Latest Articles - Page 2 of 671

7Apr

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

The Authenticator – National Theatre

The Authenticator at the National Theatre is an aspirational play that seeks to question past historical slavery, in a way that raises the sensitive points of shared ownership and interpretation of the truth. Set in a country house ‘Harford’ it focusses on a time from 1756 when “the fictional Henry Harford departs England for Jamaica” where he settles and acquires his own plantation. Following the uprising to abolish slavery and the plight of colonial enslaved Jamaicans Henry returns to England and buys Harford House. Living there is his “ancestor Fen -Fenella Harford”. This dramatic short production is centred around three female characters’ whose lives are exposed as they all uncover secret references to their own inherited colonial past. It has cursive dialogue which brings about many t...

The Cherry Orchard Starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Playing at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 3rd October

7Apr

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

The Cherry Orchard Starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Playing at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 3rd October

The BAFTA and Olivier Award-winning actor Kristin Scott Thomas (Electra, Slow Horses, Four Weddings and a Funeral) reunites with renowned director Ian Rickson (Uncle Vanya, Jerusalem, The Weir) for Conor McPherson’s (The Weir, Girl from the North Country, Uncle Vanya) new adaptation of The Cherry Orchard, playing the role of Lyubov Ranevskaya. The production will run at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 3rd October 2026 until 9th January 2027, with press night on 13th October. Further casting will be announced in due course. Ian Rickson and Kristin Scott Thomas reunite to bring another Chekhov classic to the stage, with Scott Thomas having previously played Arkadian in Rickson’s acclaimed production of The Seagull which ran both in London and on Broadway; a role for which Kristin won the O...

7Apr

By Peter KinnockNo Comments

West Midlands

Small Island – Birmingham Rep

Andrea Levy’s 2004 novel set primarily in 1948 focussing on Jamaican immigrants travelling to post-war Britain and exploring themes of identity and race relations has already been adapted into a highly acclaimed BBC TV series. Here we have a stage adaptation by the very accomplished Helen Edmundson which first saw light at the National Theatre in 2019 garnering a slew of impressive reviews including Michael Billington’s claim for it to be ‘one of the most important plays of the year.” We follow our characters as they journey from the sun-scorned beaches of Jamaica to the cold, unwelcoming streets of London in the 40s’ encountering entitlement, abuse and the inevitable racism. This is the Windrush story told in just three short hours which fly by and the tale of Hortense, Gilbert, Queeni...

Sam Lupton to play Dave Fishwick in the world premiere production of Bank of Dave the Musical opening at Lowry in May

7Apr

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

Sam Lupton to play Dave Fishwick in the world premiere production of Bank of Dave the Musical opening at Lowry in May

Producers ROYO, Future Artists Entertainment, Curve and Lowry are delighted to announce Sam Lupton (Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses UK tour, Boq in Wicked, West End) as Dave Fishwick in the world premiere of BANK OF DAVE THE MUSICAL which will open in May 2026 at Lowry. The show will run at the Lowry from May 2nd to 16th before heading to Curve, Leicester where it will run from May 20th to 30th. Sam joins Samuel Holmes (Calamity Jane, UK tour) as Sir Charles Denbigh, alongside the previously announced Hayley Tamaddon as Nicky, Lucca Chadwick-Patel as Hugh, Claire Moore as Maureen and Lauryn Redding as Alex. Also in the cast are Zachary Willis (After The Act, Royal Court, New Diorama), as Danny / Andy, Mark Peachey (The Wizard of Oz, Curve), as Cher / Clarence, Joni Ayto...

7Apr

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Handle With Care – Leeds Playhouse

Most theatre productions start with the lights going down as some actors walk onto the stage….not this one. Instead, the audience are faced with an empty stage where a white box sits because tonight Belgian theatre mischief makers Ontrogrend Goed are challenging a bunch of strangers to make their own show. In the box are a series of prompts and instruction cards that help guide us, but the genius of this immersive experience is that this show will be unique because every audience is different. All it takes is one hardy soul to get up and open the box, so full marks to the woman who took up the challenge, and we were off making our own show. Each step encourages audience members to join in, so one participant is asking all of us what our favourite drinks are as others in this a...

Riki Lindhome: Dead Inside – Soho Theatre

7Apr

By Kira DanielsNo Comments

London

Riki Lindhome: Dead Inside – Soho Theatre

Cinderella wants to go to the ball and Ariel wants to be where the people are. Riki Lindhome is trying to get some balls to come to her so she can be where the people are (growing). Venture into the infinite forest of her fertility journey in Dead Inside, a one woman musical odyssey that rejects both the structure of the cis straight white man’s hero’s journey and the audience expectation that a one act one woman musical won’t make everyone cry. Lindhome alternates musical comedy with a series of gut-wrenching monologues so disarmingly genuine that by the end of the show much of the audience was in fact brought to tears. Fans of Lindhome will recognize almost all of the songs in this show from her online work, with particular standouts “So Long Farewell (A Breakup Anthem for B...

Lark Rise to Candleford – Theatre by the Lake

7Apr

By Karen Morley-ChesworthNo Comments

North West

Lark Rise to Candleford – Theatre by the Lake

Lark Rise to Candleford is a joyous actor-musician production at Theatre by the Lake, that transports the audience back to the late 19th century and the English countryside way of life. Based on the semi-autobiographical trilogy by Flora Thompson, this adaptation has been written by Tamsin Kennard and is a warm, nostalgic production. This is the story of a woman, Laura, looking back over her life. Starting in the hamlet of Lark Rise, where she lived a simple life, but where she felt she didn’t quite fit in, she then moved to the bright lights of the nearby town of Candleford. Laura, played by Jessica Temple, travels the timeline of her life, and she rises to the part which demands her to be on stage throughout the whole production. Temple gives a natural and engaging performance. ...

4Apr

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

We Will Rock You – Liverpool Empire

Empire Youth Theatre’s production of We Will Rock You at the Liverpool Empire is an ambitious, high-energy showcase that highlights both the strengths and growing edges of a young cast taking on a demanding, full-scale musical. From the opening number, there’s a clear sense of commitment. We Will Rock You is no easy feat, requiring strong vocals, comic timing, and the ability to navigate a deliberately over-the-top and often chaotic script. The cast largely rises to the challenge, delivering Queen’s iconic songs with enthusiasm and, in many cases, impressive vocal control. Somebody to Love is a particular standout, showcasing Scaramouche’s vocals to great effect with a confident and engaging performance. However, at times the balance isn’t quite right, with the backing singers’ mic leve...

42nd Street – The Grand Theatre, Blackpool

2Apr

By Dan GrimesNo Comments

North West

42nd Street – The Grand Theatre, Blackpool

I have to start this review with a confession. I have a very serious addiction. I am, unfortunately, addicted to tap dancing—as a consumer rather than a participant, I hasten to add. My social media algorithms know this about me and, as part of our complex web of co-dependency, the apps ply me with endless reels of routines. It is through this rather sordid route that I became familiar with this musical and, until tonight, I had never actually seen the whole show—due in no small part to the fact that it is performed scandalously infrequently. If you’re a fan of pub quiz trivia, it might interest you to know that the show isn’t as old as you might expect. It was adapted in 1980 from the 1933 Warner Bros. film of the same name and went on to win Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Chore...

2Apr

By Angela KellyNo Comments

North West

Mean Girls – The Regent Theatre

‘Mean Girls,’ originally written by Tina Fey in 2004, is gracing the stage at Stoke this week. It is an amusing musical comedy based on the film version. In its musical format it was an instant success and since it was first performed in New York in 2018 where it received much accolade and was nominated for several Tony awards. It then travelled to London and has been a huge success ever since. Directed by Casey Nicholaw it includes an extremely talented bunch of stars that are certainly ‘all things musical theatre’. The story is essentially about a group who call themselves ‘The Plastics’ who see themselves as the leaders of North Shore High School in every way. The ringleader is the evil ‘Regina George’ and it tells the tale of her taking new girl ‘Cady’ under her wing and the battle ...