Tag Archives: Liverpool

Writer: Fred Lawless Director: Bob Eaton Reviewer: John Roberts First produced at The Royal Court as a Christmas production, now almost a decade later the show gets a summer revival, which feels as fresh and as funny as it was when it was first performed. Needless to say this comic castaway caper features an almost face cohort in the roles ...

Writers: Cal McCrystal, Aitor Basauri, Stephan Kreiss, Petra Massey, Toby Park Director: Cal McCrystal Comedy four-piece Spymonkey are celebrating their 20-year anniversary and what better way to do so than with the revival of their 2001 show Cooped, what the cast have described as a “demented pulp gothic romance”, which believe you me only just about scratches the surface, as ...

Writer: Kevin Fearon Director: Chris Mellor Reviewer: John Roberts On paper, the premise of My Fairfield Lady is a good one, a localised spin on George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion should sit perfectly at home at The Royal Court. However, Kevin Fearon and Chris Mellor have created a muddled piece of theatre that lacks distinction and depth. Kevin Fearon in his ...

 Writer: Jules Verne Adaptor: Laura Eason Director: Theresa Heskins Reviewer: Tate James With mathematical precision, Phileas Fogg winds his way about the world, hopping from train to boat to elephant in Jules Verne’s 1873 novel; and it is with the same mathematical precision that this exceptional adaptation by Laura Eason bounds across the stage, dragging its willing audience across continents ...

Music & Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Hugh Wheeler Director: Nick Bagnall Reviewer: John Roberts If you attend this tale of Sweeney Todd, be prepared to see a version of the Sondheim musical which sees director Nick Bagnall strip back the piece and focus on the fundamental and important elements of music, lyrics and storytelling – this condensing brings an unrivalled ...

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 ...

Writer: Mike Leigh Director: Sarah Esdaile Reviewer: Tate James Through the large glass window of Janet Bird’s nostalgic set we catch our first glimpse in the living room of 1970s suburbia. As the set literally unfolds, the familiar shagpile rugs, record players and fibre optic lamps of yesteryear provide the setting for a dinner party doused with dysfunction. We meet ...

Writer: Marie Jones Director: Lindsay Posner Reviewer: Tate James “People watch movies for a happy ending. We don’t watch movies to get depressed: that’s why we have the theatre” Marie Jones’ wilfully witty and sometimes-sarcastic script may be packed with quips from its pair of everyday heroes, yet this charming two-hander is far from depressing. As many recover from a ...