23 January 2023 4**** Nicolas Billon’s play found success in his native Canada and has since been filmed and become, curiously, a surprise and long-running hit in South Korea. This is the UK premiere production. A doctor in a mental health establishment has gone missing; the last person to see him was troubled inmate, Michael. […]
THE ELEPHANT SONG – The Park Theatre, London Read More »
Well, here we are again at the end of another year. The theatrical peak of which is this awards ceremony. Qualification for any award is based on the reviews written throughout the year. To acknowledge those in contention for the awards, nominations are listed in some categories, but not in all. The decisions of the
CORMAC RICHARDS THEATRE AWARDS 2022 Read More »
JULY And so the summer continued back at the MANOR PAVILION THEATRE SIDMOUTH with GLORIOUS; Peter Quilter’s beautifully realised script about Florence Foster Jenkins. Directed with love and verve by Claire Evans this was a wonderfully entertaining and touching piece. Hilary Harwood excelled as Florence and Dominic McChesney was ideally cast as her husband. Notable
CORMAC RICHARDS THEATRE REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2022 – PART TWO Read More »
20 December 2022 3*** When you sit down to watch a Crossroads Pantomime (formerly QDOS) you really know what you will be seeing – as they say, “it does what it says on the tin”. You know you will see beautiful sets and costumes, upbeat (often very loud) music, a spectacular moment or two, lots
SLEEPING BEAUTY – Theatre Royal Plymouth Read More »
So, here we are again. Following a curtailed year of theatre going in 2021 I was full of enthusiasm to take in some super new shows and some returning old ones maybe. But we would have to see. 2022 has thrown up a whole variety of issues which means it won’t have been my most
CORMAC RICHARDS THEATRE REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2022 – PART ONE Read More »
13 December 2022 2** Greek stories and myths are a ripe orchard to pick from when reaching out for plots, characters, themes and historical analogies and in THE DISSENT, writer, Libby Boyd does just that. Presented by Themis Theatre as part of Theatre Royal Plymouth’s LAB programme – a tremendous opportunity for young theatre-makers to
THE DISSENT – Theatre Royal Plymouth – The Lab Read More »
5 December 2022 3*** The phenomenal success of the 1992 film Sister Act spawned a swift sequel (and another is on the way, or so I read recently) and it was only a matter of time before a stage musical would emerge – it’s the thing to do! This was realised in 2006 with the
SISTER ACT – Theatre Royal Plymouth Read More »
15 November 2022 5***** Matthew Bourne is a theatrical alchemist bar none. The skills of creator, director and choreographer are offered up in all their glory in this wonderfully entertaining version of the ballet set to Tchaikovsky’s music. Subtitled ‘A Gothic Romance’, Bourne takes the original fairy story and adds his own spin on the
MATTHEW BOURNE’S SLEEPING BEAUTY – Theatre Royal Plymouth Read More »
3 November 2022 5***** It is almost unheard of for me to review the same production of a show within only a few months – this is an exception – albeit the location is a different one. Carl Grose has found a very happy place at Theatre Royal Plymouth, especially in The Drum auditorium and
SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN – The Drum Theatre, Theatre Royal Plymouth Read More »
26 October 2022 5***** Unusually for one of my reviews, I will start by talking about myself. As a child I was, generally, regarded as quiet and shy. My slightly older sister had taken up ballet lessons when young and decided that she would like to bring ballet into our home – but with my
MY SON’S A QUEER, BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO? – Garrick Theatre, London Read More »
