Central Reviews

Writer and Director: Lucy Bird Reviewer: Selwyn Knight By many measures, Kate is successful. She holds her own in an extremely competitive male-dominated office, doing her best to fit in, working long hours and swearing like a trooper – she’s even Johnno’s Best Man. But Kate is also socially inept and lonely; she might have it all professionally, but personally, her life ...

Writer: Barney Norris, from the book by Kazuo Ishiguro Director: Christopher Haydon Reviewer: James Garrington The Remains of the Day is, without doubt, an extraordinary piece of theatre. This world premiere production is based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s masterpiece, and it is done extremely well. Like the book, it contains a great many themes and strands, sometimes interwoven and sometimes standing alone and ...

Directors: Matilda Dickinson and Adam Lloyd-James Reviewer: Selwyn Knight As Thoreau might say, Gregor is leading a life of quiet desperation: he is stuck in a job he hates, working long hours for a demanding boss and with little appreciation. He does it to care for his family: his father who has been too unwell to work for some years ...

Writers: Ian Hislop and Nick Newman Director: Caroline Leslie Reviewer: Maggie Constable For and evening of sharp wit, incredibly relevant issues and, yes, laughter, there is no better place to be this week than Milton Keynes theatre for Trial by Laughter. William Hone’s true story has proved to be a gift to partners in crime, Ian Hislop and Nick Newman, ...

Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Kimberley Sykes Reviewer: Katy Roberts The Royal Shakespeare Company is kicking off its summer 2019 season with As You Like It, and what a fine production to open on. As You Like It is a story of the joys (and confusions) of falling in love and has all the classic elements that makes it one of Shakespeare’s ...

Book: Jon Brittain from the book by David Walliams Music: Miranda Cooper and Nick Coler Lyrics: Jon Brittain and Miranda Cooper Director: Luke Sheppard Reviewer: James Garrington Billionaire Boy – The Musical hits the Belgrade this week as part of a short national tour – and it’s a jolly, light-hearted romp with a serious message at its heart. Joe Spud is an ordinary boy, ...

Writer: David Mamet Director: Sam Yates Reviewer: Selwyn Knight Four glib and fast-talking salesmen are increasingly desperate to sell what is frankly undesirable real estate to unsuspecting prospects. Their worldview is concentrated on getting to the top of the office leaderboard and winning a Cadillac. They’ll do anything to clinch the deal. But their fates are also in the hands ...

Director/Choreographer: David Bintley Reviewer: Hannah Powell The folk tale of Beauty and the Beast is a familiar one of family, danger and love, shared by a vast number of cultures stretching across the breadth of the globe. After being caught trespassing and in return for his life, Belle’s father is forced to send his youngest daughter to live within the ...