Category Theatre Reviews

Mature and moving, MEET MET AT DAWN is an intelligent examination of love and grief

Following seven long months of closure, Hope Mill Theatre once again opens its doors to the public with HER Productions’ MEET ME AT DAWN, a modern-day fable by award-winning writer Zinnie Harris.

The one-act two-hander, inspired by the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, follows Helen (Susan Jayne Robinson) and Robyn (Helen O’Hara), a young couple who have washed ashore following a boating accident...

The cast of C-O-N-T-A-C-T. Photo Credit: Phil Tragen

A narrative defined by longing and sorrow, C-O-N-T-A-C-T is a unique sensory and immersive theatre experience

Aria Entertainment and WEF Productions join forces with The Lowry to bring the critically acclaimed live production of C-O-N-T-A-C-T, to two new outdoor locations in Salford and Manchester from May 18 for six weeks.

After a week of torrential downpours, the clouds parted and the sun shone on a 50-minute evening promenade around Salfor...

Courtney Stapleton and Eloise Davies in NOW OR NEVER. Photo Credit: Jenya Steanson

Exciting and ambitious, Matthew Harvey’s NOW OR NEVER captures the heart and stirs the soul, making you wish this innovative production was on for more than just one night

Over the past six months, the Barn Theatre in Cirencester has certainly pulled it out of the bag when it comes to digital productions. From WHAT A CARVE UP! to the more recent THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, the team has helped to keep theatre aliv...

Alison Reid in AN ELEPHANT IN THE GARDEN. Photo Credit: Farrows Creative

Simon Reade’s adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s AN ELEPHANT IN THE GARDEN is a poignant and charming piece of theatre that doesn’t shy away from the pain of war

Following successful UK tours from 2014 to 2019, Poonamallee Productions brings their production of Michael Morpurgo’s AN ELEPHANT IN THE GARDEN to the digital stage for the very first time in collaboration with the Barn Theatre.

Set against the backdrop of ...

Dark, dazzling and thought-provoking, Henry Filloux-Bennett’s modern-day adaptation of THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY brings Oscar Wilde’s Faustian tale kicking and screaming into the digital age

Between family Zoom quizzes, homeschooling and virtual meetings, it’s fair to say that most of us have spent the majority of 2020 – and 2021 – online. As such, Henry Filloux-Bennett’s modern-day adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY holds an unexpected relatability as it plunges us ...

Waylon Jacobs in PETER PAN at Barn Theatre, Cirencester. Photo Credit: Eve Dunlop

Stripping J.M. Barrie’s classic tale back to its roots, Alan Pollock’s new take of PETER PAN has a whimsical, nostalgic, and magical charm.

With much of the country in Tier 3 and many theatres forced to remain closed due to Coronavirus restrictions, the annual Christmas theatre outing will likely be off the cards for many families this year...

The Company of RENT at Hope Mill Theatre. Photo Credit: Pamela Raith

Luke Sheppard’s sensational revival of RENT surges with life, passion and a fighting spirit that feels particularly poignant in the current climate

It’s fair to say that, of all the sectors Coronavirus has impacted, theatre is one of the worst-hit. Nothing demonstrates this more than Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre latest production of RENT...

Employing multiple narrative styles, different perspectives and a highly fragmented timeline, WHAT A CARVE UP! builds up the story meticulously to entice the audience

As regional theatres in England prepare for a second lockdown, the Barn Theatre in Cirencester takes to the spotlight with the premiere of their new digital play, WHAT A CARVE UP! 

Based on Jonathan Coe’s satirical novel, WHAT A CARVE UP! chronicles the events leading up to the fictional ‘Winshaw Murders’...

Olly Dobson (Marty McFly) & Roger Bart (Doc Brown) in BACK TO THE FUTURE. Photo: Sean Ebsowrth Barnes

Staying true to the original film with a few surprises here and there, BACK TO THE FUTURE THE MUSICAL is a near-perfect show

It’s easy to understand why many BACK TO THE FUTURE fans were initially dubious when creators Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis first announced they were bringing the cult classic to the big stage...

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s lavish production of SWAN LAKE is as atmospheric as it is beautiful

Birmingham Royal Ballet make a welcome return to Salford’s The Lowry with a lavish revival of Peter Wright and Galina Samsova’s 1981 production of SWAN LAKE.

Composed by Tchaikovsky in 1875, SWAN LAKE tells the story of the doomed love between Prince Siegfried and Princess Odette...