Tag Archives: Drama

Writer: Michael Morpurgo Adaptor: Nick Stafford Directors: Marianne Elliot and Tom Morris Touring Director: Katie Henry Reviewer: Matt Forrest 12 years on from its premiere at the National Theatre, residencies on the West End, Broadway and numerous national and international tours it would be no exaggeration to say that War Horse has become a theatrical institution, and on the basis ...

Writers: James Yeatman and Lauren Mooney Director: James Yeatman Reviewer: Dave Cunningham The challenging nature of There Is a Light That Never Goes Out at The Royal Exchange is made clear in the tag line: Scenes from the Luddite Rebellion.  The play does not attempt to give an exhaustive examination of the disruptive events during the industrial revolution when workers, fearing ...

Writer: Ayn Rand adapted by Koen Tachelet Director: Ivo van Hove Reviewer: Dave Cunningham The 2019 Manchester International Festival (MIF) has not been without controversy. There has been a dispute about authorship of one of the plays and an absent presenter literally phoned-in her address at the opening event.  Staging an adaptation of The Fountainhead- Ayn Rand’s epic tribute to ...

Writer: Anton Chekhov  Director: Lev Dodin Reviewer: Gus Mitchell With a double bill of Life and Fate and Uncle Vanya at the Theatre Royal Haymarket last summer, the Maly Drama Theatre of St. Petersburg made a splash in London. Their renowned director Lev Dodin now leads the company back to the West End, with a 10-day run of Anton Chekhov’s penultimate play, ...

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 ...