The oldest hath borne most: James Varney reviews Michael Buffong’s production of Shakespeare.
Manchester
6 April 2016
Reviews • Manchester • National • Reviews
Review: The Beanfield at HOME
HOME ⋄ 31st March –2nd April 2016
By James Varney
“Monopolising on misery… without any commentary or attempt at solution or alternative.” James Varney reviews Breach’s The Beanfield.
3 March 2016
Reviews • Manchester • National • Reviews
Review: Negative Space at Contact
Contact Theatre ⋄ 1st - 3rd March 2016
By James Varney
Pseudo-defensively connive an impenetrable form to write your review in…
26 February 2016
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: Husbands & Sons at the Royal Exchange
Royal Exchange ⋄ 19th February – 19th March 2016
By James Varney
This play is a gallery exhibition of femininity, striving in the face of that hugely broken thing – masculinity – to which even today we seem to have no cure.
17 February 2016
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven at St Chrysostom’s Church
St Chrysostom’s Church ⋄ 14th February 2016
By James Varney
James Varney reviews “a magpie approach to queering the Bible.”
16 February 2016
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: The Solid Life of Sugar Water at The Royal Exchange
Royal Exchange ⋄ 9th - 13th February 2016
By James Varney
Trauma and love hold together Jack Thorne’s The Solid Life of Sugar Water.
16 February 2016
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: FADoubleGOT at Contact, Manchester
Contact Theatre ⋄ 9th- 11th February 2016
By James Varney
“There’s some untouchable strength in the experience of this show, like a bottle of rage.” James Varney reviews Jamal Gerald’s show in Manchester.
1 February 2016
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: The Crows Plucked Your Sinews at Contact, Manchester
Contact Theatre ⋄ 27th - 29th January 2016
By James Varney
Yusra Warsama excels in a show that is “dragging up chains of trauma, soaked in violent pasts and present.”
29 January 2016
Reviews • Manchester • National
Review: Wit at the Royal Exchange, Manchester
Royal Exchange ⋄ 21st January - 13th February 2016
By James Varney
‘Wit is as tired of thinking about cancer as Vivian is; Hesmondhalgh drags us through Vivian’s treatment and death, and all we learn about is life.’
22 December 2015
Reviews • Manchester
How to Be Better
Contact Theatre ⋄ 16th-19th December 2015
By James Varney
A curated collage of honesty.
14 December 2015
Reviews • Manchester
Into the Woods
Royal Exchange ⋄ 5th December 2015 – 16th January 2016
By James Varney
Fairytales within fairytales within fairytales.
3 November 2015
Reviews • Manchester
The Oresteia
HOME ⋄ 3rd - 14th November 2015
By James Varney
Fifty shades of grey.
18 October 2015
Reviews • Manchester
The Crucible
Royal Exchange ⋄ 18th September - 24th October 2015
By James Varney
Butting heads.
12 October 2015
Reviews • Manchester
I ♥ Chocolat
Contact Theatre ⋄ 8th October 2015
By James Varney
Malteasers and epiphanies.
9 October 2015
Reviews • Manchester
Under the Covers
Contact Theatre ⋄ 7th - 10th October 2015
By James Varney
Fucking alive.