THE RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE at Birmingham Rep

The performance of Nancy Sullivan as Little Voice, is worth the price of the ticket alone – she’s spectacular. An endearing, movingly powerful performance in a role that suited her down to her boots. A part with very little lines, she ensures there is a real openness to the audience, and lets us in to the mind of the reclusive character. Her versatile voice shines: with her rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow you could almost be mistaken for listening to Just Garland herself.

Read More

THE CAR MAN at Bristol Hippodrome

” . . . Since its first performances in 2000 The Car Man has become justly famous for its energetic and unrestrained sexuality, but there are also quieter and subtler scenes of tenderness and poignancy, particularly between Rita and Angelo, that are among the most memorable moments in the show. Katy Lowenhoff gives Rita a touching vulnerability, while Dominic North skillfully conveys Angelo’s transition from hapless victim to grim avenger. . . The Car Man is brilliant dance-theatre. ”

Read More

MERMAID at the Oxford Playhouse

“. . . The Disney LITTLE MERMAID can be seen as a romantic love story, where Ariel gives up her home for love, but finds freedom when she swaps her fins for feet. Instead, here the emphasis is on the fact that the mermaid must rely solely on her looks to get the Prince to fall in love with her. She sacrifices her voice, and destroys herself, when he is seemingly incapable of love anyway . . . Stunningly told, and visually arresting (the shipwreck scene where furniture is lost to the depths is brilliant), these parts of MERMAID are not to be missed . . . ”

Read More

MAT RICARDO at Birmingham CABARET FESTIVAL at the Old Joint Stock

“Even a cursory glance at Mat Ricardo’s online presence reveals his outstanding popularity. . . Showman is really rather excellent. It may not be for everyone, but I’d wager that it comes close . . . Ricardo is currently touring the UK with his one-man show. One is hard pressed to find fault in it. While the consummate professional and a mesmeric, accomplished performer, Ricardo still finds time to infuse his performance with warmth, humour and strength of character. . . “

Read More

FEMME FATIGUE at the Wardrobe, Bristol

“. . . The full forty minutes was read from a script, which the comedian had to keep looking and shuffling through – truthfully, this was pretty infuriating. There wasn’t exactly much in the way of feminism either. Yes, she talked about her breasts, and her distaste of middle-class white men, but as a thoroughly middle-class white woman herself Evans’ comedy strikes me as coming from an odd place. She was very funny at points; she was shocking, sharp and self-deprecating. . . “

Read More

MANUELITA at the Alma, Bristol

” . . . Manuela Saenz’s is a ‘Girls Own’ story of the most breathless and exciting sort. Far from being someone dismissed as being merely a bit of skirt for Bolivar to come home to, she was a political activist, spy and combatant who rose through the military ranks to become a colonel in the army of liberation – a true heroine of the revolution . . . For a one act show this is just about as complete an experience as it gets and a piece of feminist historical retrieval that shines a welcome light on a neglected character.”

Read More

Pin It on Pinterest