Devoted to the devil: James Varney invokes David Greig’s midwinter folk story with a crown of sonnets.
James Varney
Articles by James Varney
16 October 2021
Reviews
Review: The Mountaintop at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
25 September - 27 October
By James Varney
Echoes in history: James Varney writes on hauntings in this revival of Katori Hall’s play set on the eve of Martin Luther King Jr.’s death.
8 October 2021
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: Peaceophobia at Q-Park First Street Car Park, Manchester
29 September - 2 October
By James Varney
Details and background: James Varney writes on Common Wealth’s portrait of three Bradford men, taking in the city, Islamophobia and modified car culture.
23 September 2021
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: Glee & Me at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
11 September - 30 October
By James Varney
Not falling down: James Varney reviews Stuart Slade’s Bruntwood Judges’ Prize-winning play about a sixteen year-old girl diagnosed with a terminal illness.
21 August 2021
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: Look at Me Don’t Look at Me at HOME, Manchester
13 Aug, then touring
By James Varney
Interrupted history: James Varney writes on RashDash’s approach to biography and storytelling in their cabaret portrait of Lizzie Siddal and Dante Gabriel Rosetti.
15 July 2021
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: The Global Playground at Manchester International Festival
2-18 July
By James Varney
The revolution will not be made into a dance film: James Varney writes on Theatre Rites’ dance show for young audiences in which the camera takes centre stage.
3 July 2021
Reviews
Review: Bloody Elle at Royal Exchange Manchester
By James Varney
A gig economy: James Varney writes about Lauryn Redding’s queer love story, and the fragile structures it explores.
23 June 2021
Reviews • National • Salford
Review: Future Cargo at The Lowry, Salford
19-20 June, then touring
By James Varney
What’s in the box?: James Varney reviews Requardt and Rosenberg’s sci-fi dance piece performed from inside a haulage truck.
6 April 2021
Reviews • National • OWE & Fringe
Review: Open Mic at HOME/Soho Theatre (online)
1-3 April
By James Varney
Eye contact: James Varney writes on liveness in Rob Drummond’s unsettling, loss-tinged open mic night.
11 February 2021
Reviews • National • Salford
Review: Swimming Home at The Lowry, Salford (online)
5-20 February, then touring
By James Varney
Diluted content: James Varney reviews an audio piece to be experienced in the bathroom that slips through the fingers.
4 December 2020
Reviews
Review: Double, Visitors and Eternal by Darkfield Radio (online)
By James Varney
Internal logic: James Varney writes on Darkfield’s trilogy audio works, which deliver chills with mixed success.
22 October 2020
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: Don’t Go Back to Sleep: The Lockdown Album at HOME, Manchester
21-24 October
By James Varney
Covid culture: James Varney explores the new ways we engage with performance via RashDash’s documentary album, listened to from home.
17 April 2020
Reviews • Imaginary Reviews
Imaginary Review: A Building Dreams
By James Varney
“A dream can have a physical impact on you”: The Imaginary Reviews series continues with James Varney’s architectural intervention.
11 March 2020
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: Augmented at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
5-7 March, then touring
By James Varney
Sudden cyborg: James Varney writes on Sophie Woolley’s first-person account of losing, and then regaining, her hearing.
8 March 2020
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: Insane Animals at HOME Manchester
28 February - 14 March
By James Varney
No spoilers: James Varney writes an email to HOME and explores the ways in which work is contextualised for audiences.