South East Reviews

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 ...

Writer and Director: Richard Gauntlett Reviewer: Lu Greer The time has arrived at the Norwich Theatre Royal once again when giant wigs and near day glow costumes grace the stage when the panto arrives in town. The show, again written and directed by Theatre Royal stalwart Richard Gauntlett, this time takes on an adventure to the Far East in the ...

Writer & Director: Jamie Smith Reviewer: Alice Fowler Christmas in Guildford only properly begins with The Twelve Days of Christmas, as performed by the Yvonne Arnaud panto: an annual ritual of mayhem and misrule in which custard pies are thrown, knickers hurled and foam and water sprayed in all directions. This year, under the direction of Jamie Smith, things seem ...

Writer: Andrew Pollard Music: Gemma Hawkins Director: Martin Berry Reviewer: Liz Stagg Jack, a lowly worker at Frank Furter’s Fun Fair, has dreams of a better life. The fair owner (Furter) is under pressure from the giant above who has eaten and frightened customers away. With the Giant's demands becoming harder and harder to bear, a hero has to come ...

Director and Writer: Paul Hendy Reviewer: Dan English Pantomime is a Christmas tradition, yet almost becoming as traditional is the turkey on the table is the high quality of Canterbury’s festive offering, with the Marlowe’s production of Cinderella being no different. Boasting a cast of soap stars and Canterbury panto stalwarts, this year’s production of Cinderella delivers the high-quality pantomime ...

Writer/Performer: Simon Evans Reviewer: Simon Topping With Victorian sideburns and a tweed jacket, Simon Evans enters stage embodying his eccentric ideals. Evans is in transition from middle to old age and railing against the dumbing down of society; it is a position which he feels duty bound to adopt in a thought-provoking friendly, yet unapologetically curmudgeonly way.   Playing to a ...

Writer/Performer: Elis James and John Robins Reviewer: Simon Topping Triumphantly stomping onto the stage to Queen's Don't Stop me now, Elis James and John Robins greet the crowd with a fist pump to the air. Almost immediately Robins falters, he has eaten five vegan meals today and has just awoken from a short nap. He apologies if this gig is ...