Saturday, December 21

Author: Jo Tillotson

Anna Karenina – Crucible Theatre
Yorkshire & Humber

Anna Karenina – Crucible Theatre

As the house lights go down, a series of spotlights reveal a lone figure: Anna Karenina. “This is my story”, she says. But she is not in this alone. Two main stories are intertwined. The titular character, Anna, an unfulfilled wife and mother, meets Count Vronsky, an officer in the Russian army; they begin a passionate affair, and the consequences are dramatic. At the same time, Constantin Levin, an idealistic young landowner, is courting Kitty, Anna’s sister-in-law, and is learning what it means to experience heartbreak and learn responsibility. Helen Edmundson’s adaptation of the epic novel by Leo Tolstoy takes a story that we think we are familiar with – but probably don’t know as well as we think we do and makes it accessible to a new generation. “Where are you now?” Anna and Lev...
9 to 5: The Musical – Sheffield Lyceum
Yorkshire & Humber

9 to 5: The Musical – Sheffield Lyceum

“Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living / Barely getting by, it's all taking and no giving” I’m sure this sounds familiar, if not musically then probably existentially! One of country music’s most iconic singers, Dolly Parton, wrote these well-known lyrics back in 1980 for the film ‘9 to 5’, which she then transferred to the stage in 2008 with the help of book-writer Patricia Resnick. Parton’s fingerprints are everywhere, from the tone of the music and lyrics throughout, to her on-stage presence as the narrator of the story; that was a cute and unexpected touch, although I’m not sure that the story was complex enough to warrant the level of narration it got! 9 to 5 takes us to a corporate office in middle America where Judy is starting her first ever job having been dumped by...
She Loves Me – Crucible Theatre
Yorkshire & Humber

She Loves Me – Crucible Theatre

From the moment the ensemble stepped off the trolleybus onto the stage and the doors of Maraczek’s Parfumerie swung open, I was hooked. She Loves Me is a visual feast from start to finish, making the most of every inch of the stunning set designed by Ben Stones. Shop counters fit together like jigsaw pieces, bicycles and beds come and go, and a French-style café appears out of nowhere. Blink for even a second and you’re bound to miss something – maybe even the arrival of autumn or winter! She Loves Me tells a classic story, which has been adapted more than once from the original play by Miklós László; most famously into the 1998 film You’ve Got Mail, starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. It’s a simple plot: two co-workers, Amalia and Georg, who show a strong dislike for one another on the...
The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe – The Lowry
North West

The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe – The Lowry

There can’t be many people who don’t know the story of the four Pevensie children and their adventures in Narnia, overcoming evil while learning about sacrifice and redemption. Edmund’s rescue from the thrall of the White Witch, Mr Tumnus’s bravery and Aslan’s triumphant return are some of the many key moments from the book that make it onto the stage in this vibrant adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s classic story. Condensing a whole book into 105 minutes is not an easy task, but director Michael Fentiman and his creative team met the challenge head on. The production succeeds particularly in its incredible design, and not only visually. Set (Tom Paris), lighting (Jack Knowles) and music (Benji Bower, Barnaby Race) are beautifully layered so that the audience can clearly understand exactly whe...
Constellations – Donmar Warehouse
London

Constellations – Donmar Warehouse

“We’ve effectively asked the same question twice and come up with two completely different answers” says Marianne… and there, in a nutshell, is the essence of this beautiful play by Nick Payne. Constellations tells the journey of a relationship, but it is not told in order from start to finish. Instead, you see multiple possibilities for each conversation as the story unfolds, highlighting the various key points as Roland and Marianne meet and fall in love. Along the way it makes you question life’s purpose, and the control you think you have over your own situation. The writing is clever, and full of nuance; fully realised by the careful direction of Michael Longhurst. It would be easy for a production like this to become repetitive and slow, but the cast and creative teams have wor...
The Lemon Table – HOME, Manchester
North West

The Lemon Table – HOME, Manchester

Have you ever been to a concert or to the theatre and had the overwhelming urge to tap the person in front of you on the shoulder to ask them if they could possibly stop talking, or put their phone away, or just cough more quietly? I know I certainly have! And that is where this play opens, with a concert goer doing just that. What follows is an exploration of the behaviour of a man who just wants to be able to enjoy the creativity and brilliance of an orchestra, its soloists and its conductor in peace. He clearly appreciates the performing arts and values being at live events, which is something that I’m quite sure we can all relate to in the new post-pandemic world; but he is also frustrated by the discourteous behaviour of his fellow audience members. However, as the scene unfolds, w...
Ballet Black: Double Bill – The Lowry
North West

Ballet Black: Double Bill – The Lowry

Dance is often referred to as the performing art that provides a form of communication when words are no longer enough. However, this double bill from Ballet Black is performed to a soundtrack of poetry, spoken word performance, and songs with lyrics. Initially, this took a little getting used to; I am not used to ballet being performed to this kind of soundscape and, if I’m honest, I did find it difficult at the start to decide what to focus on: the meaning of the words or the movement... However, when I relaxed and watched these two pieces as a whole, they really were extremely impressive. The words and the choreography, at times underscored by music, ebbed and flowed and became beautifully complementary. Despite the company comprising only eight dancers, they had such a great presenc...
Over The Garden Wall – Unity Theatre Online
REVIEWS

Over The Garden Wall – Unity Theatre Online

The last 18 months of social isolation have caused many of us to consider what it means to live in a community and why it is important to have support where you live. The creative team behind Over The Garden Wall, a digital production being shown by the Unity Theatre in Liverpool, have asked those same questions, and this animated short is the result. Now, please do not be put off by the phrase “animated short”. Yes, this production is only 20 minutes long, and yes, it does include stop-motion and digital animation, as well as puppetry. But it is so much more than that. It is a heartfelt insight into Liverpool communities and what makes them special, how they grew, and why they are so important. You hear voices from those communities, supported by well-thought out and endearing animatio...
We’ll Dance on the Ash of the Apocalypse – Camden Fringe Online
REVIEWS

We’ll Dance on the Ash of the Apocalypse – Camden Fringe Online

The threat of climate change is one we are all familiar with, and I don’t think any of us are unaware of the fate that could face our planet if we don’t make some changes to our habits. This play shows us one possible future: a desperate couple who met at a climate change protest are now living a hand-to-mouth existence in a stark bedsit. What does the future hold for them? We get our first inkling as the woman (Maite Jáuregui) reveals to her partner (Danny Horn) that she is pregnant, after they have shared a gourmet dinner of tinned pineapple rings. We learn about the beliefs, fears and struggles of this couple through frequent flashbacks, as well as from their conversations as they discuss what to do with this unexpected revelation. Filmed before a theatre audience and then edi...
I Could Use A Drink – stream.theatre
REVIEWS

I Could Use A Drink – stream.theatre

What is going on in the minds of the young people around you? Have you ever wondered? Wonder no longer… This song cycle, I Could Use a Drink, written by Drew Gasparini provides snapshots of different situations facing young women and men. Gasparini is a young American composer and lyricist, and the breadth of his writing talent is clear from this concert. Covering themes as diverse as teenage pregnancy, the fatal consequences of bullying, and all stages of relationships, I Could Use a Drink was originally released as an album in 2013, and now receives its UK premiere in the format of an audio-visual album. While the cast of talented young West End actors did a brilliant job of translating Gasparini’s music onto the screen, for me personally the presentation may have benefited from th...