It is the original postwar Germany and Austria into which Stuart Paterson’s book for new musical Identical takes us in a fresh, bouncy Stiles and Drewe musical. Auditions of hundred pairs of identical twins found three: on press night Eden and Emme Patrick proved faultless in a complicated, sometimes emotionally intense performance, first disliking one another on sight and then rapturously realising their sisterhood; they are playfully natural and assured, rarely offstage for long
‘There is enough heart & brain in the play to keep it going’: RED ELLEN – Edinburgh ★★★
Red Ellen, at the Lyceum, co-produced with the Nottingham Playhouse and Northern Stage, suffers from many of the faults that affect biographical drama, and is far too long for its own good. Nevertheless, it has an abundance of compassion and an excellent central performance from Bettrys Jones.
Year in review: Ian’s 10 favourite shows of 2021
Just a little bit late… Here’s 10 of my favourite shows, both online and onstage but fully acknowledging that I saw a lot less than usual, I might actually have broken the back of this theatre obsession – it just took a global pandemic to do it…!
‘Marking out just how powerful digital theatre can be’: Still Life: Untold Stories of Nottingham Now – Nottingham Playhouse (Online review)
Julie Hesmondhalgh and Frances De La Tour, among others, star in the heartbreakingly excellent Still Life: Untold Stories of Nottingham Now.
There’s still uncertainties on the road to theatres’ recovery
We are just over a month away from the cautious re-opening of indoor theatre venues from 17 May, which will restore theatres to their pre-lockdown condition last December of being able to operate at 50% capacity, up to a maximum of 1,000 people.
‘We were involved in decisions’: Chris Grady pays tribute to influential theatre manager Gordon Stratford
What made theatre manager Gordon Stratford special for me, as a boss, was his passion for the theatre, his quick understanding of potential audiences, and his willingness to give his marketing team the chance to challenge him on proposed prices, deals, and even show choices.
NEWS: Government tier system announcement receives a mixed reaction
There has been a mixed response from theatres up and down the country to the Government’s announcement detailing which areas of England will fall into which Tier when the second lockdown comes to an end on 2 December 2020.
‘Has an intimacy redolent of Graham’s earlier works’: BUBBLE – Nottingham Playhouse (Online review)
One of the highest profile events in Nottingham Playhouse’s Unlocked Festival was Bubble, a hybrid production, performed in-house and live streamed over the weekend to a potential international audience – a new James Graham comedy about life in lockdown.
NEWS: A new play from James Graham will feature in Nottingham Playhouse’s reopening season
A line-up including a new work from playwright James Graham will feature in Nottingham Playhouse Unlocked, Nottingham Playhouse’s three-week reopening season which runs from 21 October to 7 November 2020.
‘Mark Gatiss’ mesmerising acting dominates the play’: THE MADNESS OF GEORGE III – Nottingham Playhouse (Online review)
Alan Bennett writes that “I’ve always had a soft spot for George III”, for no better reason than that he had studied the monarch’s reign at secondary school and then again at uni.
‘A towering central performance by Mark Gatiss’: THE MADNESS OF GEORGE III – Nottingham Playhouse (Online review)
An excellent production of a modern classic with a towering central performance: Alan Bennett’s early 1990s play examines public versus private monarchical concerns at the end of the 18th century in the latest stream from National Theatre At Home.
NEWS: National Theatre at Home screens Mark Gatiss in Alan Bennett’s The Madness of George III
Alan Bennett’s epic multi-award-winning drama The Madness of George III, starring Mark Gatiss in the title role, will be streamed from next Thursday 11 June 2020 via National Theatre at Home.
NEWS: Alexandra Palace hosts Mark Gatiss’ A Christmas Carol & Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Alexandra Palace hosts London transfers of Mark Gatiss’ new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and a major new revival of Tennessee Williams’ classic Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
Tony’s Last Tape Q&A video: Paying tribute to Tony Benn, from ‘most dangerous man’ to ‘national treasure’
Many in the audience at Clapham’s Omnibus Theatre knew and were influenced by Tony Benn and were happy to share memories and thoughts on what he would think about the play as well as today’s political situation.
‘Philip Bretherton gives a barnstorming performance’: TONY’S LAST TAPE – Omnibus Theatre ★★★★
Even if you weren’t a card-carrying Labour Party member, you’d be hard put not to come away from Tony’s Last Tape at the Omnibus Theatre with the light of idealism burning a little bit brighter in the heart and soul.
NEWS: Alex Kingston in gender-switch production of An Enemy of the People & Assassins revival are confirmed for Nottingham Playhouse autumn season
Award-winning actress, TV and film actress Alex Kingston will take on the lead of Dr Stockmann in An Enemy of the People from 13 to 28 September 2019 (press night is 17 September) as part of Nottingham Playhouse’s autumn season.
New post-show Q&A: Join Terri for the timely return of Tony Benn play Tony’s Last Tape
As part of her ongoing post-show Q&A series, on Friday 5 April 2019, Mates co-founder Terri Paddock returns to London’s Omnibus Theatre for the timely return of the one-man play about the late political titan and “most dangerous man in Britain” Tony Benn. Got any questions?
NEWS: Top UK theatres named at The Stage Awards 2019 include the Bush, Barn Cirencester & Nottingham Playhouse
Winners of The Stage Awards 2019 have been announced at the Bridge Theatre, London. The Bush Theatre was named London Theatre of the Year, Regional Theatre of the Year was won by Nottingham Playhouse and The Barn Theatre, Cirencester won Fringe Theatre of the Year.
NEWS: Nominees for The Stage Awards 2019 include Almeida Theatre, Nottingham Playhouse & Sonia Friedman
Top theatres across the UK, including nominees from London, Manchester, Nottingham, Wales and Scotland, have made the shortlist for The Stage Awards 2019.
‘You gain in a proximity to the action denied even to the front row’: NT Live screening – The Madness of King George III
The revival of Alan Bennett’s 1991 classic The Madness of King George III at Nottingham Playhouse couldn’t then be more relevant, a play that speaks to our interest in the people who govern us as well as concerns about fitness to rule, mental health and its treatment.
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