Youth Theatre

Composer and lyricist: Howard Goodall Writer: Nick Stimson Director: Bronagh Lagan Reviewer: Stephen Bates Some shows have no luck at all. In the same week that the arts pages of the national press have, along with The Reviews Hub, been heaping extravagant praise on the National Theatre for its groundbreaking pro/am musical version of Shakespeare’s Pericles, along comes a youth ...

Book and Lyrics: Stephen Sater  Music: Duncan Sheik  Director: Dean Johnson  Reviewer: Scott Matthewman It is not difficult to understand why Frank Wedekind’s play Spring Awakening was deemed so shocking when it was written in 1891. The tale of teenagers embarking on multiple paths of sexual discovery in defiance of the triple authoritarian regimes of parents, teachers and the church was ...

Book and Lyrics: Ben Elton Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Director: Hannah Chissick Reviewer:  Richard Maguire The second show in The National Youth Musical Theatre’s takeover of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new venue, The Other Palace, is none other than his 2000 musical The Beautiful Game, and these young actors do him proud. Their production is only on for four days, but ...

Writer: Frances Hodgson Burnett Adapted Book and lyrics: Carl Miller Music and lyrics: Marc Folan Additional lyrics: Adey Grummet Director: Emily Gray Reviewer: David Guest There is something of a welcome and exciting renaissance in the world of youth theatre, with young people not only being given a chance to perform but also to appear in productions at well-regarded London ...

Book:  Jeff Whitty Music and Lyrics: Amanda Green, Tom Kitt, and Lin-Manuel Miranda Director:  Ewan Jones Reviewer:  Richard Maguire The youthful cast of this American high school musical certainly bring it on, but it’s a shame that the Southwark Playhouse didn’t bring on some air conditioning. Although Bring It On occasionally reaches camp zeniths, it’s the audience that remains smoking hot. ...

Writer: Michelle Magorian Adaptor: David Wood Director: Jo Kirkland Reviewer: David Guest A powerful story touching on rebuilding lives, loneliness and friendship that knows no barriers, set against the harsh reality of the Second World War is being presented by a talented and enthusiastic cast of young people at Southwark Playhouse. Goodnight Mister Tom is being staged at the venue by ...

Director: Nele Van Den Broeck Musical Director: Emma Oliver Trend Reviewer: Kris Hallett In the year 2138, the dog-eat-dog world has taken hold in London, only the busy people have survived and these successes are far too busy to raise a family. Yet what do they do when they feel the need to have that child, for example, for a ...

Writer: Jennifer Farmer (City Final),   Directors: Leon Phillips, Naomi Wood, Paul O’Donnell, Reena Jaisiah, Claire Proctor, Natalie Russo (City Final), Oliver Scott (Retold) Choreographer: Olver Scott (Retold) Reviewer: Selwyn Knight The 1950s was a big decade in Coventry’s history. Much of the city, including its historic St Michael’s Cathedral, most of its industrial capacity and over 4000 homes, was flattened in ...