The Lawrence Batley Theatre and The Dukes’ new digital co-production of The Importance of Being Earnest brings Oscar Wilde’s classic play up to date and transfers the action up north. I caught up with actor Tom Dixon, who plays Algy, to find out more.
Mates blogger: Kirsty Herrington
Kirsty Herrington is one of over 45 theatre bloggers who are part of the MyTheatreMates collective. This page features Kirsty's posts on MyTheatreMates. Take a look at our full list of theatre bloggers and our aggregated feed of all our Mates' posts. We’re always looking for new theatre bloggers. Could that be you? Learn about how to join us.
Kirsty Herrington is a blogger who fell in love with theatre at a young age and spent the majority of her student loan on tickets to West End Shows while she was at university. She began reviewing regularly for fellow MyTheatreMates’ sites Love London Love Culture, Jonathan Baz Review, London Theatre Reviews and Mind the Blog before setting up her own site From Page to Stage in 2018. With a background in journalism and a keen enthusiasm for both plays and musicals, Kirsty often reviews productions in London and East Anglia. She tweets via @kherrington83.
The latest from Kirsty on MyTheatreMates
‘Well worth a watch’: OUTSIDE – Orange Tree Theatre (Online review) ★★★★
Curated by the Orange Tree’s literary associate Guy Jones, Outside also comprises three short plays, this time stories with a theme of connection and hope.
‘Incredibly captivating production’: AN ELEPHANT IN THE GARDEN – Barn Theatre (Online review) ★★★★
A story which highlights the power of endurance and the the kindness of strangers, The Elephant in the Garden is a powerful one-woman show which enchants from beginning to end.
‘Incredibly strong & stylish production’: SCARAMOUCHE JONES – Ginger Quiff Media & Stream.Theatre (Online review) ★★★★★
Written by Justin Butcher, Scaramouche Jones or the Seven White Masks is the latest digital production from Ginger Quiff Media, the team behind the recent revivals of Rose and Little Wars, and tells the story of a tragic clown whose life has been shaped by misfortune.
‘Thought-provoking & topical plays with heaps of potential’: INSIDE – Orange Tree Theatre (Online review) ★★★★
Inside features three thought-provoking and topical plays with heaps of potential. With strong scripts and impressive performances, this really sets the bar high for the second show in the series, Outside, and shows that the future of theatre is looking very bright indeed.
‘The perfect tonic for these strange times’: WEST END MUSICAL DRIVE-IN (Online review)
All of the West End Musical Drive-In concerts are a joy to watch, but this particular show, with its strong line-up, great song choices and powerful performances, not to mention the enthusiasm of the performers and audience members, is one of the strongest out of the five.
‘A much-needed dose of musical theatre’: WEST END MUSICAL DRIVE-IN (Online review) ★★★★
The latest streamed offering from West End Musical Drive-In is another strong and entertaining show with a brilliant setlist and some standout performances, and is guaranteed to brighten your day.
‘There is no weak link in the cast’: GATSBY A MUSICAL – Cadogan Hall (Online review) ★★★★
Featuring great songs, a strong cast and some stunning vocals, Gatsby A Musical is a delightful and emotional show which puts a new spin on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s characters and is fully deserved of a staged performance once theatres reopen.
‘A must-watch to get your musical theatre fix’: WEST END MUSICAL DRIVE-IN – Stream.Theatre (Online review) ★★★★
The second in the West End Musical Drive-In series has launched online and is a must-watch for any fans of the hit musical Six! The show sees 11 past and present Six cast members reunite for an entertaining outdoor concert.
‘There are some magical moments’: THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE – Southwark Playhouse (Online review)
New British musical The Sorcerer’s Apprentice was due to premiere at London’s Southwark Playhouse at the start of this year, but the run had to be cancelled following the announcement of the most recent lockdown. Thankfully the show has been filmed and is now available to watch online at stream.theatre.
‘You can still savour the atmosphere’: WEST END MUSICAL DRIVE-IN – Stream.Theatre (Online review)
Featuring some amazing song choices and outstanding vocals, the live-stream of West End Musical Drive-In is just what we need right now to lift our spirits
‘Tinder meets Black Mirror in this entertaining & innovative production’: MANIMALS (Online review) ★★★★
Manimals has a lot to say, and this show is sure to strike a chord with anyone who’s ever subjected themselves to the world of online dating.
Album Review: The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be – Danielle Steers ★★★★★
The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be offers a fresh take on some classic songs and is a great opportunity for Danielle Steers to take centre stage and showcase her amazing vocals.
‘Promising play which packs an emotional punch’: STAR MAN (Online review)
Following a staged reading last year at London’s Old Red Lion Theatre, new play Star Man has made its livestream debut to raise vital funds for LGBTQ+ youth homelessness charity akt.
‘Fun, witty & incredibly creative’: PUBLIC DOMAIN – Southwark Playhouse (Online review) ★★★★
The cast and creative team involved in Public Domain, streamed from Southwark Playhouse, succeeded in creating a brilliant show which is timely and incredibly thought-provoking.
‘Country music’s loss is certainly musical theatre’s gain’: AN EVENING WITH DAVID BEDELLA – Crazy Coqs (Online review) ★★★★
David Bedella made each song his own during his cabaret An Evening with David Bedella, an show full of fun boasting a great choice of songs and a slick performance.
‘Incredibly imaginative & energetic’: POTTED PANTO (Online review) ★★★★
With so many pantomimes on offer at this time of year it can be tough to choose which one to watch. Thankfully Potted Panto has come to the rescue with a show which takes you through seven pantomimes in just 70 minutes.
‘The perfect tonic to these darker times’: THE SNOW QUEEN – Ipswich (Online review) ★★★★
Full of joy and imagination with some hilarious jokes and great music choices, The Snow Queen at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich is guaranteed to brighten your spirits this Christmas.
‘Everything about this production is impressive’: PETR PAN – Barn Theatre, Cirencester (Online review) ★★★★★
After the year we’ve all had no one can be forgiven for wanting a touch of escapism this Christmas. Thankfully the Barn Theatre has come to the rescue with it latest production, Peter Pan.
‘Compelling two-hander about class, racism & masculinity’: IN SEARCH OF A WHITE IDENTITY – The Actors Centre (Online review) ★★★★
Originally part of The Actors Centre’s Working Class Season, curated by Actor Awareness in 2019, In Search of a White Identity has been reimagined following the Covid-19 pandemic and is part of the Centre’s new season of on-demand theatre.