Based on the real New York City newsboys’ strike of 1899, Newsies tells the story of how a group of teenage newspaper sellers went head-to-head with one of the most powerful news magnates in the world and changed the future of workers’ rights.
With music by Disney composing legend Alan Menken, Newsies the musical has become a firm cult favourite since its Broadway premiere in 2012, where it earned eight Tony Award nominations. It is adapted from the 1992 film of the same name, directed by Kenny Ortega (of High School Musical and Hocus Pocus fame). You can watch Newsies the movie on Disney Plus.
Newsies the musical is currently on stage in London at the Troubadour Theatre in Wembley Park.
Where is the best place to sit for Newsies London?
The seating plan for Newsies at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre is a little different than your typical London theatre. The show is performed semi ‘in the round’, with some seating areas at the side of the stage. Instead of stalls and a dress circle, there is just one main level with a decent rake ( so no worries about not being able to see beyond the person in front).
Seating areas at Newsies London are divided into New York themed sections: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Richmond, Woodside, Flushing, and The Bronx.
Rows P-X in Manhattan will give you a front-on view of Newsies London, and you’ll be best placed to see all the action in the aisles without having to turn around. Anything from row Y and back in Manhattan will likely feel quite far away from the action on stage.
Brooklyn is the premium seating section, perfect for a close up central viewpoint of the Newsies London show, with a few moments where you might find yourself turning your head to see what’s happening behind you in the aisles.
Side-on seating sections Richmond and Woodside will give you the most immersive close-up experience of Newsies London. In this section, personally I’d aim for side seats closer to the Brooklyn area, and avoid Flushing and The Bronx if you aren’t a fan of a side view seat.
The Troubadour Theatre’s layout is unique, but in general, seat choice can make or break the experience — especially if you’re bringing kids along. For wider London theatre trips, here’s a useful resource on the best theatre seats for children.
Can children watch Newsies the musical?
Yes! This Disney musical is very family friendly, no scary bits or swearing, with plenty of high energy moments to keep younger audiences engaged. The recommended age for Newsies is 6+, and I concur with that – I think my 6 year old would enjoy and understand the show, with the optimum age to take kids to Newsies London being 8 years and over. However, Newsies is not a ‘kids’ musical, and is equally enjoyable for adults and children alike.
Can you leave the theatre during the show at Newsies London?
One thing you need to know about Newsies at the Troubadour theatre is that throughout the show, the cast continuously use the aisles and the same entries /exits that the audience also uses. Hence ‘no readmittance’ being stated in the terms and conditions of your Newsies tickets.
The staff don’t really spell this out beforehand (we saw a number of people attempting to nip to the toilet or bar during Newsies), but if you need to leave the theatre during the show, you will likely not be able to get back in until the interval, or possibly not at all during the second half. There is a TV screen in the bar area for people who get stuck, but don’t expect much from the audio / visual quality.
So, don’t attempt to duck out to the bar or toilet early to beat the queues – the finale of Act One is not to be missed!
Newsies London overall rating
Michael Ahomka-Lindsey is a brilliant highlight as charismatic lead Jack Kelly, with outstanding singing and acting talent. There are some very memorable musical numbers that will be in your head for days, and a handful of forgettable ones.
The male-heavy cast does even up a bit in the second act, although the main female characters could have done with more shape – I would have liked to have seen more from Miss Medda, and another song from Katherine in the second act to aid character development.
The stage design and choreo worked flawlessly together, with the vibrancy of the huge ensemble cast making for a very high energy, rousing show. The high quality creative elements of Newsies somewhat masks the simplifying of the strike storyline – the emotional arc of the plot could do with a little more depth to its highs and lows. However, a musical about a strike feels poignantly relevant for today’s audience, and Newsies is the perfect upbeat family-friendly musical for 2023.
Choreography: 10/10
Plot 6/10
Family friendly: 10/10
Music: 8/10
Newsies plays at the Troubadour Theatre in Wembley Park until April 16th 2023. Tickets from https://newsiesthemusical.co.uk
1 comment
Thank you for this — super helpful!!