Reviews Archive
London Philharmonic Orchestra. Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham. 18 February 2023. 5*****. William Ruff
A stimulating programme played with charisma and insight
The Play with Speeches by James Woolf. The Brockley Jack Studio Theatre, 410 Brockley Road, London SE4 to 4 March 2023. 3***. William Russell.
Patchy but funny comedy about life upon the wicked stage.
Idiots Assemble – Spitting Image Saves the World: Live on Stage, The Rep, Birmingham, 16 February 2023, on until 11 March 2023 4**** David Gray & Paul Gray
Vicious, true, laugh-out-loud satire
The Oyster Problem by Orlando Figes. Jermyn Street Theatre, 16b Jermyn Street, London W1 to 4 March 2023. 3***. William Russell.
Fascinating,civilised,informative and well acted play.
Women Talking (2023), Director - Sarah Polley, Universal Pictures International, 5*****: Matthew Alicoon
A masterful examination into previous tragedies.
Strictly Ballroom, Theatre Royal Plymouth until 4 February and Touring, Cormac Richards, 3***
Far better without the songs!
The Ocean at the End of Lane, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Cormac Richards, 5*****
Astonishing!
Windfall by Scooter Pietsch. The Large, Southwark Playhouse, 77 Newington Causeway, London SE1 to 11 March 2023. 2**. William Russell.
The perfect example of a play that goes wrong - badly wrong.
Winner's Curse by Daniel Taub with Dan Patterson. Park Theatre, 13 Clifton Terrace, London N4 to 11 March 2023. 3***. William Russell.
Ramshackle but interesting play loaded with laughs.
Petr Limonov. Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham. 12 February 2023. 4****. William Ruff
Pianist Petr Limonov opens a window on the sublime
My Son's a Queer (But what can you do?) by Rob Madge. The Ambassadors Theatre, West Street, London WC2 to 18 March 2023. 4****. William Russell.
Utterly beguiling account of living life as one wants to live.
The Whale (2023), Director - Darren Aronofsky, A24, 4****: Matthew Alicoon
Has Brendan Fraser just locked his Oscar win?
SNIFF by Gabriel Fogarty-Graveson. The Brockley Jack Studio Theatre, 410 Brockley Road, London SE4 to 11 February 2023. 4****. William Russell.
Nothing is what you think it is in a gripping tale of two men who meet in a pub toilet.
Schumann Quartet. Lakeside, Nottingham. February 9 2023. 4****. William Ruff
Intelligent, highly responsive playing from the Schumann Quartet
The Lehman Trilogy by Stefan Massini adapted by Ben Power. The Gillian Lynne Theatre, 166 Drury Lane, London WC2 to 20 May 2023. 4**** stars. William Russell.
The Lehman Trilogy returns recast but remains spellbinding.
Byrd’s Great, Ex Cathedra, Birmingham Town Hall, Sunday 5 February 4pm 5***** David Gray
A glorious celebration of an iconic English composer
Linck & Mulhahn by Ruby Thomas. Hampstead Theatre, Swiss Cottage, London to 4 March 2023. 3***. William Russell.
A queer romance based on a true story.
Fedora by Umberto Giordano Metropolitan Opera New York Cinema season 2022-23: 4**** Clare Colvin
Popcorn with opera as the mighty Metropolitan New York comes to local cinema.
Motionhouse: Starchitects – Birmingham Hippodrome – 3 February 2023 – 5***** David Gray & Paul Gray
Missing (2023), Directors - Will Merrick and Nick Johnson, Sony Pictures Releasing, 5*****: Matthew Alicoon
The 2023 thriller to beat.