Author: The Reviews Hub - Yorkshire & North East

Director and Co-Adapter: Richard Lewis Peppa Pig’s Big Family Show brings the much-loved animated world to life in a lively new stage production that promises fun, laughter and plenty of surprises for its young audience. Based on the hugely popular children’s series created by Neville Astley and Mark Baker, this new show stays true to the gentle humour and family-friendly storytelling that have made Peppa Pig a global favourite since her television debut in 2004. With bright sets, energetic performances and audience participation woven throughout, the show offers an engaging experience that keeps children thoroughly entertained from beginning to end.…

Writers: Harry Murdoch and G.G. Director: Harry Murdoch When a play lasts an hour and you are implored by the director not to tell the secrets of the big reveal which comes 15-20 minutes before the end, it doesn’t leave too much to write about. But Harry Murdoch is right: the perplexity builds and, just when you can’t see where it will finish up, an end is called to the experiment and everything is turned on its head. The play is not what the play appeared to be about at all and, Harry, your secret is safe with The Reviews…

It seems a very simple concept for a show: celebrated accompanist/expert Neil Brand talking about Laurel and Hardy and showing extracts from their films, then in the second half showing two complete short films. However, there is more to it than that: the films have recently been beautifully restored and, projected onto a screen which (with a piano) is the entire set, are a splendid reminder of the beautifully paced mayhem of Laurel and Hardy. There are three fine extracts from the duo in talkies. Inevitably the evening starts with The Trail of the Lonesome Pine from Way Out West, Olly displaying…

Stories: Eric Carle Creator: Jonathan Rockefeller The advertising promises four timeless stories, but the show is named after only one of them. When the final one, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, starts, the audience reaction tells you why. This is certainly “the star of the show”, to quote the publicity material again. The show relies heavily on the beauty, grace and humour of the 75 puppets. The four white-clad manipulators are ingenious and efficient, but there’s no sense of personality in them. Instead, when we start off with the question and answer of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, after the lumbering bear, we…

Writer: Ryan Greaves Additional Material: Anton Benson and Steve Moorewood Director: Ryan Greaves Throughout the Easter holidays this year, Anton Benson Productions are touring their Easter pantomime Mother Goose. As Fairy Virtue tells us, panto is for life, not just for Christmas! The lesser known title tells the story of a beloved matriarch who gets tempted to trade her beloved goose for fame and fortune, before realising that money can’t buy happiness and family and friends is what matters in life. It’s a simple but lovely story which provides plenty of opportunities for the traditional panto gags. Ryan Greaves writes and…

Book, Music and Lyrics: David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts Director: Robert Hastie There was nothing undercover or discrete about the way in which the cast of Operation Mincemeat took Bradford’s Alhambra Theatre by storm. This show has become something of a phenomenon, its run constantly being extended in the West End and now also on Broadway, as well as this national tour – and it’s not difficult to see why. Devised and written by a remarkable team – David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts – and directed here by Robert Hastie, the show…

Writers: John Cleese and Connie Booth Adapter: John Cleese Director: Caroline Jay Ranger This week at Sheffield’s Lyceum Theatre, audiences can check in for a stay at Fawlty Towers to meet their eccentric staff and guests and most certainly have a laugh or two. John Cleese has adapted his and Connie Booth’s hit TV show for the stage, bringing together the ‘best bits’ into one coherent two act narrative. Unlike some other screen to stage adaptations, Fawlty Towers doesn’t particularly offer anything different to the TV show – there are no musical numbers or different plotlines – but it is still an entertaining evening…

Writer: Jacob Dunne Adapter: James Graham Director: Adam Penford In Nottingham in July 2011, James Hodgkinson aged 28, was killed by a single punch. His only crime was having a drink in fancy dress, when a drunken altercation over an accessory turned fatal. Jacob Dunne, aged 19, pled guilty to Manslaughter, and served half of a 30-month sentence for the death. Punch tells the story of how Dunne came to be in such a position, the childhood that led up to it and the life that he lived afterwards, thanks to a restorative justice program which put him in touch…