Francesca Caruso’s solo show, Pater Noster, has just enjoyed an online run via the Command Fringe Festival and is set to be available for audiences again very soon. Here she shares insights into her love of clowning and bouffonnerie and the personal experiences of religion which prompted her to explore Catholicism and its rituals in... Continue Reading →
Spotlight on: The Best of LGBTQ+ Stories & Characters on Stage
Just in the nick of time, I’m marking the last few hours of Pride Month with a look at some of the best examples of theatre productions celebrating and exploring LGBTQ+ stories, characters, history and culture. From accosting social commentary to joyous sequin-clad drag queens to moving takes on body dysmorphia and transgender experiences and... Continue Reading →
Interview: 20 Questions with Wrongsemble’s Elvi Piper
Wrongsemble Theatre Company has been going from strength to strength over the past five years and as far as family theatre goes, the work this company creates is pretty special. Offering the best of both worlds, they embrace classic tales and revamp them for modern audiences of all ages, transforming stories we know and love... Continue Reading →
Interview: Forget About The Dog’s Natalie Rawel & Jordan Larkin
Forget About The Dog topped my round-up list for Best Regional Fringe Production back in 2018 with their thoroughly fantastic production of 100 Ways to Tie a Shoelace so I was very chuffed to finally have a chance to chat about the show and the company last week. A collective of five, Forget About The... Continue Reading →
Interview: Francesca Forristal Talks Theatre, Drag & the Importance of Laughing to Learn
My latest gossipy chinwag is with Francesca Forristal, comedy and songwriter, actor and drag artist extraordinaire. Here Francesca talks about getting into the arts, the importance of broad thinking when it comes to drag artists and why it’s so important to laugh at the difficult subjects in order to truly engage with and understand them.... Continue Reading →
Lionman: The Great Escape(s)
Monday 2nd March 2020 at Harrogate Theatre (Studio). ⭐️⭐️⭐️ In Dapertutto Theatre’s Lionman we meet Leanard, your classic awkward hermit-intellectual type. Holed up in an uninspiring rented room and flanked by mildly interesting neighbours and an oddball landlady, he cracks out obituaries as a day job while dreaming of more fantastical adventures for himself. Never... Continue Reading →
A Shadow of Doubt: The Power of Suggestion
Tuesday 11th February 2020 at Harrogate Theatre (Studio). ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Doubt and shadows do indeed pervade this interesting piece from Gill Mcvey who writes, directs and stars as the daughter of a mother lost to dementia and a husband lost to an abrupt, unexpected end. Now living with her father and greeted daily by a warmly... Continue Reading →
Riot Act: Vital Recognition of LGBTQ+ History & Experience
Friday 7th February 2020 at Harrogate Theatre (Studio). ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Alexis Gregory’s arresting solo show takes the testimonies of three important figures in the LGBTQ+ community and places their words and experiences at the centre of an impressive hour long verbatim piece. Though the stage is an empty space ripe for conjuring the past through the... Continue Reading →
Heaven’s Gate: When the End of Life is Lift Off
Friday 31st January 2020 at Harrogate Theatre (Studio). ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Four young people arrive into a void dressed as something resembling 80s teens playing at Star Trek. Four camp beds and a side table are all they have to help them make the big leap from one realm to another and we’re here to witness the... Continue Reading →
Round-Up: The Best Theatre of 2019
2019 has been a fabulous year for theatre and it’s given me a grand total of 154 performances to enjoy - 147 of which have been reviewed here on the site. So what’s been seen in 2019 and what are my top picks I hear you ask? You can find both answers below! January took... Continue Reading →