Tag Archives: Birmingham REP

Writer: Alexis Michalik, translated by Jeremy Sams Director: Roxana Silbert Reviewer: Dave Smith Most people know the story of Cyrano de Bergerac, probably the most celebrated play in the French language. Written in rhyming couplets, it’s about how the physically unappealing Cyrano (he has a very big nose) helps a friend’s love life by writing his romantic letters for him, ...

Writer: James Kettle Directors: Didi Hopkins and Selina Cadell Reviewer: Selwyn Knight When one thinks of David Tomlinson, one probably thinks of Mr Banks in Mary Poppins, for Tomlinson by then had already carved his niche playing, as he described them, ‘my dim-witted upper-class twit performances’. And when one hears that there’s to be a play celebrating the life of ...

Writer: Joe Penhall Director: Daniel Bailey Reviewer: Selwyn Knight Christopher is excited – like a toddler overdosed on sugar, he can’t keep still, his joy in the world is palpable. The reason for his delight? After 28 days of being forcibly sectioned, he’s due for release into the community. He’s suffering from a variation of Borderline Personality Disorder, and all ...

Music and Lyrics: Howard Blake Choreographer: Robert North Director: Bill Alexander Reviewer: Selwyn Knight 2018, was positively awash with anniversaries relating to The Snowman: Raymond Briggs' book was first published in 1978, 40 years ago, and Birmingham REP’s first stage production inspired by the book and animated film of 1982, was first seen in 1993, 25 years ago. And, as the ...

Writer: L. Frank Baum Music and Lyrics: Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg Director: Liam Steel Reviewer: Selwyn Knight The REP describes this production as a ‘bold yet faithful reimagining’ of the world created by L Frank Baum and forever cemented in our heads by the iconic MGM film. And the blurb does not lie – the story and the songs ...

Writers: Pete Brooks and Andrew Quick, from the book by Joseph Conrad Directors: Pete Brooks and Andrew Quick Reviewer: Selwyn Knight Written in 1899, Joseph Conrad’s novella, Heart of Darkness, is often regarded as one of the great stories of the twentieth century. It is an attack on colonialism and empire, in which we follow our protagonist, Company man Charles Marlow, ...

Writer: Bryony Lavery from the book by Alice Sebold Director: Melly Still Reviewer: Selwyn Knight Susie Salmon is a typical fourteen-year-old on the cusp of womanhood, not quite a child, not quite grown up, even if she has had her first kiss with Ray Singh. But Susie is very different to most fourteen-year-olds: Susie was brutally raped and murdered by ...

Writer and Director: Patrick Barlow Reviewer: James Garrington Which is worse – Maurice Rose’s writing, or Ronald Bream’s acting? It’s hard to say – but when the two combine it leads to a version of the Christmas story that is a long way from the normal seasonal presentation. Maurice Rose (Hugh Dennis) is the founder, scriptwriter and leading light of The Maurice ...