Anyone who has ever had a conversation with me about theatre will have heard these names. It’s one of those - Person: So, theatre - Me: - ODDSOCKS! They’re fantastic - ⁃ or even - No one: Me: You HAVE to try and see this BRILLIANT company if you hope to feel any joy in your... Continue Reading →
Wise Children: A Strong & Daring Dèbut
Wednesday 31st October 2018 at The Old Vic, London. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Emma Rice’s adaptation of Angela Carter’s Wise Children is both the first production and the inspiration for the name of her brand new company. As a spring board into new territory, Wise Children is by no means the safest choice and is therefore a great... Continue Reading →
The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk: Beautiful Storytelling
Tuesday 20th March 2018 at West Yorkshire Playhouse ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ In many ways, The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk defies description; much like the comical opening exchange points out - a scene which sees our protagonist bombarded with convoluted attempts to describe his work with words; visual art is extremely difficult to capture in this way. Based... Continue Reading →
Spotlight on: The Best of Production Designs & Designers…
When I think about the best stage designs I’ve seen, I think of productions both big and small; Matilda, Follies, My Judy Garland Life, War Horse, Finding Joy, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe...the list goes on and on. The ability of good design to capture different worlds, times and moods can make a... Continue Reading →
My Picks: The Best Productions of 2017
2017 has given me a grand total of 61 performances to mull over to find the best of the best theatre and shows of the last year. Shows have included: RENT, Frankenstein, Chinese New Year extravaganza, Bianca Del Rio's Not Today Satan, The Commitments, Dreamgirls, Blue Stockings, Wonderland, The Butcher, Rachel Tucker: Live at Zedèl,... Continue Reading →
Kneehigh’s The Tin Drum: Dark, Sophisticated Chaos
Wednesday 18th October 2017 at West Yorkshire Playhouse. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kneehigh's latest venture, a Carl Grose adaptation of Günter Grass' famed surreal novel The Tin Drum, is a whirling frenzy of rage and darkness which ultimately centres on the woes of the human condition. Oskar is born to a family caught in the midst of a... Continue Reading →
Kneehigh’s 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips: ‘Be Still, My Beating Heart!’
West Yorkshire Playhouse, Wednesday, 2nd November 2016. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ O Kneehigh, what a wonder you are! This is a long one folks, it simply cannot be otherwise, so settle in... Adapted from Michael Morpurgo's children's book (by Emma Rice and Morpurgo himself), Kneehigh's '946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips' is a hilarious, moving and thoroughly... Continue Reading →