Top theatres across the UK, including nominees from London, Manchester, Nottingham, Wales and Scotland, have made the shortlist for The Stage Awards 2019.
‘Promises to be real marmite’: TWELFTH NIGHT – Bristol ★★★
If nothing else Wils Wilson has produced a rollicking evening of entertainment in Twelfth Night at Bristol Old Vic, even if it is only a surface level take on this most beguiling of masterpieces.
‘Nail-biting & exhilarating’: TOUCHING THE VOID – Touring ★★★★
David Greig’s riveting adaptation of Simpson’s Touching The Void has made the transition for an innovative co-production, led by Bristol Old Vic, which is now touring.
‘There is a woozy melancholy at this production’s heart’: TWELTH NIGHT – Edinburgh ★★★★
Shifting emotions are filtered through autumnal sunlight in the Lyceum’s Twelfth Night, with as much defiant sadness on view as happy resolution.
‘A theatrical triumph’: TOUCHING THE VOID – Bristol
Touching The Void is a theatrical triumph. David Greig, Tom Morris and the team have created a piece of theatre that excels beyond mere adaptation.
‘I was in no way emotionally prepared for what was to come’: A MONSTER CALLS – Old Vic Theatre
You know those ‘if you’ve been affected by the issues in this programme…’ messages you get sometimes after particularly traumatic documentaries and/or episodes of Hollyoaks? Have you ever seen one in a theatre before?
‘A celebration of all those who classify themselves as female’: MAKE MORE NOISE – Bristol ★★★★
Marking 100 years since women were first granted the vote, it’s a celebration of the women who dared to be different, and a call to arms to finally eradicate gender inequality for good.
‘For a play about storytelling, most of the story is oddly unengaging’: A MONSTER CALLS – Old Vic
For a play about storytelling, most of A Monster Calls is oddly unengaging and bland. Worst of all, it does the audience’s moral work for them, being increasingly didactic and offering its sincere insights into loss, love, and feeling on a plate.
‘A total-theatre instant classic’: A MONSTER CALLS – Bristol & The Old Vic ★★★★★
Patrick Ness’ novel slips perfectly into Sally Cookson’s fertile theatrical imagination. Its split-focused tale of cancer wards and midnight hour fairy tales suits Cookson’s gifts, for genuine human emotion and beautifully intricate theatrical imagery.
‘An instant classic’: A MONSTER CALLS – Bristol & The Old Vic
In the hands of Sally Cookson, A Monster Calls is an instant classic: a show that transforms both hearts and minds through the magic of authentic storytelling. Go with someone and join the masses who rose to their feet and hugged those near them.
‘An imagination explosion exploited to its full capacity’: THE NATURE OF WHY – Bristol
The joy created by this remarkable company is second only to the joy felt by those lucky enough to see The Nature of Why. This isn’t a performance you simply see or hear. It’s one you feel.
‘Assured, fresh & modern interpretation’: THE CHERRY ORCHARD – Manchester
With this production of The Cherry Orchard, the Royal Exchange once again takes an important classic and makes it wonderfully accessible and relevant to the modern age. It is highly recommended.
NEWS: Casting is announced for The Old Vic & Bristol Old Vic’s A Monster Calls
Full casting has been announced for The Old Vic and Bristol Old Vic’s world premiere of A Monster Calls. Patrick Ness’ piercing novel is being brought to both venues in The Old Vic’s 200th year in a powerful new adaptation by director Sally Cookson.
‘It is one of the best staging’s BOV has produced in the past few years’: THE CHERRY ORCHARD – Bristol ★★★★★
This Cherry Orchard is a production that showcases Michael Boyd, his ensemble, Chekhov and Bristol Old Vic at its very best. I love the theatre when it’s this good.
INTERVIEW: Julius D’Silva talks The Cherry Orchard
I caught up actor Julius D’Silva one lunchtime at Bristol Old Vic on a break from rehearsal to discuss his work on The Cherry Orchard, reuniting with director Michael Boyd
From The Country Wife to Olivier Award nominations: What to look out for in March
Lots of different things opening across the country in March. In London there are a lot of Fringe and Off West End productions coming your way.
‘Soapy construct is elevated with physicality of breathtaking beauty’: THINGS I KNOW TO BE TRUE – Bristol ★★★
It’s rare for a new production to be demonstrably better than its source text but this one by Frantic Assembly’s Things I Know To Be True by Geordie Brookman and Scott Graham shows it can happen.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Long Day’s Journey into Night at Wyndham’s Theatre
Jeremy Irons and Lesley Manville reprise their roles from the Bristol Old Vic run of Richard Eyre’s production at Wyndham’s Theatre, London until 8 April 2018. Discover what critics are saying so far here.
‘An intensely intimate portrait of a family’: LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT – West End ★★★★
Long Day’s Journey Into Night at London’s Wyndham’s Theatre is a powerful and moving production, but would be even more compelling with about an hour taken out of it.
‘Lovingly created’: LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT – West End
The Bristol Old Vic’s production of Long Day’s Journey into Night at Wyndham’s wrings excellent performances from its leads and brings clarity to O’Neill’s huge canvas.