Leader Weekends: Theatre Review (Elf the Musical & Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial)

Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney court drama staged in The Wagatha Christie Trial at Wyndham’s Theatre. Nick Curtis, the Evening Standard’s chief theatre critic, joins deputy culture editor Nick Clark to discuss why this story is more than just a social media whodunnit.

Plus, culture editor Nancy Durrant on how Elf the Musical is not one to watch with a festive hangover, but why kids will love it.

Part 1: Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial at Wyndham’s Theatre

• The infamous ‘dot, dot, dot...’ tweet that fuelled the Twitter gossip mill
• Court transcript of the Vardy Vs Rooney trial, in this production directed by Lisa Spirling and adapted by Liv Hennessy
• Are the women in the public eye mocked?
• Lucy May Barker as Rebekah Vardy and Laura Dos Santos as Coleen Rooney
• What was the audience’s reaction?
• How this isn’t just a play about social media drama - and why it reminds Nick Clark of the Amy Winehouse documentary
• Should the show have been 90 minutes?
• Will there be a rematch?

Part 2: Elf the Musical at the Dominion Theatre

• Who is Buddy the Elf?
• If you like an extremely Christmassy show, then this one’s for you – but it’s very expensive
• Why it’s not a musical to watch with a hangover
• The songs, the cast …and the questionable dresses
• How a supermarket festive ad helped boost Elf the Musical’s ticket sales
• Why the audience has a rip-roaring time, and could this be the perfect children’s Christmas show?

What's on right now in the West End? Well, this is your Theatre Review.

For the latest visit: www.standard.co.uk/culture

Clips used with permission:

Elf: The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) - soundtrack album by Chad Beguelin and Matthew Sklar

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