NB!! The studio recording of Bravo, and the live recording, and also the video will all be uploaded to this page very soon, so keep checking back!!

REVIEWS

Is it really worth going to watch a show called 'Bravo', which promises to deliver a musical medley of numerous past and future musical scores with a sprained ankle? Yes, my fellow readers, I genuinely did have a sprained ankle, while I sat there in a somewhat sophisticated and jazzy atmosphere in an Italian restaurant. The answer is absolutely, it was worth every slow and sometimes painful step because the performances were so outstanding.

Although all the performers on the night were stunning, despite the fact they had no props or costumes to help them deliver the song as the character in the musical, Arabella Rodrigo definitely stole the show. 'I Can Sing' from 'Tales of Tinseltown' and 'Now That He Is Gone' from 'All About Love', showed off the versatility in her singing. Having said that, it is very difficult to favour one singer's performance over another because each singer bought their own quality to the performance. It was not just a routine cabaret night, but it essentially was a small window into the soul of musicals consisting of great voices and acting skills, without a setting.  

Another striking point in the show, was when Giles Howe sang 'Lost For Words', which is sung by a female in the upcoming show 'Soviet Zion' and when Charlotte Donald sang 'It's Up To Me', which is sung by a male in 'Prince And The Pauper'. I cannot be sure why they decided to do this, but it does mean that if the singing is of high quality, conviction and literally blows you away, then the audience will not care for any thing else. A great show and a great night. My ankle was very thankful.

Carrie Dunn for Broadway World

If you've read any of my articles about theatre, you'll probably know by now that I love musicals. I'm delighted when I can support new writing or promote it in any way that I can. Providing, of course, that it's up to scratch, or there's plenty of potential there. First off, then, I must congratulate Giles Howe and Katy Lipson for their innovation, A Stage Kindly, where new work from around the world is showcased by a professional cast of performers. This show, Bravo, featured musicals from the UK, the US, Australia and the continent, sung by four vocalists (plus Howe and Lipson themselves) and accompanied by a two-piece band. I greatly enjoyed the vocals of Frank Loman as well as Charlotte Donald, whose acting prowess was finely conveyed in such a limited showcase. I'd seen Adam Bayjou in Rue Magique, but fortunately that hasn't hamstrung him and again his singing was extremely touching. 

Sarah Loader for Fringe Report

Bravo by A Stage Kindly is a relaxed night of high-class musical theatre in a cabaret setting. A stunning cast, led by musical director Katy Lipsonand singer Giles Howe, showcases songs from nearly 20 new works from Australia, America, UK, France,Italy. The versatile voice of Arabella Rodrigocuts seamlessly between sultry whispered phrases to full throttle belting - setting the bar high for the other singers. She opens the second act with the excellently written It's All in the Ball, and wows again with heartbreaking duet 'Don't Cry Butterfly'. Frank Loman sings 'Chasing Rainbows'. It's the first of many songs from new work Whitechapel, set in the East End of Victorian London, about a passionate, seemingly doomed love affair. Chasing Rainbows gives a fragment of the story; the singer's expertise makes it tantalising. Charlotte Donald is equally enchanting, providing the highlight of the first act with comic song Marry Me from The Company of Women byNoel Katz. She invites fits of giggles with It's Not Like I Thought It Would Be from All About Love. Adam Bayjou (tenor) performs Bite Your Lip; as with the other singers, he acts each of his pieces with sophistication. He comes across as adept at both serious romantic lead and supporting comical character.

Overall, it's an excellent night's entertainment. Also, Bravo gives a glimpse into the future of musical theatre. But much of the work showcased tonight is perhaps less adventurous and possibly not as progressive as it could be. Many of the showcased composers are clearly heavily influenced by legends, leading to a lack of originality or flair. But from time to time, a gem such as Still Human Where It Counts appears - a truly innovative and exciting number from Rock Heaven by Scarlett Deva Antaloczy & Nigel Osner. Composer Noel Katz scores again in the second act with My Chiropractors Hands. A blend of striking close-harmonies and compelling lyrics make him one of the most exciting composers of the night.

Reviewed at Freedom Bar, London Bravo, presented by new musicals initiative A Stage Kindly, is a cabaret-style evening showcasing new musicals from writers around the world. Held in the basement of Freedom Bar Soho, this intimate space is well suited to an evening of musical treats. The four main singers - Charlotte Donald, Arabella Rodrigo, Adam Bayjou, and Frank Loman - generally do justice to a range of songs which covered everything from cyborgs, to prostitutes and even chiropractors. Singing without context and without the help of props, costumes or context, all the performers do well to fill their songs with character and emotion. I particularly enjoyed the naughtiness of Charlotte Donald singing "It's Not Like I Thought It Would Be" and the real emotion in "I'm Not in Love With Her" sung by Frank Loman. The group songs are also well-balanced, the pick being "Still Human Where It Counts", from musical-in-development Rock Heaven. Arabella Rodrigo's vocal range is impressive, especially in the show's opening number - aptly named "I Can Sing" - while Adam Bayjou plays timid and strong with equal skill. Only a few tweaks would improve the evening greatly. While the show is well-paced and covers a huge number of songs it would benefit from a little more information on each new musical, even if only provided in the programme. Also, while it's a nice gesture to have all the singers on stage, at times this breeds palpable disengagement among the inactive performers. All in all however Bravo constitutes an enjoyable evening and Katy Lipson and Giles Howe, the founders of this initiative, should be congratulated for providing new international writers an opportunity to have their music heard. - Laura Norman

College has started and you have blown all your cash on Freshers Week, but if you have a tenner to spare, then you might want to find out more about A Stage Kindly, one of London's New Musical Theatre Initiatives.

A Stage Kindly is an organization founded to encourage and develop the present and future of new musicals by holding musical showcases open to the public in and around London.

On October 25th, A Stage Kindly's latest cabaret 'Bravo', treated me to a night of non-stop numbers from international new musicals at Pizza In The Park, Knightsbridge.

Company founders, Katy Lipson and Giles Howe served us a feast of musical entertainment from Australia, America, the UK, France and Italy, performed that night by some of London's finest.

Each story-line never failing to astonish me after the 28 numbers!

'Bravo' the name of the cabaret presented a wide array of musical theatre repertoire, each story-line never failing to astonish me after the 28 numbers! From the story of Vincent Van Gogh to a musical about a Rock Star restaurant described by the writers as 'more bizarre than the Rocky Horror Show', 'Bravo' excelled in what it aimed to do - open my eyes to new writing.

Act 1:

Act 2: