REVIEWS Archives - Page 108 of 552

12Mar

By NewsdeskNo Comments

North West

Do I Love You? – Octagon Theatre

During the mid-1970’s a curious phenomenon was taking place in obscure nightclubs of northern Britain; in Cleethorpes and Blackpool and from Manchester to Wolverhampton young men and women were donning braces, tank tops and red star vests and gyrating all night to the melancholy lyrics and upbeat tempo of Soul music imported from the United States. This movement became known as Northern Soul and one of its disciples John Godber has taken it as the inspiration for this terrific piece of theatre, which examines the loss of community and identity in our post-Covid world, all to the soundtrack of some of the sweetest songs ever recorded. The Mecca of this scene was undoubtedly Wigan Casino and fifty years later just eleven miles down the A58 the packed press night clearly has stalwarts from...

12Mar

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

War Horse – Wolverhampton Grand

Galloping across the country like the noble steed it is, “War Horse” stops off momentarily at the Grand Theatre for some water and hay staying long enough to regale us once more with the stunning and breathtaking tale it has been sharing since it first staggered out of its stable back in 2007. Though initially a book by Michael Morpurgo it was playwright Nick Stafford who trained and groomed it for success with this adaptation at the National Theatre. Handspring Puppet Company have transcended their art and produced creatures which are beyond anything we've before seen - they live, they breathe, they gallop. I defy anyone to see the work and not come away thoroughly convinced they have been amongst real animals. It’s uncanny. You can almost smell them. The image of Joey is now iconic ha...

11Mar

By Kira DanielsNo Comments

London

maliphantworks4 – The Coronet Theatre

A two-part program comprised of In a Landscape (Russell Maliphant) and Afterlight (Daniel Proietto), maliphantworks4 puts out a fourty-five minute program full of twists and turns. Its first act, a solo performance by Russell Maliphant, founder of the much awarded Russell Maliphant Dance Company and choreographer of both of the evening’s performances, is a conversation between shadow, light, and movement, brilliantly designed by Panagiotis Tomaras and dramatically scored by Dana Fouras. Maliphant himself is utterly captivating but it is the interplay between his stage presence and the diaphanous and dynamic set dressings that unfurl and undulate throughout the performance that make In a Landscape so inescapably enthralling. The miasmic nature of simultaneously revealing and obfus...

10Mar

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Piece of Work – Traverse Theatre

This is a one man show about suicide, but with much wit and good humour and a blizzard of Shakespearean soliloquies you would hardly think it. Till later. Unfolded on the floor are tattered maps of Britain, The World, Greater Manchester and the tiny village where James Rowland paddled in the river. Standing on or hovering over these, master storyteller Rowland unfolds himself, all hands and mouth and sparkling eyes, creased and tattered and a bit ragged at the edges but still intact. His purpose, by way of many a Bard quote is not just to lay out a road map of his own ‘little life’, sustained by chicken burgers, but also to make us seriously consider our own and the sometimes very tenuous line that tethers us all in place. To be or not to be, is indeed the question, but it is one whi...

Scottish Opera: The Strauss Collection – Usher Hall

9Mar

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Scottish Opera: The Strauss Collection – Usher Hall

Delivering once again a powerful and meticulous performance, Scottish Opera presented a collection of Richard Strauss’ finest works at the Usher Hall. Led by musical director Stuart Stratford, we were taken on a journey filled with melodrama and sly wit that still translates to the modern-day audience. To begin the concert we were presented with the Prologue of Ariadne auf Naxos - a surprisingly self-referential piece where we see an opera take place within the opera - very meta (mise en abyme if you’re fancy). Helena Dix takes the role of Prima Donna by storm with sass and self-assurance, reminding us that opera is not all doom and gloom. Hanna Hipp and Rhian Lois made for a dynamic duo, both with a stunning clarity to their voices. The contrasting roles H...

9Mar

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

A Work in Progress – Unity Theatre

Following a successful scratch night performance, Ladderman Collective literally take their work in progress to its next developmental level as part of the Up Next Festival at Unity Theatre. Coming in at about an hour, director Mason Guthrie navigates us through five acts that follow the trials and tribulations of problematic MP Phillip Braxton (Aidan Rivers) and his personal assistant, Alison (Natasha Jobst) as he looks to resurrect his political career following an earlier embarrassing altercation on a television programme. There were consequences too for the television host, Robert Jones (Tom Browning), who can now only work on a regional radio programme. With an impending general election, the opportunity to get his revenge on his political nemesis looms large and he begins plott...

9Mar

By Dave SmithNo Comments

London

The House Party – Rose Theatre

August Strindberg's Miss Julie may be approaching 140 years old, but it's themes of sex, misogyny and class remain timeless. Laura Lomas’ The House Party brings this right up to the modern age, dialling up the sex but leaving class - or more specifically money - as an undercurrent throughout Julie (Synnøve Karlsen) is turning 18, her dad has skipped their evening plans to spend the evening with his 24-year-old girlfriend, so Julie throws a house party. Aided by best friend Christine (Sesley Hope) she anxiously awaits any of her guests to arrive. Director Holly Race Roughan has them arrive in full on Frantic Assembly style, slickly choreographed dance, leaps and dips and a flurry of youthful movement to an energetic beat. Without the traditional servant role to tell us how the charact...

9Mar

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Intrusion – Leeds Playhouse

Famously it’s said that cockroaches will be the only living things to survive a nuclear holocaust. So, it makes sense for theatre makers Bric a Brac and Told by an Idiot to use our six legged insect friends acting as a metaphor for how the seemingly more advanced human race are determined to destroy our planet. The Intrusion is set below a devastated earth’s surface as the cockroach’s scheme to take control until they discover the sole female survivor of our species, throwing the world domination plans of Queen of the Insects Cecille into disarray. The really clever conceit of this often amusing, if slightly depressing, piece is that the cockroaches seem as obsessed with pointless hierarchies and destructive power dynamics as are our own billionaires and oligarchs. Along th...

Birmingham Royal Ballet: Cinderella – The Lowry

7Mar

By Abigail PendleburyNo Comments

North West

Birmingham Royal Ballet: Cinderella – The Lowry

A Magical Evening of Dance and Storytelling. Birmingham Royal Ballet's production of Cinderella at The Lowry was a captivating and enchanting performance, blending classical ballet with stunning visuals, exquisite choreography, and a timeless tale. It was a tale of 3 acts that had the audience enraptured with its charm and elegance. Choreographed by the renowned David Bintley, this retelling of the classic fairy tale offered an imaginative and fresh take on the beloved story, while staying true to the traditional charm that has made Cinderella a favourite among ballet enthusiasts. The production was a visual masterpiece, with enchanting costumes designed by John Macfarlane, that added depth and fantasy to each character. From Cinderella’s tattered rags to her stunning ballgown, ev...

The Testament of Gideon Mack – Traverse Theatre

7Mar

By Tom ScottNo Comments

Scotland

The Testament of Gideon Mack – Traverse Theatre

‘The Testament of Gideon Mack’ tells the story of a Church of Scotland minister who doesn’t believe in God. However, his dismissal of the supernatural is challenged, particularly when his life is saved by someone Gideon believes is the Devil. This is a fascinating play based on James Robertson’s acclaimed novel, published in 2006. Matthew Zajac’s stage adaptation is enthralling: a captivating piece of theatre which is often moving, sometimes funny and occasionally very painful to watch. Moreover, profound questions are asked about faith, belief, the suppression of feelings, love, grief, death, hypocrisy and the meaning of life. And the play also throws light on the dramatic way religious beliefs in Scotland have changed in a generation. The play is intriguing, leaving some unanswe...