Writer: Noël Coward Director: Matthew Forbes Noël Coward is perhaps one of the UK’s greatest playwrights, and Reading Rep Theatre’s production of Private Lives, directed by Matthew Forbes, brings new life to a show written in 1930. The show is opened by Sybil, played by Orla O’Sullivan, walking onto the balcony of her honeymoon hotel. O’Sullivan, like the rest of the cast, exhibits an intimate knowledge of the show and her character. The unfolding show could almost be followed solely by the cast’s reactions to each other. For her part, O’Sullivan plays a part that is young and largely innocent…
Author: The Reviews Hub - East Anglia & South East
The Reviews Hub - East Anglia & South East
The South East team is under the editorship of John McRoberts. The Reviews Hub was set up in 2007. Our mission is to provide the most in-depth, nationwide arts coverage online.
Writer: Ben Kernow Director: Millie Brolly It is fast paced, well-crafted, and at times confusing, but as Ha Hum Ah’s Making A Killing arrives at the Theatre Royal Windsor it invites audiences into the world of Frantz Schmidt, the 16th and 17th century executioner of Nuremberg. Written by Ben Kernow, also one of two actors each playing multiple roles, Making A Killing is an insight into historic justice. His script juggles 13 characters with Millie Brolly’s direction giving all 13 the time and space to tell their story. Kernow and fellow actor Stephen Cavanagh jump between different characters; with Kernow…
Director: Bartlett Sher Writer: Harper Lee Adapter: Aaron Sorkin There is much to admire in the UK’s first touring production of To Kill a Mockingbird as it arrives in Norwich, not least in a first half that feels assured, engaging and quietly confident in its storytelling. Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation leans into the humour and perspective of youth, with Scout, Jem, and Dill guiding the audience through Maycomb with clarity and warmth. That early balance between lightness and unease is where the production is at its best. Dylan Malyn’s Dill is a particular highlight, making the character endearing and genuinely funny…
Book, Music and Lyrics: Willy Russell Directors: Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright Few shows have had the cultural impact of Blood Brothers, Willy Russell’s emotional exploration of Britain’s struggles with class set in the industrial heart of the country, which has been entertaining and challenging audiences since it opened at the Liverpool Playhouse some 43 years ago. Since then, it has become a true classic of British theatre, stewarded since 1988 by Bill Kenwright, playing on the West End, Broadway, and touring across both the UK and US. This current tour is led by Blood Brothers favourite Sean Jones, returning…
Writer: James M Cain Adaptor: Tom Holloway Director: Oscar Toeman Double Indemnity, the 1944 film directed by Billy Wilder was adapted from James M Cain’s book with the help of Raymond Chandler, the creator of detective Philip Marlowe, and has been acclaimed as one of the best film Noir thrillers of all time, so it was inevitable that it would find its way to the stage in this era of stage adaptations to attract audiences. Although the character Marlowe is a familiar one, he is not featured in this story, and we were not aware of the original film so…
Illusionist and mentalist Derren Brown returns with a new show that builds to an impressive finale. Before the show, Brown and his team ask that none of the tricks, events, or mystifying moments is repeated outside the theatre to enhance the mystery. Without giving too much away, there is plenty for old and new fans of Brown to get into in this new tour, with the hallmarks of his humour, tricks and mind-bending routines on display. There is a good blend of audience participation and interaction, as well as Brown’s leading. The showmanship is equally on display when Brown comes…
Writer: Peter Quilter Director: Kirk Jameson In 1940s New York society, Florence Foster Jenkins was a renowned figure. An heiress with a passion for music, she hosted fundraising soirées that included her own operatic performances. Unfortunately, even though she was an enthusiastic coloratura soprano, her zeal was not matched by any tunefulness. While she had fans, including such musical luminaries as Enrico Caruso and Cole Porter, Jenkins was renowned for her own inability to hold a tune. Peter Quilter’s play Glorious! debuted in 2005, the same year as his other musical biography End of the Rainbow, which catalogued the last…
Book: Mark Bramble Music: CY Coleman Lyrics: Michael Stewart Director: Jonathan O’Boyle If you’re looking for a quiet night at the theatre, Bill Kenwright Limited’s production of Barnum, the biographical musical based on the life of the circus impresario of the same name, isn’t the ticket; the Watermill 2024 production now on tour is loud, energetic, and sometimes brash – and with a cast led by former Joseph Lee Mead (although out for this particular performance) it feels as though director Jonathan O’Boyle looked up ‘spectacle’ in Charity Barnum’s dictionary and decided to go all in. A cast of 21…