Central Reviews

Reviewer: James Garrington Did you ever notice how many villains there are in Disney? It’s not at all surprising if you take the time to consider the origins of almost all of the Disney classics. It also explains why a cabaret evening based around “a celebration of villainy in song” would take the Disney catalogue for the vast majority of ...

Writer: John Webster Director: Maria Aberg Reviewer: Katy Roberts Maria Aberg returns to the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) with an arresting and timely production of John Webster’s revenge tragedy The Duchess of Malfi. Masculinity and madness loom large throughout, and Aberg’s clever direction and Naomi Dawson’s powerful staging bring the issue of toxic masculinity front and centre with devastating consequences ...

Concept: Josette Bushell-Mingo Director: Dritëro Kasapi Reviewer: John Kennedy To fans, friends and family, Nina Simone’s profession and personal life comprised an irresolvable struggle to define her identity regarding artistry and racial heritage as much as it was to be able to love, be loved and find a sense of belonging. With her passionate involvement with the 60s Black Civil Rights ...

Writer: Ronald Harwood Director: Peter Rowe Reviewer: Selwyn Knight Growing older is compulsory – or at least, better than the alternative, most would agree. What Writer, Ronald Harwood, seems to be suggesting is that what matters isn’t the physical fact of ageing, but how we cope mentally with the changes it inevitably brings. He tells his story through the eyes ...

Wolverhampton Grand today made the first cast announcement for their forthcoming in-house production, Ladies’ Day. The theatre announced that Deena Payne, best known for playing Viv Hope in Emmerdale and being one of the longest-serving cast members in the show's history having starred for 18 years, will play Pearl - one of the four leading ladies. Payne’s previous theatre credits ...

Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Vivien Jones Reviewer: Nicole Craft The Albany Theatre, having recently secured their future for the next half-century, further makes its presence in the city as a leading theatrical venue known this evening by launching its brand-new studio space. After a small launch event, The Studio opens its curtains to audiences for the first time and welcomes ...

Reviewer: John Kennedy Perhaps Marlon Brando, leader of The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club in The Wild Ones, first lit his fuse. ‘Hey Johnny, what you rebelling against?’ ‘Whadda you got?’ Long has Mark Thomas been curdling the venal fat-cats’ cream and door-step embarrassment-bombing their corporate greed-fests. Be they arms dealers, polluters, even New Labour, his moniker as megaphone publicity socialist stuntman ...

Writer: Helena Westerman Director: Caroline Simonsen Reviewer: James Garrington “I like talking to people. I find it makes them smile. And no one ever smiles at each other in London”. Leila is a waitress in a cafe. Every day she catches the bus at the same stop. Then one day she meets a man there – Martin, a successful young ...