Writers: Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields Original Director: Mark Bell Director: Sean Turner It seems strange to be talking about the performance of a play that has the title The Play That Goes Wrong but a performance of this magnitude needs to be celebrated. What begins as a play within a play as the characters attempt to perform the fictitious play The Murder at Haversham Manor turns into an evening of hijinks and hilarity as everything that could possibly go wrong goes wrong. Crucial to this performance is the work of its crew, who make a coordinated effort…
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.
Writers: Lucy Spicer and Jessica Mabel ‘There is a willow grows aslant the brook that shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream … but long it could not be till that her garments, heavy with their drink, pull’d the poor wretch from her melodious lay to muddy death.’ Gertrutes’ obituary for the drowned Ophelia resonates as possibly the most tragi-elegiac poetic obituaries in the English Language. Millais’ Pre-Raphaelite waif-in-the-water portrait sort of just filled in the colours. Tonight our de-saturated, resurrected Ophelia is haunted by three fellow Shakespearean heroines: Desdemona (Othello, murdered by a jealous husband), Jessica (The Merchant…
Book and Lyrics: Lee Hall Music: Elton John Director: Nikolai Foster Many will be familiar with the multiple BAFTA-winning 2000 film, Billy Elliot, that won critical acclaim and spawned this musical. Set against the background of the 1984 Miners’ Strike, Billy discovers a latent talent for dance and under the guidance of an ultimately inspirational teacher, develops his love for, and skill in, ballet, eventually overcoming entrenched attitudes and prejudices to win a place at the Royal Ballet School. But Billy Elliot The Musical is so much more than a feel-good coming-of-age tale. Interspersed with Billy’s journey are themes dealing…
Writer and Director: Guy Unsworth In the 1970s, the timing was right to spawn great British TV sitcoms: there were only three TV channels and an essentially captive audience. While some are perhaps best forgotten, others, for example, Dad’s Army and Porridge, are still repeated and enjoyed today. Running from 1973 to 1978, one of the best-loved was Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, the story of the well-meaning and childlike Frank Spencer and his long-suffering wife, Betty. It provided rich material for impressionists with a wealth of catchphrases and memorable stunts. It also catapulted Michael Crawford into the public eye…
Directors: Rachel Green and Gary Archer Original music: Charlotte Daniel Original Lyrics: Janet Shipton and Sheila Barnes Fifty fun-filled minutes about Parkinson’s Disease! What the…who’s their Press Officer – same one as Liz Truss? No – come back – it’s all a commendable ruse wrapped up in a fairytale conceit and hugs-heartening highly hilarious – obviously not a patch on the aforementioned candidate’s pitch for PM but then that’s hardly a level comedic playing field. Innovative Theatre in Education Comedy Show, Parky Players presents Shake It Up as part of Birminghamfest 2022 developed with Community Vibe and National Lottery funding from…
Writer: Lara J. West Director: Sarah Stacey One Kiss has been gestating for quite some time, having been significantly delayed by the Covid pandemic. But every cloud has a silver lining: the company took the opportunity that the extra time provided to tighten the narrative and focus on fewer characters in this one-woman show. While it’s fair to say that there is maybe more work to be done, the current production hangs together well, weaving the connected stories of three women and highlighting issues they face. Billed as a play with music, One Kiss includes original songs that complement the…
Book: Ben Elton Music and Lyrics: Queen Director: Ben Elton “Tonight I’m gonna have myself a real good time” go the lyrics – and a good time is pretty much assured for any lover of Queen and their music at We Will Rock You, currently part way through a twentieth-anniversary tour. With a book by Ben Elton to link the songs, what you get is a show full of classic Queen hits with some wonderful comedy in between. Jukebox musicals can sometimes be a bit hit and miss – the script has to be contrived to make the songs –…
Music, Book and Lyrics: Richard O’Brien Director: Christopher Luscombe It’s astounding. Time is fleeting. Madness takes its toll. But listen closely, more than 50 years after its first ground-breaking romp onto the West End stage, Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror show is making its way across the UK with a sensational new tour. Made famous by its iconic movie adaptation, starring Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon, The Rocky Horror show has become a cult classic. Exploring themes of gender identity, sex and fidelity, the show feels fresh and more relevant than ever. Indeed, it is difficult for a modern audience to fathom just how…