Staffordshire’s New Vic is to bring back its “most spectacular show ever” to celebrate the 850th anniversary of Newcastle-under-Lyme’s receiving its charter to become a borough. Astley’s Astounding Adventures is the story of Philip Astley. Born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, he became the international impresario who invented circus. The show is “filled with fast-paced action, laugh-out-loud humour, gripping… Continue reading “Spectacular” circus show returns to New Vic
Month: August 2023
Layers
Depictions of dementia aren’t new to either theatre or The Fringe, with plays such as Florian Zeller’s The Father, or the late Trevor T Smith’s An Evening with Dementia having graced the Festival stage to much regard as well as many a tearful eye and heavy heart. Layers takes the tragically all-too-familiar concept and evokes… Continue reading Layers
Leicester festival explores climate crisis
Leicester is to host a free, two-day festival using creativity to explore the climate crisis. The first Re/action Festival will feature performances and pop-up shows including a huge puppet, Gnomus, caretaker of our planet, created by Brighton-based outdoor puppetry company Puppets with Guts, which will explore Leicester’s High Street. Another highlight will be Leicester’s Nupur Arts hosting… Continue reading Leicester festival explores climate crisis
The Wreck of the Queen Thomasina
When a pair of chalk and cheese pirates are marooned on a small desert island, they can only hope to be rescued, or to find treasure that might assuage their plight. But this might be hampered slightly when they are both slightly daft, and talk almost entirely in rhyming couplets. The Wreck of the Queen… Continue reading The Wreck of the Queen Thomasina
Follow the yellow brick road to Birmingham festival
Birmingham’s community arts festival Little but LIVE! is to return to Moseley Park for the fourth year running. The “family-friendly” festival will present a new, Birmingham-inspired version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Birmingham-based company Paperback Theatre is behind the production, with its founders George Attwell Gerhards adapting and Lucy Bird directing. They are working with composer Steve… Continue reading Follow the yellow brick road to Birmingham festival
End of the World
End of the World is not the doom-laden play its title might imply. Instead, it is a gentle exploration of a friendship between two women during a difficult time. Set in the kitchen of their shared flat, Em (Ella Lovelady) is trying to negotiate the calls she gets about her father’s mental health, about whether… Continue reading End of the World