“With so many new theatre screenings available at the moment, it can be a tough decision what to pick and see - but Leeds Playhouse’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ has to be on your shortlist. In fact, it may well be the best production of the Dickens classic you will ever see.”
Read More“The very first thing that occurred to me when I heard that Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller were going to appear together in a production of Frankenstein was that all three of us had performed as Sherlock Holmes, mine being the least illustrious (by far) of the three. I put that thought on the shelf and turned my attention to the particulars of this production.”
Read MoreWhile the show might not necessarily be to everyone’s tastes or suitable for younger viewers (unless they’ve been raised on glam metal, I suppose!), there’s no denying that ‘Rock of Ages’ makes for a loud and very fun time at the theatre.
Read MoreThe tagline for “Motown The Musical" is The songs. The sound. The story. And within this musical, these three elements definitely deliver. From now until the 8th December, Motown is playing Edinburgh’s glitziest theatre, The Playhouse. Many people are mistaken for getting the impression that “Motown the musical" is an expensive tribute show, it really isn't.
Read MoreSome of my favourite reviews in the past have often been theatrical adaptations of works from a variety of sources, primarily film, television or literature. You can imagine my intrigue and excitement, then, when I had the opportunity to review a folk opera concept album adaptation from a respected and admired singer-songwriter. Any guesses? I am of course talking about Anaïs Mitchell’s ‘Hadestown’, the musical adapted from her 2010 album of the same name, recently reworked with director Rachel Chavkin and premiering at the National Theatre of Great Britain before heading to Broadway.
Read More“Jane Eyre” is well-acted by a cast of only three. The title role is played by Rebecca Tebbett, whose performance is suitably grounded and down-to-earth, whilst still being immensely likable. Wreh-Asha Walton and Alex Wilson play all of the remaining characters, which is quite a feat. They switch between the roles deftly, and perform all of them with great conviction.
Read MoreI’ve noticed a recent trend in the rise of pieces of theatre inspired by stories from across the States, as well as productions actually brought over from there too. It almost seems as if British directors are seeing the merit in finding and understanding the universal power of narratives from other cultures, and seeing how they interweave with our own narratives and culture. On that note, I popped into the Leeds Grand Theatre to check out The Classic Screen to Stage Theatre Company’s latest adaptation of the classic MGM film ‘Rain Man’.
Read More“Fame the Musical” is currently touring the UK with its 30th Anniversary tour, this week it stops off at Edinburgh’s delightful King’s Theatre.
The musical follows students of the New York City High School of performing arts, and their struggles to succeed or perhaps fail at reaching the career of their dreams.
Read MoreCurrently playing at London’s Pleasance Theatre, Freeman is a passionate, emotive and high-energy production which uses an impressive range of theatrical modes to tell interweaving stories about the lives of people of colour through the years.
Read MoreBack in 2014, Jeff Pope’s hit TV series Cilla caught the hearts of the nation in its touching telling of the early days of Cilla Black’s storied career. The humble beginnings and hardships encountered by the late and celebrated singer made for an inspiring dramatic narrative, which was also shaped by the defining sound of the 60s and changing societal attitudes towards gender. I couldn’t help but feel the inevitability of Pope’s TV series becoming a stage musical, and sure enough, I was delighted when it was announced that the musical was embarking on a new tour after a successful run earlier this year - and I looked forward to seeing how the performances had grown and developed over time.
Read MoreRed Ladder Theatre Company celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. From their beginnings in street theatre to becoming one of the most respected theatre companies around today, there’s always been a sense of urgency and vitality with their pieces, primarily brought about by Artistic Director Rod Dixon. Whether it’s creating a new piece of work or finding the urgency in an existing text, Red Ladder has always been poised to accomplish the task. For Red Ladder’s 50th Anniversary, Dixon has made the decision to bring Bertolt Brecht’s classic anti-war play Mother Courage and Her Children to the Albion Electric Warehouse in Leeds, where they also fairly recently staged the critically acclaimed The Shed Crew. On a cold and drizzly autumn night, I huddled into the old warehouse to engage with Red Ladder’s latest offering.
Read MoreThe hit 1988 motion picture about the Babbitt brothers has been adapted into a stage show by The Classic Screen to Stage Theatre Company. The story follows Charlie Babbitt JR as he discovers he has an older brother who has inherited his father’s estate and millions of dollars. However, Charlie’s older brother, Raymond, has autism, which makes him a nuisance to his little brother, especially when Charlie takes him on a road trip in a bid to get the inheritance he believes he deserves.
Read MoreThis musical is one of the funniest and most moving musicals in the world right now. The cast and creative team make this the best possible production it can be. It’s a realistic British musical which showcases a true story of woman coming together and powering through. This is an easy 5/5 star review for Calendar Girls the Musical. Catch it while it’s at Capital Theatre’s Festival Theatre until Saturday 13th October:
Read MoreTrial by Laughter, playing at Newbury's Watermill Theatre, is a witty and enjoyable play – albeit less remarkable than some of the Watermill's previous productions. This play is entirely what you would expect from a comedy by creators Ian Hislop and Nick Newman (respectively editor and cartoonist for Private Eye). Trial by Laughter doesn't just indulge in satire, it relies on it.
Read MoreCurrently playing at London’s Bunker Theatre, Eris follows the story of Seán (Cormac Elliot), as he tries to find the most disruptive boyfriend possible to bring to a family wedding. As he struggles to move on from his last relationship, relying on the help of his friend Callista (Ashling O’Shea), Seán confronts family, prejudice … and Tinder.
Read MoreCurrently playing at Edinburgh’s King’s Theatre is Still Alice, which brings the issues of living with Alzheimer's disease to stage. It follows the life of Alice Howland, her husband John, and their two children. It follows the destruction this disease causes, how it impacts the families of those who have to suffer losing precious memories of loved one's names and the life they once led.
Read MoreCurrently playing at London’s Finborough Theatre, Square Rounds is a clever, quirky play which is for the most part very enjoyable. The first act is a lot stronger than the second, changing with more ease between the comedic and the sinister elements of the show. The second act, conversely, seems bogged down with the historic details of this story’s more tragic elements, and some of the show’s character is lost towards the end.
Read MoreJim Cartwright’s acclaimed play Road has long been considered one of the greatest representations of a struggling 1980s Britain, where communities banded together to fight against the drudgery and monotony of the often bleak daily grind via the channel of whiling away the midnight hours with drinking, partying and sex. In short, Road marks a turning point in British history, where new cultural resilience gave rise to something greater, more developed and poised to tackle new challenges. The same can be said of the newly renamed Leeds Playhouse, which has now entered its brand new season, and while the old building is currently being refurbished, they’ve taken over one of the old scenery workshops and transformed it into a pop-up theatre space. Minting this new space is the aforementioned Road, directed by Amy Leach.
Read MoreThis year's Edinburgh Fringe has many fantastic shows. I have seen a variety of different shows, I have already reviewed SDTN's fantastic 5 star production, Propeller and The Lyceum's stunning 4 star production of Waiting for Godot. However, I have also managed to see more great shows that I would definitely recommend.
Read MoreThe unforgettable, moving story of a group of members from one of the Women’s Institute’s Yorkshire branches has been inspiring viewers, and more recently audiences, for over fifteen years. I am of course talking about the story of Calendar Girls, which found life and widespread attention and success in the form of Nigel Cole’s 2003 film, with a screenplay by Tim Firth. In 2008, the film was adapted into a successful film, and ten years on, it’s found its way back onto the stage, this time in the form of a musical. With Firth returning to his work, the writer paired up with Gary Barlow to bring the vibrant story of the triumphant women to a theatre at the heart of Yorkshire: the Leeds Grand Theatre.
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