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
’It’s grand in its scope, telling stories within stories’: Drive Your Plow Over The Bones Of The Dead – Touring
In Complicité Theatre’s Drive Your Plow Over The Bones Of The Dead, Kathryn Hunter keeps the audience engaged as her confidante and our gateway into shining a light on the anti-ecological policies of local government. The production team, especially Dick Straker’s video design, should also be commended.
NEWS: Alexia McIntosh & Kieren Hamilton-Amos join Belgrade Coventry creative director Corey Campbell in Big Aunty
Big Aunty – the first home produced show of the spring season – will play in The Belgrade Coventry’s B2 auditorium from 24 April to 6 May, with a press night on 26 April. Midlands-born performers Alexia McIntosh and Kieren Hamilton-Amos will join Belgrade creative director Corey Campbell in the production, directed and devised by Campbell.
‘Fascinating & informative’: THE MAKINGS OF A MURDERER – Touring
The Makings of a Murderer at the Adelphi Theatre is certainly worth catching if it comes near you on tour, though a strong stomach and nerves of steel certainly are highly recommended.
‘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.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Hamnet at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Love London Love Culture’s Emma Clarendon takes a look at what critics have said about Lolita Chakrabarti’s staging of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel, Hamnet.
NEWS: Complicité partners with Belgrade Theatre for the world premiere of Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead
Renowned international touring company Complicité’s world premiere production of Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, the new stage adaptation of Nobel Prize-winning author Olga Tokarczuk’s novel of the same name, will play Belgrade Theatre Coventry’s Main Stage from 18 to 22 April 2023. The venue is also one of the production’s co-producing partners.
‘Readers of the book will not be disappointed’: HAMNET – Stratford-upon-Avon
It’s a joy to have the intimate Swan auditorium open again, refurbished after going dark in the first sudden Covid closure, and to see once again a strong, nimble RSC ensemble conjuring up the past in Hamnet.
‘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.
‘Sure to bring great joy’: MOG THE FORGETFUL CAT – Touring ★★★★
Celebrating over 50 years since its initial publication, Judith Kerr’s Mog the Forgetful Cat is now an institution for families all across the UK, as they settle down to a bedtime story together. As the nation’s favourite feline, it’s perhaps surprising that it has taken a golden anniversary to see Mog hit our stages
‘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.
‘A fresh look at a classic’: BRIEF ENCOUNTER – Touring
Emma Rice’s adaptation of Brief Encounter certainly adds a fresh look at the 1945 British romantic film directed by David Lean, which had originally been adapted from the Noël Coward play of 1936, Still Life.
‘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.
‘An incredible debut’: SAP – Touring
It doesn’t take long to understand why Rafaella Marcus’ debut play Sap garnered so many rave reviews at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe. The quality of the writing and its exceptional delivery under Jessica Lazar’s direction make an instant impression, even before the complexity of the play and its themes fully comes to light.
‘Outstanding performances’: SUCKER PUNCH – ★★★★★
Sucker Punch by Roy Williams delivers more than one or two physical and emotional punches throughout the play. Set within the boxing club environment throughout the production. Every battle fought within the play takes place in or around the boxing ring.
‘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.
‘Stripped to the bare essentials’: HAMLET – Bristol (Cinema Review)
The fat has been cut from this Bristol Old Vic production of Hamlet, leaving the meat of the play. There is no Fortinbras subplot, the ghost and player scenes are stripped to the bare essentials.
‘Irresistible, awful, immortal’: HAY FEVER – Sonning ★★★★
I don’t always make it through the Oxfordshire lanes to the gorgeous, eccentric, water-wheeled Mill at Sonning, but the thought of Issy van Randwyck as Judith Bliss in Hay Fever lured me. Caught the show en route to the airport, so I started writing this on a Croatian long-distance bus.
‘Fun, educational & interactive’: GEORGIA & THE ICEBERG – Touring ★★★★
Dorset Bred’s Georgia and the Iceberg is currently on tour. I would highly recommend taking the family to watch this. It’s suitable for all ages and an important topic that we should all be concerned about.
‘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.