BREATHING CORPSES at the Alma, Bristol

by

Breathing Corpses is certainly a play that needs to be delivered with a considerable degree of expertise, for it is far from straightforward. It has a teasingly complex narrative structure and there are mysteries that are never fully resolved. It is full of hints that apparently disconnected characters and events may in fact be closely associated, and we are invited to make links between such themes as death and sex, but these are not made explicit.

Read More
FOREVER YOURS, MARY-LOU at the Ustinov Studio, Bath

FOREVER YOURS, MARY-LOU at the Ustinov Studio, Bath

by

The production would seem to owe more to Beckett than Brecht in that it sets about paring down to a minimum what we like to call the ‘action’ of the play. The audience is treated to a row of four chairs, which austerity is barely relieved by the odd prop – a bottle of stout here, a picture of ‘our Lord’ there. The actors, with hardly a sideways glance, sit facing out front, acting to the back of the auditorium.

Read More
Sharp Teeth THE MARCH EDITION at the Wardrobe, Bristol

Sharp Teeth THE MARCH EDITION at the Wardrobe, Bristol

by

For over a year and a half Sharp Teeth Theatre have been presenting monthly shows on Sunday nights that bring together storytelling, poetry, music and, of course, theatre. The aim is clearly to be as varied, inclusive and accessible as possible, a strategy exemplified by their ‘pay what you decide’ policy. The presentational style is determinedly informal and relaxed; this is the antithesis of elitist theatre.

Read More
UNEARTHED at the Everyman Studio, Cheltenham

UNEARTHED at the Everyman Studio, Cheltenham

by

Folio Theatre is a relatively new company and Unearthed is their first production. We favourably reviewed their second show, Reel Life, at the Ustinov in Bath on these pages last month. Apart from that, I knew little about them, but as I read through the programme, waiting for the house lights to dim, I couldn’t help raising my eyebrows at the company’s credentials . . . There is much to admire and great potential here.

Read More
The Government Inspector at Birmingham Rep

The Government Inspector at Birmingham Rep

by

The cast are great. Their camaraderie and the ease with which they move around/over/on top of/with one another gives the play an authentic feel. They bumble and buzz and are note-perfect. Singling out performances may seem a discredit to their fine ensemble work, but special praise has to be given to David Carlyle as the Mayor, his wife Anna (Kiruna Stamell – flawless), and their daughter Maria (an energetic, keen-eyed Francesca Mills).

Read More
THE MOUSETRAP on tour

THE MOUSETRAP on tour

by

I really enjoyed it, I went with the flow. The set was magnificent and the costumes, props and feel of the thing really placed us back in the decade of Bovril, ITMA and powdered milk. All the performances were excellent – former Dr Who squeeze Louise Jameson is the nominated star but I especially liked the very camp and ever-so-slightly over the top Oliver Gully as the eccentric Christopher Wren. It’s not Ibsen, but it doesn’t claim to be.

Read More

Pin It on Pinterest