Latest Articles - Page 5 of 641

24Nov

By Charlotte MansfieldNo Comments

London

Maybe I Should Stop – Drayton Arms

Oscar Brudenall-Jones writes and stars in this one act play about Aaron, a man dealing, or not dealing, with the death of his father from Covid-19. Aaron is on a train journey to Cornwall to scatter his dad's ashes, currently hidden in a tub of chocolates. We are taken along for the ride, both physical and mental as we see Aaron's roller-coaster of emotions reaching breaking point the closer he gets to his destination. The story is told in emotional shifts between manic, up-beat clowning and quiet introspection, the lighting changing colour abruptly to signify the flip between the two states. Aaron tells us his job is an entertainer, and we are treated to jokes, impressions and physical comedy, as his abundance of nervous energy drives him to find any distraction he can to avoid having ...

24Nov

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

A Christmas Carol – Octagon Theatre

The economics of modern theatre production are currently on full display at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton, with their festive offering of ‘A Christmas Carol’ beginning its run for a mammoth eight weeks. This is a decision that may bear fruit at the box office but does little to enhance the artistic merit of this normally excellent producing house, staging a show that is threadbare and tonally inconsistent, leaving me with little of the Christmas cheer I hoped to find. In keeping with the Scrooge like nature of this review I won’t waste my word count on an explanation of the plot of Dicken’s most famous novella; the redemption of Ebenezer Scrooge (David Burrell) over the course of one Christmas Eve is one of the most enduring stories in literature and has been used on countless occasions...

24Nov

By Jessie MartinNo Comments

Scotland

Gallus in Weegieland – Tron Theatre

What a way to kick off panto season! Gallus in Weegieland at The Tron theatre is glam, gorgeous, and very glaswegian. Expecting the typical tired panto schtick and gags, I was very gladly mistaken - this is a panto that cares. With an actually engaging storyline accompanied by original songs by Ross Brown (who's multi-tasking and multi-instrumentalism in playing the score was incredibly impressive), I was grinning from ear to ear. Based on Alice in Wonderland, we saw Alice (Jorgey Scott-Learmonth) embark on a quest to find love, inspiration, and bravery in Weegieland in order to pass her ballet exam back on earth. Of course, it wouldn’t be a panto without an evil queen and Queenie of Hearts, Louise McCarthy did not disappoint. If Elaine C. Smith was hig...

Jack and the Beanstalk – Everyman Theatre

21Nov

By Rebecca CaseyNo Comments

North West

Jack and the Beanstalk – Everyman Theatre

The Everyman Rock ‘N’ Roll Panto, Jack and the Beanstalk An evening of pure joy, flying fairies, giants, Beanstalks and magical escapism and unbelievable musical talent. With a cast of 8 high energy performers and 2 off stage understudies. This group is astoundingly talented. The musicians are visible throughout on a raised platform and I couldn’t believe how many instruments each performer was able to play, effortlessly interchanging from acting, to playing a flute then singing and dancing then onto guitar. Photo: Ellie Kurttz I have seen productions where the performance is lacking due to casting actors who are stronger at one of the disciplines but tonight this was not the case. Together they created a fantastic sound vocally and musically. It was also a good eclectic balanc...

21Nov

By Jo TillotsonNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Here and Now – Sheffield Lyceum

There are certain birthdays in your life that make you think. What is that makes you happy? What does it mean to love and be loved? And just what does your future hold? In Here and Now: the STEPS musical, we meet Caz approaching her 50th birthday, asking those questions of herself and her close group of friends who all work together at the local supermarket. This is not just another jukebox musical. The creative team has delivered a story – written by Shaun Kitchener – with real heart and convincing vulnerability, peppered with just the right amount of camp and chaos you would expect from the music of STEPS! Director Rachel Kavanaugh has cleverly and successfully woven together the expectations of a solid pop fanbase with the desire to make a compelling piece of musical theatre, even fo...

21Nov

By Gill LewisNo Comments

North West

Spamalot – Rainhill Village Hall

Cult comedy, gleeful chaos, and an abundance of absurdity are served up with style in this Rainhill Village Hall production. Individuality Productions deliver an impressive rendition of the popular, Monty Python’s Spamalot. ‘Lovingly ripped off’ from the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, this musical by John Du Prez and Eric Idle, centres on a very daft parody of Arthurian legend with plenty of catchy show tunes thrown in. Despite the musical not getting the best reception from Idle’s former Python colleagues, the original Broadway production was nominated for 14 Tony Awards and won in 3 categories. Despite its lack of historical accuracy, with tap dancing knights, killer rabbits, and Divas, the charm and silliness enjoyed by Python fans is offered here on the local do...

20Nov

By Olivia CoxNo Comments

London

Porn Play – Royal Court

As its unashamedly frank title suggests, Sophia Chetin-Leuner’s Porn Play isn’t afraid to tackle the taboo. At the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court, Director Josie Rourke has staged a production that’s willing to match the script’s boldness. From the off, Designer Yimei Zhao’s pillowy, plush, almost vulvic set draws the audience into the action at a perhaps uncomfortably close proximity. The whole room is covered in a pale, bouncy carpet; we’re asked to put covers on our shoes before we nestle into the space’s uniquely cosy seating plan. After we’ve settled in, we meet an unnamed seductress (played by a fantastic Lizzy Connolly, taking on a number of other roles) who slinks across the bed-like pit in the centre of the stage, writhing and sticking out her tongue in an arguably...

20Nov

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

A is for Arsenic – Bilton Theatre

The snow lay inches deep in Bilton, near Hull, on Wednesday evening, but that didn’t deter theatregoers from making their way to the Bilton Amateur Dramatics Society’s (BADS) theatre to watch the comedy murder mystery, A is for Arsenic. Written by David Pemberton and directed by Carol Hawxwell, the play is performed by arrangement with Lazy Bee Scripts. But there was nothing lazy about the six actors who brought the play to life - I really do think it was one of the best this small, talented company has brought to the stage so far. The curtain opens on a brick-walled basement room - table, chairs, bookcase, white board with stand and little else. Over time, members of a crime writing group - yoga teacher Sally (Mandy Grimston), housewife Fay (Helen Davison), and Brian, insuranc...

20Nov

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

Jurassic – Soho Theatre Upstairs

Tim Foley’s short sixty-minute play is a satirical spin on the film franchise Jurassic Park. Boxed up and packaged in such way that the actors themselves physically and figuratively fight it out in true dinosaur style. Set within a financially stricken university the Dean calls in Jay an academic in palaeontologist to his office. Jay is faced with being laid off due to academic losses, poor performance, scandal and anything the Dean could put upon him. Examples of failings ‘losses’ Jay appeared on countdown and lost to a ‘little old lady’ his performance Dean explained brought the university into disrepute. Jay hangs out in the student bar and is too familiar with the female students, “you are bringing the university into disrepute” time after time. Unhappy with his fate Jay takes steps to...

A Night at the Musicals – Peebles Orchestra

19Nov

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

A Night at the Musicals – Peebles Orchestra

Peebles Orchestra was founded by Claire Garnett, MBE, in 1976. Claire was its guiding spirit for forty-two years before she handed over this tremendous pool of talent to the chair, Chris Dubé. Claire has been fundamental in establishing a solid musical base in Peebles. She founded Peebles Players for people with disabilities and music for dementia in care homes. Her legacy does her proud. A Night at the Musicals was Peebles Orchestra’s latest offering on Saturday evening. Chris Dubé, his hard-working vice-chair, Annelies van den Bogaard and the entire orchestra relished the opportunity to partner with local youth and adult groups: Stardust, InChorus, Nomad Beat, and two gifted young soloists, Gregor Scott, fifteen, and Erika Rae Franssen, seventeen. Conducted by Ross Gunning, this ensem...