The woods for the trees: James Varney writes on scale and perspective in James Monaghan’s solo piece, from his viewpoint as an embedded critic.
Manchester
22 January 2019
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: Cuts of the Cloth at Push Festival, Manchester
18-19 January
By James Varney
‘Its polemic is potent’: James Varney writes on a science fiction performance about structural Islamophobia by Outside the Frame Arts.
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.
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.
23 November 2018
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: The Maids at HOME, Manchester
16 November-1 December
By James Varney
Skirting around sharp edges: James Varney reviews an all-male production of Jean Genet’s The Maids which doesn’t quite deliver on its promises.
7 November 2018
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: The Mysteries at the Royal Exchange, Manchester
25 October - 11 November
By James Varney
‘A myth sceptical of myths’: James Varney writes on place and ownership in Chris Thorpe’s cycle of contemporary Mystery plays.
18 October 2018
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: Death of a Salesman at the Royal Exchange, Manchester
11 October-17 November
By Catherine Love
‘Dream space’: Catherine Love reviews Sarah Frankcom’s fresh, insightful take on the 20th Century American staple
11 April 2018
Reviews • Manchester • National • Reviews
Review: Mountains: The Dreams of Lily Kwok
March 22 - April 7
By Aniqah Choudhri
Cooking up a storm: In-Sook Chappell’s adaptation of Helen Tse’s memoir is moving and original.
20 March 2018
Reviews • Manchester
Review: Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella at The Lowry
By Aniqah Choudhri
A love letter to Blitz London: Aniqah Choudhri reviews Matthew Bourne’s wartime fairy-tale.
10 November 2017
Reviews • Manchester
Review: Jubilee at Royal Exchange, Manchester
By Catherine Love
No future: Catherine Love reviews Chris Goode’s furiously intelligent take on the punk movie classic.
20 September 2017
Reviews • Manchester
Review: Our Town at Royal Exchange Manchester
By Catherine Love
Thornton Wilder’s 1938 play is a “giddily expansive” exploration of community and the passing of time.
12 July 2017
Reviews • Manchester • National • Reviews
Review: Cotton Panic! at Manchester International Festival
July 8 - July 15
By Catherine Love
Catherine Love on a flimsy gig-theatre exploration of the Lancashire Cotton Famine.
8 July 2017
Reviews • Manchester
Review: Castle Rock and Baardeman at Flare Festival, Manchester
6 - 17 July 2017
By Catherine Love
A very British dissection of American popular culture: Catherine Love reviews a double bill of works at Flare Festival 2017.
5 July 2017
Reviews • Manchester • National • Reviews
Review: ONE and Leopard Murders at Flare Festival, Manchester
July 4 - July 5
By Catherine Love
A pairing of the whimsical and the sinister: Catherine Love reviews an eclectic double-bill at Manchester’s Flare Festival.
3 July 2017
Reviews • Manchester
Review: Party Skills at the End of the World at MIF
27 June – 16 July 2017
By Catherine Love
Not with a bang but with a party popper: Catherine Love reviews the world premiere of Nigel Barrett and Louise Mari’s immersive apocalypse show.