A Foreigners Journey, Feb 8th. Booked the stage left Royal Box for my sister’s Christmas present. The boxes have four seats but in truth, really seat two comfortably. Plenty of staff on, pointing out the idiosyncrasies of the flooring (little raised steps under carpet etc) @newtheatreroyal, why don’t you install a band of different coloured carpet? Since I was last at the Theatre Royal, the upstairs bar has moved sides, Chris Moreno’s (former manager) office is now a lounge area and there is the addition of The Prosecco Bar and cafe. on the ground floor. I was pointed in the direction of this bar for interval drinks which at £10 were reasonably priced for two double G&T. Also, the tech box has finally moved and is at the back of the circle, wow! Wonder if the perilous wooden platform is still there above the stage managers desk?! Now to the gig. The band opened with Journey’s Wheel in the Sky and I wondered where they could go from there as that’s pretty ‘up there’ as an iconic classic. So then they just got better and better! A very tight band, all the musicians seemed to be having a ball on stage and it was hit after hit, then we were treated to some Journey for the hardcore fans - fabulous instrumental with the guitarist, Ricky, playing with such skill that Neil Schon would have been proud. The ability of the vocalist to switch between the very different singing styles of Journey’s Steve Perry and Foreigner’s Lou Gramm was impressive, Andrea’s vocal range is phenomenal, and we were treated to a master class in audience engagement. This band were the epitome of professional, the theatre definitely should have been a lot fuller and I don’t know why it wasn’t, but we were privileged to be at the best gig and night out in a very long time.