A canny comedy crime caper: Ben Kulvichit reviews New Old Friend’s latest addition to their popular touring murder mystery series.
National
10 January 2019
Reviews • Birmingham • National
Review: Commonism at Birmingham REP
8-11 January
By Eve Allin
Starting a conversation: Eve Allin reviews a new collaboration between Andy Smith (UK) and Amund Sjølie Sveen (Norway)
22 December 2018
Reviews • Brighton • National
Review: A Pair of Pantos at The Marlborough, Brighton
18-20 December, then touring
By Henry Gleaden
Panto pedagogy: Hester Chillingworth’s pantomime ditches dodgy gags and tired tropes for a transpositive alternative.
19 December 2018
Reviews • National • Newcastle
Review: Christmas Crackers at Live Theatre, Newcastle
13-22 December
By Tracey Sinclair
Season’s greetings: Tracey Sinclair reviews a warm-hearted quartet of short plays from emerging writers.
19 December 2018
Reviews • National • Sheffield
Review: Kiss Me, Kate at Sheffield Crucible
7 December - 12 January
By John Murphy
Raising the roof: John Murphy reviews Sheffield Crucible’s slick and spectacular production of the Cole Porter classic.
18 December 2018
Reviews • National • York
Review: The Grand Old Dame of York at York Theatre Royal
13 December - 2 February
By Louise Jones
Hanging up his wig: Louise Jones writes on the 40th and final panto helmed by legendary York dame Berwick Kaler.
16 December 2018
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: Släpstick at HOME, Manchester
By James Varney
“I hope it’s stupid”: James Varney on the skill of being an idiot in a Dutch company’s tribute to the great entertainers.
11 December 2018
Reviews • Bristol • National
Review: Of Home and Each Other at Broadmead Shopping Centre
7-16 December
By Lilith Wozniak
Someone else’s shoes: Lilith Wozniak writes on the mechanics of empathy in an immersive audio experience in Bristol shopping quarter.
10 December 2018
Reviews • Bristol • National
Review: The Borrowers at Tobacco Factory Theatres, Bristol
29 November - 30 January
By Lilith Wozniak
The little things: Lilith Wozniak writes on the detail and scale of The Borrowers.
7 December 2018
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: The Producers at the Royal Exchange, Manchester
30 November 2018 - 26 January 2019
By Catherine Love
‘Shimmer and sparkle’: Catherine Love reviews an unlikely Christmas show which delights as much as it unsettles.
7 December 2018
Reviews • Edinburgh • National
Review: Mouthpiece at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
1-22 December
By Crystal Bennes
Using a voice: Crystal Bennes writes on the ‘ethical quandary’ of representation in Kieran Hurley’s examination of class and the appropriation of stories.
3 December 2018
Reviews • Glasgow • National
Review: Mammy Goose at the Tron, Glasgow
By Andrew Edwards
Farting geese and the spirit of Christmas: Andy Edwards reviews Johnny McKnight’s deliriously silly and subversive panto.
3 December 2018
Reviews • National • Nottingham
Review: Robin Hood and the Babes in the Woods at Nottingham Playhouse
30 November - 19 January
By Peter Kirwan
‘Joyful sincerity’: Pete Kirwan writes on an earnest, escapist panto that brings the 12th century into the 21st.
23 November 2018
Reviews • National • Salford
Review: Ballet Black at The Lowry, Salford
19 November
By Aniqah Choudhri
Dances with difference: Aniqah Choudhri reviews Cathy Marsten and Arthur Pita-choreographed ballets for the all-PoC company Ballet Black.
23 November 2018
Reviews • National • Newcastle
Review: don’t forget the birds at Live Theatre, Newcastle
20-24 November
By Tracey Sinclair
Real stories: Tracey Sinclair on Open Clasp’s nuanced, heartfelt play looking at life after prison, based on the story of its real-life mother and daughter cast.