It's the run up to Christmas which means theatres are preparing for Panto season. However, in the case of the Edinburgh Playhouse, it's preparing for a busy November and December which features two fantastic musicals. In December they have the fabulous “Kinky Boots” stomping it's way through their doors, but first, “Motown the musical”, which gives  audience members the ultimate experience of Soul music.

There are certain musical numbers that I consider "PhD's in Singing". Songs like "Soliloquy" or "Glitter and be Gay", to master them is an accomplishment reserved for truly talented singers. Another song in this repertoire would be "And I Am Telling You" from Dreamgirls. Many have tried to master it, very few have succeeded. Nevertheless, it's one of the most popular show tunes performed in concerts and cabarets today. 

While many might choose to stay away from such a number, actress Mazz Murray was ready to take it on for her upcoming concert "The Best of the West End". That was until she was told that she was banned from doing so because she's white. 

DumbWise Theatre's recent production of Electra was a modernised retelling of the Greek myth, which drew on themes of politics and the media, and was energised with punk rock music. I recently chatted with John Ward, artistic director of this interesting new piece.