South East

Writer: Yasmina Reza Director: Ellie Jones Reviewer: Steve Turner Over 20 years ago Yasmina Reza’s short play was a major hit on the West End stage, with many well-known actors willing to take on the role of one of the three protagonists. It comes as some surprise then, to learn that it was written as a tragedy and not as ...

England's largest annual curated multi-arts festival is back. In its 53rd year, the Brighton Festival is this year guest directed by Malian singer-songwriter, Rokia Traoré and promises to be a celebration of multi-cultural story telling, with a key focus on dance and music. Traoré herself is bringing three exclusive performances to Brighton. A mix of Malian storytelling and music, structured ...

Writer: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Adaptor and Director: Nick Lane Reviewer: Steve Turner The second of Conan Doyle’s series of Sherlock Holmes novels, The Sign of Four is a slightly surprising choice for a stage treatment as it is built around a complex storyline incorporating flashbacks to various past episodes. Utilising some clever character changes and sticking close to the ...

Director: J.D. Henshaw Reviewer: Alice Fowler Do you believe in God? And the devil? In that case, how about ghosts and witches? With these questions, addressed directly to the audience, Sweet Productions’ Father of Lies - a chilling retelling of a murder case in which anything seems possible - begins. The Star Inn’s atmospheric stage is perfect for this dark, intense ...

Writer: Agatha Christie Director: Gareth Armstrong Reviewer: Alice Fowler How well can you really know someone? Is everyone, in fact, a stranger? And what do you do when you find yourself cut off in an eccentric country guesthouse and learn there is a murderer in your midst? Such questions have thrilled and provoked Mousetrap audiences since 1952. It is, famously, ...

Writer: Simon Beaufoy Director: Rupert Hill Reviewer: Simon Topping Mirroring the smash hit 1997 film of the same name, The Full Monty starts with a genuine information film from 1972 about Sheffield, called "Sheffield - City on the move", with the announcer exuberantly and poetically exalting the cities steel industry. Cut to 25 years later and our action begins, following ...

Writer: Mike Leigh Director: Sarah Esdaile Reviewer: Simon Topping A new touring production of Mike Leigh's classic comedy of manners, Abigail's Party, opens in Brighton to a warm reception from a welcoming audience, whose demographic is predominantly fifty plus. From the off laughter fills the auditorium, as we take a trip down memory lane. The stunning period set (wonderfully designed ...

Book: Harvey Fierstein Music & Lyrics: Cyndi Lauper Director & Choreographer: Jerry Mitchell Reviewer: Victoria Bawtree After a steady stream of Jukebox musicals, Kinky Boots – albeit based on the 2005 film – feels like a breath of fresh air. Lauper’s score is original and plays with different styles, from folk to rock and from ballad to gospel, each matching ...