Theatre Reviews

______ 6 December 2024 ______ 4**** ______ The 2006 film ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ was a huge hit, almost recouping its $35m budget in the opening weekend in the US and Canada. It has an enormous following. The stage musical first opened in 2022 when it was panned by the critics and taken to task […]

______ 29 November 2024 ______ 5***** _______ If there is a more sublime musical experience than hearing a pipe organ being played beautifully in a sacred setting, then I would be surprised. I had the pleasure of reviewing Matt Walters’ first major concert at Wells Cathedral in the summer of 2023 and subsequently wrote an

______ 23 November 2024 ______ 4**** ______ Stage shows based on films are all the rage; Theatreland is laden with them; ‘The Wedding Singer’ is one of the lesser known and is based on the 1998 film of the same name, starring Adam Sandler. Robbie makes his living as a singer at weddings and, when

______ 14 November 2024 ______ 2** ______ The story of a young woman’s diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis is presented by Carbon Theatre and takes the audience through the early signs, the physical, emotional and mental challenges this condition presents. The show, presented by three young women is packed with information and the viewer will learn

______ 12 November 2024 ______ 5***** ______ Words fail me. In an attempt to review Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake again, it is difficult to know where to start. Celebrating 30 years since it turned tradition on its head, it remains impressive, imperious, important and impossible good. No, not good. This is a great piece of

______ 30 October 2024 ______ 3*** ______ The story of a young actor, Alex,  who, by sheer chance, finds himself working in Barbra Streisand’s basement shopping mall, is a gem of an idea. The shops all contain items belonging to the her – a means of displaying them; dolls, costumes, hats, antiques….. there’s a lot.

______ 28 October 2024 ______ 2** ______ Tom Fletcher’s stock is immensely high; musician, composer, author…. McFly is still going after over twenty years and his children’s novels routinely hit the top of the bestseller lists. It is difficult not to admire the man. A major show of one of his books has hit the

______ 22 October 2024 ______ 3*** ______ Robert Louis Stephenson’s 1886 gothic novel has been the subject of discussion; literary, scientific and psychological, for many years; the story of the duo personality continues to thrill. Adapted for the stage most famously by the actor Richard Mansfield, it caused such a stir it closed the theatre.

______ 10 October 2024 ______ 5***** ______ Frederick Ashton’s 1960 re-working of the 18th Century ballet is a frothy, romantic, playful, virtually plotless spectacle – and it is an utter delight. As presented by Birmingham Royal Ballet, Ashton’s choreography and John Lanchberry’s adaptation of Ferdinand Herold’s music is exquisitely performed with a joyful vigour and

______ 3 October 2024 ______ 5***** ______ This is a review and it isn’t. Maybe it is a review of a revisit. I had the pleasure of seeing Past Tents at the Alma Tavern Theatre in Bristol in September 2023, it was before then and since, a piece of theatre close to my heart. My