REVIEW: Shrek (Empire Theatre, Sunderland)
“What makes us different makes us stronger” Shrek arrives in Sunderland and after nearly two years on tour and you have to worry about the state of Gerard Carey’s knees. Surrounded by children and adults alike, this really is a show for everyone, with the men in the audience laughing much more than the children. […]
REVIEW: Annie (New Wimbledon Theatre)
Annie has never been a particular favourite film of mine but having never seen the stage show, I wanted to check it out whilst it’s on at the New Wimbledon Theatre. With the classic songs ‘It’s A Hard Knock Life’ and ‘Tomorrow’, Annie has become a household favourite for adults and children alike. Most famous […]
REVIEW: The Winter’s Tale / Harlequinade/All On Her Own (Garrick Theatre)
The year-long residency of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company at the impressively refurbished Garrick Theatre begins in what is possibly the most anticipated theatrical event of the year. Opening the season, with Branagh both starring and co-directing with Rob Ashford, is Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale running in repertory with Terence Rattigan’s […]
REVIEW: Gatsby (Arts Theatre)
It’s doesn’t fill you with a lot of confidence when the show you have turned up to review is preceded by an on-stage announcement and a programme insert that pretty much says, ‘sorry, but this actually might not be very good”. The excellent Ruby In The Dust’s production of Gatsby is running Mondays only for […]
REVIEW: Anita and Me (Theatre Royal Stratford East)
‘Anita and Me’ is a highly enjoyable piece of theatre, which brings to life Meera Syal’s 1996 semi- autobiographical novel. It centres around a young Punjabi girl, Meena, who is growing up in a mining village in the 1970s. Meena’s family is the only Punjabi family in the village, and the play depicts a real […]
REVIEW: Teddy Ferrara (Donmar Warehouse)
Teddy Ferrara is based on the suicide of Simon Clementi, who’s roommate secretly filmed him having sex with a men and broadcast it across social media. The story follows a group of queer college students who, using their various political voices within campus society, tackle the unobserved issue of homophobia within modern day […]
REVIEW: Madam Butterfly Returns (Landor Theatre)
Madam Butterfly Returns is a one man opera which has its London premiere at The Landor Theatre in Clapham for a three week run. The one man is Ignacio Jarquin, a Mexican born actor, singer and musician. This show sees him combine his singing, storytelling and acting skills with Japanese dance and mask work. This […]
REVIEW: Elf (Dominion Theatre, 2015)
Elf the musical is one of the most anticipated shows of 2015. After a huge backlash earlier this year when tickets went on sale at up to £240 each, people decided enough is enough and boycotted the show for being too expensive. With a limited run over the festive season, I went along to see […]
REVIEW: The Hairy Ape (The Old Vic)
Eugene O’Neill’s play The Hairy Ape is one mans search to belong. Working onboard a ship as a coal stoker, Yank believes he rules the roost and is the strongest of the whole crew. His status is called in to question when the daughter of the cruise liner owner insists on seeing what goes on […]
REVIEW: Xanadu (Southwark Playhouse)
Xanadu is an outrageously camp and sparkly musical comedy, based on the 1980’s film of the same name. It opened on Broadway in 2007 and received an Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical and a Drama Desk Award for Best Book, it was also nominated for Best Musical and Best Book at the Tony’s. The plot (which has […]