Scrooge is the Palladium's filler?

[AnythingGoes23]

It seems Uncle Bill has come to rescue of ALW and will revive his Palladium production of SCROOGE or The Palladium this year.

MEMPHIS has backed out and is hunting for a smaller venue to run next Spring. Apparently they are waiting in the wings of The Savoy, Aldwych and Shaftesbury...

ALW next headache is Drury Lane, SHREK is trying to hold on for another year, but its not looking good at the moment. This Summer's taking will tell if they can survive onwards. If they can't - ALW's will have a tough time finding a big show to enter the Drury Lane as nothing huge is coming in this early.

[Mark_E]

Scrooge... Hmm, would have much preferred Elf.

I'm glad Memphis is stalling. The Savoy would be the best venue for it I think. Palladium would have been way too big.

[Jonwo]

The Savoy's free after January unless Cabaret extends so I could see Memphis going there.

[Princeton Returns]

According to an ad in the Sunday Times Scrooge will be at the Palladium this Christmas starring Tommy Steele

[AnythingGoes23]

It will play 24th October thru to 5th Jan

[ClapYo'Hands]

Oh God.

[Princeton Returns]

Great show but could they not find a better star

[AnythingGoes23]

Erm, Tommy Steele...


No, they couldn't find a star.

[Phantom of London]

Thumbs Up!!!

[bob8rich]

Wish we could get a staging of the Alan Menken/Lynn Ahrens A Christmas Carol in London instead - a much stronger score IMO.

[keithp]

I am not a great fan of Steele but remember he was a huge star packing theatres in the West End for many years in different shows. His star may have waned but for a certain generation he is still a major.star.

[Jonwo]

Didn't this play the Palladium as a filler after Chitty Chitty Bang Bang closed? I wish that either Elf or White Christmas could come in to the West End for a limited run.

[AnythingGoes23]

Yes, Wmter 2005 this was a filler between Chitty closing and Sinatra opening, which also was a limited season ahead of Sound of Music opening in October 2006.

[Nickhutson]

Remember Kenwright produces both shows (Oz and Scrooge), and is part of RUG now (the part that was previously held by Matilda's André Ptaszynski) so it's easy for Kenwright to chuck this touring production in. At least the illusions are good...

The irony is that the non-Kenwright owned version of Charlie is going into this lovely theatre afterwards... thank goodness!

[jamiekennywicked]

I quite enjoyed Scrooge when it came to Dublin 2 years or so back. The illusions are fantastic and it's a fun season show. Couple of moments to make you jump in there too..

[ClapYo'Hands]

Awful musical :/ I wish The Wizard of Oz could hold on.

[Princeton Returns]

Seriously?! Oh Clap and we had been agreeing lately! lol

[Phantom of London]

I haven't seen and don't know its score.

However there had been a long delay between the announcement of 'Wizard Of Oz closing and the recent announcements of 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and 'Scrooge', which indicates to me that 'Scrooge' was the very last option to go in, as it ends 05th January and CCF doesn't begin until June, so the Palladium will be dark for a long while, wheres the owners prefer to have something running until the end of March IMHO.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

its as old as the hills now and was way past its sell by date on its first Palladium outing.

[Nickhutson]

They will need the Palladium empty for a while to do rehearsals/get in for Charlie, as it's going to be mammoth!

Scrooge is fun - but the cheapness of the production bothered me (they only fill the centre of the stage and don't expand out) but Paul's magic work in the show is amazing and truly terrifying at times! It's a fun family show - which is what the Palladium is world famous for. Memphis would NOT have worked there.