Tag Archives: Hayley Grindle

Writer: Charles Dickens Adaptor: Deborah McAndrew Director: Amy Leach Reviewer: Ron Simpson Yorkshire’s second version of A Christmas Carol to open this Christmas proves, above all, the wonderful dramatic qualities of the original story. The two productions – by Front Room Productions and, now, by Hull Truck Theatre – have very different production concepts, both extremely successful, but despite the ...

Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Amy Leach Reviewer: Dawn Smallwood Amy Leach has adapted Shakespeare’s tragedy with a very modern take, linking with current affairs so that every member of the audience can relate to this production. This production is contemporary and radical, supported by Hayley Grindle’s urban staging with contrast lighting by Joshua Carr.  The production’s aim is to link to ...

Book: Richard Bean Music: David Arnold Lyrics: David Thomas Director: Douglas Rintoul Musical Director: Ben Goddard Reviewer: Glen Pearce As the opening production of his first season as Artistic Director of the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, Douglas Rintoul takes the audacious step of staging the first regional production of Made In Dagenham. It’s a brave choice, not only did the show ...

Writer: Richard Bean Composer: David Arnold Lyricist: Richard Thomas Director: Douglas Rintoul Musical Director: Ben Goddard Reviewer: Michael Gray   Vintage Fords flock to Hornchurch for the homecoming opening of this first major revival of the 2014 musical Made In Dagenham. It's based on the film of a few years earlier, which embroiders the story of the Dagenham machinists' 1968 ...

Writer: Terrence Rattigan Director: Justin Audibert Reviewer: Laura Jayne Bateman Written in 1941, Terence Rattigan’s Flare Path premiered in August 1942 at the Apollo Theatre, London. Initially rejected by producers, who believed the British public wouldn’t wish to see a play about the war, it was a critical and commercial success and was revived in the West End in 2011. ...

Writer: Gary Owen Director: Rachel O’Riordan Reviewer: Abbie Rippon   What a powerful force Iphigenia in Splott is. You feel adrenaline pulsing through your veins just watching it. It is gripping, fiery, passionate, and, most poignantly, honest from start to finish. Once the applause dies down you are left staggered and breathless. Gary Owen has written a true masterpiece. It ...

Writer: Terence Rattigan Director: Justin Audibert Reviewer: Bill Avenell   In this world of convoluted plots and psychological undertones, it is refreshing to come across a straight forward and relatively simple story, an "epic wartime romance" according to Yvonne Arnaud’s publicity, which doesn’t require a huge amount of mental energy to follow. Whether this production or this play is truly ...

Writer: Terence Rattigan Director: Justin Audibert Reviewer: James Garrington Originally produced in 1942, Terence Rattigan’s Flare Path offers a contemporary view of life during some of the darkest times in our history. It is set in a dowdy hotel adjacent to a Bomber Command airbase, where crews can relax and wives and sweethearts can stay; the story revolves around the ...