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

Published
Categorized as Reviews

Chester & London for Traces through Time

Fallen Angel Dance Theatre, the dance theatre company for people in recovery from addiction, presents its latest work Traces through Time at Storyhouse Chester (November 1) and The Royal Opera House’s Linbury Theatre (November 4). A collaboration with New Note Orchestra, this production has been devised to bring life experiences and stories to the stage. Fusing dance,… Continue reading Chester & London for Traces through Time

Published
Categorized as News

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

Published
Categorized as Reviews

Matthew Kelly making Noises Off

Michael Frayn’s celebrated comedy Noises Off makes a stop at Blackpool Grand Theatre this October starring Liza Goddard, Matthew Kelly and Simon Shepherd. Frayn’s play-within-a-play hurtles at breakneck speed as it follows the on and off stage antics of a hapless touring theatre company as they stumble their way through the fictional farce, Nothing On. Liza Goddard’s extensive… Continue reading Matthew Kelly making Noises Off

Published
Categorized as News

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

Published
Categorized as News

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

Published
Categorized as Reviews

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

Published
Categorized as News

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

Published
Categorized as Reviews

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

Published
Categorized as News

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

Published
Categorized as Reviews