Reviews

• Nancy

  Sep 17, 2017

  Loved it!

• S Smith

  Sep 11, 2017

  Absolutely stunning. So easily, this play might have been one that strayed onto impersonation territory. However, Audra McDonald's formidable talent conjured the essence of the great Billy Holiday, in a performance which felt very much like a channelling of the legendary singer herself. Abuse, drug addiction and unrelenting racism, provided context for understanding something of the tragic figure Holiday would eventually become. But as pivotal as such themes were to the overall narrative, the play triumphed in not reducing her to mere victim. Instead, displayed was a full humanity, which left intact, enough flashes of her notorious steeliness and grit, such that, by the end, there was little doubting the once fierce spirit and courage of a woman who battled for some semblance of a life lived on her own terms, despite monstrous odds. Beautiful, and profoundly moving.

• ROGER HOPKINSON

  Sep 11, 2017

  Best individual performance I've ever seen on the London stage.

• Tom

  Sep 10, 2017

  This was a great show. Fantastic performance by Audra McDonald who takes you on a journey as Billie Holiday! We were not expecting for her to capture her vocals so well. Very emotional show, the theatre was electric at points. Great band, great set, great songs. We needed a moment to catch our breaths by the end.

• Michelle

  Sep 9, 2017

  Amazing show, thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend it to anyone who likes jazz or theatre. My Dad used to listen to Billie and I wasn't a great fan if her music that was until I saw this show!!

• Lesley Kelsey

  Sep 9, 2017

  This did not live up to my expectations.Very short show for money paid.Yes she can sing but not much content.

• Carol

  Sep 8, 2017

  Audra McDonald's portrayal of Billie Holiday was both exhilarating and heart wrenching! Her passion for her art was very plain to see and made for a wonderful night out. Thank you Audra!

• Tim Vine

  Sep 8, 2017

  This was a great idea for a play about Billie Holiday. A very clever setting which allowed some of the audience to become part of the bar. Audra McDonald was utterly brilliant playing Billie Holiday in the last months of her life. The musicians were excellent in creating the right atmosphere.

• Thea Bunting

  Sep 8, 2017

  Perfection

• Helen Bertuzzi

  Sep 8, 2017

  Wonderful performance by Audra. Could pretend one is in a New York club back in the day. Sounded just like Billie. Amazing!

• Penny

  Sep 8, 2017

  Audra McDonald not only captures Billie Holliday's voice superbly but she expresses the pain of Billie Holliday's life. The musicians are so good as well.

• Sheila

  Sep 8, 2017

  Brilliant performance highlight billie holidays life. Not a fan of billie holidays but absolutely enjoyed the show nonetheless

• retiree

  Sep 8, 2017

  Amazing, emotional performance. Loved the night club setting and my seat, G9, was perfect! Great leg room

• Stuart S

  Sep 8, 2017

  This was a sensational performance !! We went to the matinee and wondered how on earth she could manage another performance in the evening !

• TBI

  Sep 7, 2017

  Superb. Shed a tear or two as it had quite a few powerful messages

• N&J

  Sep 7, 2017

  This was an amazing recreation of a moment in time, brilliantly portrayed, outstanding performance by Audra Macdonald. Harrowing, heartbreaking and thoroughly captivating, an immersion in Billie Hollidays life and last performance at Emersons Bar & Grill. God bless Lady Day!

• Clairebear

  Sep 6, 2017

  Wow what a performance. Really moving and emotional. Superb

• Brenda

  Sep 6, 2017

  Absolutely amazing performance - the best. Would recommend it 100%.

• Janet

  Sep 1, 2017

  Not what I expected but truly enlightening

• Terry

  Sep 1, 2017

  Brilliant evening capturing the essence of Billy Holiday.

• JBB

  Sep 1, 2017

  Didn't know what to expect..... I'm in London on holiday and wow did miss day give me a treat.... Managed to get a box... The whole experience was the highlight if my stay........ If she goes on tour I'll be the first to book.... Fab night

• Harriet

  Sep 1, 2017

  Brilliant performance, I felt as though I had gone back in time to 1959 to hear the real Billy Holiday sing and describe the experiences that made her.

• Savvas Hiridis

  Aug 30, 2017

  Amazing play! Unbelievable performance and multipliity of talents.

• Jeanie Tate

  Aug 26, 2017

  The beautiful Audra McDonald, I will remember this special evening for the rest of my life. How can this Lady each performance give so much. To me, it was, Billy Holiday and I lived that night with her. How do you put on a performance like this and then do it again and again. A wonderful experience xx

• Chloe McIntosh

  Aug 25, 2017

  Never in all my years of going to the theatre have I been completely and utterly transported to another time and place. I left with a little bit of Holiday in my soul thanks to McDonald... I will be forever in her debt.

• Arthur Griffiths

  Aug 25, 2017

  This is the first time I've been to the theatre in quite a while. However, I'm so glad I made the effort to travel down from Poulton. I'm not really a big fan of Billie Holiday, I prefer Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughan, but Audra McDonald's performance was absolutely sensational . The band were great, especially Shelton Becton on the piano and the set looked perfect.

• Ralph Lewars

  Aug 25, 2017

  The show was truly amazing! The jazz musicians (trio) were brilliant, they really knew how to swing with such sensitivity and class. The stage setting and sound quality were ideal for an intimate journey back in time to Emersons Bar. And then...the magical reincarnation of Billy Holiday began as Audra MacDonald made her appearance. She was Brilliant! Audra captured the audience with the sound of Billy's voice and by the visual nuances and mannerism of her character. I felt the raw emotion and energy throughout the performance as Audra convincingly narrated Billy's life. I plan to see the show again and tell my friends to go see it. The experience is too good to miss. Fabulous!

• Miss A K

  Aug 23, 2017

  Audra Macdonald was extraordinary in this wonderful biopic vignette. She captured the Lady's spirit, her voice and tendency to make light of a traumatic life. The energy this performance took was staggering! Bravo Audra and thank you for bringing her back to us for a brief encounter and glimpse into a most prolific jazz legend. I left wanting to see and know more of this tragic yet moving historic figure

• Ju

  Aug 21, 2017

  The whole story is so well told. From the very first note that was sung, you were convinced you were listening to Billy Holiday herself. Amazing performance and portrayal by Audra McDonald. Go see it.

• Diankles

  Aug 19, 2017

  Brilliantly cast, brilliantly executed Brilliant musicians A brilliant evening!

• Lyn Gore

  Aug 19, 2017

  Unbelievable performance! Enjoyed every second

• Mae

  Aug 16, 2017

  I was impressed by how the writer had combined Billie's story with her songs and how her deterioration was played out in the final part of the show. It was so emotional and so good. Audra gave a mesmerising performance and the musicians were amazing. I would see it again.

• Charles

  Aug 16, 2017

  Audra McDonald has an amazing voice. Her performance, both as a singer and as an actress, was an astounding tour de force - one and a half hours on stage with only a three piece jazz combo for company. She WAS Billie Holliday.

• Yvonne

  Aug 14, 2017

  Although we were in the Gods the show was fantastic, not too many stairs to climb very nice theatre. It was like I was listening to Ms Holiday herself. Haven't stop recommending to others. Thank you

• Linda

  Aug 13, 2017

  This was an excellent performance I could not take my eyes off her, thank you for the experience!

• A J Reed

  Aug 12, 2017

  Excellent performance, great music and musicians, the lady herself was sensational. Good seating.

• A J Reed

  Aug 12, 2017

  Excellent performance, great music and musicians, the lady herself was sensational. Good seating.

• Holiday fan

  Aug 12, 2017

  McDonald excelled herself. The band were top class. I wanted more songs and less talk but she has a lot to share.

• Sue Hookway

  Aug 11, 2017

  Incredible performance, gut wrenching and totally believable. I don't know how Audra McDonald is able to transform herself twice a day into this tormented character and carry off such impeccable renditions of such classic songs sounding so incredibly like Billy Holiday. Absolutely brilliant!

• That Last Minute Guy

  Aug 3, 2017

  From the atmosphere and the set up like a bar (stalls), to the audience members on the stage, the excellent musicians and the pinnacle was Lady Day herself. She told a great, hard and sad story, her voice was amazing and her performance was brilliant. Definitely worth a watch.

• Yvonne Williams

  Jul 29, 2017

  Brilliant play. So very moving.

• A Londoner

  Jul 29, 2017

  Excellent music & singing. A moving and unforgettable portrayal of Billie Hollidays life

• Lucy

  Jul 29, 2017

  Audra is fantastic as Billie Holiday ( close your eyes and you would think it was really her)., The mix of melancholy soul searching songs and superb acting bring the sad story of a troubled yet truely talented singer to light. The jazz band and Pepi are the perfect stage companions

• Marie

  Jul 28, 2017

  The rotating flashing lights above the stage affected my eyes and so did my friend. We had to close our eyes at that point and dropped off to sleep for few minutes. Not the kind of musical show I expected. A bit slow for me, preferring something more lively.

• Sarah

  Jul 26, 2017

  The music is brilliant and Lady Day draws you in to her world of segregation and racism through her stories and songs. Before long I felt like I was in Emerson's Bar, as this brilliant tragic woman's life is laid bare before you. A performance to remember.

• Annie

  Jul 26, 2017

  Mind blowing performance! Incredibly talented portrayal of Billie Holiday's troubled life.

• Heather

  Jul 21, 2017

  Fantastic Show, a must see! Audra McDonald and cast was Brilliant.

• Tim

  Jul 21, 2017

  Tremendous performance, perfectly presented. Totally captivating.

• Chris Neaves.

  Jul 21, 2017

  This was a spectacular performance from Audra McDonald both with the singing and also the portrayal of Billy Holiday herself. An enlightening show which we are already booking for a second visit.

• Barbara Bell

  Jul 21, 2017

  We had a last minte booking so didn't have a good seat, we lost most of the action on stage as it was out of view from the gallery. However, the music, singing, staging and acting was wonderful. So emotional in places, sad in other but totally enthralling altogether. We've decided to see it again but next time with better seats so we can enjoy the whole thing. We had a lovely night, thank you.