Theatre Reviews

______ 23 January 2025 ______ 4**** ______ The transition of Damon Runyon’s short stories into one of the most successful stage musicals ever, is a triumph of skill, foresight and artifice. 75 years since it first appeared on Broadway, the show retains a freshness, an originality and a charm which a number of more modern […]

______ 19 December 2024 _______ 4**** ______ So, the reviewing year comes to an end and how appropriate to have a production of A Christmas Carol as the finale along with a first visit to the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis. Charles Dickens would, no doubt, be astonished by the sheer number of versions and

______ 17 December 2024 ______ 5***** ______ There are many lists containing the elements of what makes for a good pantomime – or any stage show for that matter – you can tick boxes if you like. With Theatre Royal Plymouth’s 2024 offering of ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ just about completes a full

______ 9 December 2024 ______ 4**** ______ For the third year running, the comedy company, Le Navet Bete, are taking a central role in the Exeter Northcott Theatre pantomime; from the, frankly, dark depths of awfulness that it was a few years ago, the annual show is reaching a level which succeeds on almost every

______ 6 December 2024 ______ 4**** ______ The 2006 film ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ was a huge hit, almost recouping its $35m budget in the opening weekend in the US and Canada. It has an enormous following. The stage musical first opened in 2022 when it was panned by the critics and taken to task

______ 29 November 2024 ______ 5***** _______ If there is a more sublime musical experience than hearing a pipe organ being played beautifully in a sacred setting, then I would be surprised. I had the pleasure of reviewing Matt Walters’ first major concert at Wells Cathedral in the summer of 2023 and subsequently wrote an

______ 23 November 2024 ______ 4**** ______ Stage shows based on films are all the rage; Theatreland is laden with them; ‘The Wedding Singer’ is one of the lesser known and is based on the 1998 film of the same name, starring Adam Sandler. Robbie makes his living as a singer at weddings and, when

______ 14 November 2024 ______ 2** ______ The story of a young woman’s diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis is presented by Carbon Theatre and takes the audience through the early signs, the physical, emotional and mental challenges this condition presents. The show, presented by three young women is packed with information and the viewer will learn

______ 12 November 2024 ______ 5***** ______ Words fail me. In an attempt to review Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake again, it is difficult to know where to start. Celebrating 30 years since it turned tradition on its head, it remains impressive, imperious, important and impossible good. No, not good. This is a great piece of

______ 30 October 2024 ______ 3*** ______ The story of a young actor, Alex,  who, by sheer chance, finds himself working in Barbra Streisand’s basement shopping mall, is a gem of an idea. The shops all contain items belonging to the her – a means of displaying them; dolls, costumes, hats, antiques….. there’s a lot.