John Douglas Thompson as Othello and Juliet Rylance as Desdemona Othello  Royal Shakespeare Theatre 2024 Directed by Tim Carroll Photograph by Rohan Persson ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Partially set in Venice and in Cypress this authentic version of Othello  - directed by Tim Carroll is a genius RSC production. The male contingents of the play are mainly officers or noblemen/religious representatives. The Venetian senator, Brabantio cannot bear the idea of daughter, Desdemona being married to the

Lauren Foster,  Aimee Berwick, Rebecca Holmes Bright Places at Birmingham Repertory Theatre (The Rep) Photography by Graeme Braidwood ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Peggy Ramsay Foundation helps dramatists in direct ways, a winning recipient of a bursary fund from this organisation is writer, Rae Mainwaring, for this play:  Bright Places,  which is at Birmingham's Repertory Theatre this week and kicks off a UK tour. Mainwaring was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the age of 24 and so this pla

Jayden Hanley (Luther) Revealed at B2 The Belgrade Theatre Photograph by Nicola Young 'This is an honest, passionate and gritty play' ⭐⭐⭐⭐ In the summer of 2011 cities in England saw a spate of copycat riots happening. Revealed is therefore a contemporary play and the riots are a theme; it is set inside a Caribbean restaurant in Birmingham with violence and unrest occurring in the street(s).  The tone of instability outside is mirrored inside when tensions rise and boil over

Chris Harper (Serge), Seann Walsh (Yvan) and Aden Gillett (Marc)  ART at The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Photograph by Geraint Lewis ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ART is a one-act play written by French dramatist, Yasmina Reza. Translated from French to English by Christopher Hampton (1996), this production of ART  is touring - directed by Iqbal Khan. Marc, Serge and Yvan are close friends, however the true state of their friendship has altered and the respect they once held for one another, without

Ivan Stott (Bingo Bob) Welfare  play at Derby Theatre, Oct 2024 Photograph by Pamela Raith 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Welfare is a new, full length play by Derby born writer, Abi Zakarian. As one might quite rightly anticipate the subject and topics of the play are down-to-earth and this wonderful, stylised interpretation for stage; directed by Sarah Brigham the CEO and Artistic Director at Derby Theatre, complements Zakarian's script and intention. Five generations of one family are tracked

A classic by Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816) written during the Restoration Period of English history, The School For Scandal premiered at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 08 May 1777.

Samantha Spiro (Mistress Meg Page) and Siubhan Harrison (Mistress Alice Ford)  The Merry Wives of Windsor The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Summer 2024 Photograph : Manuel Harlan 'So many superlatives can be used to describe the company's coming together to deliver this fine production of The Merry Wives of Windsor .' Debra Hall, critic (2024) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We must agree with the director when she says that: “ The Merry Wives of Windsor is one of Shakespeare's most underrated plays [..

Adonis Siddique (and 'I' - Marwood) and Robert Sheehan (Withnail) in the stage premiere of Withnail and I The Birmingham Repertory Theatre May 2024 Photograph by Manuel Harlan Writer, Bruce Robinson’s Withnail and I  has finally been brought to stage. This totally British cult tale made famous by the film version by Handmade Films  (1987), is about two, jobbing actors seeking work and has premiered at the Birmingham Rep this month, directed by Sean Foley.  Overview It is Camd

Tristan Sturrock (Blue Beard) and Katy Owen (Mother Superior) Blue Beard a new play by Wise Children Written and Directed by Emma Rice Photographer Steve Tanner ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Led by writer and director, Emma Rice for touring theatre company Wise Children , this new play Blue Beard  is a co-production that is flaunty, explicit, amusing and serious and, pretty much, all at the same time. Based on Charles Perrault's  Blue Beard (published 1697) there have been many retellings of the Fre

Spring 2024 My Fair Lady CHATSWORTH PLAYERS Background Professor Higgins of Walpole Street, London, teaches phonetics. He claims that he can identify where people are from and where the influences originate in regard to the quirks of speech and language they have adopted. Therefore, when Higgins meets the young, Eliza Doolittle, a flower seller with a strong Cockney accent, he treats her like a social experiment. He believes that he can raise her position in London society if

Jodie McNee as Julia  Minority Report live on stage ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A play based on the 1956 sci-fi novella publication of The Minority Report  by American author, Philip K. Dick (1928-1982), and adapted for stage by English actor and writer, David Haig; this production is a fantastic achievement - from early conception to its live performance...a monumental undertaking! Setting is mid 21st-century, futuristic London. The first scene opens with a tenth anniversary event marking the sta

THE GLASS MENAGERIE UK TOUR 2024 Natalie Kimmerling (Laura) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Overview Director, Atri Banerjee gives a bold interpretation of this  memory play, one which actor, Kasper Hilton-Hille as Tom Wingfield explains in his first scene narration. It is Tom's unfolding memories that relays the story of family dysfunction; the p sychology is  so intriguing.   Amanda provided a  safe, conventional, but restrictive life for Tom and his sister, Laura; nothing was spontaneous and everyt

The cast of Animal Farm   Derby Theatre 2024 Photograph by Pamela Raith ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Writer, George Orwell (1903-1950) presented his well documented theories of political manipulation in the unusual format of farm animals becoming self governing in his acclaimed novel Animal Farm.  The dramatisation for stage is an adaptation by Ian Wooldridge.   Overview The pigs possess higher intelligence than the other animals and so they set about putting forward seven commandments as a code to

Rosie Sheehy as Puck  A Midsummer Night's Dream Royal Shakespeare Theatre 2024 Photograph Pamela Raith (c) RSC A Midsummer Night's Dream  The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford Upon Avon (until 30 March 2024) Directed by Eleanor Rhode ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Using a popular French phrase to describe key elements of this production of The Bard's A Midsummer Night's Dream  seems a little out of place, but the direction and input of illusion designer, John Bulleid, definitely adds a certain 'je

Chatsworth Players perform A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare pictured are members of the cast A Summer 2023 touring production  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Another five star production by Chatsworth Players!' Shakespeare's amusing tale of mix up and mayhem has been toured across open air venues of the North Peak District by Chatsworth Players this July. The reviewer attended the final date in Darley Dale where company members gave quality performances despite having to deal with cl

by Gerald Sibleyras (original title ' Le Vent des Peupliers' ) 2003 Translated by Tom Stoppard 2005 This Production by Chatsworth Players Summer 2021 - Directed by Lindsay Jackson stage prop from HEROES by Chatsworth Players 2021 photograph Debra Hall Chris Pawley (Henri), Barrie Goodwin (Gustave), Tim Warburton (Philippe) photograph source: Chatsworth Players  https://bit.ly/2WJnuAD REVIEW ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This touring production of  'Heroes' is the Chatsworth Player's first open-air t

A Christmas Carol at Whitworth Centre, Darley Dale, Derbyshire Members of the Cast of A Christmas Carol at Whitworth Centre, Darley Dale, Derbyshire ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This week this fabulous little company – which is run straight out of Chatsworth House’s own theatre, has pushed out further and is touring their production of A Christmas Carol in Derbyshire venues. Director, Lindsay Jackson has chosen John Mortimer’s fine adaptation to perform, which allows for a complementary perspective