Comedy

Writer: Nick Walker Director: Katy Stephens Reviewer: Nicole Craft ‘Please be reassured that tonight we will not be rationing the jokes!’ This is the promise on the flyer for this year’s ‘alternative pantomime’ offering from Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre which, over the last six years, has made the ‘anti-panto’ a recurring event in its festive calendar. Some of the previous efforts ...

Writer: Lisa Clair Director: Eugene Ma Reviewer: Adrienne Sowers Target Margin Theater’s new play, The Making of King Kong, is an ambitious piece that examines racism, sexism, and classism through a darkly comedic portrayal of the creating of the film King Kong, directed by Merian C. Cooper and starring Fay Wray. Leaning into the problematic components of the iconic film, playwright ...

Director: Chris Collier Music & Lyrics: Kid Carpet Puppet maker: Dik Downey Reviewer: Julia Beasley What does a naughty fairytale cat have in common with a mythical Greek hero who was destined to kill his father and marry his mother? Absolutely nothing. This makes Puss in Boots and Oedipus perfect components for the latest offering from the Wardrobe Theatre, who ...

Writer: Paul Mecurio Reviewer: Adrienne Sowers One of the most underused, and perhaps under-experienced, words in our culture? Sonder. The realization that everyone one passes/interacts with has as vivid and complex a life as themselves. For New Yorkers, the constant sharing of space tends to cause us to mentally isolate ourselves, to disengage. Other people become obstacles, traffic, demons who ...

Director: Matt Aston Writer: Peter Rowe Reviewer: Ruth Jepson Tired of hearing Princesses sing Let It Go, or This is Me? Want a bit more rock and roll with your Pantomime? But still after that traditional feel? Cinderella The Rock n' Roll Panto in Leeds is definitely the show for you! The story has been tweaked slightly – Cinderella (Grace ...

Reviewer: Jo Beggs There’s never been a better time for a sharp, honest look at the United States, and Rich Hall, with his sardonic outlook on life, does it with style. The Virginia-born Anglophile comedian has truly come of age thanks to the current state of the union. With his Radio 4 Rich Hall’s (Election) Breakdown he attempted to make sense ...

Writer: Daniel O’Brien Director: Rhiannon Hannon Musical Director: Jim Lunt Choreographer: Louise Denison Designer: Mark Walters Reviewer: Ron Simpson Wakefield Theatre Royal pantomimes come with a guarantee of good quality traditional fun, with a successful formula that delivers every time. Daniel O’Brien (aka Colin Blumenau) does the words, locally sourced and not too naughty, Rhiannon Hannon directs unshowily, and with ...

Writers: Phil Lowe and David Bown Director: Phil Lowe Reviewer: Ruth Jepson It's December, which means it's time to put the tree up, sip mulled wine, and head to the theatre for the best part of Christmas: The Pantomime! Jack and the Beanstalk at Harrogate Theatre has been given a modern twist by reimagining the titular hero as a heroine. ...