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Stage Review Sherlock Holmes: The Hunt for Moriarty
Actor Mark Knightley (Sherlock Holmes) in Sherlock Holmes:The Hunt for Moriarty at Derby Theatre, May 2026 Photograph by Asun Olivan Sherlock Holmes: The Hunt for Moriarty Adapted and Directed by Nick Lane from the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Writer Nick Lane has combined a good few of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories and arrived at one mystery of Sherlock and his arch-nemesis Professor Moriarty, for stage, Sherlock Holmes: The Hunt for Moriarty. The opening reveals the
debra Hall
May 62 min read


Preview of MAKE IT COUNT at Louth Riverhead Theatre
A new play MAKE IT COUNT at Louth Riverhead Theatre this June PREVIEW MAKE IT COUNT Writer: James Sweeney Director: John Hewer This June, at Louth Riverhead Theatre, Lincolnshire is writer, James Sweeney's debut play Make it Count; a three-hander, comedy-drama, about love, control and second chances. Brayden Kerr, Derek Hodges and Laura Thompson in Make it Count at Louth Riverhead Theatre this June 2026 Overview When Jonas dies unexpectedly, an afterlife error gives him the
debra Hall
May 31 min read


Stage Review Small Island
Mark Arends (Bernard) Daniel Ward (Gilbert) Anna Crichlow (Hortense) - Small Island at the Rep, Birmingham Photograph Pamela Raith Small Island ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Written by Andrea Levy Adapted for stage by Helen Edmundson Directed by Matthew Xia Overview Small Island plots around distinctive characters whose stories overlap. In rural Jamaica, the young Hortense is a teaching assistant
debra Hall
Apr 33 min read


Stage Review Meet Fred
Scene from Meet Fred a Hijinx theatre production in association with Blind Summit Theatre at Derby Theatre March 2026 Photograph by Jorge Lizalde Meet Fred ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Director Ben Pettitt-Wade (puppet consultant for Blind Summit) Puppetry Dramaturgs (of Blind Summit) : Tom Espiners & Guila Innocenti A Hijinx theatre production in association wit
debra Hall
Mar 82 min read


Stage Review The Signalman
Pictured left to right actors Bruce Chattan, John Burton, Chris Walker, Adam Mort, James Morley. The cast of The Signalman A Middle Ground Touring Production 2025/2026 at Derby Theatre January 2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The
debra Hall
Jan 292 min read


Stage Review To Kill a Mockingbird Curve 2025
Actor Aaron Shosanya (Tom Robinson) in To Kill a Mockingbird at Curve Theatre, Leicester Photograph by Johan Persson ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ To Kill a Mockingbird From the novel by Harper Lee Adapted for Stage by Aaron Sorkin Directed by Bartlett Sher Background The narrator, Scout, daughter of lawyer, Atticus Finch recounts past events over two summers past; much of which had involved persons of her own household. Also those on the outside including a black family from t
debra Hall
Oct 30, 20252 min read


Stage Review BRIGHT PLACES
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
debra Hall
Oct 30, 20242 min read


Stage Review REVEALED
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
debra Hall
Oct 24, 20242 min read


WELFARE Derby Theatre Review a new play
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
debra Hall
Sep 9, 20242 min read


STAGE REVIEW A Christmas Carol by The Chatsworth Players
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
debra Hall
Oct 22, 20192 min read
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