To call The Beekeeper of Aleppo a story for our time would be an understatement. Christy Lefteri’s original novel is the epic, moving tale of a family escaping war-torn Aleppo at the outset of the Syrian civil war and embarking on the dangerous journey to safety – crossing multiple borders before finding safety in Yorkshire
Mates blogger: Fairy Powered Productions
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Fairy Powered Productions is a website set up by lifelong theatre lover Susan Lindsay to cover news, views, interviews and reviews. A place for all things theatrical, it concentrates on the talent appearing in the regions as well as the West End.
The latest from Fairy Powered on MyTheatreMates
‘Filthy & funny’: ANIMAL – Park Theatre ★★★★★
Animal arrives in London riding high on rave reviews – believe the hype! John Bradfield’s unflinching but hilarious play is a queer, inclusive joy. Filthy and funny, it’s unmissable entertainment.
‘Enjoyable romantic comedy’: QUALITY STREET – Touring ★★★★
Quality Street, written by J M Barrie (Peter Pan), tells the story of Phoebe Throssel (Paula Lane) and her sister Susan Throssel (Louisa-May Parker) as young women, Phoebe being the chirpy, happy and excitable one, along with her many curls, giving her the name Miss Phoebe of the ringlets.
‘Discovering the complications of a 1950s fantasy lifestyle’: HOME, I’M DARLING – Touring ★★★★
This touring production of Home, I’m Darling did have me questioning the role we all play in setting out norms and the judgements we make about people, lifestyle choices and assets but it was certainly not a gloomy comment on any of that. All in all it was a perfect combination of vintage style, jive and humour.
‘Haunting & raw experience’: JULIUS CAESAR – Touring ★★★★
The RSC’s production of Julius Caesar is dynamic and refreshing. Atri Banerjee’s directorial debut for the company is a brave, brilliant and bold experience, bringing this 400-year-old play bounding on to the stage in a way that has never been seen before but is most definitely a must see.
‘All will be reminded of the beauty of the natural world’: THE LOST SPELLS – Touring ★★★★
Children will be spellbound by the magic of the set and the catchy tunes in The Lost Spells, and adults will be reminded of the innocence of their childhoods. All will be reminded of the beauty of the natural world, and hopefully inspired to protect it. A delight.
‘New & relevant’: CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF – Manchester ★★★★
Based on the original play by the incredible Tennessee Williams, this modern take on the classic, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof wows at the Royal Exchange Theatre.
‘Chaotically energetic, honest, raw & wild’: LORD OF THE FLIES – Leeds ★★★★
Leeds Playhouse and Belgrade Theatre Coventry’s co-production of William Golding’s Lords of the Flies is brought to the stage and re-imagined 70 years after it was first written. Nigel Williams’ adaptation and Amy Leach’s direction of this production realistically correlates to the world many live in.
‘Impressive & stirring production’: TITANIC THE MUSICAL – Touring ★★★★★
Titanic The Musical sailed its way into Blackpool and what a show it was. I have to say that the 11 Academy Award-winning worldwide film directed by James Cameron is a huge favourite of mine and I have lost count of the number of times that I have seen it.
‘Celebrating its 80th birthday with an update’: THE GOOD PERSON OF SZECHWAN – Sheffield & Touring ★★★★
Originally written in 1941 by Bertolt Brecht, The Good Person of Szechwan was first performed in 1943 – and this year celebrates its 80th birthday with an update by Nina Segal.
‘Captivated from beginning to end’: AFTER THE ACT: A SECTION 28 MUSICAL – New Diorama Theatre ★★★★
After The Act, produced by Breach and commissioned by New Diorama, dares to go where not many shows do these days. Billed as a “documentary musical” and based around the controversial Section 28 law that was passed in 1988 under Thatcher’s Conservative government, we hear the voices of real people who lived their lives during this time, seeing the effects and impact this law had on the country’s people and society.
‘Clever, funny & frustratingly relevant’: BRILLIANT JERKS – Southwark Playhouse ★★★★
Joseph Charlton’s witty and incisive play Brilliant Jerks at the Southwark Playhouse portrays the evolution of a brilliant idea into a multi-billion-dollar ride-hailing app, laying bare the cut-throat and toxic workplaces and casualties as the money keeps rolling in.
‘Moving & bittersweet’: THE WAY OLD FRIENDS DO – Touring ★★★★★
The Way Old Friends Do is a brand new play written by Ian Hallard and directed by Mark Gatiss. It tells the story of two Birmingham school friends who meet up 30 years later and, after some reminiscing about old times and their mutual love of all things ABBA, decide it’s the perfect time to form the world’s first ABBA tribute – in drag.
‘This play is phenomenal’: DUET FOR ONE – Orange Tree Theatre ★★★★★
Duet For One is phenomenal, and filled with such raw emotion and moments of intense vulnerability for both characters. Not to mention the absolutely beautiful music performed on the violin during each transition at the Orange Tree Theatre (Gabriela Opacka-Boccadoro).
‘Lots of touching moments & excellent comedic timing’: JUMPING THE SHARK – Touring
Have you ever fancied creating your own comedy? Jumping the Shark explores just that, while unearthing the trauma, mix ups and relationships of five eager writers. The new comedy by David Cantor and Michael Kingsbury begins in a bland conference room in a hotel on the outskirts of Farnham.
‘Stunning piece of theatre’: Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby –Touring ★★★★★
Atmospheric, menacing, hypnotic and beautifully danced, Rambert Dance stormed into Hull New Theatre in Peaky Blinders The Redemption of Thomas Shelby. A Rambert production in association with Birmingham Hippodrome written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight and choreographed and directed by Benoit Swan Pouffer is a stunning piece of theatre.
‘It will unleash your inner diva’: THE CHER SHOW – Touring ★★★★
If there was ever a cure for the blues The Cher Show would be it. I left feeling on cloud nine after an evening spent watching this sequinned spectacular which tells the story of how shy girl Cherilyn Sarkisian becomes the ultimate diva and a true female icon.
‘Tremendous & extravagant evening out’: Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs – New Wimbledon Theatre
If you want an interesting funny and fabulous evening out with the family that’s full of sparkle as well as wicked, then get yourself down to Wimbledon Theatre for Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, a tremendous and extravagant evening out.
‘An absolute family experience not to be missed’: GOLDILOCKS & THE THREE BEARS – Liverpool ★★★★★
Straight to the point, don’t wait until the end of this review to find out that Goldilocks & The Three Bears at the Epstein Theatre, Liverpool was the best pantomime I have ever seen. You must, must, must see it if you can. A love story, a traditional tale, a circus, a concert, a comedy masterpiece and a delivering of the most spectacular costumes sparkling and shimmering across the stage.
‘Brings the house down’: Dick Whittington: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto – Leeds ★★★★★
There was an infectious feeling of fun, frivolity and non-stop belly-busting laughter across Leeds as the famous Rock ‘n’ Roll panto presenting Dick Whittington, was showing at the fabulous City Varieties Music Hall. After receiving the most festive and friendliest of welcomes from the front of house team, an excited audience settled down for a pantomime that brought the house down.