Janie Dee at Kings Place

Noting the 11:30am start time – on a Sunday morning, mind you – two-time Olivier Award-winner Janie Dee took to the stage at Kings Place for a laid back, tranquil hour of show tunes and merriment. With an audience of predominantly 40-somethings, Dee took her audience through a Sunday morning stroll of her personal favourites, as well a few highlights from her earlier memories on stage as a performer in the West End.

Her repertoire, which began with a reflective What a Beautiful Morning – yet again reminding her already lethargic audience of the absurdity of the time – led into a short introduction of herself, and her musical director and accompanist Ben Atkinson. The dulcet tones of the critically-acclaimed star flowed from one song into the next, demonstrating her versatility as an award-winning star of the musical theatre stage.

As well as her favourites – many of which were tunes written by the world renowned duo Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein – she filled the hall with original, never-heard-before songs from poet Spike Milligan, as well as a song written for her by an up-and-coming composer friend of hers. An adorable highlight of the performance was the sweet, cavity-inducing moment of Dee bringing her son Alfie to sit front and centre with her as the audience joined in with mother and son to sing Getting To Know You.

Ending the – now afternoon – show with the classic Somewhere Over the Rainbow, the well-decorated star strode offstage to thunderous applause. Currently starring alongside Angela Lansbury in Blithe Spirit at the Gielgud Theatre in central London, Janie Dee is a talent not to be missed.

Hannah Ross
Photo: Alastair Muir

For further information and future events visit Janie Dee’s website here.