Why walk when you can flip?: Lilith Wozniak reviews Wise Children’s second production, a nostalgia-soaked adaptation of Enid Blyton’s beloved children’s books.
National
21 July 2019
Reviews • Bath • National
Review: Vienna 1934-Munich 1938 at Ustinov, Bath
11 July - 3 August
By Lilith Wozniak
Are you sitting comfortably?: Lilith Wozniak reviews Vanessa Redgrave’s collection of personal and political histories from the lead-up to the Second World War.
21 July 2019
Reviews • National • York
Review: Birth at York Theatre Royal
17 July, then touring
By Louise Jones
A matter of life and death: Louise Jones writes on the emotional mechanics of Theatre Re’s lyrical piece of physical theatre.
20 July 2019
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: Invisible Cities at Manchester International Festival
2-14 July
By Aniqah Choudhri
Invisible cities, right before your eyes: Aniqah Choudhri reviews a multimedia dance-theatre extravaganza based on Italo Calvino’s novel.
20 July 2019
Reviews • Birmingham • National
Review: The Color Purple at Birmingham Hippodrome
16-20 July
By Ben Kulvichit
‘I’m beautiful and I’m here’: Ben Kulvichit reviews Tinuke Craig’s soulful, stirring production of the musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s famous epistolary novel.
19 July 2019
Reviews • National
Review: Where Do All the Dead Pigeons Go? at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle
16-19 July
By Tracey Sinclair
Fly me to the moon: Tracey Sinclair reviews Scott Turnbull’s offbeat, cheeky solo show about a lonely astronaut.
18 July 2019
Reviews • National
Review: Bobby Robson Saved My Life at The Customs House, South Shields
16 July - 20 July
By Tracey Sinclair
A tale of two plays: Tracey Sinclair writes about place, sport and culture in a new play about the much loved footballer and manager.
15 July 2019
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: Maggie the Cat at Manchester International Festival
By James Varney
Maggie who?: James Varney writes on character, community and the ghost of Tennessee Williams in American choreographer Trajal Harrell’s new piece for MIF.
10 July 2019
Reviews • Glasgow • National
Review: The Ugly One at Tron Theatre, Glasgow
4-20 July
By Christine Irvine
Slapstick under a scalpel: Christine Irvine reviews Debbie Hannan’s pastel-plastic production of Marius von Mayenburg’s satire on beauty and fame.
6 July 2019
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: Wrestling the Walrus at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
28 June - 6 July, then touring
By James Varney
(En)acting care: James Varney writes on relaxed environments, care and memory in 154 Collective’s Hodgkiss Award-winning multimedia show.
5 July 2019
Reviews • National • Newcastle
Review: *gender not included at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle
2nd, 13th July
By Tracey Sinclair
‘Cheekiness and verve’: Tracey Sinclair reviews Melody Sproates’ debut show, an entirely lip-synced exploration of life as a young non-binary person.
2 July 2019
Reviews • Glasgow • National
Review: Them! at Tramway, Glasgow
27 June-6 July
By Christine Irvine
All change: Christine Irvine writes on the shape-shifting theatrics of Pamela Carter and Stewart Laing’s exploration of change.
16 June 2019
Reviews • National • Nottingham
Review: One Night in Miami at Nottingham Playhouse
7-22 June, then touring
By Naomi Obeng
‘What about the Struggle’: Naomi Obeng writes a poetic response to Kemp Powers’ imagined account of the meeting of Malcolm X, Cassius Clay, Jim Brown and Sam Cooke.
16 June 2019
Reviews • National • Newcastle
Review: The Cheviot, The Stag and The Black, Black Oil at Live Theatre, Newcastle
By Tracey Sinclair
‘Sharpened like a blade’: Tracey Sinclair reviews an intimate, impromptu-feeling revival of John McGrath’s landmark play.
11 June 2019
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: Hobson’s Choice at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
31 May - 6 July
By James Varney
‘A carrot of prosperity’: James Varney writes on property, production and paternalism in Tanika Gupta’s reinterpretation of Harold Brighouse’s play.