Shaftesbury Theatre | ChicanePictures

Autographed drawing of Gabriel Vick in Mrs Doubtfire: The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre on London's West End

The musical adaption of the hilarious and heartfelt 1993 film MRS DOUBTFIRE, starring Robin Williams as the titular nanny, opened its West End run last spring at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Directed by four-time Tony winner Jerry Zaks, with original music by the Kirkpatrick brothers, Wayne and Karey, written by satirist John O’Farrell, and featuring Gabriel Vick as both Daniel Hillard and Euphegenia Doubtfire.

Gabriel’s comedic and chameleonic performance has received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, his London stage appearances include the original cast of AVENUE Q at the Noel Coward Theatre, SCROOGE at the London Palladium and CHARIOTS OF FIRE at the Gielgud Theatre.

He plays the out-of-work voice actor Daniel who will do anything for his kids. After losing custody in a messy divorce, he creates the alter ego, a Scottish nanny in a desperate attempt to stay in their lives.

“Multi-talented, hyperactive Gabriel Vick in the lead goes the extra mile, and then some,” wrote the Telegraph’s Dominic Cavendish, in this “sure-fire hit, my dears”. As one audience member posted online, “Shout out to Gabriel Vick, he really would’ve made Robin proud. Smashed it!”

This “cross-dressing comedy soars from screen to stage,” wrote Rachel Halliburton in her four-star Times review.

And, listen up poppets… the run has been extended until February 2025, so no reason to miss it.

Gabriel kindly signed my quick sketch last Saturday between shows at the Shaftesbury stage door.

Beverley Knight Killian Donnelly

Leads Beverley Knight and Killian Donnelly receive standing ovations after every performance of Memphis at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre. The feel good musical about fame and forbidden love is set in the racially segregated Tennessee in the fifties, where African-American R&B music is captivating a new generation of white fans, much to the disgust of their rigid parents. Beverley plays emerging singer Felicia Farrrell and Killian is her charismatic disc jokey Huey Calhoun who is determined to bring ‘fresh’ sounds to his radio audience.

“Beverley Knight’s vocal gloriousness and the charisma of her co-star Killian Donnelly make a show that’s not exactly innovative feel fabulous,” wrote Henry Hitchings in The Evening Standard.

Memphis received the most Olivier Award nominations at this year’s ceremony, including nods for both Beverley and Killian. Killian will be leaving the production next month to play Charlie in the West End transfer of the musical Kinky Boots. It was just announced that Beverley will play Grizabella when Cats returns to the London Palladium in October this year. Beverley had previously signed a drawing for me, so I gave her this one with Killian included and both signed.