Othello - The Watermill Theatre, Newbury
Karla Marie Sweet’s adaptation of the Shakespeare classic is a bold reinvention. I found myself leaving the theatre with a lot to say, as...
- Aug 31
Into The Woods - Theatre Royal Bath REVIEW
Co-directors Terry Gilliam and Leah Hausman haven’t had an easy ride getting this revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods to the...
- Aug 23
Driving Miss Daisy - The Barn Theatre REVIEW
It’s not an exaggeration to say that half the audience left the Barn Theatre on press night for Driving Miss Daisy, with a tear (or...
- Aug 6
Great British Bake Off: The Musical - Cheltenham Everyman REVIEW
To see a world premiere of a production based around a much-loved TV show at a theatre very close to my heart makes me beam with...
- Jul 30
Whistle Down The Wind - The Watermill Theatre REVIEW
This was the first UK revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman’s epic rock musical in over a decade. Quite a statement,...
- Jun 6
Bleak Expectations - The Watermill Theatre REVIEW
First known as a familiar BBC 4 Radio Comedy, now Bleak Expectations has come to life as a stage production at the Watermill Theatre....
- Mar 16
The Wicker Husband - The Watermill Theatre REVIEW
As I write this it is March 16. It will always be a significant day in the theatre world. In 2020 when the theatres were forced to close,...
- Feb 4
Spike - Watermill Theatre, Newbury REVIEW
The latest production to grace the Watermill stage tells the story of Spike Miligan’s battles both in war and with the BBC as he fights...
- Jan 8
Dreamgirls - Bristol Hippodrome REVIEW
The first UK tour of Dreamgirls was due to kick off in 2020, but with that being the year that everything was cancelled, it eventually...
- Nov 23, 2021
The Jungle Book - Watermill Theatre REVIEW
For those looking for the classic Rudyard Kipling story or lighthearted Disney tale, this version of The Jungle Book might not be for...
- Nov 21, 2021
The Brothers Grimm Present: Cinderella - The Barn Theatre REVIEW
The Barn in Cirencester brings a darker side to festive shows this Christmas with their offering of The Brothers Grimm presents:...
- Oct 21, 2021
REVIEW: Everybody's Talking About Jamie - Bristol Hippodrome
After a year's delay due to Covid-19 Everybody’s Talking About Jamie has finally strutted into Bristol Hippodrome with plenty of joy and...
- Sep 23, 2021
REVIEW: The Dresser - Cheltenham Everyman
Two well-known names have joined forces in the latest production of The Dresser to tour the UK. Matthew Kelly and Julian Clary star in...
- Sep 18, 2021
Lone Flyer - The Watermill Theatre, Newbury REVIEW
When I saw this show pop up I knew there was one person I had to take along - my partner. He loves theatre, which falls only second to...
- Sep 14, 2021
Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella - Gillian Lynne Theatre, London REVIEW
Five weeks after the show’s aborted July 14 premiere, and with numerous other dates offered and then dropped along the way, Andrew Lloyd...
- Sep 13, 2021
Matthew Bourne's The Midnight Bell - Cheltenham Everyman REVIEW
Matthew Bourne’s latest project takes us into the under-belly of 1930s London life; following ordinary people doing relatively ordinary...
- Sep 7, 2021
Amélie the Musical - Criterion Theatre REVIEW
Opposite the roaring mayhem and flashing lights of Piccadilly Circus, the Criterion Theatre sits with an exquisite yet humble musical...
- Aug 27, 2021
Educating Rita - Cheltenham Everyman REVIEW
I first saw the production in 2018 with the same cast but this time around it has been cut down and condensed into a more Covid-friendly...
- Aug 18, 2021
Groan Ups - Theatre Royal Bath REVIEW
Mischief Theatre has delighted us for years with their productions of The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and A Comedy About A...
- Aug 10, 2021
Priscilla Queen of the Desert - Cheltenham Everyman REVIEW
I’ve seen a few productions since theatres reopened but after experiencing Priscilla it really feels like the industry is back with a...
- Jul 27, 2021
Priscilla Queen of the Desert - Theatre Royal Bath REVIEW
Entering the theatre for Priscilla Queen of the Desert I had a rain cloud above my head and I really wasn’t in the party mood. However,...
- Jul 22, 2021
Charlie & Stan - Theatre Royal Bath REVIEW
Laurel and Hardy are arguably one of the most famous comedy duos, but what if it wasn’t really meant to be. Stan Laurel met Charlie...
- Jul 2, 2021
As You Like It - Watermill Theatre, Newbury
Sustainability, singing and Shakespeare. The Watermill’s latest creation is an enjoyable outdoor production of the rustic comedy As You...
- Jun 23, 2021
Oleanna - Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal Bath REVIEW
David Mamet’s three-act Oleanna was originally presented at the Ustinov Studio back in December 2020 but if you missed it then don’t...
- Jun 3, 2021
Four Quartets - Theatre Royal Bath REVIEW
Ralph Fiennes was met with a standing ovation on press night of his newest production, Four Quartets, featuring T.S Eliot’s finest poems....
- May 27, 2021
Touching The Void - Bristol Old Vic REVIEW
The line from Bristol Old Vic's Tom Morris of “Live theatre is back!” was met with applause on the opening night of the Bristol theatre...
- May 25, 2021
A Russian Doll - The Barn Theatre REVIEW
Pre-covid we could watch theatre without a worry in the world, during covid it was all about the streaming and now as the world begins to...
- Dec 28, 2020
The Play That Goes Wrong - Covid-19 edition - Theatre Royal Bath REVIEW
The Play That Goes Wrong took things to a new level at the Theatre Royal Bath this Christmas. In fact, things went so wrong that the...
- Oct 21, 2020
Marry Me A Little - The Barn REVIEW
The Barn Theatre has built itself up based on strong morals, a tight-knit community and quality creatives. For it to be able to burst out...
- Oct 4, 2020
Private Peaceful - Barn Theatre REVIEW
The Barn Theatre is back and they’ve not allowed a global pandemic be a reason to let their standards slip. They’ve powered through the...
- Aug 27, 2020
The World Goes 'Round - The Barn Theatre REVIEW
Since my last review of a live show a lot has changed, the theatre world has become worryingly close to extinction, industry...
- Jul 14, 2020
8 ways to keep theatre alive during lockdown
Missing theatre? Feeling like there is no light at the end of the tunnel? (That is an unintentional Starlight Express reference). I've...
- Jul 3, 2020
Hamilton - Disney + REVIEW
Where do you even begin reviewing the show of the decade? Seeing Hamilton live in the West End in 2017, I didn’t feel like I could gather...
- Jul 1, 2020
The Grinning Man - Bristol Old Vic At Home REVIEW
Referring to Bristol as “A human cesspool of inescapable misery” and then plainly stating that “Life is pain and then you die”, it wasn’t...
- Jun 27, 2020
A Midsummer Night's Dream - National Theatre At Home REVIEW
This week's National Theatre At Home treat was A Midsummer Night’s Dream and I must admit I was a little confused by the futuristic...
- Jun 18, 2020
Eugenius! Archive footage REVIEW
How have I only just realised this has been released?! Eugenius! was one of those shows I would have loved to have caught during its run...
- Jun 14, 2020
The Wiz Live! - NBC - The Shows Must Go On - REVIEW
With the Show Must Go On programme still in full swing, this week is in keeping with the current wave within the Black Lives Matter...
- May 30, 2020
Hairspray Live! - NBC - The Shows Must Go On! REVIEW
The current rival of Hairspray in the West End is on pause due to Coronavirus… sigh! But that won’t stop us enjoying this high-energy,...
- May 24, 2020
Post-lockdown list: Shows I want to see once theatres reopen
With lockdown in full swing and no sign of a theatre reopening any time soon we are all pining to see our favourite shows once more. Here...
- May 19, 2020
Cats – Adelphi Theatre – 1998 production recording – REVIEW
As a child I had an Andrew Lloyd Webber trilogy of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar and Cats on VHS....
- May 19, 2020
Letdown list: Musicals that didn’t live up to the hype
It feels like day 4732 of Coronavirus lockdown and I feel like being contentious… I’ve written out all my top shows I’ve ever seen so now...
- May 4, 2020
Frankenstein – National Theatre At Home – Olivier Theatre REVIEW
This week during lockdown we are treated to a viewing of the 2011 production of Frankenstein directed by Danny Boyle and starring...
- Apr 28, 2020
Love Never Dies – Regent Theatre, Melbourne (recording) REVIEW
I can totally see why those who love The Phantom of the Opera often aren’t keen on Love Never Dies and those who can take or leave POTO...
- Apr 20, 2020
The Phantom of the Opera – 25th anniversary recording – Royal Albert Hall – REVIEW
I have a confession. Up until this point, I have been a fraud. It’s true, I mean can you really call yourself a theatre fan if you’ve not...
- Mar 15, 2020
Ben Hur – The Barn REVIEW
Not sure what Ben Hur is all about? Think ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ mixed with ‘Spamalot’. The production, written by Patrick Barlow, is...
- Mar 5, 2020
Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes – Bristol Hippodrome REVIEW
Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes returns to UK stages for the first time since 2017 to dance its way back into our hearts. This production...
- Mar 3, 2020
Once – Theatre Royal Bath REVIEW
Based on the budget film, the musical Once picked up eight Tony awards during its run on Broadway in 2011. Now as it tours the UK,...
- Feb 26, 2020
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical – Bristol Hippodrome REVIEW
Sadly I have become somewhat of a cynic when it comes to jukebox musicals. I often leave them feeling a little rushed, confused and...
- Feb 19, 2020
SIX – Theatre Royal Bath REVIEW
Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived… If this doesn’t take you right back to your school days then I don’t know what...
- Feb 10, 2020
Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense – The Theatre, Chipping Norton REVIEW
Co-produced by the loved-by-me The Barn Theatre in Cirencester and the new-to-me The Theatre in Chipping Norton, this production of...