REVIEWS Archives - Page 376 of 570

12Feb

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Fabulett 1933 – Drayton Arms Theatre

"Fabulett 1933" at the Drayton Arms Theatre presented a thought-provoking and bold take on the impact of the rise of fascism in 1933 Germany on the queer community. Michael Trauffer, who wrote and performed the one-man musical, deserves applause for his ambition in connecting a historical piece to today's world, where many societies are moving to the right. He did a fine job in embodying Felix, the host of Berlin's “most decadent” club, with his portrayal of the flamboyant character, wearing various costumes, including black leather, big skirts, sequined caps and a whip. However, the limited time for plot development and a lack of tension throughout the piece detracted from its overall impact. The inclusion of surprising details, such as the attendance of Nazi officers at the club, of c...

10Feb

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Blow Down – Leeds Playhouse

It's certainly a first time experience watching a play billed as being about the demolition of massive cooling towers at a Yorkshire Power Station. Garry Lyons, who lived near the massive cooling towers at Ferrybridge Power Station that dominated the landscape around the M62 for 50 years, recorded over 25 hours of interviews with people who worked there - or made a life in their giant shadows. The result is a moving, and often very funny, verbatim play musing on what really happens when a community loses its industrial heartbeat. Act one focuses on the power station's heyday as Matthew Booth's almost stereotypical bluff Yorkshireman recalls the dangers and vast financial rewards of working in a close knit team at the plant. It is a dry and often poignant testimony of what happe...

<strong>Much Ado About Nothing – Duke of York’s Theatre</strong>

10Feb

By Maani WayNo Comments

London

Much Ado About Nothing – Duke of York’s Theatre

Love Island meets Shakespeare in this new adaptation of the celebrated play “Much Ado About Nothing”. In this classic Shakespeare tale of love, twists and dark humour, this adaptation is a new take and one which younger audiences are sure to enjoy. The play revolves around two romantic pairings, who have found themselves on a reality TV show, ‘Nothing Island’. The typically happy couple, Claudio and Hero, find trouble in paradise when the cast conspire against them in order to provide those at home with the reality TV drama they crave. Becoming involved, unlikely pair Benedick and Beatrice, form an unlikely romance (with a little help from hearsay) fuelled with plenty of wit and banter for the audience to enjoy. The set is particularly standout. As the audience wait for the action to...

Tim Rice: A Circle of Words – Wolverhampton Grand

10Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

West Midlands

Tim Rice: A Circle of Words – Wolverhampton Grand

Can you feel the love tonight? Well, you certainly could on Thursday (9th February 2023) in Wolverhampton, as one of Britain’s greatest lyricists - Sir Tim Rice - took to the stage of The Grand Theatre for a one night only spectacular. The audience relished at the chance to hear Sir Tim recount, first-hand, how he fashioned lyrics to some of the most famous Disney and musical theatre songs of all time. Rice has truly conquered the world of entertainment and he brought along his Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony (EGOT) statues to prove it. But, throughout an evening where we got to learn about the man behind the awards, his modesty really shone through. As well as acting as compère for the evening, Sir Tim sang some of his original lyrics to the tune of what would become ...

10Feb

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Breathless – Soho Theatre

Laura Horton's "Breathless" is a stunningly crafted and expertly performed play that explores the complexities of self-discovery and the challenges of growth. The play follows the journey of Sophie, a woman in her late-thirties, who opens up to new experiences and begins to delve into long-repressed aspects of herself. With humour and poignancy, Horton delves into the heart of Sophie's struggle as she grapples with the secret of her compulsive hoarding habits and the fear of being discovered for who or what she really is. The play is heart-warming and offers up an incredibly genuine performance by Madeleine Macmahon as Sophie. Her portrayal of the character is both hilarious and touching, capturing the confusion and vulnerability of Sophie's journey with nuance and sensitivity. The w...

The Verdict – Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

9Feb

By Gill LewisNo Comments

North West

The Verdict – Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

A thought-provoking timeless courtroom drama questioning the value of a human life. The audience as the jury has to spin the moral compass, judging the ‘playground of the rich’ where class, status and money attempt to hinder values and honesty. Margaret May Hobbs adaption of Barry Reed’s ‘The Verdict’ is brought to life by Middle Ground Theatre Company as part of its National UK/Eire Tour. Hard-drinking, ambulance chasing, Lawyer Frank Galvin (strongly portrayed by Jason Merrells) is given the chance to resuscitate his fledging career by taking on the biggest case of his life: the Catholic Church, St Catherine’s hospital and their ‘blue blooded’ representatives. Galvin rejects temp...

Faustus: That Damned Woman – Storyhouse Chester

8Feb

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

Faustus: That Damned Woman – Storyhouse Chester

A co-production between Storyhouse Originals and Fallen Angels Dance Theatre has opened at Storyhouse in Chester. Reimagined and written by award winning Playwright, Chris Bush, the story takes us into a world of despair, sacrifice and consequence. Faustus: That Damned Woman draws on themes that resonate with many people on the addiction recovery journey, and this is what makes the partnership with Fallen Angels Dance Theatre even more important. Johanna Faustus (Olivia Sweeney) is trying to prove her mother’s innocence, making a deal with Lucifer to get the answers that she needs but soon realising that this was a mistake and that she should have been more careful what she wishes for. After selling her soul to the devil in exchange for 144 years on earth and an apprentice, Mephistop...

<strong>Blood Brothers (The Play) – Daneside Theatre, Congleton</strong>

8Feb

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

North West

Blood Brothers (The Play) – Daneside Theatre, Congleton

Bringing to the stage the play version of this tale, written by Willy Russell for Merseyside Young People’s Theatre in the early 1980’s, with the pre-requisite that the play must be only 70 mins long; a five hander with no set; and very little lighting as it was to be performed in a school hall. This short play version of Blood Brothers was later lengthened into the Musical that most of us know, and began touring in 1983, with the star of the show – Barbara Dickson. Congleton Players along with director Louise Colohan, have given this play a re-birth, bringing this 1980’s idea into the 21st century. For those who do not know the story, the tale begins with Mrs Johnstone (Sarah Francis) being swept off her feet by her husband (Andrew Bours), but when children arrive in very q...

8Feb

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

Spring and Port Wine – Octagon Theatre

When the Octagon Theatre announced it was producing 'Spring and Port Wine' as its first show of 2023 I jumped at the opportunity to make the short trip to Bolton to review. In the two years since its £12 million refurbishment, and under the Artistic Director Lotte Wakeham, the Octagon has quietly been adding to an already strong reputation as one of the most interesting and innovative theatres in the north of England. With 'Spring and Port Wine' they have brought a quintessentially Boltonian story back to its roots, delighting this partisan opening night crowd into a raucous standing ovation at the conclusion. Writer Bill Naughton is often wrongly categorised as part of a group of playwrights who came to prominence in Britain in the early 1960's', the 'angry young men', responsible for ...

<strong>Police Cops: Badass be thy name – Vault Festival</strong>

8Feb

By Samantha CollettNo Comments

London

Police Cops: Badass be thy name – Vault Festival

I’ll be honest, I’m not overly sure I got the storyline right – but what I can tell you: this is the most frenetic, supercharged, high production piece of theatre you’ll likely see at the Vaults. The story is set in the 1990s. Tommy Dixon quits his job because he wants to get more out of life. But he also wants to find his dad who walked out on him when he was younger – not before repeatedly punching a photograph of his young son. As it turns out Tommy then ends up on a quest to become a vampire slayer and finds his dad. And there’s a lot of talk of Manchester and sweets. I wish I could explain more about how all of this makes sense, but I can’t, and I don’t think it really matters because this is a feast (and feat) of physical comedy theatre you rarely get to see. It’s unbelieva...