4**** 22 January 2020 ‘Ghost’ first appeared as a film 30 years ago in 1990 starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore, gathering a heap of awards and nominations including Oscars for the screenplay by Bruce Joel Rubin and actor Whoopi Goldberg. The musical was developed some years later, it’s first performance being at Manchester in […]
GHOST – Northcott Theatre, Exeter Read More »
5***** 20 January 2020 As stage musicals go, they don’t get much further ‘in your face’ that Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Based on the 1994 film, it made its way into musical theatre in 2006 and has been around the world a few times since. This new production is on an extensive UK tour
PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT – Theatre Royal Plymouth Read More »
A PROMPT CORNER MUSING Is the standing ovation expected for all shows now? Is this most special of accolades no longer reserved for the creme de la creme of theatre? I think I have stood for only a handful of times in over 40 years. But, as a reviewer you see all manner of events
TO STAND OR NOT TO STAND Read More »
3*** 23 December 2019 A QDOS Pantomime will be seen in 35 venues this Christmas/New Year and there is no doubt that they have transformed the landscape of the traditional theatre show. Huge, colourful sets, wonderful costumes, high quality music and dance and big names; add to this some spectacular set-pieces and you have a
CINDERELLA – Theatre Royal Plymouth Read More »
Making Theatre More Accessible Created in 2019, Dip the Nib is a company setting out to make a change in British Theatre.Having debuted their first production, ‘Grapho’ at The Lab at Theatre Royal Plymouth (TRP), they will be moving on to develop more work which offers a new level of accessibility for audiences and performers
3*** 6 December 2019 How to describe the indescribable. What was ‘Les Gloriables’ like? In a nutshell? The joy of reviewing theatre is that sometimes you do catch artists who create something so off the wall, that it’s almost impossible to sum up what you have just seen. The audience are met in the auditorium
LES GLORIABLES – The Drum, Theatre Royal Plymouth Read More »
5***** 5 December 2019 On visiting The Old Library in Bodmin last year, I was captivated by an innovative and heart-warming production which offered something just that bit different, whilst illustrating what can be done when everything is in small scale – venue, budget, facilities. My return to see what Ha-Hum-Ah Theatre Company would present
OH NO IT ISN’T! – The Old Library, Bodmin Read More »
3*** 4 December 2019 Live theatre is often unpredictable and throws up challenges night by night which you cannot always legislate for. Small companies rarely have a team of understudies in place and somehow cope if the worst happens. So, it was on the Press Night for the much heralded Northcott Theatre Pantomime this year
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST – Northcott Theatre, Exeter Read More »
5***** 26 November 2019 Cute kids, cute dog, dancing stars and planets, smaltzy love story and shovel loads of sentimentality – ingredients in a show almost guaranteed to make you blench – but somehow the combination works like a dream in NATIVITY – THE MUSICAL. Whilst some may say we should be looking for more
NATIVITY – THE MUSICAL – Theatre Royal Plymouth Read More »
4**** 21 November 2019 @reviewsgate @cormacrichards www.cormacrichards.uk Alan Ayckbourn is a cruel man. His writings are pitted with stories of innocents being embroiled in other people’s feuds and broken relationships, whilst at the same time making his audience laugh out loud. It is like some kind of sadistic puppet show with the writer pulling the
SEASON’S GREETINGS – Manor Pavilion Theatre, Sidmouth Read More »
