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