The Trench, conceived, written, co-directed and performed by Oliver Lansley and his lively company, Les Enfants Terribles, was inspired by the story of Sapper William Hackett, the only tunneller to be awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery in saving the lives of fellow-men but sacrificed his own.
‘Moving & memorable interpretation’: CAMELOT – West End ★★★★
I feel sorry that this production of Camelot was for one night only but what a pleasure and a privilege it was to be in the audience for this great occasion.
‘Just as headily thrilling as the first time you ever saw it’: SWAN LAKE – London Coliseum ★★★★★
If, as a child, you had a box of treasures and would open it to admire and cherish the contents, knowing what was there but loving seeing each precious thing, you might have the same sensation watching the St Petersburg Ballet Theatre’s production of Swan Lake.
‘A slightly bonkers romance mingled with some great songs’: KNIGHTS OF THE ROSE – Arts Theatre ★★★
I think this show will be perfect for anyone looking for an entertaining night out as long as they prepare to go with the trot, canter and gallop of a slightly bonkers romance mingled with some great songs.
‘Potential to get lost in translation’: TARTUFFE – West End ★★
I think some of the elements in Tartuffe might have been lost in translation, they were certainly lost on me, but for anyone who is fluent in French and English, it could be just the thing for a good night out.
‘Riotous fun’: EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION – Shoreditch Town Hall & Touring ★★★★
What riotous fun Education, Education, Education show is. Conceived and performed by Wardrobe Ensemble, the small band of players conjures the crazed world of an inner-city comprehensive full of bewildered and exhausted teachers and energetic and challenging children.
‘Packed with lively songs’: BANANAMAN – Southwark Playhouse ★★★★
All generations must have their superheroes; for children in the 1980s, tea-time television presented awe-struck audiences with the adventures of Bananaman, a particularly dim-witted super-hero who started life on the back pages of the DC Thomson comic, Nutty.
‘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.
LA SOIREE – West End ★★★★★
An evening with La Soirée offers a heady mix of cabaret, vaudeville, circus, nightclub, dance, acrobatics and highly original comedy.
FOOTLOOSE – Peacock Theatre ★★★
You can see where this is going. The theme is rather reminiscent of those films with Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney were put upon youngsters fight their way out of a difficult situation by…. yes, putting on a show!
THE ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO – West End
Here’s a fun thing for the holidays! This production of The Adventures of Pinocchio will be a sure-fire hit for young audience who love nothing better than seeing other children performing and a vast cast of young actors will be strutting their stuff at the Ambassadors Theatre until 30 August.
THE HIRED MAN – Union Theatre
The Hired Man is a love story set at the turn of the last century, amongst the rural fields, industrial towns and dangerous coal mines of northern England. In this moving musical, sensitively and imaginatively directed by Brendan Matthew, we follow the fortunes of men and women whose only hope of employment was to present themselves at regular fairs.
YANK! – Charing Cross Theatre
Yank!, a musical by Joseph Zellnik with books and lyrics by David Zellnik, follows the fortunes of a young (nearly 19) squaddie, drafted into the American army in the early 1940s. The fictional story of Stu, played by a very impressive Scott Hunter, is told through diary entries.
POSH – The Pleasance Theatre
“I’m sick of poor people” shouts one of the thrusting young men seated around a table groaning with empty wine and champagne bottles. Uniformed buttons have been unfastened, waistbands loosened and ties are now hanging louchely from necks.
BEAU BRUMMELL – AN ELEGANT MADNESS – Jermyn Street Theatre
We first meet Brummell sitting in his tin bath being attended to by Austin, his faithful valet (note the t is pronounced). He is preparing to dress in anticipation of being reunited with his old friend the Prince Regent.
Year in Review: Caroline Hanks-Farmer & co choose their favourite shows of 2016
2016 has undoubtedly had its highs and lows. I wanted to find out what were my regular reviewers’ two favourite theatrical productions that they had covered for me this year?
MOBY DICK – Union Theatre
Just as pantomimes don’t bother sticking to the original fairytales they’re based on, this production of the American classic is presented as an amateur musical send up of a psychologically challenging novel performed by a group of distracted schoolchildren.
THE DRESSER – West End
Witty and heartfelt, Ken Stott and Reece Shearsmith’s evocation of this classic play about theatre life is moving and impressive. The house darkens, the curtain lifts and bombs shake plaster from the ceiling. We are in the middle of a ‘tatty tour of the provinces’, marooned in the dressing room of a theatre battered by German shelling in the 1940s.
MURDER BALLAD – West End
Sara is freewheeling but needy; she falls for Tom who is sexy but untrustworthy. With clever use of minimal props and the stage’s revolve, we watch the trajectory of a relationship play out through song and choreography … until it runs its course and ends badly.