REVIEWS Archives - Page 74 of 549

20Jun

By Adam WilliamsNo Comments

North West

Macbeth – Hope Mill Theatre

Sometimes you see a piece of theatre and it just blows you away. This production was inventive, audacious and stunningly theatrical. Theatrical seems an odd thing to write in a theatre review. Surely all theatre is theatrical. Yet, the fashion these days is to shun theatricality, to underplay, to minimise. Thankfully, the directors of this play were not afraid to create a spectacle. Fittingly, for a play where bewitchment is central to the plot, they created magic in a very small space. From the start, there was dynamism, vivacity, verve and brio which grabbed the attention. And it did not let up. There was a briskness to the direction which gave the play its vim and vigour. It was so compelling that you could not take your eyes off the action. It was co-directed by Amy Gavin and Han...

Kieran Hodgson: Voice of America – Soho Theatre

20Jun

By Zak RosenNo Comments

London

Kieran Hodgson: Voice of America – Soho Theatre

Kieran Hodgson, the avowed atheist bisexual vegetarian Brahms-enthusiast, wants to be a Voice of America. He even orchestrates a US presidential campaign style entrance to the theatre, complete with standing, chanting, and a great deal of handshaking. But he doesn’t quite let us forget that there is one voice hoarding all the oxygen when it comes to speaking of, and for, the United States, and he asks some vital questions about how to relate to the country, to its hope and promise, when trapped by the totemic power of that voice. Hodgson is hilarious, with every joke pulling peals of laughter from the audience, combining clever writing and delightful impressions (minus He Who Must Not Be Named) and a surprisingly dense amount of British cultural reference with an extended riff on Hodgso...

Frozen: The Hit Broadway Musical – Disney+

20Jun

By Paddy Darnell-WalshNo Comments

REVIEWS

Frozen: The Hit Broadway Musical – Disney+

Disney’s modern classic ‘Frozen’ is brought to life on stage, with a lot to live up to following a string of hit predecessors, including, ‘The Lion King’, ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and ‘Aladdin’. However, it certainly does live up to it, and then some! Opening on Broadway in 2018, before crossing the Atlantic to London’s West End in 2021, the show is now accessible to a Global audience with this wonderful, recorded performance from London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Predominantly keeping true to the film, the story centres around Queen Elsa and sister Anna, of Arendelle, as Elsa’s hidden powers unwittingly plunge the town into an eternal winter. The sisters, along with friends made along the way, must learn to thaw the snow and ice before it’s too late. With all the songs and thrills of th...

19Jun

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

The Last Laugh – Richmond Theatre

The Last Laugh is a fast-paced and nostalgic stage show that transports audiences back in time to celebrate three of Britain’s finest comedians: Tommy Cooper, portrayed by Damian Williams; Eric Morecambe, brought to life by Bob Golding; and Bob Monkhouse, played by Simon Cartwright. From the moment the curtain rises, the energy is palpable, and what immediately stands out is how astonishingly accurate each actor is in embodying the comedian they represent. Their mastery of the mannerisms, voices, and comedic timing is so convincing that it genuinely feels like you are watching the real legends share the stage together. One of the show’s greatest strengths is how it seamlessly blends homage with humour. The script incorporates many of the comedians' iconic catchphrases and inside jokes—m...

19Jun

By Angela KellyNo Comments

North West

Calamity Jane – Regent Theatre, Stoke

Time for the good citizens of Stoke to watch their backs as Calamity Jane is in town! Yes, the Regent Theatre has bravely opened its doors to an absolute classic. Lock your doors folks- "Calamity Jane" has arrived! Originally directed by Nikolai Foster and co-directed and choreographed by Nick Winston, this very much ‘updated’ musical was literally all singing and all dancing from the opening scene. Based on the well-known movie starring Doris Day, it tells the story of the charismatic ‘Calamity Jane’ and how her life in Deadwood, Dakota changes subtly when there is a new girl in town. From a strong friendship to the need to control her jealousy, this is essentially a story about love, relationships and personal growth- in a gun slinging way of course! West End star, Carrie Hop...

Lovestuck: A New Comedy Musical – Stratford East Theatre

19Jun

By Olivia CoxNo Comments

London

Lovestuck: A New Comedy Musical – Stratford East Theatre

A number of new British musicals have tackled the often absurd topic of modern dating, from the delightful Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) and the gone-too-soon Why Am I So Single?. James Cooper’s Lovestuck: A New Comedy Musical tackles similar themes, such as social media desperation and dating app woes, but with one very large (and very stinky) twist: it’s based on the viral story of a girl who got stuck hanging out a window after trying to dispose of a poo she couldn’t flush at her first date’s abode. Lovestuck creatively reunites the co-creators of hit podcast My Dad Wrote a Porno, with Cooper’s writing being brought to life by director (and former co-host) Jamie Morton. If you’ve never listened to the podcast, rectify that immediately — just don’t listen while driving,...

The Walrus Has a Right to Adventure – Liverpool Everyman

17Jun

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

The Walrus Has a Right to Adventure – Liverpool Everyman

Writer Billie Collins’ interweaving of three tales that from different parts of the world, loosely inspired by true stories seen in the news, promises much but sadly falls and I can’t help but feel that in its current guise it would be better suited for the radio. From Norway’s glittering fjords to Colorado’s stunning peaks to Halewood’s majestic Tesco, three people are getting on with their lives as we meet Oskar (Reginald Edwards), Hazel (Princess Khumalo), and Rio (Tasha Dowd): they’ve never spoken; they’ve never met; yet they share the experience of a wild animal encounter that is to prove transformative to each of them. The idea is a good one and whilst strong performances from the cast – who each feature in ensemble roles within each other’s stories – hold the attention well, t...

16Jun

By Carole GordonNo Comments

London

Stereophonic – Duke of York’s

David Adjmi's extraordinary play, Stereophonic, won five Tony Awards in 2024, including the award for Best Play following its hit run on Broadway. It's not hard to see why it was so successful, with its unique style, captivating storytelling and the brilliant performances of the cast. In a recording studio in 1976, a five-piece band are on the cusp of superstardom. The up-and-coming group are in the process of recording their second album. The atmosphere is claustrophobic and chaotic, as a toxic mix of drugs, booze, exhaustion and sexual tension exacerbates divisions within the group. They write songs and bicker, row about creative conflicts and suffer emotional rifts. With two couples (one American, one British) plus the manager/drummer, trying to navigate...

15Jun

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Hidden Door – Edinburgh Paper Factory

Looking like a set from Blade Runner, lit up with coloured lasers and strobe lighting, the gigantic Paper Factory, out near the airport, is Hidden Door’s most ambitious project yet, and quite possibly it’s final resting place, and why not? This architectural maze is a sprawling series of wide-open spaces, culminating in the cathedral grandeur of The Crane Shed where you have to break your neck to see the ceiling. The Factory Floor is open plan on a vast scale and will take your breath away. Grimy, grungy and littered with looming hulks of dead machines, illuminated from within by carefully placed coloured LEDs, this is a steam punk’s fever dream come to life. Hidden Door is the Capital’s five-day yearly arts and music festival, known for transforming unique often overlooked spaces i...

15Jun

By Gill LewisNo Comments

North West

Rum – Shakespeare North Playhouse

Grafting through the grief, a beautifully vulnerable, and nuanced portrayal of the psychology rooted in working-class masculinity. Max Emmerson Productions present a deeply authentic portrayal of working-class masculinity—its constraints, contradictions, and quiet vulnerabilities. Joe Mallalieu’s brilliant solo performance is raw, emotive, and powerful. Over the course of an hour, we are deeply drawn into a part of society rarely given such unflinching, unapologetic, and compassionate focus on stage. Under Tess Seddon's astute direction, Mallalieu writes a piece that is not only theatrically engaging, but also socially urgent. Mallalieu, a former plasterer himself, brings a lived-in truth to his performance. His presence is magnetic—naturalistic, grounded, and emotionally nuanc...