Review: Kerry Ellis - Queen Of The West End (Vaudeville Theatre)

Review by Daz Gale

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The latest concert in the Westway Sessions series at the Vaudeville Theatre has a rather fitting link to the venue. No stranger to royalty, usually housing the Queens of Six nightly, this Easter Monday saw musical theatre royalty Kerry Ellis bring her appropriately titled new show ‘Queen Of The West End’ to the West End. In a particularly strong month for musical theatre concerts, would this prove to be the crowning jewel?

Lifting the show straight from its recent extensive UK tour and ahead of another tour later this year, ‘Queen Of The West End’ sees Kerry revisit her theatre roles from the past couple of decades, telling stories from some of the key moments that have shaped her life and career, while, of course, performing some of the numbers audiences best associate with her - how could she not? 

She does all of this with a clicker in her hand as a screen displays images and videos from her career. Think a mix between a TED talk, powerpoint presentation and lecturer… all with a bit of musical theatre thrown in and you get the idea. It’s an intimate setting with just Kerry and a pianist on stage and little more than a chair for her to slink into, really highlighting the storytelling method of her show.

While this show has played countless dates all over the country, I got the sense it might work in some venues better than some others and a transfer to the West End may have required a little bit more pizazz. Though I wouldn’t expect huge production value for a concert at the Vaudeville, the previous outing in Westway Sessions from Cassidy Janson got this balance just right with a band accentuating the numbers to give them the energy required. In that respect, it was disappointing to hear Kerry sing along to backing tracks. The moments with just her and a live piano proved the strongest of the night, with the artificial aspect of the other numbers sadly struggling to fill the venue.

I mentioned energy and that was something I longed for in this show. Though I didn’t expect Kerry to recreate her nine-minute tap number from Anything Goes, there did seem to be a slight disconnect between her and the audience. Perhaps it was due to the audience all lethargic from eating their body weight in chocolate eggs, but a couple of singalong moments showed signs of life could be achieved, though this momentum was not maintained.

If you come to a Kerry Ellis concert for one reason, it is for her incredible vocals and she certainly didn’t disappoint. Effortless in her execution and with a range to die for, she sung beautifully and flawlessly throughout, demonstrating why she has taken on some of the biggest roles in musical theatre and where the title ‘Queen of the West End’ comes from.

Speaking of her previous roles, one highlight came from a tender yet rousing rendition of ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ from Les Miserables while her recent turn in If/Then was revisited with a phenomenal performance of ‘Always Starting Over’. Her time in We Will Rock You was referenced with several Queen numbers though her signature number ‘No One But You’ was notably absent. Another highlight came from an early medley from My Fair Lady - the show that gave Kerry her first West End role and set her on the path to where she is now.

If you ask any musical theatre lover what show they associate most with Kerry Ellis, the majority will surely say Wicked. Though we may be more familiar with her released rock version of ‘Defying Gravity’, the version she did at this show was far more stripped back and relaxed. Though it was beautiful, it did perhaps lack the gravitas you’d hope from the song. For ‘As Long As You’re Mine’ she brought a young performer she’s known for years on the stage to duet with her - not the only young performer who joined her as one of her students, Cat, took to the stage for two numbers.

Kerry Ellis is a sensational talent and this concert showcased what she can do at her very best. ‘Queen Of The West End’ is a fantastic idea with its mix of video and performance summarising a phenomenal career and the fact it has played to every corner of the country is a beautiful way to make the West End accessible to everyone.There is something to be said about the right show filling the right space and perhaps this touring show didn[t translate as well to the Vaudeville Theatre as I would have liked to have seen, but that doesn’t take away from it being a stunning evening of storytelling and song, all performed by one of the West End’s finest. Though this show might nor have been Queen when it comes to some of the concerts I have seen recently, I still had a royally good time. You might even say it was wicked!

Setlist:

Kings & Queens

Tomorrow (from Annie)

I Could Have Danced All Night/On The Street Where You Live (from My Fair Lady)

Somebody To Love/Crazy Little Thing Called Love/We Are The Champions (from We Will Rock You)

I Dreamed A Dream (from Les Miserables)

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Defying Gravity (from Wicked)

As Long As You’re Mine (from Wicked)

Love Of My Life (Queen cover)

I Will Find You

Always Starting Over (from If/Then)

Never Enough (from The Greatest Showman)

This Is Me (from The Greatest Showman)

Kerry Ellis played at Vaudeville Theatre as part of Westway Sessions on 21st April.

Aimie Atkinson plays as part of the series on 23rd June. Tickets available here

Kerry continues her ‘Queen Of The West End’ tour from September - November 2025.

Dates and tickets at https://kerryellis.com/