Central Reviews

Writer: David Almond Director: Adam Carver Reviewer: James Garrington Michael is unhappy. He has moved to a new part of town, his new-born baby sister is ill and his world seems to have turned upside down. Then one day he ventures into the dilapidated garage and finds a strange man, and Michael’s life changes forever. This is the story of ...

Conductor: Adrian Lucas Reviewer: Clare White Raymond Gubbay’s Christmas season kicks off in spectacular style at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham with its annual classic carol concert. Traditional festive favourites mixed with rarer Yuletide treasures and sing-a-long standards are performed by the sublime City of Birmingham Choir, accompanied by the London Concert Orchestra and led by conductor Adrian Lucas. One ...

Writer: Eric Gracey from the book by Charles Dickens Director: Jennifer Rigby Reviewer: Selwyn Knight Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol over a six-week period in 1843. Affected by the conditions in which he saw children work, it was a polemic against the impact of the Industrial Revolution. His story of a miserable miserly moneylender motivated solely to increase his ...

Reviewer: John Kennedy Uncannily accurate musical theatre mimicry or just Fab Four necrophiliac nostalgia? Whether neither, either or both it can’t be denied that a guaranteed splendid time is being had by all. The secret to maintaining the Bootleg Beatles’ magical mystery allure during this two-hour tour down melody lane is not to look too closely - just buy into ...

Writers:  Michael Harrison and Brian Conley Director: Kathryn Rooney Reviewer: Maggie Constable We all know so well the traditional fairytale story that is Cinderella but for a month at Milton Keynes Theatre families from all over will be lucky enough to be part of the spectacle that is QDos Productions’ version of Cinderella, starring the renowned actor and comedian, Brian Conley, no ...

Writer: Alan McHugh Director: David Janson Reviewer: Clare White Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre is full of beans this pantomime season, as this year's festive offering of Jack and the Beanstalk is bursting with high jinx, magic and superb silliness. In the fictional West Midlands village of Little Yamton, we meet Jack Trott, who is tricked by evil Baron Fleshcreep into selling ...

Writer: Andrew Ryan Director: Chris Nelson Reviewer: Scott Matthewman It is a recurring thread in many modern pantomimes that the titular heroines, from Sleeping Beauty to Cinderella, are among the least served in terms of scripted character. That’s certainly the case with Aylesbury’s version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, where the characters of Muddles, Dolly the Nurse and ...

Conductor: Harry Christophers CBE Reviewer: John Kennedy The bleak mid-winter snow-blitz has taken its toll on audience attendance this evening. Nevertheless, evening-gowned, white dickie-bowed and tuxedoed, The Sixteen elegantly complement the grandeur of the Symphony Hall. Matching solemnity with panache and dash it’s evident they’re up for tugging and teasing at Harry Christopher’s guiding reins to celebrate a Hodie rodeo choral sleigh-ride across the ...