______ 7 December 2023 ______ 4**** ______ So, as Winter follows Autumn, each year the pantomime season arrives; a season which lasts an indefinite length as Spring and Summer pantos become more popular. This multi-million pound industry has become extraordinarily important to theatres and venues throughout the land; a guaranteed big box office success is […]
DICK WHITTINGTON – Exeter Northcott Theatre Read More »
______ 4 December 2023 ______ 1* _____ The jukebox musical has become that bit too prevalent on the theatrical circuit these days. Some work really well, some just about pass muster and some plumb various depths. ‘I Should Be So Lucky’ is a new iteration using the songs from ‘80s trio Stock Aitken Waterman whose
I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY – Theatre Royal Plymouth Read More »
As ever, this review takes in all the plays/shows reviewed and makes mention of those that have been watched without the reviewing hat on – though all may be eligible for the Cormac Richards Theatre Awards! Along the way I am sure I will make mention of this and that and t’other! JANUARY Always
CORMAC RICHARDS – REVIEW OF THE THEATRE YEAR 2023 – PART ONE Read More »
______ 28 November 2023 ______ 3*** ______ The ghost genre is one which is fairly thin on the ground theatrically speaking. ‘The Woman in Black’ has proved successful through its longevity, various versions of ‘The Turn of the Screw’ are to be found – the one I reviewed a few years ago was a disaster
2:22 A GHOST STORY – Theatre Royal Plymouth Read More »
______ 24 November 2023 ______ 5***** ______ It is not often you get the chance to see the same production twice within a week, but some shows are so well worth seeing more than once so close together. My main review for this wonderful production by Matthew Bourne can be seen here – https://theatreplays.uk/edward-scissorhands-theatre-royal-plymouth/ and
EDWARD SCISSORHANDS – Theatre Royal Plymouth – A Second Viewing Read More »
______ 21 November 2023 ______ 5***** ______ For those who know the film, the creation of a dance version of ‘Edward Scissorhands’ might seem odd, impossible to pull off… but when you are dealing with the genius of Sir Matthew Bourne, nothing is off limits. Not revived for 9 years, his 2005 show is back
EDWARD SCISSORHANDS – Theatre Royal Plymouth Read More »
______ 15 November 2023 ______ 4**** ______ Most people would agree that Margaret Thatcher was one of the most polarising Prime Ministers the UK has ever had. Was it just because of her policies or was her gender part of the issue? The Thatcher years all fell within the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth
HANDBAGGED – OSO Arts Centre, Barnes, London Read More »
______ 8 November 2023 ______ 4**** ______ Directors of stage productions always take an enormous risk when deciding to stage a well-known piece of work in unusual surroundings. Thus the decision by English Touring Opera to develop the story of ‘Cinderella’ (La Cenerentola) – Rossini’s sparkling 1817 work – inside a museum with the characters
CINDERELLA – ENGLISH TOURING OPERA – Exeter Northcott Theatre Read More »
______ 12 October 2023 ______ 4**** ______ I should think it highly likely that eyebrows were raised when Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, Carlos Acosta, announced his intention to work with heavy metal pioneers, Black Sabbath on a new ballet. The prospect for many was both eye-catching and mouth-watering. The result of the collaboration is
BLACK SABBATH, THE BALLET – Birmingham Royal Ballet – Theatre Royal Plymouth Read More »
______ 4 October 2023 ______ 4**** ______ So, I will admit, I have never been able to get through the whole of The Lord of the Rings – the book or all three of Peter Jackson’s films. I do have a passing knowledge of the plot though, which I hoped would be of use before
THE LORD OF THE RINGS – A MUSICAL TALE – The Watermill Theatre Read More »
