Some time in the 1920s: witches hold a séance and fog descends, or it could be gas, as they conjure up soldiers who don WW1 greatcoats then fall back down onto the blasted heath. It’s a riveting opening, but the idea fails to carry through to the rest of the production, made more confusing as… Continue reading Macbeth
Month: April 2023
Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)
Jane Austen’s six novels have inspired innumerable adaptations on stage and screen—and none more so than her most famous and popular work, Pride and Prejudice. Sticking just to the 21st century, we have seen the book merged with Bollywood (Bride and Prejudice), murder mystery (Death Comes to Pemberley) and even horror (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies). If… Continue reading Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)
New adaptation of It’s A Wonderful Life in Derby
Derby-based theatre company The Lost Boys will present a new theatrical adaptation of perennial favourite It’s A Wonderful Life as part of Derby LIVE’s Christmas 2023 programme. The Lost Boys will attempt to produce a live audio-play recording while exploring how the film journeyed from Hollywood failure to feel-good, festive success. Based on the original screenplay by… Continue reading New adaptation of It’s A Wonderful Life in Derby
Richard III
Director and lead actor Adjoa Andoh “doth protest too much, methinks” with her sympathetic take on the much-maligned Richard III? Does Shakespeare’s Machiavellian figure, Richard, have redeeming features? Is it his “vicious mole of nature” or a chip on his shoulder that turns him into a psychopath, scything down anyone standing in the way of… Continue reading Richard III
New Vic and Claybody revive comic novel adaptation
Newcastle-under-Lyme theatre the New Vic and Claybody Theatre are to revive Deborah McAndrew’s adaptation of Arnold Bennett’s comic novel set in Stoke-on-Trent, The Card. The production originally ran at Fenton Town Hall, Stoke in June and July 2022. New Vic artistic director Theresa Heskins said, “Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire’s cultural sector is growing fast and we’re… Continue reading New Vic and Claybody revive comic novel adaptation
Midlands artists invited to apply for Amplify Festival
Nottingham Playhouse is inviting applications from theatre-makers who would like to take part in the 2023 Amplify Festival, an annual celebration of artists from across the Midlands. To be eligible, companies or individuals must live in or be connected to the Midlands. Submissions can include physical theatre, spoken word, dance, devised, new writing, circus, clowning,… Continue reading Midlands artists invited to apply for Amplify Festival
Vignettes 4
For its fourth series of Vignettes, HER Productions seems to be pushing to the limit what can be achieved in short plays. Natasha (Tia Larsen) is ready for her close-up. She has always been a performer and is determined to make a lasting impression. But tonight, she seems to be having technical issues with the… Continue reading Vignettes 4
Hippodrome creates department for new musicals
Birmingham Hippodrome is to have “the first in-house musical theatre department at a UK venue” in which it will develop new musicals. The Hippodrome says that by 2028, it wants to be recognised as the UK’s national theatre of new musicals. The department will be led by a head of new musical theatre whose specialist… Continue reading Hippodrome creates department for new musicals
Breeding
Breeding by Barry McStay is less about breeding and more about bureaucracy. How do you navigate the complicated and imperfect process of trying to adopt when you’re gay? That’s the journey of Zeb (Daniel Nicholson) and Eoin (Barry Mc Stay), who embark on their quest for the perfect family and the perfect life. For many,… Continue reading Breeding
Critics’ Circle Theatre Award winners
Having won pretty much every award available, for her performance in Suzie Miller’s Prima Facie Jodie Comer may have been considered a shoe-in for the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards too, but the big news is the Best Actress gong going to Patsy Ferran. Ferran joined the cast of Rebecca Frecknall’s A Streetcar Named Desire just four days before the… Continue reading Critics’ Circle Theatre Award winners