Although I always have the best of intentions about promoting and reviewing online young people’s theatre, I’d be the first to admit that it has often taken a back seat. I’ve now tackled a very high percentage of shows on the regular list so I’m going to make a rather more concerted effort to engage with those on the junior version and get this up to the same level. I thought I’d start by heading for one where the title had long intrigued me.
‘What’s on offer is experiencing an epic story with a roomful of strangers’: Anthony Almeida directs ETT’s Cat On A Hot Tin Roof
Love London Love Culture chatted to director Anthony Almeida about the revival of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, currently touring the UK.
NEWS: More details announced for National Theatre’s new season as the venue opens up for daytime visitors
The National Theatre has announces further details for its upcoming productions Trouble in Mind, Wuthering Heights and Small Island, as well as the return of daytime opening for visitors.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: The Beauty Queen of Leenane – Chichester Festival Theatre/ Lyric Hammersmith
We round up the reviews for the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre co-production of Martin McDonagh‘s The Beauty Queen of Leenane.
‘A tear-jerking and heart-warming ode’: EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE — Leicester Curve & Tour
This past weekend saw the return of the much-loved West End Live in Trafalgar Square. A free festival for theatre lovers, the event has increased in popularity each year (I still remember the early years when everyone was crammed into Leicester Square and only a handful of shows took part!), and eventually it will outgrow its current home too (where next? Hyde Park?).
NEWS: Just Some Theatre return to London with interactive dark comedy thriller The Killer Question
After two critically acclaimed Off-West End seasons, Just Some Theatre return to London with a brand-new show, hilariously dark interactive murder mystery The Killer Question. Which actor will play which character? You decide!
‘Provocative & rousing, nostalgic & contemporary’: EAST IS EAST – Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Twenty-five years after its first performance at the Rep, Ayub Khan Din’s comedy about a British-Pakistani family in 1970s Salford returns home to Birmingham. In Iqbal Khan’s production for the Rep and National Theatre, East is East feels like both a modern classic and as fresh as a new play.
‘Gloriously silly & a right hoot’: THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES – Touring ★★★★★
This ingenious adaptation is a fabulous, exhilarating slapstick romp combining theatrical invention and wonderfully comic performances.
‘Superb & moving start to a long-awaited season’: SEPTEMBER IN THE RAIN – Salisbury Playhouse ★★★★
Salisbury Playhouse reopens its doors with September in the Rain by John Godber. Liz (Nicola Sloane) and Jack Munroe (Ian Kelsey) fondly reflect on holiday memoirs from their thirty years of annual visits in September to the seaside town Blackpool.
‘More street cred, less Hollywood sweetness’: GREASE – Woking & Touring ★★★★
When Grease hit our cinemas back in 1978 I was a wide-eyed 13 year old enthralled by the story, the music and the Grease feeling. So much so as I went to see the film six times. This was a time before video tapes, DVDs and streaming.
‘A magical fever dream that invites you to suspend your disbelief’: BAT OUT OF HELL – Manchester & Touring ★★★★★
Hitting the highway until late 2022, after several staggering runs in Toronto, New York and London, Bat Out Of Hell returned to its proverbial Manchester home this weekend.
‘I was astounded‘: ROCK OF AGES – Birmingham & Touring ★★★★★
If you wanna rock, then come on feel the noize and have nothing but a good time with the cast of Rock of Ages.
Reviewed by Joanne Hodge
5*****
Rock of Ages
Photo Credit : The Other Richard
If you wanna rock, then come on feel the noize and have nothing but a good time with the cast of ‘Rock of…
‘Bad taste jokes & plenty of laughs’: AY UP, HITLER! – Touring ★★★★
We watch as Ay Up, Hitler is set “down the pub” with an array of Yorkshire accents, lots of warm beer drunk (mimed) and donning the flat cap. Writer David McCulloch has certainly put the Ay Up into Hitler.
‘A wonderful classic production’: EAST IS EAST – Birmingham Repertory Theatre ★★★★
Having been a fan of the film, I was more than delighted to accept the invitation to go along to the press night of East Is East, 25 years since the world premiere on the Birmingham REP’s stage.
‘Evokes the heat & intensity of the setting’: CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF – Curve Leicester & Touring
Anthony Almeida has created not only a highly entertaining piece of theatre in Cat On a Hot Tin Roof at Curve Leicester, but a tableau of family life that can still resonate with modern audiences.
‘The audience is left to decide who is right’: LOOP – Touring ★★★★
Written by Peter Mulligan, Loop examines different philosophical outlooks one might have and how they ‘help’ (or not) with expectations of life.
‘Exquisitely performed by the most phenomenal dancers’: DANGEROUS LIAISONS – Leeds ★★★★★
A very excited audience gathered at the wonderful Leeds Playhouse to see David Nixon’s ballet adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos’ 18th-century highly-seductive novel, Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons), on the opening night.
‘Acceptance is the name of the game’: EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE – Salford & Touring ★★★★★
All-in-all, everybody SHOULD be talking about Jamie, and everyone – no matter colour gender, sexuality or anything else is welcome here – acceptance is the name of the game in this touring production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
‘Exploring ideas in the playful & imaginative way’: Toby Hulse takes his play This Island’s Mine on tour
Love London Love Culture chats to writer and director Toby Hulse about This Island’s Mine which tours the UK from the 19 September 2021.
NEWS: Meet the new company facing a pub lock-in on tour in Tiny Room’s Loop
Curtis Medley, Martha Furnival and Taro Bahar star in Tiny Room’s fresh new staging of Peter Mulligan’s acclaimed 2018 play LOOP, which launches an inaugural tour this week from Coventry’s Albany Theatre as part of the City of Culture 2021 celebrations.