Nela's Guide

BACK TO THE FUTURE THE MUSICAL

STORY

When Marty McFly finds himself transported back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric scientist Doc Brown, he accidentally changes the course of history. Now he’s in a race against time to fix the present, escape the past and send himself... back to the future.

SONGS

Overture

It's Only A Matter Of Time

Audition / Got No Future

Wherever We're Going

It Works

Hello, Is Anybody Home?

Don't Drive 88!

Cake

Gotta Start Somewhere

My Myopia

Pretty Baby

Future Boy

Something About That Boy

21st Century

Put Your Mind To It

For The Dreamers

Teach Him A Lesson

The Letter / Only A Matter Of Time (Reprise)

Deep Divin'

Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)

Johnny B. Goode

The Clocktower / For The Dreamers (Reprise)

The Power Of Love

Doc Returns / Finale

Back In Time

Exit Music (Back In Time)

Great Scott! Fantastic show, closely followed the storyline of the film - a Must-See! The cast is amazing, especially Hugh Coles as George McFly.

Nela’s Ranking:

THE PROM

STORY

The careers of four eccentric Broadway stars are struggling and they desperately need a new stage upon which to shine bright once more. Seeking out a cause, they head straight to small-town Indiana. Through social media, they have heard of trouble brewing around a school prom. Local girl, Emma Nolan, wants to take her girlfriend to prom but the homophobic PTA are on a mission to keep the high school dance on the straight and narrow. Determined to transform lives and put themselves back in the limelight, the Broadway celebrities muscle in to change the town and give Emma the prom she deserves.

SONGS

Changing Lives

Changing Lives (Reprise)

Just Breathe

It's Not About Me

Dance With You

The Acceptance Song

You Happened

We Look To You

Tonight Belongs To You

Zazz

The Lady's Improving

Love Thy Neighbor

Alyssa Greene

Barry Is Going To Prom

Unruly Heart

It's Time To Dance

Joyous, funny, and sweet production with lots of catchy feel good songs that remind you once more love is love.

Nela’s Ranking:

STAY AWAKE, JAKE

STORY

The musical tells the story of one man’s journey across England’s deserted motorways in the middle of the night, as he drives from London to Carlisle in a frantic bid to save his relationship. Stay Awake, Jake is about love, responsibility, fatherhood, and ultimately what it means to be a man in the 21st century. Over the course of the show, we learn more about Jake’s life, his past, and what it was that made him decide to get in his car and drive the length of the country at 2am in the morning.

SONGS

Just Drive I

Sofia

Problems

Sometimes You Say Things

Eden

How About Tomorrow

I Won’t Know You

Just Drive II

Wake Me Up

Just Like You

Phone Call

Better

Confession

That’s A Start

A warm, inspirational, heartfelt musical that keeps you on the edge of your seat

Nela’s Ranking:

CITY OF ANGELS

STORY

When Hollywood offers New York novelist Stine the opportunity to adapt his books into a film for the silver screen, he packs up and moves to the home of perennial sunshine, palm trees, and stars. City of Angels moves between the beautiful Technicolor world of Hollywood and Stine’s glamorous film noir-in-progress of the same title. While Stine’s movie plays out in black and white, Stine finds the dangerous temptations of the world of Los Angeles – the distraction of women, the lure of fame, and the artistic compromises being made right and left – all too colorful. 

SONGS

Prologue: Theme From City Of Angels

Double Talk

What You Don't Know About Women

You Gotta Look Out

The Buddy System

With Every Breath I Take

The Tennis Song

Ev'rybody's Gotta Be Somewhere

Lost And Found

All You Have To Do Is Wait

You're Nothing Without Me

Stay With Me

You Can Always Count On Me

Alaura’s Theme

It Needs Work

L.A. Blues

With Every Breath I Take (Duet)

Funny

I'm Nothing Without You

Epilogue: Theme From City Of Angels

A pleasure to watch this incredible cast

Nela’s Ranking:

BONNIE & CLYDE A NEW MUSICAL

STORY

Bonnie & Clyde tells the story of real-life fugitives, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Frustrated with their poor, ordinary lives, Bonnie and Clyde both dream of the exciting lives they have seen in the movies. After escaping from jail, Clyde meets Bonnie and recognizes a fellow dreamer. Their craving for fame and thrills leads them into a life of crime and a life on the run. Despite the pleas of their families, the couple embark on a series of robberies at gunpoint, continuously evading the police and becoming the celebrities they desperately wanted to be. They are soon joined by Clyde’s brother, Buck, and the “Barrow Gang” plans increasingly ambitious heists. As their fame and ambition grows, their inevitable fate draws closer. When Buck is killed by the police during an escape, Bonnie and Clyde decide to go and see their families once more. This decision leads them straight into the police firing line and they are both shot dead in the car.

SONGS

Prologue: How 'Bout A Dance

Picture Show

The World Will Remember Me

You’re Going Back To Jail

How ‘Bout A Dance

When I Drive

God’s Arms Are Always Open

You Can Do Better Than Him

You Love Who You Love

Raise A Little Hell

This World Will Remember Us

Made In America

Too Late To Turn Back Now

That’s What You Call A Dream

What Was Good Enough For You

Bonnie

Raise A Little Hell (Reprise)

Dyin’ Ain’t So Bad

Dyin’ Ain’t So Bad (Reprise)

How ‘Bout A Dance (Reprise)

This Never Happened Before

This musical could have been so much more. Unfortunately, despite its great actors, it doesn’t really convince with the shallow portayal of its characters.

Nela’s Ranking:

This year’s West End Live is right around the corner, let’s do some warm-up with last year’s performances :)

IN THE HEIGHTS

STORY

We encounter the many colourful residents of Washington Heights - a New York City neighbourhood on the brink of change. Usnavi, a first generation Dominican-American corner bodega owner, and his friends and family are dealing with the pressures of rising rents and closing neighbourhood businesses. As one family struggles to figure out how to pay for an Ivy League tuition for their brilliant and hard working daughter, a young woman is trying to put a down payment on a new apartment, and Usnavi himself is trying to get back to the Dominican Republic to reconnect with his roots after the death of his parents. In Washington Heights, community is everything, and we see how each of these individuals struggles to survive and how these same individuals come together as a community to mourn their losses and rejoice in their triumphs. We see the hard-working residents of Washington Heights grapple with love and lust, identity and racism, all while the prospect of a winning lottery ticket hangs in the air, potentially changing the livelihoods of the people and the community forever.

SONGS

In The Heights

Breathe

Benny's Dispatch

It Won't Be Long Now

Inútil

No Me Diga

96,000

Paciencia Y Fe

When You're Home

Piragua

The Club

Blackout

Sunrise

Hundreds Of Stories

Enough

Carnaval Del Barrio

Atención

Alabanza

Everything I Know

Piragua (Reprise)

Champagne

When The Sun Goes Down

Finale

Powerful musical with great and catchy songs

Nela’s Ranking:

A KILLER PARTY

STORY

When Varthur McArthur (yes, that’s his real name), failed West End actor and current artistic director of Blackpool’s smallest regional theatre, calls a read-through for his latest murder mystery play, the cast of local actors arrive at the party with anything but theatre on their minds. But when Varthur ends up face down in his soup (a gluten-free cheese bisque, thanks for asking), it’s up to Traffic-Police-Officer-turned-Detective Justine Case to piece together what happened. If only the ensemble of suspects would stop singing...

SONGS

Sleuth In Duluth

A Killer Party

Today’s Detective

Stuck

Boom! Shout! The Lights Went Out

Circus On The Sea

Breathe

Songus Interruptus

Live Out Loud

Boom! Shout! Reprise!

Wait For My Cue

Never Miss My Mark

I Did It For You

Big Cat

Hands Out!

Shipload Of Fools

Process Of Elimination

A Killer Party (Reprise)

Sleuth In Duluth (Reprise)

Requiem For An A-Hole 

If you fancy a giggle and a whodunnit, check out A Killer Party

Nela’s Ranking: