Reviews Archive
The Unreturning by Anna Jordan. Theatre Royal, Stratford East, London & on tour. 4**** - William Russell
A powerful story of three men returning from different conflicts and the problems they face fitting back into a society - genuinely unmissable theatre.
Violet - music by Jeanine Tesori Book & Lyrics by Brian Crawley - Charing Cross Theatre, London 2** for the show 4**** for the cast - William Russell
A splendid cast work hard in a less than sparkling show directed by Shuntaro Fujita and supervised by Thom Southerland in a brilliantly reconfigured theatre.
Birmingham Royal Ballet announces its new Artistic Director
Carlos Acosta to steer the Birmingham Royal Ballet
Matilda - The Musical, Theatre Royal Plymouth 3***, Cormac Richards
A clever, colourful production of a flawed show
A Modest Little Man by Francis Beckett. Bread & Roses Theatre, London SW4 6DZ. 4**** William Russell
Unmissable account of a great forgotten Prime Minister who presided over a Government of titans which brought about most of what we take for granted about the Britain we live in.
The Daughter-in-Law by D. H. Lawrence. Studio 1, the Arcola Theatre, London E5, 4**** William Russell
Splendid award winning production returns to the main stage of the Arcola - a deserved return with fine performances all round.
Outlying Islands by David Greig - King's Head Theatre, Islington. 3 *** William Russell
Two twitchers end up on a remote Scottish island which the Government plan to use as a place to text anthrax - it is 1939. There to look at the birds and the island and report back they emncounter the only two inhabitants, a cantankerous old man and his repressed niece. One thing leads to another as the girl comes between the boys and the birds.
Intronauts - by Green Ginger. Jacksons Lane Theatre, London & on tour. 4**** William Russell
Go and be amazed, baffled and enchanted as a journey into inner space takes place.
Coming Clean by Kevin Elyot - Trafalgar Studio 2, Whitehall, London - 3*** William Russell
A worth while revival of a 1982 play of interest as it signals what was to come from Kevin Elyot, although it is showing its age - but saved by good performances all round.
Original Death Rabbit by Rose Heiney - Jermyn Street Theatre, London 2** William Russell
The perils of becoming an internet sensation are revealed in this baffling monologue devised for radio by Rose Heiney. It may have sounded better there as a piece of radio drama but it is not the stuff of the stage. Just as what happens in Vegas should stay there so too it should be for Radio Four.
Aspects of Love - Southwark Playhouse, London - 3*** William Russell
Famously lampooned by Forbidden Broadway as I Sleep with Everyone, the leading ballad, Love Changes Everything is apparently Lloyd Webber's most successful song. The show is one in which the sexual roundabout involving some far from loveable people gets tedious although director Jonathon O'Boyle does his best with this production which originated at the Hope Mill Theatre Manchester last year.
Franz Kafka - Apparatus by Ross Dinwiddy. White Bear Theatre, Kennington. 3*** William Russell
Black, bleak tale of madness and love set in a penal colony out of control which is provoking and well done by all involved.
National Youth Orchestra, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, 5*****: by William Ruff
Exciting repertoire, high-octane energy and prodigious talent on an epic scale
The Dame by Katie Duncan - Park 90, London N4 3JP. 4 **** William Russell
The smell of the greasepaint and the roar of the crowd are there in this spellbinding monologue delivered with skill and pathos by Peter Duncan as an ageing comic, star of panto and summer show, who has seen better days.
Peter Pan, Hippodrome Birmingham, 5✩✩✩✩✩. Review: Rod Dungate.
Fab, Fabulous, Fabulloso
Time Is Love/Tiempo Es Amor by Che Walker - 3*** Finborough Theatre, London - William Russell
Dazzlingly performed, staged and directed but uninvolving play about low life in LA.
Sleeping Beauty, The Core Solihull, 4****, or, Hugo in Panto - Part 4: Rod Dungate
And now Hugo really is in panto; a review of the show by Rod Dungate
Birmingham Rep's adaptation of The Snowman is now 25 years old. Rod Dungate takes a look at its stage origins.
A quick look at 25 years of The Snowman on stage
Timon of Athens, RSC Stratford Upon Avon, 4****; Rod Dungate
A very pleasant and most welcome surprise
Southwell Festival Voices Christmas Celebration, Southwell Minster, 5*****: by William Ruff
Tender, thrilling, sensuous, serene: Southwell Festival Voices have a recipe for success