Reviews Archive
The Dissent, Theatre Royal Plymouth - The Lab, 2**, Cormac Richards
Interesting concept which isn't executed as successfully as it could have been.
The Government Inspector by Jodie Prenger & Neil Hurst, Music by Cat Gisby & Maxwell Tyler until 17 September 2022, 2**, Cormac Richards
New adaptation of Gogol's play misses the targets.
Would You Bet Against Us? A Rep Original Comedy with Told by an Idiot, at The Door, The Rep, Birmingham, Tuesday 24th May to Saturday 04 June 2022, 4**** .David Gray & Paul Gray
A bit crazy about football.
The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk by Daniel Jamieson. Kneehigh Theatre on demand until 18th December 2020: **** Mark Courtice
Proper theatre, sure footed, layered, with a moving love story at its heart
Traces of Antigone by Christina Ouzounidis, ODT Ensemble at Electric Dreams Festival on line until 30th July 2020 **** Mark Courtice
Rich and suggestive performance, wild, enthralling, and often mad.
Rich Kids: A History of Shopping Malls in Tehran Co-created by Javaad Alipoor and Kirsty Housley: Electric Dreams Festival online: various dates until 14th August 2020. **** Mark Courtice
Intelligent, clever and ambitious show explores politics, history, economics and ecology.
My White Best Friend (and Other Letters Left Unsaid): Co-curated by Rachel De-Lahay and Milli Bhatia: Royal Court at Home: Until 17th July 2020: ****4 Mark Courtice
A most important and urgent evening mixes the personal and political
Invisible Music by Platform 4: on line at Platform 4 until 15th August 2020: 4****. Mark Courtice
An intriguing meditation on hearing loss is meandering and sinuous but often sharply surprising
Splendid Isolation: Lockdown Drama, Lyric Theatre Belfast, on BBC iPlayer until 25th June 2021. **** Mark Courtice
7 short plays from Northern ireland. Big hearted writing with performances to match
It’s True, It’s True, It’s True: Breach Theatre on line until 17th May 2020: 4****: Mark Courtice
Ingenious recreation of a renaissance scandal is very good; upsetting, direct, furious and brave.
Crongton Knights, By Alex Wheatle, adapted by Emteaz Hussain: Pilot Theatre webcast until 9th May 2020. 4**** Mark Courtice
Alex Wheatle’s Young Adult novel is given a wonderfully energetic, fluid production.
Wonderland by Beth Steel: Hampstead Theatre at home: until 12th April 2020: 3***: Mark Courtice
2014 play seems a bit old-fashioned now, but some interesting performances and skilled direction
Hampstead Theatre, National Theatre, Royal Opera and Royal Ballet, National Theatre, RSC , Battersea Arts Centre, and more are all going on line
Just some of the theatre appearing online over the next months
Cyprus Avenue by David Ireland: Royal Court Theatre: YouTube: until 26.04.2020: 4****. Review Mark Courtice
Hard-hitting play revived on screen, a funny, demanding evening in at the theatre
Closed Lands: LegalAliens and Exchange Theatre: Vaults Theatre, London to 8th March 2020: 3***. Review Mark Courtice.
Thoughtful, often shocking, play about the fashion for building walls all over the world to keep out migrants
The Spirit by Thibault Delférière, Battersea Arts Centre, London to 14th March 2020 4**** Mark Courtice
Weighty but unpredictable show that knows where it is going - and gets there.
Notch by Danaja Wass, Vaults Festival, London to 23rd February 2020. 3***. Mark Courtice
A bleak glimpse into the black hole of obsession, powerful and openly theatrical.
People Show 137: God Knows How Many. Southwark Playhouse, London and then tour to 26.05.2020. 4****. Mark Courtice
Veteran disrupters in delightful, thoughtful and reminiscent form
Devoted and Disgruntled 15, an invitation: Battersea Arts Centre, London:8th-10th February 2020.
Devoted and Disgruntled: An unmissable weekend discussing the future of Theatre 8th-9th February 2020 - and we are all invited!
Cops by Tony Tortora: Southwark Playhouse, London: to 1st February 2020: **. Mark Courtice
Watching the detectives - cops' problems and relationships in a 50s throwback.