Variety has definitely been the byword for the 2023 Classic Thriller Season at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal. As usual, four plays have been performed in four weeks, with some of the actors in three plays while others appeared according to the demands of each production. Gone are the days when a middle-sized company would appear throughout… Continue reading Snake in the Grass
Month: April 2025
30th birthday for Beautiful Thing
Theatre Royal Stratford East, Leeds Playhouse and HOME Manchester celebrate the 30th anniversary of Jonathan Harvey’s coming-out and coming-of-age story Beautiful Thing. Raphael Akuwudike (Ste) and Joshua Asaré (Jamie) will lead the cast and are joined by Trieve Blackwood-Cambridge (Tony), Shvorne Marks (Sandra) and Scarlett Rayner (Leah). Director Anthony Simpson-Pike says: “Beautiful Thing is an… Continue reading 30th birthday for Beautiful Thing
I’ve Never Met Anyone Quite Like You Before
Warmly touching and physical, this autobiographical show from David Scotland is as much a story of working out how to love yourself as it is one of understanding your place in this world as an artist. A graduate of musical theatre and dance specialist from Bird College, his story unfolds against a carefully chosen musical… Continue reading I’ve Never Met Anyone Quite Like You Before
Winnie and friends take seaside break
Disney’s Winnie the Pooh takes a Grand trip to the seaside. Winnie and friends bounce into The Grand Theatre August 14–16. Deep in Hundred Acre Wood, an exciting new adventure is about to happen… This musical adaptation is told through the eyes of characters that have played roles in the lives of children for generations. Created by… Continue reading Winnie and friends take seaside break
Henry VIII
When it comes to English royalty, Henry VIII must surely be the personality most often depicted across various art forms. In addition to numerous portraits and biographies, he continues to dominate the literary stakes on both page and stage, having recently been a central figure in Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall trilogy and, at one remove, Six. Not too long… Continue reading Henry VIII
Jane/Norma
There have been many important moments in the long struggle for abortion rights. Among the legal consequences of these struggles, perhaps the most famous is the American 1973 Supreme Court ruling on Roe v Wade. Yet few of us have any idea who the names in the case referred to. Kiera Bell has created, from… Continue reading Jane/Norma
Old Rep backstage tours to celebrate Heritage Week
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
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
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