Tag Archives: Colchester

Writer: Conor McPherson Director: Adele Thomas Reviewer: Michael Gray “It's just people talking,” is how the playwright modestly sums up The Weir. And so it is. But Conor McPherson's compelling chamber piece has proved popular at home and abroad over its 20-year life, picking up an Olivier for best new play along the way. The Weir is the name of ...

Writer: J M Barrie Directors: Daniel Buckroyd, Matthew Cullum Reviewer: Michael Gray A magical, enchanting Peter Pan to follow James and the Giant Peach and The Wind in the Willows onto the Mercury stage in the long vacation slot. Not just another attempt at the increasingly popular summertime panto, but an adaptation, by Daniel Buckroyd and Matthew Cullum (who also ...

Author: Michael Morpurgo Adaptor: Daniel Buckroyd Director: C P Hallam Composer: Ru Hamilton Reviewer: Michael Gray Farm Boy is the sequel to Michael Morpurgo's phenomenal War Horse. It's a very different animal – a couple of actors, a costumed musician, and, centre stage “an old green Fordson”, the tractor which turns out to be at the heart of this story. ...

Artistic Director: Christopher Marney Choreographers: Christopher Marney, Marius Petipa, Matthew Bourne, Liam Scarlett, Jenna Lee, Malgorzata Dzierzon, Christopher Bruce, Michael Pink, Christopher GableReviewer: Michael Gray Ballet Central's annual tours offer lovers of dance a unique opportunity to see the performers of the future, their training ended, ready to enter the world of professional work. The touring schedule, constantly expanding, brings ...

Writer: David Greig Director: Dan Sherer Reviewer: Michael Gray First seen in 2013, and inspired at least in part by the Anders Breivik massacre of the year before, David Greig's powerful piece has been revived many times since. Dan Sherer's production in the Mercury Studio is intensely visceral, its impact enhanced by the intimacy of the staging. James Cotterill's set ...

Writers: Daniel Buckroyd, Fine Time Fontayne Director: Daniel Buckroyd Musical Director: Richard Reeday Choreographer: Charlie Morgan Reviewer: Michael Gray Beneath the impressive 21st Century gloss, and despite the Trump gags, this is a warmly traditional panto, its appeal effortlessly spanning the generations. Director and co-writer Daniel Buckroyd has wisely re-hired many of last year's Aladdin company; they seem very much ...

Music and Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Hugh Wheeler Adaptation: Christopher Bond Director: Daniel Buckroyd Musical Director: Michael Haslam Reviewer: Glen Pearce Those who think stage musicals are all sequins, kick lines and jazz hands have obviously never been to Stephen Sondheim’s darkest of works, Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. To be fair, there’s been much debate over ...

Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Pia Furtado Composer: Rebecca Applin Reviewer: Michael Gray No hint of the romance or sunshine of Messina here. We're in the spartan canteen of a British regiment – motto Perfer et Obdura. There's a telly in the corner, a servery, tables for mess and for ping-pong. A chorus of Homeward Bound and Don Pedro marches his ...