Theatre News

Blackman, Bruce, Spicer Are Live at Delfont Room

A trio of artists working with Speckulation Entertainment — How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? runner up Helena Blackman, composer Michael Bruce and Speckulation co-founder Paul Spicer — will present a series of Sunday night cabaret dates at the Delfont Room, starting with a night celebrating the launch of Blackman’s debut album The Sound of Rodgers & Hammerstein on 13 February 2011.

The concerts, which are presented in association with Whatsonstage.com, are held at the West End’s Prince of Wales Theatre, the home of our eleventh annual Whatsonstage.com Awards Concert on 20 February 2011.

Helena Blackman will launch her album on Sunday 13 February 2011 with an evening featuring chart-topping classical artist Jonathan Ansell and star of the upcoming West End production of Ordinary Days Daniel Boys as special guests.

Blackman came to prominence as the runner up on the BBC’s search for a female lead for West End revival The Sound of Music, How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?. Her debut solo album features the songs of legendary musical composers Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein and goes on general release on 14 February 2011, the day after the concert.

Also in the newly announced season, composer Michael Bruce takes to the stage on Sunday 20 March 2011 to showcase songs from his debut self-titled CD The Michael Bruce Album. Having previously won the Notes for the Stage composition competition and the Musical Theatre Matters Most Promising New Musical Award at the Edinburgh Festival, Bruce will be joined on stage by Avenue Q star Julie Atherton and Speckulation co-founder Paul Spicer.

Bruce’s recent stage compositions include the music for Josie Rourke’s National Theatre revival of Men Should Weep. He will also score David Tennant and Catherine Tate‘s West End production of Much Ado About Nothing.

Finally, Speckulation’s own Paul Spicer, who celebrates ten years of performing on the professional stage with the launch of his much anticipated debut album Love Songs & Lullabies will perform at the Delfont Room on Sunday 15 May 2011. Performing a selection of songs representing the “emotional turning points” in his own life, Spicer’s concert takes place shortly before the release of his album and 30th birthday on 17 May 2011.

As well as being co-founder of the Notes from New York and Not(es) for New York series Spicer’s recent stage credits include playing Princeton and Rod in the West End production of Avenue Q, The Last Five Years, the national tour of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. He made his US stage debut at the Lincoln Center in the American Songbook season production of Lance Horne: First Things Last earlier this year, appearing in Horne’s one night concert Speckulation produced at the Garrick Theatre on January 2011.

To book general admission tickets go to the Delfont Mackintosh Theatres website for the Prince of Wales Theatre.

As part of the Whatsonstage.com media partnership, members of the Whatsonstage.com Theatre Club can take advantage of a special value-added package for all concerts: a signed poster of the evening’s star plus two free drinks to enjoy before or during the performance!! For more info on all three performers & Club booking, click here!


Whatsonstage.com and Speckulation Entertainment are giving two theatregoers the chance to win Helena Blackman’s debut album and five other great musical theatre CDs from Speckulation’s back catalogue – including the Departure Lounge original London cast recording and Julie Atherton’s No Space for Air. To enter to WIN SIX CDs have a look at our competition page!