Created by Don Black, one of the world's most celebrated lyricists, and directed by Nick Winston, From the Heart is Black's ambitious personal tribute to the New York cabaret scene, showcasing his phenomenal music career. The show brings together new original songs for the show specifically, as well as his classic hits, stories, and collaborations that have defined his five-decade career.
Don Black has produced some of the world's best-loved songs for film, TV, and theatre. Most famously: five of the James Bond theme tunes, which he incorporates into the finale medley. His brand new songs have been written with composers such as Gary Barlow, Natasha Bedingfield, David Arnold, Debbie Wiseman and Mike Batt. They are brought to the stage under the musical direction of Joe Church, with arrangements and musical supervision by Nick Barstow.
This year's show stars five powerhouse actor/performers: Frances Mayli McCann, Shona McGarty, Caroline O'Connor, Clive Rowe, and Michael D. Xavier. They were all incredible, and all equally shone in their ability to captivate the audience through their performance and outstanding vocal range. McGarty in particular had a breathtaking voice, particularly in her solo performances, such as during ‘Diamonds Are Forever'.
O'Connor was brilliantly entertaining; she seemed to have most of the playful songs, and was exaggerated in her movement across the stage and the way she pronounced the lyrics. She had the audience chuckling away. Rowe, similarly, especially in ‘Doctors', brought in some relatable humour too in the witty lyricism and playful expressions from the actor - a song about drinking, dieting, and expectations. The comedic ‘Fizzy or Still' with Xavier was also a standout.
They all seemed to bounce off each other, even during their solo numbers, and their voices blended beautifully. On the stage, there were tables and chairs, in a cabaret setting, that helped bring to life the stories in some of the songs. The heavy spotlights also meant that during the solo performances we were focused just on that actor singing, with the other four in the dimmed sides of the stage.
What stood out too was the way the show flowed, with Black's voice-over between many of the songs, with thoughts and comments about his career, life, and lyrics. It helped introduce each number, telling a story, and built into the personal tribute element of the show. Many of the songs were deeply emotional; some Black wrote for his late wife, and many explored the pressures of showbiz and the sorrows of loss.
The high-energy, fast-paced medley at the end with his much-loved hits helped tie the night together. This featured Born Free, Love Changes Everything, With One Look, To Sir With Love, and As If We Never Said Goodbye, to name a few. Each show will also have a surprise guest performance, and for our show, OBE powerhouse Michael Ball came onto the stage, performing ‘Love Changes Everything'. Don Black himself also came onto the stage during the bow at the end, to a standing ovation.
From The Heart is an 80-minute, joyous evening fuelled with sharp comedy, heartfelt ballads, and energetic performances, showcasing Don Black's passionate and talented career.
From The Heart will be playing at Garrick Theatre for 15 performances only until 18th October 2026.
Review: Cara-Louise Scott-Lapish Photo: Eamonn B Shanahan