Tag Archives: Drama

Director: Michael Lunney Playwright: Margaret May Hobbs (based on the book by Barry Reed) Reviewer: Helen Tope  Down on his luck and on the ropes, Boston lawyer Frank Galvin needs a win. Living case by case after nearly being disbarred, Galvin struggles to keep his career on track – such as it is. We are far from the chic, glass-fronted offices of Corporate America. ...

Writer: William Shakespeare Director: John Haidar Reviewer: Dave Cunningham Headlong do not have to try too hard to demonstrate the relevance of Shakespeare’s Richard IIIto contemporary audiences. After all, the play is set in a divided society governed by a populist ‘strong man’ ruler whose narcissism conceals a deep insecurity and rage against the world. Not too difficult, therefore, to ...

Writer: Willy Russell Director: Bob Tomson & Bill Kenwright Reviewer: Matt Forrest It’s hard to believe that Blood Brothers just celebrated its 36th year, if anything, it feels older purely because the affection with which it is held. It’s certainly an institution of the theatre circuit and there’s no question why: this is a timeless, heart-breaking tale, of love, class and ...

Writers: Mary Cooper and MW Sun Composer: Nicola Chang Director: David K S Tse   Reviewer: Dave Cunningham From Shore to Shore has a sense of ‘‘come for the food but stay for the play’’. Even someone with little interest in the niceties of dining out will be aware that Manchester’s Yang Sing Restaurant has a reputation for quality so ...

Writer:  Dan Gordon Director: Jonathan O Boyle Reviewer: Matt Forrest Back in 1988 Barry Levinson directed the hugely commercial and critically successful film Rain Man. The film was a vehicle for Hollywood heavyweights Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. It was the highest grossing film of 1988 and bagged four Academy awards. However, more importantly, it managed to bring autism to ...

Writer: William Shakespeare Adaptation:  Helen Jeffery Director: Daniel Taylor Reviewer: Matt Forrest Following on from last year’s successful productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet at the Epstein Theatre, they once again have turned to the bard to welcome in the spring with something far more sinister; Macbeth. “The Scottish play” is as revered as Hamlet and King Lear and ...

Writer: Malorie Blackman Adaptor:  Sabrina Mahfouz Director: Esther Richardson Reviewer: Dave Cunningham Producers are unanimous in their belief in the dramatic potential of Malorie Blackman’s Noughts & Crossesnovels. There has already been one stage adaptation and later this year there will be a TV version on the BBC. The story is set in an alternative reality where society is strictly ...

Writer: James Kettle Director:  Didi Hopkins & Selina Cadell Review: Matt Forrest Mary Poppins seems to be in the public conscience an awful lot at the moment. This is of course due to the recent cinematic release of Mary Poppins Returns, which is keeping the magic alive. However writer James Kettle is also doing his bit for the ‘Poppins’ legacy, all ...