Front Row Frankie

Independent theatre critic | providing honest and informative reviews of West End shows and touring productions.

WEST END REVIEWS

  • Marie & Rosetta – Soho Place, March 2026 ★★★★☆

    AD GIFTED| Starring Beverley Knight, Marie & Rosetta examines the tension between tradition and transformation, devotion and showmanship, and the personal and social challenges faced by two Black women navigating the segregated American South.

  • That’ll Be The Day – London Palladium, Feb 2026 ★★★★☆

    Britain’s Got Talent finalist, Tom Ball’s performance of his charity single ‘Make a Wish Come True’, joined by children from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, was especially moving – made even more poignant as I had met some of the children before the show.

  • Robin Hood – London Palladium Pantomime 2024 ★★★★☆

    Full of smut and spectacle. Possibly the first pantomime in history where Maid Marian has unwittingly been used as a ‘beard’ for an overtly homosexual Robin Hood.

  • The Time Traveller’s Wife – Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Ave -Dec 2023

    David Hunter brings his ‘relatable leading man’ star-quality to this heartfelt, lucid and high-aesthetic story. ★★★★ I am not ashamed to say, that I was a little bit apprehensive about this one: usually my family are very tolerant in me dragging them out to London to see a new show I like the look of. It’s…

  • Peter Pan Review- London Palladium – December 2023

    The announcer before the show starts puts it perfectly, regretfully informing the audience that Nigel Havers unfortunately will be appearing in this performance and has not been replaced. Cue a string of Private Lives jokes and Clary’s lament of Havers touring the ‘provincial theatres’ with Patricia Hodge, and you realise from the knowing laughs …

  • Backstairs Billy Review- The Duke of York’s Theatre – Luke Evans – Penelope Wilton – London October 2023

    Luke Evans sparkles as Billy Tallon, favourite servant and confidante to the Queen Mother (Dame Penelope Wilton). A must-see for the casting alone, and a pleasantly amusing staging of this lesser-known royal scandal.

  • The Wizard of Oz – London Palladium – July 2023

    Jason Manford is a must-see as the Cowardly Lion in this modern staging of a classic. ★★★☆☆