Birmingham
Christmas Music by Candlelight
St Paul’s Church, Birmingham: 20 December 2016

Something old, something new; choral beauty with a unique performance style

Birmingham
Treasure Island: Bryony Lavery, based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson
4Star****

Birmingham Rep: to 7 January 2017
Runs: 2h 45m, one interval
BO: 0121 236 4455
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

Review Alexander Ray Edser, 03 12 16

A great must see sea adventure

Nottingham.
FATHER BROWN – THE CURSE OF THE INVISIBLE MAN: John Goodrum.
3star ***

Theatre Royal to 13 August
Tkts 0115 989 5555 www.royalcentre-nottingham.co.uk.
Runs: 2h 30m: one interval: till 13th August.
Performance times: 7.30pm weekdays, 5pm and 8pm Saturday (Matinee 2.00pm Weds).
Review: Alan Geary: 9th August 2016.

Over-long and wordy, but a lot of enjoyable moments.

Birmingham
Renaissance Christmas with The Tallis Scholars
13th December 2016

Symphony Hall
5 stars *****

Review: Paul & David Gray, 13 December 2016

The Tallis Scholars give us a string of choral pearls

Birmingham
Handel’s Messiah
City of Birmingham Choir & CBSO
2 December 2016
Birmingham Symphony Hall
4 Stars ****

Running time 3 hours
Review: Paul & David Gray

Hearing Messiah with new ears

Birmingham
WHAT SHADOWS: Chris Hannan
4Star****

Birmingham Rep: The Studio, to 12 November 2016
Runs: 2h 45m, one interval
BO: 0121 236 4455
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

Review Alexander Ray Edser, 02 11 16

Stimulating, informative, timely-a terrific debate play

Birmingham
LOOKING FOR JOHN: Written and Performed by Tony Timberlake
4Star****

Birmingham Rep: The Door, to 19 November 2016
In association with the Homotopia and SHOUT festival
Runs: 1 hour, no interval
BO: 0121 236 4455
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

Review Alexander Ray Edser, 16 11 16

A Tardis of a play

URINETOWN: Music and Lyrics Mark Holllmann, Book and Lyris Greg Kotis
3Star***

Old Joint Stock to 6 August
4 Tembple Street Birmingham
Runs: 2h 30m, one interval
Info: 0121 200 1892
www.oldjointstock.co.uk

Review: Alexander Ray Edser, 29 July 2016

Good singing, full of energy, flawed piece

Mansfield

Runs: 2h 30m: one interval: till 31st December.
Performance times: 10am some days, 2pm every day, 7pm most days. No performances on Suns, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Signed Performances 9th Dec 7pm and 10th Dec 2pm.
Review: Alan Geary: 2nd December 2016.

The best Mansfield Palace panto for at least sixteen years. Outstanding stuff.

Birmingham
COLD CALLING: Composed and Created by Nick Powell
Birmingham Rep with CBSO
5Star*****

Birmingham Rep Studio, 16 and 17 September 2016
Runs: 55m, no interval
BO: 0121 236 4455
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

Review: Alexander Ray Edser, 16 09 16

Unique and beautiful

Nottingham

Theatre Royal
Tkts 0115 989 5555 www.royalcentre-nottingham.co.uk.
Runs: 2h 20m: one interval: till 15th Jan.
Performance times: Varies, 1.30pm, 2.00pm, 2.30pm, 5.30pm, 7.15pm (check with box office).
Audio Described: 2.30pm 17th Dec and 1.30pm 8th Jan.
Sign Language Interpreted: 1.30pm 15th Dec, 1.30pm 18th Dec, 7.15pm 13th Jan.
Captioned Performance: 2.30pm 7th Jan.
Relaxed Performance: 1.30pm and 7.15pm 5th Jan.

Review: Alan Geary: 11th December 2016.

In a city well served for panto this one’s worth a look.

Birmingham
A Brazilian Christmas
4th December
Birmingham Town Hall
4 starts ****

Review: Paul & David Gray

Music in the classical style with a twist of lemon

Birmingham
THE EXORCIST: John Pielmeier, based on the novel by William Peter Blatty
4Star****

Birmingham Rep Main House to Sat 5th November 2016
Runs: Approximately 2h, one interval
BO: 0121 236 4455
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

Review Alexander Ray Edser, 26 October

A thunderingly good show

Birmingham
Enigma Variations
13th December
Symphony Hall, Birmingham
5 stars *****

Review: Paul & David Gray, 13 December 2016

Enigmatic Beauty and Flamboyance

Birmingham and Leicester
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST: Oscar Wilde
3Star***

Birmingham Rep to 24 Septemberthen to Leicester Curve
Then to The Curve, Leicester
Runs: 2h 20m, one interval
BO (Birmingham): 0121 236 4455
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

Review: Alexander Ray Edser, 14 09 16

Has its moments, but not quite sure where it's going

Lichfield.
SLEEPING BEAUTY: Paul Hendy
4 Stars: ****

Lichfield Garrick, to 31st December 2016.
Runs: 2hours 40, including an interval.
BO: 01543 412121
www.lichfieldgarrick.com

@The_Garrick
Review: Nigel Bellingham, 20/12/2016

Fantastic festive family fun

Nottingham.
SLEUTH: Anthony Shaffer.
4star****

Nottingham Playhouse to 24 September.
www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk.
Runs: 1h 45m: one interval: till 24th September.
Performance times: 7.45pm (matinees Thurs 1.30pm and Sats 2.30pm),
Review: Alan Geary: 13th September, 2016.

Celebrated thriller with some outstanding acting.

Nottingham.
MINDGAME: Anthony Horowitz.
3star ***

Theatre Royal to 20 August
Tkts 0115 989 5555 www.royalcentre-nottingham.co.uk.
Runs: 2h 0m: one interval: till 20th August.
Performance times: 7.30pm weekdays, 5pm and 8pm Saturday (Matinee 2.00pm Weds).
Review: Alan Geary: 16th August 2016.

Your thinking person’s play. It makes a highly entertaining evening.

Nottingham.

Nottingham Playhouse. to 15 October 2016
www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk.
Runs: 2h 20m: one interval: till 15th October.
Performance times: 7.45pm.
Review: Alan Geary: 4th October, 2016.

Interesting but not entirely successful adaptation of the book.

London.
BENIGHTED
By J. B. Priestley.
Stage adaptation by Duncan Gates.
3 Stars ***

The Old Red Lion Theatre, Islington, to 7 January.
Tues – Sat 7.30pm. Mat Sat & Sun 2.30pm.
No performances 12, 19, 24 & 25 December & 2 January.
Additional matinees 27, 29, 30 December & 3, 4, 5, 6 January at 2.30pm
Runs 1 hr 15 mins No interval.

TICKETS: 0844 412 4307.
www.oldredliontheatre.co,uk
Review: William Russell 8 December

Things go creak in the night in an old dark house