Premiered in New York in 2006, David Lindsay-Abaire’s robust yet delicate piece, which considers the fallout from a child’s death, is a compelling tragicomedy.
‘A modern fairy tale with attitude’: SHREK THE MUSICAL (Online review)
The Shrek franchise opts for a modern-day spin on the traditional form, undermining expectations and undercutting some of the more winsome aspects with one-liners and witty put-downs.
NEWS: Turbine Theatre’s first musical will be High Fidelity
The UK premiere of the new musical comedy High Fidelity, based on the acclaimed British novel by Nick Hornby (State Of The Union/About A Boy/Fever Pitch), is the second production in Paul Taylor-Mills’ inaugural season at the Turbine Theatre.
‘Fun & silly entertainment for the whole family’: SHREK THE MUSICAL – Touring ★★★★
Filled with plenty of laughter and fun, it is safe to say the audience left the theatre with a spring in their step and a smile on their face thanks to Shrek and his loveable fairytale companions.
SHREK THE MUSICAL – Touring ★★★
Big, bright and brash, there are plenty of laughs in the new touring production of Shrek the Musical, which is debuting at the Playhouse until the first week of the new year.
TICKETS: Mark’s Top Ten recommendations this week (9 May)
New entries this week are the return of Funny Girl, transferred from the Menier to the Savoy, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Globe.
TICKETS: Mark’s Top Ten recommendations this week (26 Apr)
The night after opening in the West End, Daniel Evans Sheffield Crucible production of Show Boat shoots straight into the top slot of Mark Shenton’s regularly updated list of top ten ticket recommendations. What are the other risers and fallers. Follow links to book tickets.
TICKETS: Mark’s Top Ten recommendations this week (12 Apr)
New entries this week in Mark Shenton’s Top Ten recommendations are Les Blancs at the National and How the Other Half Loves in the West End. Get tickets for all ten shows here.
TICKETS: Mark’s Top Ten recommendations + this week’s openings (28 Mar)
After re-visiting The Book of Mormon, it makes it into this week’s Top Ten; so does People, Places and Things, newly transferred from the National to the West End. Plus, this week’s openings and other recommendations.
TICKETS: Mark’s Top Ten recommendations + this week’s openings (21 Mar)
After three one-star shows in a row last week, there’s a guaranteed hit opening this week when People, Places and Things transfers from the National.
TICKETS: Mark’s Top Ten recommendations + this week’s openings (14 Mar)
Mark Shenton’s top ten ticket recommendations of the week, plus new openings at the St James and Young Vic plus the latest in Kenneth Branagh’s West End season
TICKETS: Mark’s Top Ten recommendations + this week’s openings (7 Mar)
Top ten of the week, but there are lots of dark theatres, too, in London at the moment.
TICKETS: Mark’s Top Ten recommendations + this week’s openings (22 Feb)
Top ten of the week, with new addition for Simon McBurney’s phenomenal The Encounter.
SHREK – Touring
As the Shrek UK tour draws to a close, it was fun to catch up with the show’s final week at Manchester’s Lowry Theatre. Long long ago, before Shrek became a stage musical, it was an award winning DreamWorks movie that stole the hearts of adults and children alike. Upon its release in 2001, Shrek won the first ever Academy award for Best Animated Feature, as well as receiving countless nominations at the BAFTAs and Golden Globes.
My theatre diary: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Rabbit Hole, Pink Mist, One of Those
Some personal play recommendations – plus thoughts, tweets and a few #theatreselfies: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at the National, Rabbit Hole at Hampstead, Pink Mist at the Bush and One of Those at Tristan Bates.
RABBIT HOLE – Hampstead Theatre
Pretty much everyone agreed – here and on its West End transfer- that the American David Lindsay-Abaire’s GOOD PEOPLE was a masterpiece, with its defiant, vigorous lead played by Imelda Staunton on barnstorming form, and a dryly humane treatment of class divisions putting it streets ahead of most recent British attempts on the theme. Now, this time under director Edward Hall, we have a slightly earlier play by the same author and there will be more division
Curtain Up: News from the last week in theatre, tickets on sale
The festive season is long gone, pantomimes have finished and hundreds of actors are putting away their Dame costumes for another year, the presents have been put away (or exchanged) and after a month of gorging ourselves on sweet treats there’s one last box of mince pies in the cupboard that we’re trying to resist! So, with the world getting back to normal it’s about time we caught up on recent theatre news.
Mark Shenton: My top ten ticket picks for 2016
Looking ahead to this year’s highlights, from Broadway imports and Pulitzer prize winners to Kenneth Branagh and Matthew Warchus’s ongoing seasons.
NEWS: Lindsay Abaire’s Rabbit Hole gets UK premiere at Hampstead Theatre
Hampstead Theatre presents the UK premiere of acclaimed playwright David Lindsay-Abaire’s Pulitzer Prize winning drama Rabbit Hole directed by Edward Hall.