REVIEWS Archives - Page 14 of 588

16Apr

By Dave SmithNo Comments

London

Single White Female – Richmond Theatre

Ostensibly based on the early 90s erotic thriller of the same name, Single White Female really only takes on the idea of a disturbed stalker moving in and disrupting lives. It updates the setting to take on social media, photoshop and school bullying. There isn’t really much to do with the original film, vast swatches of the plot removed, new pieces added and a dramatically different ending. Faced with a sudden drop in finances, Allie (Lisa Faulkner), and her 15-year-old daughter Bella (Amy Snudden) take in a lodger, Hedda (Kym Marsh) in their new apartment. As Hedda settles in, it becomes clear - she thinks of herself as more than a lodger and oversteps boundaries, first tentatively then increasingly inserting herself into every aspect of their world. The suggestion that He...

To Kill a Mockingbird – Birmingham Hippodrome

16Apr

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

To Kill a Mockingbird – Birmingham Hippodrome

Like all great classics, “To Kill a Mockingbird” has been filmed, staged, adapted into many other genres, yet at heart it remains a substantial component of the literary canon having made immeasurable contributions to understanding racial tension and segregation and gaining itself a Putlizer Prize in the process. Harper Lee penned the novel to reflect her childhood in 1930’s America when times were less enlightened and drew her inspiration from her neighbours and family around Monroeville, Alabama. Such was the momentous impact of the book, from being included on school reading to being banned from schools completely, it has woven itself into the cultural DNA of the US to earn its place as a true American classic and, almost, immobilised the author from ever writing another. Now sprinkl...

16Apr

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

Wales

Come From Away – Storyhouse, Chester

On September 11th 2001, the world came to a horrifying stop following a terrorist attack in the USA. As it became clear that the first plane crashing into the World Trade Centre North tower was a deliberate act, US airspace was closed and hundreds of planes across the world were diverted. Come from Away tells the tale of the little town of Gander, in Newfoundland, Canada, whose airport became a haven for many of those flights, and shines a spotlight on those in the community who rallied to help those stuck far from home, many initially unaware of what had unfolded that terrible morning as they finally stumbled off the planes they had been stuck on for many hours. Tonight, Tip Top Productions brought the story to life in a production that, quite simply, would rival any professional st...

15Apr

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

Ballet Black 25 – The Lowry

Ballet Black has celebrated its 25th anniversary with a compelling and ultimately uplifting double bill that showcases the company’s distinctive voice - emotionally direct, visually striking, and rooted in both classical technique and contemporary relevance. The opening piece, ‘…all towards hope’, choreographed by Hope Boykin, sets the tone with a sense of warmth and inclusivity. The egalitarian costuming—earthy reds, pinks, and browns—beautifully complements the lighting palette, creating a cohesive visual world that feels grounded and human. Boykin’s choreography is the true standout here. Electric yet nuanced, it pulses with energy while allowing space for quieter, reflective moments. Her spoken text threads gently through the work, reinforcing themes of unity and resilience witho...

14Apr

By Stewart Who?No Comments

London

Iphigenia – Arcola Theatre

Iphigenia in Aulis was first staged, alongside the Bacchae and the Alcmaeon, at the Great Dionysia in 405 B.C. It premiered shortly after Euripides' death. It’s likely that Euripides' son (or nephew) took the reins and staged the play. Nepotism was as rife in showbiz thousands of years ago as it is today. Rather like the Bible, the original text remains an object of debate. It was probably incomplete when the playwright died. Scholars remain in a schism over what was added posthumously, by whom and for what reason. Adapted and directed by Serdar Biliş, Arcola Theatre’s Iphigenia uses Stephen Sharkey’s English take on the play. It dramatizes the myth regarding the sacrifice of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra's daughter Iphigenia. Why would a father slaughter his daughter? Well, the Greeks nee...

The Rocky Horror Show – Wolverhampton Grand

14Apr

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

The Rocky Horror Show – Wolverhampton Grand

She's still a wild and an untamed thing. Like a regular visit from your favourite aunt, Rocky Horror rocks up once more at the Grand Theatre Wolverhampton to holler, heckle and howl, to shout, shimmy and shock, to dazzle, disturb and delight. Since it burst on the fringe scene fifty-three earth years ago it has transcended taste and tact with an ebullient effusion of mad-cap antics and a full-bodied burst of good old rock and roll to deploy a tale both carnal and comic with just a hint of poignancy running through its tainted veins. Like a mad scientist pondering the morality of his unnatural endeavours, I wonder if Richard O’Brien quite thought what he was unleashing on an unsuspecting world when he sharpened his quill and wrote “Michael Rennie was ill the day the earth stood still…” a...

14Apr

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Waitress – Bradford Alhambra

The Great British Bake Off had been going for some years when Waitress hit the West End a decade ago, so there was a ready made audience for a show based on cakes….or pies as they are known stateside. This warm hearted musical uses the ingredients waitress Jenna Hunterson uses in her unique pies as a metaphor for the trials and tribulations of her life and those around her. Waitress is actually much like Jenna’s pies, a bittersweet affair as whilst Jessie Nelson’s book celebrates the tight community that work and eat in her southern diner, Jenna is not only trapped in an abusive relationship with her husband Earl, but reluctantly expecting his baby. She escapes her grim life through an affair with her obstetrician Dr Pomatter and dreaming of winning a pie-baking contest to escape from E...

14Apr

By Nathan DunnNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Operation Mincemeat – Sheffield Lyceum

Operation Mincemeat smashed records for being the best reviewed West End show in history collecting a baffling amount of 5-star reviews - and I’m here to tell you each one is earned. Avalon & SpitLip have birthed a raucous, compelling musical comedy for the ages. The story is intriguing. We are thrust into World War Two, and MI5 are scheming a plan to try and thwart the threat of German aggression across mainland Europe. SpitLip, composed of David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts, authored the script, music and lyrics. They recount the relatively unknown story of ‘Operation Mincemeat’, a real-life plot to trick the Nazi’s into anticipating an allied counter-offensive into Sardinia. The desired effect would be for the Third Reich to move their troops into the isl...

13Apr

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Shooglenifty – Traverse Theatre

There are evenings where the relationship between performance and space becomes the story, and this is one of them. I’m at the Traverse Theatre watching Shooglenifty, a band whose entire raison d’être is to get people on their feet, and I’m sitting in the second row of a steeply raked, all seated auditorium that is doing everything in its power to keep me there.Shooglenifty have been around since 1990, and they play like it, in the best possible way. The musical evolution of the ‘Niftys’ is best described as a fusion of traditional ceilidh rhythms with global influences including Asian, Middle Eastern and contemporary sounds into a vibrant danceable whole. This is a band completely at ease with itself, driving hard, playing tight, and clearly enjoying the room, even if the room isn’t quite...

RH and Friends – Hoopla 20th Anniversary

13Apr

By Charlotte MansfieldNo Comments

London

RH and Friends – Hoopla 20th Anniversary

Hoopla improv comedy club is turning 20 this Spring, and celebrating with a packed programme of improv shows. RH & Friends launched the anniversary celebrations last night, performing to an enthusiastic, sold-out audience. The Friends part of the title on this occasion consisted of two improv groups: relative newcomers, Not a Cult, who met doing classes at Hoopla; and the more experienced Valkyrie. In the first half of the show, these groups made up short scenes based around suggestions from the audience. We learned that it's important to have your chakras aligned before you take off in a space shuttle, and demons are responsible for Ryanair baggage fees. The experience of Valkyrie was clear in their adoption of different characters, but the Not a Cult performers had some clever...