I loved The Grinning Man in both its incarnations – from Bristol’s Old Vic to the West End – and so I was most pleased to hear that it would be immortalised in vinyl, or whatever the digital equivalent is…
‘A dark & alternative show’: THE GRINNING MAN – West End ★★★★
A particular highlight was Julie Atherton as Queen Angelica, whose comedic timing was on point as always.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: The Grinning Man at Trafalgar Studios
The Bristol Old Vic’s new British musical, based on Victor Hugo’s story, has transferred to London. What have critics made of The Grinning Man’s West End transfer, now running at Trafalgar Studios?
‘An astonishing piece of theatre’: THE GRINNING MAN – West End ★★★★★
The Grinning Man is an astonishing piece of theatre which will appeal to anyone with an appetite for an entertainment which is piquant, curious, original and just a little bit macabre.
‘Satisfying, challenging, complex, beautiful’: THE GRINNING MAN – West End
There’s superlative work from Gyre & Gimble’s puppetry, Loren O’Dair and James Alexander-Taylor’s work with the wolf is exceptional, and the whole show is just as satisfying and challenging and complex and beautiful as I remembered. Recommended.
‘A rare & genuine theatre magic’: THE GRINNING MAN – West End
The Grinning Man may not be suitable for children (it has an age limit of 12 years), and it’s certainly not a Christmas show in any way, but within the grotesque world that Grose, Morris, Teitler and Phillips create there is a rare and genuine theatre magic.
SAINT GEORGE & THE DRAGON – National Theatre ★★★
The National Theatre’s current production of Saint George and the Dragon is a modern and ambitious twist on the traditional folk tale of Saint George the dragon-slayer. Described as “a folk tale for an uneasy nation” this production time travels from the medieval times all the way to the current day.
NEWS: Full cast announced for The Grinning Man’s West End transfer
Full casting has now been announced for the West End transfer of new musical The Grinning Man, with West End stars including Julie Atherton, Mark Anderson and Sanne den Besten amongst those joining the company.
NEWS: Full cast announced for The Grinning Man’s West End transfer
Full casting has now been announced for the West End transfer of new musical The Grinning Man, with West End stars including Julie Atherton, Mark Anderson and Sanne den Besten amongst those joining the company.
NEWS: Gothic musical The Grinning Man transfers from Bristol to West End
Gothic musical The Grinning Man transfers to the West End’s Trafalgar Studios 1 for an open-ended from 5 December 2017. Tickets will go on sale on Wednesday 11 October 2017.
RAISING MARTHA – Park Theatre
There’s a madcap edge to David Spicer’s new comedy that spoofs so much of modern England.
Stephen Boxer is Gerry Duffy, a middle aged frog farmer who’s been supplying amphibians for dissection in schools for years, but who recently has become the target of animal-liberation activists.
RAISING MARTHA – Park Theatre
Raising Martha is a production that has been hit by various casting changes, firstly Morgana Robinson was replaced by Game of Throne’s Gwyneth Keyworth and in a less high profile change Jasper Britton was replaced by Stephen Boxer. The production hasn’t suffered for it.
Best Supporting Actor in a Play + in a Musical
Best Supporting Actor in a PlayPeter Polycarpou, Scenes from 68* YearsIn the midst of a heartbreaking play (by Hannah Khalil), Polycarpou’s contributions to the multi-stranded narrative were more heartbreaking than most – agonisingly, beautifully evoki…
THE GRINNING MAN – Bristol Old Vic
The master stroke of the creative team at Bristol Old Vic is to re-imagine his The Man Who Laughs through the dirty lens of Tim Burton, and to centre The Grinning Man on the brutally malevolent humour of a moping and Machiavellian clown played to and beyond perfection by Julian Bleach.
THE GRINNING MAN – Bristol Old Vic
Written by Carl Grose and directed by BOV AD Tom Morris, The Grinning Man is a deliciously dark fairytale of a show, sharing DNA with the likes of Kneehigh and The Light Princess in its theatrical playfulness and musical complexity.