Show Boat, New London Theatre

After a triumphant run at the Sheffield Crucible, Daniel Evans' revival of Show Boat will sail down to London. It's the first in almost 20 years the musical's been revived on the West End and, if the jubilant reviews from Sheffield are to be believed, this prouduction is 'glorious', 'something special' and 'superlative'.

Daniel Evans, who put Sheffield Crucible on the map and will now move to helm Chichester Festival Theatre, directs a shorter, stream-lined version of Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern's 1927 classic.

Based on Edna Ferber's novel, Show Boat packs more of a punch that your standard old school musical. Set across four decades from 1887 to 1927 the show explores women's rights, racism, addiction during the dawn of modern America. It was regarded as a radical departure from the light operetta and follies seen on Broadway in the 19th century. Almost a hundred years on, it is still a still as thought-provoking as it is entertaining. And the score bursts with rousing hits including 'Ol' Man River' and 'Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man'.

Much like Gypsy and Cabaret, it's a show about show business. But the story about performers on Mississippi's Cotton Blossom boat goes beyond the razzle dazzle to explore the troubles and dramas of the troop of actors on the floating theatre.

The full cast is yet to be confirmed, but musical theatre stalwarts Gina Beck (Wicked, Les Miserbales), Rebecca Trehern (City of Angels) and Emmanuel Kojo (Scottsboro Boys) who impressed in Sheffield, will reprise their roles for the Showboat London Transfer.

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