Site-Specific

Writer: Maeve Larkin Director: Marianne McNamara Composer: Kieran Buckeridge Musical Director: Rebekah Hughes Designer: Kate Morton Reviewer: Ron Simpson Mikron Theatre Company’s intentions, after 46 years on the road, remain at the same time wonderfully simple and boldly ambitious. You take two key elements in British life (fish and chips, say, the WI or canals), commission plays about them and ...

Writer: Tajinder Singh Hayer Director: Alex Chisholm Designer: Uzma Kazi Reviewer: Ron Simpson Freedom Studios is nothing if not bold in the settings and style of its productions.  The setting for North Country may be rather less integral to the subject matter than earlier site-specific triumphs at Drummonds Mill and Bradford Interchange, among others, but a disused city centre Marks ...

Devised by: The Company Director: Matt Hassall Designer: Bethany Wells Sound Designer: Gerry Marsden Reviewer: Brendan James The Young Company at The Royal Exchange have departed from their home in St Ann’s Square and have taken their latest production of The Factory to the theatres’ studio space on Swan Street to create an ambitious site-specific and immersive new work. On ...

Director: Abdul Shayek Reviewer: Jacqui Onions Swarm takes its name from that now infamous statement by David Cameron, “You’ve got a swarm of people coming across the Mediterranean, seeking a better life.” However, this company-devised, site-specific play turns the current situation on its head. The West is destroying itself with war and civilians, fearing for their lives, are escaping to ...

Director and Writer: Daniel Winder Reviewer: Ruby isla Cera Marle Pirate or Privateer? Upon arrival the audience is divided into these two groups, to experience Iris Theatre’s interactive production of Treasure Island. This high-energy adventure tale takes place in the picturesque grounds of The Actors’ Church in Covent Garden. With sea shanties, swigs of rum aplenty andeven a full-sized pirate ...

Creators: Glen Neath and David Rosenberg, Venue: Pandora’s Playground Reviewer: Nicole Evans   As we take our seats in the shipping container there are giggles-a-plenty-a-plenty from the sceptical few participants in this performance of Seance. Absolute pitch darkness soon descends after the headphone-clad audience are invited to place our hands on the long and narrow table in front of us. ...

Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Phillip Wilson Composer and Musical Director: Jon Nicholas Reviewer: Abbie Rippon This year Storyhouse has brought three classic tales to Chester’s summer open air season, and what other way to while away a summer evening than enjoying the revelries of the Forest of Arden watching the bards classic As You Like It with a glass of ...

Creator: Mark Anderson Reviewer: Selwyn Knight Sutton Park, just outside Birmingham, was the home of two local pals’ regiments while they were in training and was subsequently used as a hospital for Australian and New Zealand servicemen during the First World War. So in the week where Britain has been commemorating and remembering the horrors of the Battle of the ...