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Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Rae Mcken Reviewer: Scott Matthewman It is a sign of how much cruft there can be in a Shakespeare play that cutting Twelfth Night down to just an hour and fifteen minutes, as director and adapter Rae Mcken has done for the Scoop’s sixteenth annual season of free open-air theatre, retains all the touchpoints of the comedy. ...

Writer: Daniel Winder Director: Rae Mcken Reviewer: Maryam Philpott For centuries writers have been obsessed with a meeting between two sixteenth-century Queens that never happened. From Friedrich Schiller to Josie Rourke, the reign of Elizabeth I is defined by her compatriot cousin Mary Queen of Scots, but the pair were never face to face. However, Elizabeth did meet another female ...

Writer:  Benjamin Polya Director: Bertie Watkins Reviewer: Karl O’Doherty  Darker than the children’s cartoon, and with a better goat, it’s reaching for something true to Hugo’s novel but undermines itself with a pantomime feel. The author chronicled the underclasses of France, humanising them in the eyes of those who disregarded them each day in the streets, and gave voice to ...

Writers: Davy Berryman and Lauren Partridge Reviewer: Ava Eldred Famed for their innovative immersive dining experiences, all taking place in the vicinity of stations on London’s Overground line, Gingerline’s latest instalment, Chambers, is a veritable feast for the senses, and certainly not for the passive experience seeker. The first rule of Gingerline is that participants must not reveal anything about ...

Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Loveday Ingram Reviewer: Abbie Rippon Set in the beautiful Grosvenor Park, Chester’s Open Air Theatre celebrates its 10th birthday this year with a trio of plays: Twelfth Night, The Borrowers and, of course, Henry V. This story of war, allegiance and identity remains as universal and relevant now as it was to the Elizabethans watching it at ...

Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Julia Thomas Reviewer: John Roberts Julia Thomas has found magic with her production of Shakespeare’s hilarious comedy Twelfth Night as part of this year’s summer season at the Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre. Not only has she managed to perfectly cast the rep company to play to their strongest suits, but she pushes the pace of the ...

Writer: Mary Norton Adaptor: Bryony Lavery Director: Robert Shaw Cameron Reviewer: John Roberts  It’s that time of year again when the in-the-round pop-up auditorium takes residence in Chester’s Grosvenor Park and a large ensemble of actors bring three shows in rep throughout the summer (The Borrowers, Twelfth Night and Henry V). An occasion is always guaranteed due to the intimate nature ...

Writer:  Bernard Shaw Director: Michael Friend Reviewer: Joanna Forest This brand-new production of Arms and The Man is the collaboration of three theatre companies; Shaw 2020, Split/Shift Theatre Company and Michael Friend Productions.  Bernard Shaw is considered one of the most important English-Language playwrights after Shakespeare.  At least half a dozen of his plays still remains part of the world ...