South Coast

Writer: Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, Henry Shields Director: Mark Bell Reviewer: Jo Payne First performed a mere 4 years ago, The Play That Goes Wrong has taken London, the UK and the world by storm. It is no surprise at all that this is the case as sometimes the most successful shows have the simplest concept. For this show, an ...

Writer: John Buchan Adaptor: Patrick Barlow Director: Maria Aitken Reviewer: Ann Bawtree Advertised as Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller, The 39 Steps, what is on the stage of the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre would be more accurately described as a derivation from John Buchan’s novel of the same name. A “shocker” as he himself described it. This first appeared in serial form ...

Director: Gordon Greenberg Writer: Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows (based on the story and characters of Damon Runyon) Music and Lyrics: Frank Loesser Choreography: Carlos Acosta and Andrew Wright Reviewer: Sharon MacDonald-Armitage   There is always a real buzz when a musical from the Golden Age of Hollywood is taken out, dusted down and given a new lease of life ...

Writer: Alan Bennett Director:Tom Attenborough Reviewer: Mary Scriven   Alan Bennett is undoubtedly one of Britain’s favourite writers, regarded by many as one of our best- loved National Treasures, and Untold Stories, now playing at The Watermill, as its title conveys, gives an entertaining means of getting to know him better. Untold Stories comprises two short plays, and the first, ...

Writer and performer: Amy Gwillian Director: Sophie Larsmon Reviewer: Amy Blumsom As a publicity stunt for the local papers, anthropologist Dr Elizabeth Nicholl returns to her secondary school for the launch of her first book — on death. In a twist of coincidence, she is delivering a talk to students in the very school hall where she was informed of ...

Writer: Josh Harmon Director: Michael Longhurst Reviewer: Bill Avenell This is undoubtedly a clever play based around the old plot line of grieving, some more than others, relatives gathering after the funeral of a much-loved grandfather and squabbling over the disposition of the prized family heirloom. The twist in this case is that the family is Jewish and the heirloom ...

Writer: Florian Zeller Translator: Christopher Hampton Director: James Macdonald Reviewer: Michael Hootman On paper Florian Zeller’s play sounds dull, worthy, and perhaps a little depressing: over the course of ninety minutes we see a man slowly lose his mind to dementia. It’s testament to the strength of the writing, and Kenneth Cranham’s truly heroic performance, that The Father is an ...

Writer: Graham Greene adapted by Giles Havergal Director: Amanda Knott Reviewer: Bill Avenell Giles Havergal’s stage adaptation of Graham Greene’s amusing book is undoubtedly clever. Four actors, play a variation of characters at different times regardless of sex, with only the help of the odd hat or pair of glasses to distinguish between them, and create a world from London ...