Monday 29 January 2024.

Monday 29 January 2024. I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY : THE SAW MUSICAL - London Opening Night - live at The New Wimbledon Theatre, London SW19. I Should Be So Lucky is a brand new jukebox musical featuring the music from songwriting trio Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, and Pete Walkman. The trio had huge success in the 80s and 90s, writing 13 UK number-one hit singles for artists like Kylie Minogue, Rick Astley and Bananarama. Their music was devised into the show by Debbie Isitt, the brains behind the Navity! movies. SAW is considered one of the most successful songwriting and producing partnerships of all time, scoring more than 100 UK top-40 hits, selling over 150 million records. The show is playing weekly stints all over the UK. ---------- The show is on for two hours over two sets of 60 mins. The show centres on Ella (Lucie-Mae Summer), a bride left at the alter, whose friends and family decide to accompany her on her honeymoon to a Turkish resort, then the groom who jilted her goes to Turkey to win her back. It's a heartwarming comedy , along with the SAW tracks woven into the script. Kylie and Bananarama have the most songs in the production, and there's some Jason Donovan , Rick Astley ,Sinitta , Mel and Kim , Dead or Alive etc. Lots of good dance routines, and Kylie appears on the big digital screen several times. After-party... There was complimentary prosecco, wines, beers, ciders for guests and press. Pre show and during the interval was held in the upper circle bar, then the bigger dress circle bar , for when the cast turned up , along with PETE WATERMAN and NATHAN MOORE from Brother Beyond. Not sure if the other two from SAW were here, as forgot what they looked like. We were there 10pm to 11.15pm, and it was still lively when we departed. ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- Sunday 28 January 2024. XIKERS play Shepherds Bush Empire. Xikers is a South Korean boy band formed by KQ Entertainment. The group consists of ten male members: Minjae, Junmin, Sumin, Jinsik, Hyunwoo, Junghoon, Seeun, Yujun, Hunter and Yechan. Their world tour is called 'Tricky House - First Encounter'. ---------- The crowd is pretty much 90 % very excitable females under the age of 30. Not sure how they can afford the steep ticket prices of £90 , £80 and £70. Plus there are over 200 that have paid for a meet and greet after the show, hence the early start early finish. There is some serious money floating about in K.Pop. Some space up in Level 3 and rear stalls so maybe 1300 folks here. XiTERS arrived on stage on 7.35pm and played for 1 hour 40 mins. Oddly they are nine members on stage , rather than ten mentioned on wikipedia. Lots of fantastic dance routines, and after each track they would take a breather by chatting some basic English or by playing a video on the big screen. As usual with K-Pop acts there is no live band , and it's all backing tapes. Lots of lights and strobes are used throughout the shows. It is all very visual ,but the music is basic dance pop. Lots of screaming girls and many are holding various glow sticks. I think there were three costume changes. Overall a visually good show , but the music was a bit tame.

Posted 29th January 2024