West End last month and it was incredible! I had already become addicted to the soundtrack and seeing the amazing songs (written by Sara Bareilles) live was a whole other level of amazing. The feel good song 'Opening Up' set the show's tone right from the start, getting the audience excited to follow the life of Jenna Hunterson, a waitress living in a small town in America, when she discovers that she is pregnant with her abusive husband Earl's baby. Jenna (played by Lucie Jones) begins an affair with her Doctor (played by David Hunter) and rediscovers love, whilst also realising her own independence and strength. For me, Lucie Jones had the standout performance with her remarkable version of Jenna. Jones managed to capture the audience from the very start of the show when she sang 'What's Inside' all the way to the end. The climax of the show, when Jenna i...

I love musicals. That's the only way I can put it. Theatre is full of incredible soundtracks and amazing actors but for me, the best thing about musicals are the complex characters created. In every show I have seen, there has always been one or two characters who have stood out, not necessarily due to the actor playing them (though having an incredible actor playing the role definitely helps!) but due to the backstories behind them and why they behave in the way they do. In this blog post I will be discussing my favourite characters and describing why to me, they are so important in theatre. Let me know in the comments whether you agree with any of these and who your favourite characters are! 1) Velma Kelly - Chicago Velma Kelly is my favourite musical character of all time and 100% my dream role. For me, Velma epitomises sass and power. She knows exactly what she wants and won't stop at anything to get it, not worrying about who she tramples on the way up. To s...

Hi! Welcome to my blog! I decided to start this to help me develop the skills required to become a Journalist and also teach me some more about the media. I am an avid traveller and I also love musicals so that will be the basis of my blog. I think it will be great to have a space where I can share my travel experiences and also be able to review and share my love of theatre all in one place. Some updates to expect in the next few weeks are: a review of my trip to London to watch 'Waitress' and my experiences at 'The Five Village Jumeirah Dubai' as these are both events that are happening this month! I cannot wait to get started on this project and I hope you are excited for the posts to come. I have started a Twitter page so that I can connect with my readers- feel free to follow @Muscial_Travel1 💜 Please leave any suggestions on posts that you would like to see in the comments as I will always be looking for new ideas! Magen x