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Reviews
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No.2, CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 12 October, 2023. 3***: David Gray & Paul Gray.
‘Some wonderful, large-scale orchestral playing, but a rather lacklustre piano solo.’
Photo of Jeneba Kanneh-Mason
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Birmingham Hippodrome, 10 October, 2023. 5*****: David Gray & Paul Gray
‘Strong performances all round in a lively explosion of a show.’
Leonkoro Quartet, Lakeside, Nottingham, 12 October, 2023. 5*****: William Ruff
‘The Leonkoro Quartet: one of the world’s finest chamber ensembles.’
Kazuki Conducts Rachmaninoff, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 04 October, 2023. 4****: David Gray & Paul Gray.
‘Exceptionally fine playing of what was, predominantly, some rather less than overwhelming music.’
Photo of Sergei Rachmaninoff
All of Us Strangers (2024), Dir Andrew Haigh, Searchlight Pictures UK. 5*****: Matthew Alicoon.
An arc de triumph of a British drama.
Merchant of Venice: William ShakespeareThe Swan, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford Upon Avon. Runs: 2h 10m , one interval. 5*****: Roderick Dungate.
‘Firm hands, sharp intellects, frightening clarity.’
It’s Her Turn Now adapted by Michael J Barfoot and based on Out of Order by Ray Cooney. The Mill at Sonning, Sonning Eye, Reading RG4 to 18th November 2023. 4****: William Russell.
‘A gender bent version of Out of Order – the Ayes have it.’
Photo Credit: Mill at Sonning.
Thomas Trotter – Celebrating 40 Years as Birmingham City Organist, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 06 October, 2023. 5***** David Gray & Paul Gray.
‘City Organist, Thomas Trotter quite literally “pulls out all the stops”.’
Dead Dad Dog by John McKay. The Finborough Theatre, 118 Finborough Road, London SW10 to 25th October. 4****: William Russell.
‘Another splendid Finborough revival.’
Photo credit: Finborough Theatre
The Exorcist: Believer (2023), Dir David Gordon Green, Universal Pictures. 2**: Matthew Alicoon.
‘Why Why Why did this need a sequel?.’
Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen. The Brockley Jack Studio Theatre, 410 Brockley Road, London SE 4 to 14th October 2023. 3***: William Russell.
‘An impassioned Hedda seeking a man with vine leaves in his hair.’
Photo Credit: Robert Piwko Photography.
Nottingham BBC Philharmonic OrchestraRoyal Concert Hall, Nottingham, 05 October, 2023. William Ruff: 4****
‘The BBC Phil kickstarts a new Nottingham concert season with colour and excitement.’
The White Factory by Dmitri Glukhovsky. Marylebone Theatre, 35 Park Road, London NW1 to 4 November 2023. 4****: William Russell.
‘Powerful, moving, thought provoking and splendidly played.’
Photo Credit: Mark Senior.
Shostakovich Symphony No.8, CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 28 September, 2023. 5***** David Gray & Paul Gray.
‘Committed and engaging performances of two very different Russian Masterpieces.’
The Coronation of Poppea by Claudio Monteverdi, Hackney Empire, London E8. 3***: Clare Colvin.
‘Monteverdi’s greatest hit is updated in English Touring Opera contemporary new staging.’
Photo Credit: Richard Hubert Smith.
These Demons by Rachel Bellman. Theatre 503, The Latchmere, 503 Battersea Park Road, London SW 11 to 14 October 2023. 3***: William Russell.
‘Things that go plop in the night.’
Photo credit: Lydia Crisafulli.
Imposters by Molly Davis. Jerwood downstairs, Royal Court Theatre, 50 Sloane Square, London SW1 to 14 October 2023. 4****: William Russell
‘Rewarding and entertaining.’
Photo credit – Ali Wright.
Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw, The Old Vic, 103 The Cut, London SE1 to 28 October 2023. 3***: William Russell.
‘Praised by some but ultimately disappointing revival.’
Close-Up by Ben Elton. The Menier Chocolate Factory, 50 Southwark St, London SE 1 to 18 November 2023. 2**: William Russell.
‘A dire juke box musical life of Twiggy.’
Photo Credit – Manuel Harlan.
Frank and Percy by Ben Weatherill. The Other Palace, 12 Palace Street, London SW1E to 17 December 2023. 5*****: William Russell.
‘Allam & McKellen at the top of their game.’
Photo credit – Jack Merriman