Saturday, December 6

Latest Articles

Shrek the Musical – Netflix
6Apr By Paul DownhamNo Comments
REVIEWS

Shrek the Musical – Netflix

When William Steig’s 1990 picture book ‘Shrek!’ was adapted for the screen in 2001, the subverted fairy tale became an ogre-whelming success. A musical version came to Broadway in 2008, which has now been made available to watch on UK Netflix for the very first time. Centred around the story of the first Shrek film, the unsociable ogre (Brian d’Arcy James) is outraged to find his swamp taken over by fairy-tale creatures, banished there by Lord Farquaad (Christopher Sieber). Travelling to Duloc, Shrek agrees to rescue and deliver Princess Fiona (Sutton Foster) to the knee-high ruler to get his home back. James’ commanding voice compliments the titular role, and he demonstrates his singing talents by making Act One finale ‘Who I’d Be’ a standout, but his Scottish accent is painfully un...
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Talking Gods I: Persephone – Arrows & Traps Theatre
6Apr By Paul DownhamNo Comments
REVIEWS

Talking Gods I: Persephone – Arrows & Traps Theatre

The first episode of Talking Gods from Arrows & Traps Theatre, tells the story of Persephone. Written and directed by Ross McGregor, Nicolle Smartt plays Hestia, Demeter and Cora, in a series of interweaving monologues retelling the tragic story of Demeter and her daughter for a modern audience. The show opens with the audience being told that the Ancient Greek Gods are alive and well among us, and even have their own social media accounts. We first meet a tearful Hestia, Goddess of Home and Hearth, who is giving evidence in Court where Zeus is being held in shackles. As he is no longer worshipped by the masses, he has become weak and his wrath has burnt out. Hestia is nervous and unsure of her place in the world, having been a minor player in the Greek myths, but is still revolt...
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Ben Brown’s new play A Splinter of Ice begins UK Tour on 8th June
6Apr By Paul DownhamNo Comments
NEWS

Ben Brown’s new play A Splinter of Ice begins UK Tour on 8th June

Following a highly productive and successful season of online productions, Original Theatre Company is delighted to announce its first live stage production since March 2020.  The UK Tour of Ben Brown’s new political drama, A SPLINTER OF ICE, will open on 8th June in Malvern and will tour until 31st July.  The production, starring Oliver Ford Davies as Graham Greene and Stephen Boxer as Kim Philby and directed by Alan Strachan with Alastair Whatley, has also been filmed on stage at the Cheltenham Everyman Theatre and will be released online via originaltheatreonline.com from 15th April until 31st July 2021.  Whilst Sara Crowe will play Rufa Philby in the online version, she is unavailable for the tour, so the casting for Rufa on tour is to be confirmed. Moscow 1987 and th...
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Guns N’ Roses’ 2021 UK summer tour dates now rescheduled to 2022
6Apr By Paul DownhamNo Comments
NEWS

Guns N’ Roses’ 2021 UK summer tour dates now rescheduled to 2022

Guns N’ Roses’ 2021 U.K. summer tour dates have now been rescheduled to 2022. Performances on Friday 18 June and Saturday 19th June will now take place on Friday 1st June and Saturday 2nd June 2022 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. All tickets remain valid and will be honoured for new the dates. The band says “We continue to be thankful for your understanding and support during these unprecedented times. Light is at the end of the tunnel and we are looking forward to getting back on stage...” Tickets for Friday 18th June 2021 will be honoured for Friday 1st June 2022 and tickets for Saturday 19th June 2021 will be honoured for Saturday 2d June 2022. Limited tickets are still available for fans to purchase for Guns N’ Roses at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for Friday 1st June and Saturday 2nd Ju...
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Iconic show to resume record-breaking run on 17th May with all-star cast
4Apr By Paul DownhamNo Comments
NEWS

Iconic show to resume record-breaking run on 17th May with all-star cast

Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap – the longest running show in the world, which has been suspended since the pandemic resulted in the closure of UK theatres in March 2020 – is to re-open in the West End on Monday 17th May 2021. Two sets of casts – comprising Olivier Award winners and highly acclaimed stars of TV and film – will come together for the iconic thriller as it re-opens at the St. Martin’s Theatre on the day that Stage 3 in the Government’s “Road Map” to ease restrictions across society comes in to effect. The new, all-star company includes: • Danny Mac - Strictly Come Dancing finalist, star role in the West End production of Pretty Woman The Musical • Cassidy Janson - Olivier Award winner in 2020 for her starring performance in the West End smash hit musical & Jul...
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Romeo & Juliet – The National Theatre
4Apr By Paul DownhamNo Comments
REVIEWS

Romeo & Juliet – The National Theatre

Faint heart never won fair lady, so it is only right that under the direction of Simon Goodwin, the National Theatre, following in the wake of Zeffirelli’s 1968 tour de force and Luhrmann’s wonderful 1996 translation, have boldly reimagined Shakespeare’s classic tale of love to serve up a Romeo & Juliet fit for the 21st Century. Filmed over seventeen days in an empty Lyttelton Theatre, the contrast between scene and unseen spaces offers the perfect parallel for a play which whilst on the surface is a love story, at its heart is riddled with tension, twists, and turns. The Prince (an assured Adrian Lester) provides the authoritative voice of calm and reason after Tybalt (David Judge) and Benvolio (Shubham Saraf) clash before the respective heads of their families, Lord and Lady Ca...
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An Elephant in the Garden – The Barn Theatre
4Apr By Paul DownhamNo Comments
REVIEWS

An Elephant in the Garden – The Barn Theatre

The Barn Theatre continue their lockdown streaming with another riveting piece of theatre. Simon Reade directs this gripping adventure story set in the harsh times of 1940’s Germany. Lizzie and her family are seeking shelter from the calamities of the Second World War... and it looks like they have to take an elephant along for the journey. It’s hard to believe that Michael Morporgo could write another great animal-integrated war tale, after the huge success of War Horse. And, even more surprisingly, this one is based on a true story. When her father is enlisted, Lizzie’s mother finds work at the local zoo where she befriends the young elephant, Marlene.  When their whole town erupts in flames, the family flee to find safety, and encounter numerous shouts of “Is that an elephant?!”...
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Self-taught Warda Abbasi is the new Resident Designer at Leeds Playhouse
3Apr By Paul DownhamNo Comments
NEWS

Self-taught Warda Abbasi is the new Resident Designer at Leeds Playhouse

Set designer and miniature model-maker Warda Abbasi isthe new Resident Designer at Leeds Playhouse in partnership with Leeds-based theatre company tutti frutti, supported by the Weston Jerwood Creative Bursaries programme. There’s not many self-taught set designers, but Bradford-based Warda used her time in the box office at Halifax’s Square Chapel to to watch lots of theatre and horn model-making skills in her spare time. That led to a spot as Assistant Designer on tutti frutti’s Sweet Dreams about the joys of sleeping and dreaming written by Mike Kenny. When this production was developed into an audio play due to covid restrictions Warda was employed as a Craft Creator for tutti frutti’s digital Storytime project. Forty people applied for the Resident Designe...
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Jack and the Beanstalk (Online) – St Helens Theatre Royal
3Apr By Paul DownhamNo Comments
REVIEWS

Jack and the Beanstalk (Online) – St Helens Theatre Royal

Once upon a time there was a theatre called the Theatre Royal in St Helens, who always delighted the people of Merseyside with a seasonal pantomime. Suddenly, a devastating pandemic stopped the Theatre Royal in their tracks. Finally, a canny production team saw a solution to their big problem… A pantomime at Easter? It always seems a little improbable because a pantomime is so quintessentially Christmas. But when reality is as crazy as ours, Jack and the Beanstalk is the much-needed slice of the ‘old normal’ we all need. And it is no mean feat. The Theatre Royal and their production team have dared to do what some regional theatres fear to risk, and it has paid off. The story follows the same old tale we all know and love; cash- strapped Jack sells off his mother’s beloved cow in ret...
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Open Mic by Rob Drummond – Soho Theatre
2Apr By Paul DownhamNo Comments
REVIEWS

Open Mic by Rob Drummond – Soho Theatre

The concept of an Open Mic night online is brilliant. Streamed live via TicketCo from the Cabaret Space at Soho Theatre, Rob Drummond acts as compere with people participating over zoom. Excited faces beam out – some who will be taking part – others who have just turned their camera on for laughs. Me, I just watched via livestream on the TV. Like you would expect on an Open Mic, the variety is broad. From singing to spoken poetry to comedy, the quality is variable, and so are people’s internet connections. ‘Squeeze’, an original song written and played by Ian, was the highlight for me. Catchy and upbeat, it was probably the most fun thing about this show. Billed as a ‘fun night’ I would have to say ‘awkward’ was the most frequent emotion I felt. Drummond’s unstable and downbeat a...
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