The Lion King Was Amazing!

Last night, I saw The Lion King at the Birmingham Hippodrome... And it did not disappoint! I recommend you all to book tickets before the last ones sell out.

What's good about it:

- Absolutely fantastic costumes. So cleverly put together and really portray the characters!

- Brilliant cast who can sing, dance and act to perfection. Stephen Carlile (Scar), Cleveland Cathnott (Mufasa) and Gugwana Dlamini (Rafiki) were particularly astounding.

- The staging was such a spectacle and so breath-taking.

- The orchestra were amazing, which made the show even more fabulous. 

- The audience were included in the performance. Those on the ground floor in aisle seats get an extra special treat!

What's bad about it:

- Gabriel Cadogan (Young Simba) provided average singing and mediocre acting, but The Lion King does mark his professional debut. This young performer still has a lot to learn.

- Act One definitely out shone Act Two. I felt that the most spectacular scenes were used up in the first half of the show.

Overall, I absolutely loved The Lion King. I had high expectations after already seeing the award-winning musical in London as a child, but the Birmingham Hippodrome's version did not disappoint! Absolutely worth £60.

To book tickets, visit The Lion King's official website: www.thelionking.co.uk.

Abbey xo

Brights

River Island do a great selection of colourful clothes and accessories. Add a bit of zest to your summer wardrobe!

Click here to shop the full collection.

Abbey xo

Enjoy Free Delivery At Topshop!

Abbey xo

Thunder And Lightning

So who was kept up for hours by a crazy storm last night? Me! Here in the UK we're experiencing a few spells of thunder and lightning due to the humidity. Here's how you can keep dry and cool in this freak weather!

These macs and parkas are both light and waterproof. Say goodbye to your winter coat otherwise you'll boil! Investing in a mac is a much more refreshing choice.

Abbey xo

It's Getting Hot In Here!

... So take off all your clothes. And buy some new ones! The UK is actually hot and sunny. It's a miracle. So embrace it! Head down to your sizzling high street and treat yourself to a new summer wardrobe. Here's what Topshop, New Look and River Island have to offer...

Abbey xo

Go To London And See Billy Elliot!

I took a trip to London over the weekend and seeing a musical is a must for when you visit the city. On Thursday night, I watched Billy Elliot The Musical at Victoria Palace Theatre... And it was amazing!

Here's why I loved it:

- Every member of the cast was super talented and provided top notch acting, singing and dancing. Ali Rasul (Billy), Anna-Jane Casey (Mrs Wilkinson), Deka Walmsley (Billy's dad), Kevin Wathen (Billy's brother) and Ann Emery (Billy's grandma) were particularly fantastic.

- The staging was brilliant and used the theatre's space really well. It was prepared quickly between scenes so the audience weren't kept waiting!

- The orchestra provided wonderful music, which is the vital component of 'a musical'. 

- There was a lot of successful humour in the script making the audience cry with laughter!

Ticket prices vary from £19.50 to £67 depending on what day, time and seat you choose. Click here if you'd like to purchase book seats for Billy Elliot The Musical in advance! Me and my mom managed to buy our's only four hours before the show started! If you fancy last minute buying, head to the ticket office in Leicester Square. We sat in the fourth row on the first floor (brilliant seats!) for £45 each, reduced from £65 each! However, no matter what price you pay, you'll get your money's worth from this amazing three hour show. 

Abbey xo

The Apprentice: Final Five

The Apprentice is one of my favourite reality t.v shows and I've watched it religiously throughout this series. There's only five candidates left, so the final is getting really close now! Tonight you'll be graced with the interviews, which is the best part of the process in my opinion. It's pure satisfaction watching the contestants get grilled by top professionals! Here's how I think the final five will do...

Tune into BBC1 tonight at 9pm to see who will be the latest casualty of the board room! Then if that's not enough, watch You're Fired on BBC2 at 10pm. As you've read, I think Neil will win series nine of The Apprentice, but who do you think will be Lord Sugar's business partner? Voice your opinion on www.facebook.com/MaterialMedia or tweet me with your thoughts: @Abbey_Hartley and #MaterialMedia. 

Abbey xo