Birmingham’s Old Rep and the city’s Electric Cinema which are based on the same street are to join forces for a day during Birmingham Heritage Week. The Old Rep was the UK’s first purpose-built repertory theatre, while the Electric Cinema is the UK’s oldest working picture house. The Station Street, Digbeth venues will host a… Continue reading Old Rep backstage tours to celebrate Heritage Week
Month: August 2023
Il signor Bruschino
Whilst watching Rossini’s farce for the very first time and in a modern update by Kurtheatre in Wildbad, I wished I was watching a more traditional production in its correct period. So, I went online and discovered Michael Hampe’s production for Theatre Schwetzingen had been filmed in 1989 and Is both available on DVD and… Continue reading Il signor Bruschino
Ton up for Chesterfield’s Winding Wheel
Events and activities are planned to celebrate a century of entertainment at Chesterfield’s Winding Wheel Theatre. Nine theatre schools, performing arts groups and theatre companies will take part in a centenary gala on Sunday 10 September to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the opening of the building. It will be compèred by Britain’s Got Talent… Continue reading Ton up for Chesterfield’s Winding Wheel
How the Other Half Loves
One of Ayckbourne’s early plays—a West End success in 1970—How the Other Half Loves was innovative in its stagecraft and gained a reputation for being very funny, and Robin Herford’s production for The Mill is certainly entertaining, but things have moved on. It presents a set of three couples: Frank and Fiona Foster, he an… Continue reading How the Other Half Loves
O’Halloran heads Hippodrome musicals department
Birmingham Hippodrome has announced that Deirdre O’Halloran is to become its head of new musical theatre. She has been literary manager at London’s Bush Theatre since 2018 where she designed and implemented artist development programmes. She also took the lead on dramaturgy for all commissioned work. Birmingham Hippodrome announced in April plans to become home to… Continue reading O’Halloran heads Hippodrome musicals department
Dumbledore Is So Gay
It isn’t always easy to grow up gay and especially wasn’t in the ago of AIDS and when Margaret Thatcher’s Section 28 made teachers afraid to mention (let alone discuss) it at school. That is when dramatist Robert Holtom and protagonist Jack were teenagers, and that is what the play is about. It feels painfully… Continue reading Dumbledore Is So Gay
Playing The Game of Love again
The Game of Love at Liverpool’s Casa Theatre September 28–30 stars Beth McShane as Carol and Sab Muthusamy as Tony. It’s directed by Phil Halfpenny. Set in the late ’60s, it’s a drama about the night a sex worker and her client reveal more about their lives than they intended and both look back at the… Continue reading Playing The Game of Love again
Thrown
Thrown follows a group of highly motivated women who come together to play in and perhaps win the Highland Games. Initially, they are a group well mixed, excited to be involved. But the flaws in each of the women and in their relationship become the crack that could cost them the competition. But outside is… Continue reading Thrown
Last orders for the English Pub
Farewell Theatre Company will stage a second showing of their new play after a sold-out run. The Death of the English Pub will be at the Talleyrand in Levenshulme, Manchester August 17. Written and performed by Reece Hallam (Me & Thee) alongside Ross Thompson (The Bench) and Ward J Harries (Nobody Loves You & You… Continue reading Last orders for the English Pub
Best Man
Best Man is a solo show that fits snuggly between stand-up and theatre, perhaps leaning a little more towards the ad lib style of performance. There is always one person at wedding that, embarrassingly, stands out for not fitting in. Too often, it is the Best Man. What would a wedding be without the Best… Continue reading Best Man