Tag Archives: Drama

Writer: Bertolt Brecht  Composer: Jim Fortune Adptor/Director: Amy Hodge Reviewer: Dave Cunningham Many people argue Mother Courage and Her Children is the best play of the 20thCentury but that doesn’t mean it is easy to watch. Author Bertolt Brecht regarded theatre as a means by which he could communicate his political views and treated niceties like set design, characterisation and even ...

Writer: David Judge Director: Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder Reviewer: Dave Cunningham You have to pay attention during the opening monologue in David Judge’s autobiographical single-person play SparkPlug. Mishear and it may take some time to appreciate that, although Judge is describing his childhood, he is doing so by performing in the role of his adoptive father ; confusingly also named David Judge. ...

Writer: Rose Lewenstein Director: Chelsea Walker Reviewer: Scott Matthewman One of the many downsides to corporate travel is that every hotel room ends up looking much the same as any other. That plays into the literary and design aesthetic of the Orange Tree Theatre’s latest collaboration with English Touring Theatre, which continually flashes forward to a succession of identikit bedrooms. ...

Writer: Michael Sabbaton Director: Sylvia Vickers Reviewer: Matthew Forrest It’s hard to see what relevance a true tale some 250 years old about an incredible ‘thinking machine’ has today. The Turk director Sylvia Vickers and actor/writer Michael Sabbaton have crafted a story of mystery, madness and remorse that has more to say about the current situation in the world than you may ...

Writer: Richard O’ Brien Director: Christopher Luscombe Reviewer: Matt Forrest The Time Warp has been a firm favourite at social clubs, school discos, and family gatherings for an age. Regardless if it’s the original and to a lesser extent the 1987 cover version by Damian: it is always guaranteed to pack out any dance floor and get people out of their ...

Writer: Jean Genet Translation: Martin Crimp Director: Lily Sykes Reviewer: Dave Cunningham When HOME stages a play as ‘theatre in the round’ they really commit to the concept. The stage area for The Maids is built over the stalls lifting the performance space to the level of the dress circle. Patrons have, therefore, excellent sightlines and are in disturbing proximity to ...

Writer: Patrick Marber Director: Adam McCoy Reviewer Matthew Forrest In 1997 actor/playwriter Patrick Marber was riding the crest of a wave: he had not long since had a prominent role in the comedy classic TV series Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge. His debut play, Dealers Choice had just been on an extensive run in the West End. His second ...

Writers: Ian Rankin and Rona Munro Director: Robin Lefevre Reviewer: Ruth Gerrard Ian Rankin has treated theatre audiences to a brand new outing for his much loved woebegone detective John Rebus (Charles Lawson). Now retired from the force; this new piece picks up an even more morose, shuffling older figure of a man now with more time on his hands to ...