MADAME BUTTERFLY at the Bristol Tobacco Factory

MADAME BUTTERFLY at the Bristol Tobacco Factory

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” . . . the opera concentrates on emotion . . . In last night’s performance the role of Butterfly was taken by Stephanie Corley, whose fine soprano voice and fluid movements were the perfect tools for articulating the character’s inner journey to suicidal despair. In one way we might consider the chamber sized orchestra to be better suited to the setting and intimate theme. In any case the orchestra under Jonathan Lyness was in perfect balance with venue, setting and cast. . . “

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The Hypochondriac at Bath Theatre Royal

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“. . . Tony Robinson is always very watchable, and convinces as the loathsome dressing-gowned commode-sitting Malade imaginaire. Misogynistic, self-obsessed, easily duped, Argan is not an easy figure to find sympathy for. Like his scheming wife Beline, elegantly played by Imogen Stubbs, at times one wished the old bugger would just get on and pop his clogs. The script rarely let Robinson off his leash, often leaving the funnier moments to the excellent Tracie Bennett as his long-suffering maid-come-carer Toinette. . . “

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THE ANGRY BRIGADE at the Oxford Playhouse

THE ANGRY BRIGADE at the Oxford Playhouse

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“. . . James Graham’s new play, The Angry Brigade, is set against a backdrop of anarchy in the UK in the 70s, but paints a pretty damning picture of our current situation. . . It’s an ambitious undertaking, with the cast of four playing fifteen characters, and a raft of issues being covered, but in its boldness The Angry Brigade provides a satisfying response to the political and emotional issues that, though feeling so of the moment, have clearly been around for years”

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COASTAL DEFENCES at the Brewery, Bristol

COASTAL DEFENCES at the Brewery, Bristol

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“. . . All the action takes place in front of a striking backdrop: a red brick wall, emblazoned with the unmistakable Coca-Cola logo in Cyrillic script. There are just three actors, each of them playing a number of roles and quickly changing from one costume to another at the side of the stage. Jill Rutland is particularly affecting as the Bulgarian woman who is not quite sure what kind of relationship she wants with her Facebook friend, and Nic McQuillian is excellent as the young, idealistic visitor from England . . “

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SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER at the Everyman Cheltenham

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“. . . From the moment the characters enter, the self-obsessed, dissolute Tony Lumpkin and his mother, the broad Mrs Hardcastle with a orange candy floss wig wobbling across the stage, both in voluminous leopard and tiger print costumes, we know that mayhem will be served up. . . Director Conrad Nelson has created a good deal of hilarity with the portrayal of the hapless servants versus the snobbish Londoners . . . an evening of absurd fun.”

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SATTF presents The Conquering Hero at Bristol University

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“. . . Why is this play not better known? Like Sherriff’s much more familiar Journey’s End, Allan Monkhouse’s The Conquering Hero seeks to expose the sordid reality of warfare and attack the shallowness and ignorance of jingoistic, death-or-glory patriotism, and it does so with great conviction. . . The Conquering Hero is a fine, brave play, with perhaps greater depth than Journey’s End, and Shakespear at the Tobacco Factory and Bristol University are to be congratulated for giving us this rare opportunity to see it.”

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