Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Elizabeth Freestone William Shakespeare is not a playwright known for his brevity and The Tempest is not one of his shortest, containing a mixture of concepts and themes from some of his other plays and coming in at almost three hours including the interval. It needs something magical to bring it together and avoid audience shuffle, and Elizabeth Freestone’s production does its best to maintain engagement – not least due to the casting of Alex Kingston as Prospero and some bits of inspired direction. Kingston haunts the stage like a wraith, from the doomed ship we…
Author: The Reviews Hub - Central
The Reviews Hub - Central
The Central team is under the editorship of Selwyn Knight. The Reviews Hub was set up in 2007. Our mission is to provide the most in-depth, nationwide arts coverage online.
Writer: Amanda Whittington Director: James Grieve When a group of Cornish fishermen got together to sing for fun and to raise some money for local charities, little did they know where their journey would take them. This is the world premiere tour of Fisherman’s Friends: The Musical, which is based on the lives of that singing group and their community in Port Isaac, and right from the start the production makes it clear what it’s about. This is a story of the sea, of the men who work with it, and of their music. Move forward a few years and…
Writer: Malorie Blackman Adaptor: Sabrina Mahfouz Director: Esther Richardson The time – unspecified. The place – familiar yet unknown. Teenagers Sephy and Callum are sat on the beach. They are friends; more than that, they are becoming very close. But there is a problem. Sephy is a Cross and Callum is a Nought, and their friendship is forbidden. This is a society that is divided along racial – and consequently, social – lines. It’s a place where the Black Crosses are the elite, the people in power, and the White Noughts are the underclass. Noughts don’t get to enjoy some…
Writer: F. Scott Fitzgerald Adaptor: Joe Landry Director: Alexandra Whiteley We’re transported to a 1940s radio studio at the Blue Orange Theatre as a cast of six presents a live broadcast of the classic American novel The Great Gatsby, complete with live sound effects and breaks for period-era commercials. The classic novel is set in the jazz age, where Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire, is pursuing Daisy Buchanan, the woman he’s loved since he met her several years ago. It’s a tale of love and betrayal, of deception and tragedy, and of the dangers of the Great American Dream –…
Book: Catherine Johnson Music and Lyrics: Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus Director: Phyllida Lloyd Does Your Mother Know that you’re out to see Mamma Mia! at the Wolverhampton Grand? With seat-rocking songs, an energetic ensemble, and a formidable main cast, this production of Mamma Mia! is already a hit. If you haven’t seen the classic 2008 film, or any of the subsequent reincarnations of the original 1999 stage production (what have you been doing?) now’s the time. Here’s a brief rundown for you, just in case: Sophie lives on a small Greek island with her mother, Donna (played by powerhouse…
Book: Rick Elice Director: Arlene Phillips The hits just keep on coming in this cracking piece of entertainment at the Royal and Derngate. Using multiple actors to portray a character through different periods in their lives is nothing new. Here this device has been taken a step further though, as Rick Elice’s well-conceived script has them on stage at the same time, discussing events and offering each other advice. It’s a concept that works well and adds an extra dimension to this story of Cher’s life. The Cher Show gives us a fine trio playing the role of Cher, each…
Writer: Clement Clarke Moore Adaptor: Hattie Naylor Director: Roman Stefanski As the festive period rolls on, many families will be looking for wholesome events where they can establish Christmas memories. Look no further than The Night Before Christmas at the Royal and Derngate. The theatre has gone all out in its attempt to create a magical atmosphere for children, with a range of crafts, a sleigh, shadow puppetry and even a miniaturised Royal Theatre puppet show for the children to devise a show of their own. A festive collaboration between The Derngate and Polka Theatre, The Night Before Christmas is…
Writer: Neil Gaiman Adaptor: Joel Horwood Director: Katy Rudd Adapted for the National Theatre stage by Joel Horwood, The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (best-selling author of Coraline, Good Omens and The Sandman) is an epic, thrilling adventure of mythical fantasy, with some truly mesmerising staging from Katy Rudd. The plot plunges 12-year-old bookworm, Boy, (convincingly played by Keir Ogilvy) into a magical world, along with his new companion, an effervescent Millie Hikasa as Lettie, where their survival hangs on their powers to fight against magical, ancient forces threatening to destroy everything around them. Rudd’s direction combines impressive…