REVIEWS Archives - Page 33 of 454

5Dec

By Kira DanielsNo Comments

London

A Trojan Woman – Kings Head Theatre

Sara Farrington’s A Trojan Woman simplifies and condenses Euripides’ The Trojan Women into a one woman hour long epic. With domestically inspired costumes and props reminiscent of a STOMP special, solo performer Drita Kabashi bends and billows her way through the performance of a panoply of (bicycle) helmeted soldiers, uncrowned queens, and childless mothers “in the chaos of modern warfare”. The lack of specificity in the setting and the generic dressing of the set unfortunately undercut the tragedy of the story being told under the shadow of horrific and unique atrocities very much at the forefront of viewers’ engagement with any war focused media today. Meghan Finn’s direction makes good use of the theatrical space but frequent transitions between broad comedy, reflective dance...

Stranger Than the Moon – Coronet Theatre

5Dec

By Klervi GavetNo Comments

London

Stranger Than the Moon – Coronet Theatre

The Coronet Theatre’s Stranger Than the Moon offers a poetic and contemplative exploration of Bertolt Brecht’s restless mind, one of the giants of 20th-century theatre. Directed by Oliver Reese, the production dives headfirst into the fractured psyche of the German soul—seduced by its own intellectual sharpness yet shattered by the horrors and absurdities of the human race. The show opens with the haunting refrain, “I live in dark times,” establishing a tone of existential unease. From there, it weaves a musical tapestry of Brecht’s own poems, songs, biographical notes, and video, exploring themes of absurdity and survival. This reflective approach, while intellectually engaging, sometimes falters, leaning into cerebral abstraction at the expense of theatrical dynamism. Brecht’s cha...

The Book of Mormon – Alexandra Birmingham

5Dec

By Annette NuttallNo Comments

West Midlands

The Book of Mormon – Alexandra Birmingham

This irreverent musical comes to Birmingham for December, bringing humour to the dark nights. Written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone (the creators of late 1990s cartoon show South Park) and Robert Lopez (Avenue Q) Book of Mormon tells the story of two newly trained Mormon missionaries as they head out into the world. Elder Price and Elder Cunningham are assigned to a village that couldn’t be further from Salt Lake City USA. Will they be able to convert the villagers and will they keep their own faith? This is not a show for the easily offended or young families. The humour and language are of a very adult nature throughout. Having said that, most of the audience seemed to know what to expect and found much to laugh out loud at. Although the plot is thin, the musical numbers provide...

5Dec

By Hannah WildeNo Comments

North West

Wicked – Palace Theatre

Wicked is - and for the last 20+ years has been - a musical theatre smash hit, with indefinite residencies on Broadway and the West End, plus touring productions in more than 130 cities worldwide. And now, with the Universal Pictures motion picture just hitting cinemas, it seems that Wicked-mania has hit fever pitch. So as Wicked is taking the world by storm once more, I willingly took a seat to watch the magic happen in the place where it began… the theatre. This particular touring production - led by Production Manager Matt Towell - has all the hallmarks of a show flown straight from the West End: sublime staging, iridescent costumes, and scintillating set design. This production is a testament to the beauty and brilliance of musical theatre, with seamless musical and visual transi...

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – St Helens Theatre Royal

5Dec

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – St Helens Theatre Royal

Panto season has landed upon us in the North West. Last night’s offering was Snow White and the seven dwarfs. Held at the Theatre Royal St Helens. A production produced by Regal Entertainments. This was a star studded cast bringing Christmas festivities this season. The show opened with the Wicked Queen (Maureen Nolan), wondering who the fairest of the land is. The Queen then summons ‘The Mirror’ (Leanne Campbell). The Queen (at least for now) was the fairest of the land. But only until Snow White (Chantelle Morgan) turns 18. This would lead to an evil plan to make sure The Queen remained the fairest of the land. Meanwhile, The Prince (Emrhys Cooper) of Coronationville, has been set out to find his new Princess and his first love has led him to Snow White. To keep the audience entertain...

4Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

Come From Away – The Lowry

Come From Away, is uplifting and heartwarming and now playing at The Lowry in Salford, the show takes audiences on a remarkable journey through the emotional and transformative events surrounding 9/11. Set in the small Canadian town of Gander, Newfoundland, the show tells the true story of how the residents opened their hearts and homes to 7,000 stranded airline passengers and crew after their flights were grounded due to the terrorist attacks. From the moment the show begins, the energy is infectious. The ensemble cast, which is central to the musical’s success, effortlessly shifts between multiple characters, portraying both the bewildered passengers and the compassionate townspeople. The seamless transitions highlight the remarkable storytelling of Come From Away, where each cast mem...

A Very Naughty Christmas – Southwark Playhouse

4Dec

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

A Very Naughty Christmas – Southwark Playhouse

The ‘naughty set’ has arrived, fresh onto the London theatre scene from down under ready to shake up Christmas. Hold on to your hats as there are not many clothes featured in this Australian production, billed as a comedy concert for strictly adult members only. This one and half hours contains skits, dancing and burlesque whilst showcasing a musical feast of popular music to traditional Christmas tunes spiced up, reworded in a way you have never heard before or may never hear again. It’s rogue it’s risqué with tantalising moments of indulgence which hits the funny bone and very suited the mood and ambience of ‘A Very Naughty Christmas’ indeed, ‘Santa Loves You Less Because You’re poor’ ‘Jingle ball’s’ maybe not one to sing out loud; yes you get the idea. Photo: Mark Senior There are...

4Dec

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Borrowers – Hull Truck Theatre

I loved watching The Borrowers when it aired on TV in 1992, and can well remember many of the antics of the Clock family, aka The Borrowers. Fast forward to today and the teeny family - mum Homily, dad Pod and daughter Arrietty - are still teeny and still just as entertaining. Hull Truck Theatre has the Clocks gracing its stage until early January 2025, and Tuesday night’s performance proved that size doesn’t matter where talent is involved. Of course, the Clock actors - Bea Clancy as Arrietty, Deb Pugh as Homily and Marc Akinfolarin as Pod - are all normal size, so in parts were shown as tiny puppets. Our first glimpse of the family’s underfloor home showed everyday items they had “borrowed”, including a matchbox used as a double bed by mum and dad. It’s Christmas in the ea...

4Dec

By Manda ElizabethNo Comments

North West

Here You Come Again – Liverpool Empire

Dolly Parton’s hits such as “9-5" and “Islands in the stream” grace the stage of Liverpool’s Empire Theatre this week for a wacky and wonderful comedy take on a diehard fan's troublesome times, and the dreams that see him through “when reality and fantasy intertwine” - as Paul Wills (set & costume designer) says. This is “Here you come again”. Immediately the story begins and we meet Kevin Rutter played by Steven Webb, in his attic kitted out in shrine for Dolly. He takes us back to Covid-19 pandemic times… very controversial I thought given the elapsed time and a somewhat dare we say distant memory, but the political humour as the story went on was a real trust the process and something that I felt worked to a high degree. Kevin is a struggling comic awaiting his break, and albeit ...

3Dec

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Expendable – The Royal Court

Emteaz Hussain's ‘Expendable’ bravely tackles the harrowing realities of fear, misogyny, and the fractures within communities targeted by media and public hysteria. Inspired by the devastating fallout from child-grooming scandals in the North of England, the play presents a gripping exploration of these themes through the lens of one British-Pakistani family. The story unfolds entirely within the intimate confines of a kitchen-diner, meticulously designed by Natasha Jenkins. The set is more than a backdrop, it’s a character in itself, immersing the audience in domestic chaos with its scents of chopped onions, cooking pizza and antiseptic, and the hum of boiling kettles. Immersing the audience on both sensory and emotional level, this setting reinforces the play’s focus on a very pri...