Winners of 2026 PANTOMIME AWARDS announced | West End Best Friend There were ample sequins on show last night (19 Apr) at the Swan Theatre, High Wycombe for this year’s Pantomime Awards, organised by the UK Pantomime Association and sponsored by ATG and Trafalgar.

5th year of the Panto Awards and the best yet!

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Short run of a short ballet - but worth seeing

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Enjoying reading it!

Brings back memories - my first church

Review: LIFELINE, Southwark Playhouse Elephant | West End Best Friend Expect heart, humour and toe-tapping Scottish tunes as Lifeline makes its highly anticipated London premiere at Southwark Playhouse Elephant.

Impressive new musical with an important message

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Review: Scottish Ballet's MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS, Sadler's Wells | West End Best Friend An iconic story, unconventionally told, Scottish Ballet's production of Mary, Queen of Scots is playing at London's Sadler's Wells this week.

Great score and impressive performances in this idiosyncratic take on the subject

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I've signed a letter to Bridget Phillipson and Lisa Nandy to ask them to ensure all children can enjoy access to arts subjects throughout their school life. Will you do the same? It only takes a minute, just follow this link: actionnetwork.org/forms/puttin...

Review: OUR TOWN, Rose Theatre Kingston | West End Best Friend Our Town is American playwright Thornton Wilder’s masterpiece, and this new production — starring internationally celebrated actor Michael Sheen — sees the story through a Welsh lens.

Stunning production of a great play

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🌟 Our President's Lunch is on Sunday 22 March 2026. Join BMHS President Su Pollard for a three-course lunch, a glass of bubbly on arrival 🥂, and an afternoon with special guests Jeffrey Holland (her Hi-De-Hi! co-star!), panto pal Jamie Leahey & a mystery guest TBA! 🎭

Review: Charles Court Opera's IOLANTHE, Wilton's Music Hall | West End Best Friend Off West End award-winning Charles Court Opera return to Wilton’s Music Hall to present their enchanting production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s sharp satire of power, privilege and parliamentary democracy...

Always a great combination: Charles Court Opera, G&S and Wilton’s:

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Review: I'M SORRY, PRIME MINISTER, Apollo Theatre | West End Best Friend From the BAFTA Award-winning co-creator of Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister, Jonathan Lynn, comes the long-awaited final chapter of British political satire I’M SORRY, PRIME MINISTER at the Apoll...

Some misjudged moment but mostly amusing and a comic tour-de-force from Clive Francis

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Review: MAN AND BOY, National Theatre | West End Best Friend In his National Theatre debut, director Anthony Lau brings a sharp, contemporary edge to Terence Rattigan’s tale of paternity and corruption, Man and Boy.

Good to see this minor Rattigan, well-acted though in a production that will divide audiences

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Review: THE CONSTANT WIFE, Richmond Theatre - Tour | West End Best Friend Adapted by Olivier Award-winner Laura Wade from Somerset Maugham’s glittering comedy, The Constant Wife originally opened in Stratford upon Avon and is now touring the UK.

Intelligent adaptation of a classic text

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Review: DANCE OF DEATH, Orange Tree Theatre | West End Best Friend Currently playing at London's Orange Tree Theatre, August Strindberg’s masterpiece Dance of Death is a darkly comic portrait of psychological warfare.

Impeccably acted and an excellent adaptation

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Review: MY LIFE WITH KENNETH WILLIAMS, Circle & Star Theatre | West End Best Friend To Hampstead Besties, and the Circle and Star Theatre above the Horseshoe Pub, a comfortable fringe venue well suited to the latest incarnation of David Benson’s homage to Kenneth Williams.

David Benson’s portrayal of Kenneth Williams is as uncanny as ever

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Join Us | British Music Hall Society If you are interested in entertainment past and present, why not join our Society?

The Winter edition of The Call Boy will be arriving with members this week...if you want to receive your own copy of our journal (published 4 times a year) then JOIN US! Membership details HERE - britishmusichallsociety.com/join-us

A music hall classic for #songsheetsaturday - Two Lovely Black Eyes - first published in 1886 with lyrics by Charles Coborn. Coborn reckoned he performed this number more than 250,000 times throughout his long career. 'Two lovely black eyes, Oh what a surprise, Only for telling a man he was wrong.'

A plump Woodpigeon stands confidently at a bird bath, chest puffed out, looking slightly smug. Beside it, a glossy Starling with shimmering green and purple feathers sits lower down, tilting its head up as if deep in conversation. The two birds appear to be mid-chat, giving off the vibe of scheming pals casually plotting how to dodge being counted in the Big Garden Birdwatch.

'Alright pal, got plans for the #BigGardenBirdwatch?'

'Nah, just the usual... hang out of sight whilst she's doing the count, then touch down once the hour's over. You?'

'Classic. Planning some fly-bys with a few of the boys, but we'll only land one at a time.'

'Niiice.'

Happy New Year from the British Music Hall Society. Thank you for all the support you gave us in 2025 - here's to 2026. Check out what we have on offer on our website
britishmusichallsociety.com #MusicHall #Variety #History #Archive

Very impressive!

Review: WHEN WE ARE MARRIED, The Donmar Warehouse | West End Best Friend First seen in 1938, and set thirty years earlier, When we Are Married is a remarkable survivor from the age of the well-made play. It reappears every ten years or so in the West End, perhaps because...

Excellent production and brings back memories of directing the same play two years ago

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Review: AUSTENTATIOUS, Vaudeville Theatre | West End Best Friend Award-winning West End smash-hit comedy Austentatious saw Stephen Mangan join the cast for one performance only last night.

Austentatious- always a hoot

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WEBF Panto Profile: Performer and scenic artist STEVE ARNOTT | West End Best Friend For our second Panto Profile this year, we spoke to veteran performer – and scenic artist – Steve Arnott, currently appearing as Sheriff of Nottingham at New Wimbledon Theatre’s Robin Hood.

I greatly enjoyed talking to Steve!

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WEBF Panto Profile: Writer, director and actor ANDREW POLLARD | West End Best Friend Besties, we’ve been talking to some of the most experienced panto performers and writers in the UK, and we started with writer, director and panto dame Andrew Pollard, appearing at the Victoria Theatr...

Andrew Pollard is my first Panto Profile for WEBF

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Review: MAMA GOOSE, Stratford East | West End Best Friend Join local lass Mama Goose and her magical golden-egg-laying goose in Stratford this holiday season!

First Panto of the year - and a stunner, not to be missed.

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Review: WENDY AND PETER PAN, RSC Barbican | West End Best Friend The Royal Shakespeare Company have presented Peter Pan before, but in a production which followed closely J. M. Barrie’s original play but added a Storyteller. This revival of Ella Hickson’s 2013 ad...

Joyful and beautifully designed

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European Theatre Day was celebrated at Victoria & Albert Museum London UK by Mark Fox for the Frank Matcham Society.

Wonderful exhibits at House of Houdini Budapest. Anniversary of his death soon on Halloween.

As anniversary of Houdini’s death approaches on Halloween ~ here are props on a great display at House of Houdini Budapest.

Review: AN ACCIDENT / A LIFE, Marc Brew/Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui - Sadler’s Wells East | West End Best Friend Marc Brew and world renowned choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui bring their stunning collaboration to London for the first time.

Fascinating account of a staggering life event

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