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The Empire: 'Wonderful. A lifelong love letter to the theatre' Reverend Richard Coles

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The plot takes the reader, and theatregoer in us, behind the curtain to the running of a theatre with its fair share of ups, downs and secrets. Michael Ball's brings all his theatrical experience to his debut novel as we are introduced to 'The Empire', a wonderful theatre whose future is in jeopardy. It's very well written and you feel as though you are experiencing the theatrical era in which it is set and the characters are three dimensional and interesting.

Michael Ball OBE - Facebook Michael Ball OBE - Facebook

In 2007 Michael made his BBC Proms debut with An Evening with Michael Ball at the Royal Albert Hall, which marked the first time a musical theatre star had been given a solo concert at the Proms. In 2016 he released Together with friend and singer Alfie Boe, with the album becoming the UK’s best-selling album of 2016; and in 2020 they released their first festive album, Together at Christmas. We are carried along with all the ‘cast’, getting to know them and enjoying the warm and cozy feeling of belonging. Just when everything appears to be going nicely, a disaster hits The Empire and I galloped to the end of the book with my heart in my mouth! If that wasn’t bad enough, her step-grandson (not much younger than the lady herself) is a drunken, gambling coward with an overbearing mother and between them they also attempt to undermine the efforts of the arty types running the show.I have liked watching and listening to Michael Ball for years, now I can truthfully say I like reading his work as well! I have been a Michael Ball fan for over thirty years, seen him in many shows and concerts, so when I saw he had written a book I had to read it. But I wanted to read it as if it was by someone I’ve never heard of. Not easy, but just decided I would read it on its own merits I would either like it hate it or live it. So which was it. You want entertainment, some theatrical pizazz and a sparkle of historical fiction? Look no further. And narrated by the author too, Michael Ball who is a legend in the theatre world, added that extra layer of greatness. He has the voices and personalities spot on. Amy Wadge hs released five solo albums, and co-written for Michael Ball, Camila Cabello, Jonas Brothers, Diana Ross, John Legend, Kasey Musgraves, Lauren Alaina, Lady A, Keith Urban, Joshua Bassett, Mika, Westlife and James Blunt. She also has a long-established writing partnership with Ed Sheeran, with their song Thinking Out Loud winning Grammy awards for “Song of The Year” and “Best Pop Solo Performance”. Full of glitz and glamor. It has all the ingredients of a truly amazing read set in the thirties when the general population is still reeling from the First World War. We are taken into the world of theatre where people are transported into a dream world which gives them an escape from day to day reality.

The Empire by Michael Ball | Waterstones The Empire by Michael Ball | Waterstones

If I could give a standing ovation to a novel, I would do so for this one. I already cannot wait for more stories penned by actor-turned-author Michael Ball! The Empire is an accomplished debut. The story flows well and is written with warmth, feeling and wit, along with touches of romance. There are also darker moments, dirty dealings, tensions and secrets to uncover, but despite the unexpected and dramatic finale there’s no question of giving up. For his literary debut, Ball has immersed himself in the world of perhaps the greatest author of novels such as The Good Companions set in and around the theatre, J B Priestley. The Olivier award winning West End and Broadway star’s debut historical novel The Empire, based on the world of musical theatre, is due for publication in October 2022. The story has a bit of everything in it, so it is a romance, a mystery, it has loss and regret and hope for the future. Set between the wars in the 1920s this has the glamour and glitz of the music hall and variety shows. This is where the author really did work his magic so well. There were several times when I got goosebumps reading this book. Whether it be the cast getting a scene right, someone singing and dancing at an unexpected moment or when the cue for the show is called. The emotions and feelings that this book oozed were spo0t on for me.A warmly told tale of theatre life, from the owners, behind the scenes crews, the stars of the stage and all the way to the delicious bad guy determined to bring down the curtain for good. When I heard that the talented star of musical theatre Michael Ball, was writing a novel as seems to be the thing to do with so many celebrities, I was of course curious. With his lifetime of experience in this world he has sensibly chosen to use his vast knowledge of the theatre to produce this novel. Michael’s debut novel, The Empire, was published in Autumn 2022, and his first-ever autobiography, Different Aspects, is out in October this year. The fact that this is historical fiction really appeals to me – I love that inter-war period, as the gloom of WW1 moves aside and the effects of the Depression have not yet been felt, and Michael Ball beautifully evokes the glitz and glamour of this period. Here he meets Grace, who he feels an immediate attraction to. But there's no time for that! Grace is extremely busy, working alongside a select 'cast' trying to keep open the theatre that they love. The Empire is under threat from a rival theatre owner and they are determined that he will not get his hands on it.

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