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.
‘Innovative & intriguing piece of theatre making’: CAN I LIVE – Complicité (Online review)
The twin themes of social justice and climate activism are explored in this piece from Fehinti Balogun/Complicité.
‘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…
FEATURED SHOW: Proforca Lately adds new dates & tours on back of ★★★★ reviews
After opening to a slew of four-star reviews last week, Proforca Theatre has announced extra performances of its acclaimed production of Lately. We’ve rounded up review highlights. Time to get booking!
‘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.
PHOTOS: Peek into rehearsals for hit drama Empty in Angel
As it returns to the London stage for an autumn tour, take a look at what Darcy Willison and the Empty in Angel team have been up to in rehearsals, then book your tickets for the hit gig economy-skewering play.
‘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.
‘It’s refreshing’: WAITRESS – New Wimbledon Theatre & Touring ★★★★
New Wimbledon Theatre has opened its doors with the West End smash hit production Waitress starring Lucie Jones as Jenna and ex Busted star Matt Willis in the role of Dr Pomatter. The book by Jessie Nelson tells the story about Jenna’s escape from an unhappy violent controlling relationship into the happier life that she works extremely hard to achieve. Alongside her are the two fellow waitresses Becky (Sandra Marvin), Dawn (Evelyn Hoskins) and the long-suffering diner manager Cal (Christopher D Hunt).
‘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.
‘Every actor should try to direct & every director should try to act’: Joe Idris-Roberts on making his directorial debut with Loop on tour
As Tiny Room prepares for its inaugural tour with Peter Mulligan’s LOOP, we caught up with Joe Idris-Roberts, who now makes his professional directorial debut with this latest iteration of his company co-founder’s acclaimed play.
‘Tumble outta bed & stumble to the theatre’: 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL – Southampton & Touring ★★★★★
All stand for Queen Dolly! I have been waiting to see 9 to 5 The Musical this for a long time, I’m a huge fan of Dolly Parton, having even ticked DollyWood off my must do list. Finally it happened and I was not disappointed.
‘A fast-paced romp through one of Shakespeare’s daftest comedies’: THE COMEDY OF ERRORS – Wimbledon & Touring
Scoot Theatre is out touring cricket grounds (plus a few other places) again this summer with two condensed, family-friendly Shakespeare shows. Alongside the return of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (which we saw and loved at BarnFest 2020) comes The Comedy of Errors.
‘It’s very funny’: SYD – Colchester & Touring ★★★★
On comes Arthur Smith in Syd, and we see that undimmed by lockdown-year is his tendency to merriment and causing merriment, whether in Barry-Cryer-type gags, geezerish challenges to the audience, or unmatchable stories.