Music news, reviews and interviews

Music Lovers Guide December 15, 2023

CocoMusic – The ultimate music lovers gift guide for 2023

Music lovers deserve something truly special when it comes to Christmas gifting! But, if you, like me, have not quite finished your Christmas shopping yet, fear not as there’s still time to get the music fan in your life the gift that keeps on giving with our round up of our favourite music-related gifts for the festive season and beyond.

Our Music Editor has curated some of our favourite music-themed presents that any discerning music lover will want to find under the tree this Christmas.

Wear it!

You can’t beat a classic band tee which is a fantastic way to showcase your serious style credentials whilst showing support for your favourite band. Whether you love Bowie or Blondie, Jimi Hendrix or Johnny Cash or even Prince or Pink Floyd, music lovers will be spoilt for choice thanks to the fantastic selection of tees from Backstage Originals.

You can even shop on their website by your favourite bands for ease which is ideal for music lovers who are shopping on the go!

Listen up!

Headphones are a great gift all year round, but they make for quite the stellar gift for music lovers. SkullCandy offer some fantastic sets of headphones both bud/wireless and over the ear, but these Crusher ANC 2 Sensory Bass headphones offer both excellent sonics whilst delivering on bold colours and an seriously cool eye catching design in the shape of their new Acid Snow Camo collection. The headband, ear cups and on-ear controls are adorned in three exciting new colour ways – khaki green, grey and lilac.

Play it!

A huge part of Christmas festivities is playing games and what else should music lovers play than these fab music trump cards that have been exquisitely designed by artist Casey Raymond. Choose from sets such as Indie Sleaze, punk, britpop and more. These cards are excellently designed thanks to its beautiful artwork, but also offer an insightful learning experience whilst having fun at the same time.

Read it!

There have been so many incredible music books out this year, but two of our favourites have to be from Sir Paul McCartney whose epic photographic book 1964: Eyes of the Storm has enchanted Beatles fans all over the world.

The book, which is an impressive collection of Paul’s photos from the early years of his time in The Beatles, has also been captured in his fascinating exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery perfectly encapsulates what life was like as a Beatle during that pivotal time as Beatlemania took hold in the early sixties.

We also love the photographic offering from the master of guitar playing himself, Mr Johnny Marr who has just released a beautiful coffee table style book ‘Marr’s Guitars’ which is a stunning photographic presentation of the guitars that have defined his distinctive sound and style which will be a brilliant gift for any music lovers for Christmas and beyond.

Spin it!

Every music fan will be absolutely delighted to find a new record or two under the Christmas tree this year. Whether you favour one of the fantastic new albums from 2023 such as blur’s ‘The Ballad of Darren’, Taylor Swift’s ‘Speak Now’ or perhaps Noel Gallagher’s ‘Council Skies’ or even updating your collection with a seminal classic from the last five decades, look no further than Norman Records who sell an impressive myriad of vinyl records, including some exciting special editions which will certainly excite music lovers all over the world.

Interpret it!

One for the spiritual music lovers out there! If they love all things tarot then this fantastic set of tarot cards is an absolute must!

Tune into your inner wisdom with this unique tarot deck inspired by cult music icons. Inside you’ll find musicians who perfectly encapsulate the tarot card meanings with musicians such as Prince, Blondie, Tupac all leading the way.

The 78 cards work as a fully functional tarot deck, and the kit also includes a booklet with more information about the musicians, as well as information on how to interpret the cards and conduct your own reading.

Mix it!

If your favourite person’s favourite thing is to DJ, then why not help them get ahead with these TMA-2 DJ XE headphones from AIAIAI which are ideal for DJ’s on the go as they are both lightweight and modular but do not compromise on sound. They are well built, modular whilst providing a stellar sonic experience.

Whilst they have been designed for DJ’s in mind, they are also good for musicians as their high quality audio deliverance means they are just as useful for embarking on music creation in the studio, but also make a pretty stellar gift for music lovers who pride themselves on having a more sophisticated piece of kit when listening to their favourite mixes.

Music December 10, 2023

#CocoLive: Starsailor, The Brook, Southampton

From Harry Potter fever to the hottest day of the year (ever!), 2003 was chock-full of some pretty unforgettable moments. But, it was also a year of fantastic music with some incredible albums which included ‘Silence Is Easy’ the second studio album by Starsailor.

It’s almost unfathomable to believe that this album is now twenty (yes twenty!) years old and like its predecessor, the band’s debut album, ‘Love is Here’, it achieved a consecutive number two in the UK album charts receiving both commercial success along with critical acclaim.

A perennial favourite of mine from the Starsailor back catalogue, when it was announced that the band were celebrating this landmark achievement with a dedicated tour to commemorate the album, I was frankly all in.

The band’s sophomore effort was a further case in point demonstrating how the songs have stood the test of time and that with the lavish arrangements (on record) along with frontman James Walsh’s emotive and crystal-clear vocals made it one of the most endearing records of the early noughties.

Fast forward to a rainy night in Southampton, where a sold-out crowd were ready to be transported back twenty years to hear the album’s songs, track by track. The band were supported by The Gleeman who served up his own rendition of Americana folk and the brilliant indie-rock singer Ed Cosens whose voice was on top form.

James, Ben Byrne (drums), Barry Westhead (keys) and James Stelfox on bass, kicked off proceedings with track 1 of this seminal album ‘Music was Saved’ which really hit the mark and was infinitely timely with the lyric ‘Oh my friends, we landed in December’.

There is no weakest link in Starsailor, with all four band members showcasing their musical pedigree which included some fantastic bass lines from James Stelfox. Music was indeed saved and we can all say thank you for that.

Navigating through the album chronologically was a reminder of the gift of listening to an album in its entirety. As a huge lover of vinyl records, when I am at home this is how I traditionally listen to music, but when out and about, I am first to admit that I might have a cheeky shuffle or indeed indulge in a playlist or two.

The band then performed ‘Fidelity’ and ‘Some Of Us’, both of which delighted the crowd and then segued into the titular track ‘Silence Is Easy’ which is a perennial fan favourite and had the crowd singing along in unison.

Standouts included the Bowie-esque ‘White Dove’, the brilliant ‘Shark Food’ which is one of their best tracks (in my opinion) as it really showcases the band’s quality. It’s also one of the lesser-played Starsailor songs played live with the band only performing it in full no less than 16 times since its debut in 2003. ‘We’re stepping through the door, we’re shooting from the heart’ sings James Walsh, ‘If we get it wrong, they’ll feed us to the sharks’.

Naturally, as you would fully expect Starsailor did not put one foot wrong throughout their set which included a beautiful version of ‘Born Again’ and a rousing rendition of the emphatic ‘Four to the Floor’.

Part one of their jam-packed set was ‘Silence Is Easy’s album closer ‘Restless Heart’ which was performed entirely acoustically by James Walsh.

What could we expect from part two? Well, a carefully-curated selection of Starsailor’s most-loved hits from their impressive back catalogue of course!

From the impassioned ‘Tell Me It’s Not Over’ to the exquisite ‘Lullaby’, no stones were overturned with a sonic navigation around some of their biggest hits which also included ‘Alcoholic’ and ‘Poor Misguided Fool’

There was also an opportunity to hear their new track, the fantastic ‘Heavyweight’ which had a real Beatles vibe which was elevated by James Walsh’s powerful vocals.

The tender ‘Tie Up My Hands’ was a welcome addition to the set list which was ended superbly by the wonderful ‘Good Souls’ with its anthemic brilliance and top-notch lyrics, still feels like it would be a massive hit today.

Whilst this was a tour firmly nestled in nostalgia, Starsailor are indeed paying homage to the past whilst keeping their eyes set on a (continuously) golden future and evidently have so much more to offer as we glide into 2024.

Photo Credit: Joe Flanagan

Lifestyle November 9, 2023

Leeds Fest 2014 Review

OK we did it! We went to a festival for the music.

The things we’ve heard. The things we’ve seen. The tales of Leeds Festival that we’ve heard… didn’t fill us with much hope.

Here at House of Coco we like a creative festival that intakes a creative crowd. We like twisted installations, creatures around every corner to meddle with our fragile minds and all the lights and sparkle you’d find in a unicorn’s nest. BUT… we also LOVED Leeds Fest!

Yes it’s different to what we’re used to and yes it got a bit tedious critiquing the bands after every set but you know what… if you’re with the right people and the festival is actually good… you’ll have an amazing time!

We’re still not going to go on about the bands because that’s not what we do here, we want you to know how the festival was. But you should know that if you’re into the music on the line up… you’re going to love singing along and dancing with thousands of other people all there for that reason.

Oh and the boobs of course. And by that we mean the absolutely hilarious moment any girl on a pair of shoulders gets caught on camera… she is obliged to flash (not sexist at all if she has a choice… House of Coco boobs next year for sure… tacky but ‘when in Rome’!) and lest we forget the one poor girl who’s right boob got shy and left her very long left boob windmilling her way to infamy! Here’s to our breasts! #FreeTheNipple!

As for the other stuff… amazingly unexpected fun times! Fair enough, sometimes you kind of have to make up your own fun. Like trying to run across the dodgems without getting run over (House of Coco managed it many times. House of Cocos plus one did not! He got mowed over by a child!), trying to figure out ways of sneaking in your contraband booze… but then getting caught because they’re not stupid, the ‘getting through the crowd quickest’ game (House of Coco is the master. With a three friend hand chain we got through the crowd like a hot knife through butter) and of course… the fairground. Too expensive but hilarious after many hours of drinking.

The DJ in the woods at the campsite was a much needed injection of creativity plus the XFM DJ’s playing in what we thought was a purpose built club near the woods. The next day we found out it was simply a double layered DJ booth on a pathway. Immense. Amazing night.

Do Leeds. You can do Leeds Fest House of Coco Style. There are glamping options plus Tangerine fields but in all honesty it was great in Blue where we were.

Thank you Leeds Festival, you’ve opened our eyes.

Buy your tickets here for next year.

Lifestyle November 9, 2023

Beautiful Unsuspecting Festival Proposal

You’re at a festival with some friends and your man.

Weird things happen at festivals. You hug strangers, share glitter and dance together as though you’d been practicing for years.

At Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee this weekend one unsuspecting lady, standing amongst a glistening array of bubbles, began to have strangers handing her pretty flowers and flashing excited smiles.

She had no idea what was about to happen next. It’s simply beautiful. Prepare for the happy tears.

Congratulations to you both from us all here at House of Coco!

Fitness November 9, 2023

Boardmasters 2014 Review

If there’s one thing that was clear from Boardmasters… it’s that Boardmasters Music Festival and Boardmasters Sports Festival are definitely two completely different things.

The music festival is situated 4 miles outside of the centre of Newquay, or Fistral Beach which is where the sports takes place. Your camping is alongside the music as with any other festival. For House of Coco… this wasn’t a problem. We booked our tents with Tangerine Fields so had little to take and little to take away, plus we took our bikes, so the daily trips into Newquay were far more epic than the rammed full shuttle buses or the sweaty walk that some people made.

Now, depending on what kind of person you are and what you go to Boardmasters for you should definitely weigh up your ticket options.

If you’re into the sports and credible music… book up a hotel or B&B early (now!) for the centre of Newquay and buy tickets for the evening sessions to party apres sports. The other option is to do the music festival and spend most of your time up at Watergate Bay making the most of the stage entertainment.

We did a bit of both… and more!

As a House of Coco reader it is strongly suggested that you buy VIP in camping. It’s worth it in so many ways. The showers, the block of clean toilets and the very small amount of difference it made when it came to the crowd.

No, at Boardmasters we had the BEST time! We got on our bikes in the morning, rode down to watch the surfing and BMX competitions, paraded ourselves round like the King and Queen of Newquay and made friends with complete strangers every step of the way. We even got invited to a wedding that was happening whilst we were there!

One of the great things about Boardmasters is the amount of things you can experience. Rather than being stuck in the arena or campsite we spent the first night in the pub down at Watergate Bay playing pool before heading down to the beach with a bottle till morning.

The next day we watched the BMX competition (see rankings below), went surfing (in the tail end of Hurricane Bertha), spent more time drinking on the beach, climbing rocks and exploring caves, went into the festival for a bit and then back to the car to drink Champagne and make objects out of the clouds.

The next day, Sunday, was the day we’d planned on spending our time inside of the music festival… but it cancelled. Half of the campsite had already left but House of Coco was going nowhere! We headed to the car in the rain to pick up the bikes and set off on a windy journey down to Fistral for the surfing. As soon as we hit the centre of Newquay… glorious sunshine. We then spent the rest of the day playing ‘Beach day’ going to the arcades, down to the harbour and finding some seals, partying in the bars and buying take outs from Tesco to party back at the tent.

That was pretty much our Boardmasters. Amazing. We’ll definitely be back. Where else can you do all of those things? Beach, town, camping, live music and cool sports?

Get your early tickets now here. (Thursday to Sunday VIP camping is only £144!!!!!!) And book Tangerine Fields here.

A massive congratulations to all of the BMX Pro Comp Competitors! One of our best moments was watching the comp.

1st – Mark Webb
2nd – Declan Brookes
3rd – Tom Justice
4th – Jack Watts
5th – Jack Clark
6th – Cam Peake
7th – Luke Padgett
8th – Ollie Palmer
9th – Phil Aller
10th – Gaz Wilson
11th – Martyn Cooper
12th – Tom Isted
13th – Josh Crosswell
14th – Chris Czako
15th – Brock Horneman

Arts November 9, 2023

Getting ship shape at Camp Bestival

At #TeamCoco, we love a good festival and Camp Bestival is no exception. Set in the majestic grounds of Lulworth Castle, on Dorset’s dramatic Jurassic coastline, Camp Bestival is ideal for all ages thanks to their diverse mix of entertainment; from fabulous music acts and comedy to cultural delights and intriguing sideshow attractions.

Camp Bestival was awarded Best New Festival in 2008 at the UK Festival Awards in its first year of operation. Deemed as the ‘little sister’ of the more dance-orientated ‘Bestival’, Camp Bestival is known for being very family focused and has the most relaxed and friendly vibe.

We arrived on the Friday lunchtime (despite many arriving the night before) to the festivities. Every year Camp Bestival’s founder Rob Da Bank and his team pick a different theme and this year it was a nautical theme which was reflected in the fancy dress costumes and the many HMS Camp Bestival hats worn by various festival goers.

With the sun beating down on, we took the opportunity to explore the expansive festival site. Camp Bestival divides their entertainment into different areas which includes the Castle Stage (the primary stage for entertainment) The Big Top, Bollywood, The Greatest Tent on Earth, Caravanserai, the Literary Institute and HMS Bestival – a new highlight for 2018 which is essentially, a big old boat which features a wide range of entertainment including BBC Radio presenter Fearne Cotton DJ’ing!

Also new for 2018 is the ‘Gin Festival’ where you can try more than 50 gins from around the world. As a gin aficionado, I did take the opportunity to try some new gins and to reacquaint myself with some old favourites such as the delicious Mermaid Gin.

Strictly Come Dancing fans were in luck, as they were able to learn how to foxtrot with Karen Hardy’s Dance Studio. It was lovely seeing people of all ages learning how to dance. There were also various crafting, literary and foodie activities to enjoy throughout the day.

Friday’s music line-up included Camp Bestival regulars – The Cuban Brothers, who entertained the crowd with their energetic set. The group have played for the likes of Robbie Williams, Elton John and more have played Camp Bestival 12 times now.

Other acts on The Castle Stage included 80’s band Pop Will Eat Itself, Dodie, Lauren Hibberd, The Skatalaties and with a further nod to the 80’s, BBC Radio 2 presenter Sara Cox took to the decks for a DJ set featuring some nostalgic tunes from the decade.

One of my festival highlights has to be seeing Huey Morgan (from the Fun Lovin’ Criminals) DJ’ing with his renowned ‘NYC Block Party’ set.

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Rae Morris took to the stage on Friday evening, her latest album ‘Someone out there’ is certainly more ‘poppy’ than her 2015 debut ‘Unguarded’, thanks to the experimental drum patterns and electro-pop synths. It was my first time seeing Rae live and she is a truly captivating performer and I will definitely be downloading her new album.

Headlining Friday night was Rick Astley who has been enjoying a second wave of success over the last two years since the release of his number one album 50 and his recent top ten album Beautiful Life. Last year, Rick jammed on stage at the Summer Sonic Festival in Japan with the Foo Fighters, which quickly went viral (but not as much as the Rickrolling phenomenon!)

When Rick announced that he was going to bring on a guest drummer, we all held our breath thinking it might be a member of the Foo Fighters, so imagine our surprise to see Mary Berry on stage. Yes, you read that right – Mary Berry was on a drumkit, keeping a tidy beat to Rick’s song – Beautiful Life. As you can imagine, the crowd went wild as this was completely unexpected. Rick’s set was a fantastic way to round off our first day and night at Camp Bestival.

We spent a lot of time on the Saturday checking out the amazing selection of traders – you can buy all manner of things, from a vintage style dress to a gluten free pizza (I admit, I may have brought both!) There is always an excellent selection of food choices at Camp Bestival. Gone are the days when all you can buy is a soggy burger, here you can choose from everything from a pulled pork hog roast to Ghanaian food.

Saturday’s festivities saw fantastic sets from indie band Jesus Jones and hip hop-electronic dance group the Stereo MC’s who really brought the energy. Sadly, Tokio Myers (last year’s winner of Britain’s Got Talent) was ill, so his replacement was pop duo Max and Harvey.

We trundled off to see singer-songwriter Adam French play in The Big Top which we were really pleased that we went to see. Adam was not an artist I was familiar with and this is why I love festivals, as it’s an ideal opportunity to get to know bands and singers that you hadn’t previously been familiar with.

The headline act for Saturday was electropop sensations Clean Bandit who performed a selection of their hits including ‘Rather Be’, ‘Symphony’ and ‘Rockabye’. Whilst the likes of Jess Glynne and Anne-Marie weren’t there, they were supported by two singers who really made the songs their own.

One of the best things about Camp Bestival is the sideshow attractions such as the Caravanserai where we saw fire dancers, trapeze artists and more whilst festival goers relaxed in vintage caravans.

Sadly, due to adverse weather conditions, Sunday’s Camp Bestival was called off. A difficult decision to make for the organisers, but absolutely the right one. Acts that were scheduled to perform were Simple Minds, Shed Seven, The Undertones and Jade Bird.

In summary, if you are looking for a chilled-out festival where you can see some of the best musicians, comedians, DJ’s around in one of the most beautiful locations in the UK, head to the Dorset coast of Lulworth and check out Camp Bestival. There is fun for all the family and even if you don’t have little ones, there is still plenty of grown-up shenanigans to enjoy. Camp Bestival’s (slightly crazy) older sister Bestival takes place this weekend coming – 2nd-5th August featuring London Grammar, M.I.A, Rudimental, Diplo & Mark Ronson and many more. Tickets are still available, so head over to the Bestival website for more information. Plus, we think the weather will be much better this coming weekend.

Thank you so much Camp Bestival – we will see you next year!

Food & Drink November 9, 2023

Ninety One: Your new favourite Shoreditch Spot

#TeamCoco is always on the pulse whenever it comes to new London openings, so Ninety-One, a newly launched all-day cafe and late night bar is exactly what we’re looking for to amp up our East London evenings.

Launched in early December, Ninety-One is an achingly cool new hybrid space in the Old Truman Brewery, that breathes Shoreditch authenticity.Think neon-lit pared back concrete walls, an abundance of foliage, artisanal cocktails, and a rotating residency of chefs that will surely make your mouth water. Every few months, Ninety One will feature a rotating series of chief residencies that champions all the wonderful local talent of East London. We were lucky enough to experience some lovely dishes from Sabel, a seasonal kitchen by husband and wife duo Toby Williams and Lianna Jewell. Their unique take on locally sourced British cuisine is effortless and undeniably impressive. A few of our favourites include the Ogalshield cheese and ham hock toastie with gherkins, and some grilled tender stem broccoli with aioli — yum.

Wash it all down with some Victorian inspired cocktail recipes from head bartender Amon Kale. Don’t let the term ‘native botanical home-infusions’ intimidate, because these cocktails are truly delicious (and certainly pack a punch) If you’re feeling tropical, we highly recommend the deconstructed Pina Colada, a Wray & Nephew, Salani Coconut Liqueur, and charred pineapple mixture — that’s the perfect drink to accompany you throughout the evening. Finally, end the evening dancing away to Ninety One’s live jazz performances and DJ sets, their Function One sound system will impress even the most discerning audiophile. Ninety One is a space that transitions with you throughout the day, seamlessly from work to play — and we’re all for it.

In the vein of multi-functional spaces, Ninety-One was designed as a café and workspace by day, and a late-night music venue for audiophiles by night, and it could not be more at home than in the buzzy graffiti strewn streets Brick Lane.

For more information visit https://91bricklane.com/

Fashion November 9, 2023

Peaches Geldof. Our Festival Style Queen

As we mourn the sad loss of rock royalty Peaches Geldof, we couldn’t help but reminisce on the times the reformed mother of two got her knees dirty and her hair knotted at a festival or two.

Not one to shy away from family history, Peaches embraced the ‘Grunge’ look and always did festivals as they should be done… Messy and dirty but always on point.

This season, take your festival style inspiration from Peaches. Our festival style Queen.

For more information about the untimely and sudden death of Peaches Geldof click here

Fitness November 9, 2023

Reasons to be cheerful on the glummest day of the year

Tomorrow is Blue Monday, supposedly the most depressing day of the year. I’ve got to admit I’m a bit cynical and often wonder who makes up these days. However, there’s no denying it, January can be a tough month. Some of us bounce right into the New Year armed with a long list of good intentions and a spring in our step. For others it can be a struggle, leaving you feeling unmotivated, skint and overindulged. The good news is, I am on a mission to brighten up your January with some instant mood boosters. Here’s my round up of things to do to put a smile on your face and kick January’s ass.

Borrow a dog for the day
Borrow My Doggy is a bit like online dating but instead of matching you to a potential suitor it connects you to a dog in your local area that you can borrow for walks, weekends and holidays. There’s lots of research that shows owning a dog can reduce your stress levels. Spending just a few minutes stroking a dog can lower anxiety and blood pressure, and increase levels of serotonin and dopamine, two neurochemicals that play big roles in calm and wellbeing. As well as this getting outside in the fresh air and walking a dog is good for your health.

Wake up to your theme tune
You know that feeling when you hear a song for the first time in ages and you’re instantly transported back to a moment in time when you felt great?! Recreate those moments by kicking off your day with the ultimate feel good playlist. Music has the power to give us an instant emotional hit and boost your mood. According to research by Spotify and Cambridge University psychologist David Greenberg, the ideal wake-up tune will “start gently (even for just a few seconds) and then build,” and will contain positive lyrics “to get you out of a grumpy state and shift towards a feel-good attitude”. Be prepared to be dancing around the kitchen with your coffee.

Have a glass of sunshine delivered direct to your door
Forget about the freezing temperatures outside and take yourself off to sunnier climes with the ultimate summer cocktail. Aperol Spritz will be whizzing around the streets of London on Blue Monday delivering glasses of the lovely orange stuff direct to your door. Invite a friend over and start planning your summer break over a couple of glasses. All the details on how to get your delivery are on their website.

Hit Me Baby One More Time
Who ever said they didn’t want to know the dance moves to Britney Spears, Baby One More Time is lying. Let loose and have a laugh down at Frame, where you can learn the dance moves of all your favourite artists, including Britney. All the dance routines are based on the music videos so unleash your inner pop star and shake your booty down at your local Frame studio.

Start the day laughing
Comedy AM is the world’s first morning comedy club. These guys are on a mission to boost your wellness through laughter. Research shows that laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells, it also triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural ‘feel good’ chemicals so there’s a couple of good reasons to get along to one of their events. With stand-up sessions kicking off as early as 6.30am, you can easily squeeze in a giggle before work.

Whatever you do this Monday, have a good one.

Music November 9, 2023

A Night at the Theatre: Team Coco meets The King & I

Last week, Team Coco got a special seat to see the new Tony Award-winning production of The King & I at the London Palladium and enjoyed an evening of exotic costumes, fantastic singing, and good theatre ol’ spectacle — to the tune of “Shall We Dance” of course.

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 67 year old musical gets a 2018 makeover care of Bartlett Sher, followed by a successful run of the production at the Lincoln Center. This rendition is led by Ken Watanabe, (from Inception and The Last Samurai fame), who has the inherent regality to play the King of Siam. He is accompanied by Kelli O’Hara,who actually won a Tony Award for her stellar performance as straight laced Victorian era governess, Anna Leonowens.

With countless renditions over the years, from the iconic Yul Brunner version to the rather odd Lou Diamond Phillips one in the mid nineties; one of the main controversies surrounding the King & I has always been how it tackles its morally ambiguous storyline. Beyond the charming romance between Anna and the King, Bartlett Sher’s version also sheds a light on the stark differences between Eastern and Western cultures, as well as the absurdity of The White Man’s burden to civilise the East.A less sophisticated, and more revisionist, production would have framed the issue as Anna “taming” the King’s barbaric ways — to appease to British sentimentalities in order to prevent colonisation, but this production tackles the issue with a nuance that would appease even the most politically correct audience. Today, representation is undeniably important — and as a Chinese-Filipino myself, I was very impressed with how Bartlett Sher cast his ensemble. (No white-washing here at all people!) After “Getting to Know’” (pardon the musical pun) The King & I, I can say that it deftly balances the conflicts between tradition and modernity, spiritualism and science, and finally, love and responsibility.

Overall, Kelli O’Hara, really shone as the virtuous Anna. Naoko Mori as King Mongkut’s first wife, and Na-Young Jeon as Tuptim are also worth mentioning for their fantastic performances. Each one of the women had plenty of chances to shine and each one really took the stage and captivated the audience from the front row all the way to the back. In 1860s Siam, women were seen as mere objects, and Ken Watanabe effectively hammers down King Mongkut’s imperial misogyny with a petulant theatricality throughout the production. So to see these women really have their shining moments on one of London’s biggest West End stages – was a poignant symbolic victory for strong and independent women like Anna Leonowens; and all the other Anna’swho live beyond the stage.

The King & I is on a limited run at The London Palladium. Hannah saw the King & I via superbreak.com tickets start at £78