Devoted to the devil: James Varney invokes David Greig’s midwinter folk story with a crown of sonnets.
Manchester
15 November 2021
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: Good Grief at HOME, Manchester
11-13 November, then touring
By Simon Gwynn
It’s your funeral: Simon Gwynn reviews a clown show made by Ugly Bucket to be performed at a friend’s memorial service.
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.
22 March 2021
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: Closed Hands at HOME, Manchester (online)
By Mostyn Jones
Untangling threads: Mostyn Jones reviews an ambitious game by Dan Hett exploring the fallout of a terror attack.
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.
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.
18 February 2020
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: Wuthering Heights at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
7 February - 7 March
By James Varney
Mood piece: James Varney paints the violent, lustful landscape of Wuthering Heights in seven panels
24 January 2020
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: Oreo at HOME, Manchester
23-25 January, then touring
By James Varney
Shedding and putting on layers: James Varney on the process of reshaping oneself in Tania Camara’s messy, physical performance piece.
22 January 2020
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: Sound Cistem at HOME, Manchester
By James Varney
‘How do you look?’: James Varney writes on the act of witnessing in Plaster Cast Theatre’s verbatim piece about trans and non-binary bodies.
15 January 2020
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: Cuttin’ It at Royal Exchange Manchester
9 Jan - 1 Feb
By James Varney
Learning to care: James Varney writes on the complicated friendship at the heart of Charlene James’ play about FGM in Britain.
7 December 2019
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: Gypsy at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
30 November - 1 February
By James Varney
Successful parenting: James Varney writes on the obsessive drive of Rose, the vaudeville troupe manager-mother of Gypsy.