Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares — Underbelly Boulevard Soho, London 

 ★★★★½ (4.5/5)

Tucked into Underbelly Boulevard Soho's intimate room on Walker's Court, Laura Benanti's London debut felt like being let in on a secret. This is a Tony winner turning her own messiest, most human moments into a show that's equal parts hilarious and quietly devastating — and the venue's close, cabaret-style setup suits that confessional tone perfectly.

The show arrived in London on the back of a sold-out Edinburgh Festival Fringe run, and it earned a New York Times Critics' Pick before that. London critics were quick to fall for it too: one review called Benanti's musical autobiography utterly dazzling, describing her star power as something rarely experienced with this much force, while another noted the show marks a new stage for Benanti both as a performer and as a woman. A third critic wrote that watching it land at Underbelly Boulevard made them wonder why it hadn't already become a West End fixture.

Benanti wrote the show herself, with songs co-written with Todd Almond, and the balance she strikes is the whole draw: sharp, self-deprecating one-liners that feel like she's breaking the fourth wall, paired with storytelling that gives the hour real weight. Her two young daughters — the source of the show's damning title — come up often enough that you feel like you know them by the end. The Melania Trump impression that made her famous on The Late Show still gets a moment, but it's the garnish here, not the meal.

The verdict: Underbelly Boulevard Soho is a fitting home for this one — small enough that Benanti's asides land like she's talking straight to you, warm enough that the show's rawer moments don't feel exposing so much as shared. I'm docking half a star only because a solo show this emotionally honest isn't pure escapism — it catches you off guard. But as a night at the theatre, it's about as complete an experience as you'll find on Walker's Court right now.

Natalie Paris — Call To Stage Live, Underbelly Boulevard Soho

★★★★★ (5/5)

There's something special about seeing a West End star step out from behind a character and just be themselves for an evening, and that's exactly what Natalie Paris delivered at Underbelly Boulevard Soho. Best known as the original Jane Seymour in SIX, Paris used this intimate solo concert — part of Amber Davies' Call To Stage Live Residency — to show a different side of her talent: storyteller, vocalist, and genuinely warm host.

The venue itself is part of what makes this residency series work so well. Underbelly Boulevard's small, close-quarters setup means there's genuinely no bad seat in the house, and that closeness suited the format perfectly — this felt less like a gig and more like being let in on something personal.

The night's guest list was a real treat: Aimie Atkinson, Luke Bayer, and Strictly Come Dancing vocalists Hayley Sanderson and Andrea Grant all joined Paris on stage, adding variety to the set and clearly having as much fun as the audience. Between songs, Paris's storytelling and willingness to take audience questions gave the evening an easy, conversational rhythm — you left feeling like you knew her a little better than when you walked in.

It's the kind of show that reminds you why these smaller residency concerts matter: no big production values to hide behind, just a genuinely talented performer, some brilliant friends, and a room full of people happy to be there. A wonderful night — five stars, no hesitation.