Thursday July 1, 2021 at Leeds Playhouse. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It’s always a thrill to see a celebrated giant of the musical theatre world for the first time, and this production does not disappoint. With a story inspired by an Ingmar Bergman film, book by by Hugh Wheeler and music and lyrics by the great Stephen Sondheim,... Continue Reading →
Spotlight On: All-Time Top Ten Shows*
*to date... August 2020 Remember when going to packed, bustling, lively theatres was a thing? You know, we’d collectively shut out the world with the closing of the doors and the dimming of the lights; we’d spend more than twenty minutes without a phone in hand; we’d let ourselves be completely taken in by the... Continue Reading →
Spotlight on: The Best of LGBTQ+ Stories & Characters on Stage
June 2020 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... Continue Reading →
Interview: Stephen Foster & Chuck Pelletier Talk The Green Room
The Green Room is a musical comedy about four friends navigating the turbulent waters of theatre college. With book by Stephen Foster and Rod Damer and music and lyrics by Chuck Pelletier, the show has seen considerable success and enjoyed productions in the US (including Off-Broadway), Canada and Ireland. With Coronavirus closing theatres for the... Continue Reading →
Review: Third Wheel, A Musical Web Series
Third Wheel is a musical web series based on an earlier 2017 stage show by name of The Dysfunctional Guide To Being a Third Wheel. Adapting to the current situation, the creative team has taken the basic premise online, with Adam Johnson’s screenplay taking livewire Pam Maguire from stage to screen in all her manic... Continue Reading →
Interview: Max Vernon Talks Theatre, The View UpStairs & Upcoming Work
Having won over London audiences in style last year with The View UpStairs, Max Vernon can boast success on both sides of the pond. The show premiered off Broadway in 2017 and subsequently enjoyed productions in the US and Australia before landing in London for a run at Soho Theatre. As with previous work KPOP,... Continue Reading →
Review: Cabaret (Touring)
Tuesday 3rd March 2020 at The Grand Theatre and Opera House, Leeds. ⭐️⭐️⭐️Cabaret returns to the stage in a raw and playfully warped form in this latest tour of the the 1966 musical (Book: Joe Masteroff, Music and lyrics: John Kander and Fred Ebb). Directed by Rufus Norris with an unnerving flair for the dark... Continue Reading →
Review: Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) (Touring)
Tuesday 25th February 2020 at Leeds Playhouse (Courtyard). ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Not all takes on revered classics are created equal, and the sad truth is that many fall short when it comes to revolutionising or reinvigorating the titans they optimistically take on. On to that precarious theatre scene walks the writer of this piece... With an eyebrow... Continue Reading →
Review: Kneehigh’s Ubu! (Touring)
Tuesday 4th February 2020 at Leeds Playhouse. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absurd anarchy abounds in the best possible way in Kneehigh’s latest offering. This 'promenade musical' and 'sing along satire' is a real mix - night club scene, street protest, circus act and avant-garde fearlessness come together to take us on a wild ride of satirical mudslinging. We’re... Continue Reading →
Review: Once (Touring)
Monday 3rd February at The Grand Opera House, York. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It takes all of a few mere minutes for this production to show us exactly why it has snapped up so many awards. From the rousing, foot stomping pre-curtain act delivered as the audience arrive, to the first full-pelt number from our lead, we are... Continue Reading →