Tag Archives: Liverpool

 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 ...

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: Helen Jones Director: Meg McFarlane Reviewer: Imogen Rowe Making their full-length play debut at Hope Street Theatre, new production company Make it Write present a tale of bounty, secrets and revenge, set deep within the wilderness of the West. The Barn Swallows follows the life of a young lad with a troubled past whose fortunes may be on the ...

Devisers: The Young Everyman Team and their mentors Directors: Nicole Behan, Matt Rutter and Chris Tomlinson Reviewer: Jamie Gaskin The Young Everyman Playhouse (YEP) team is well-known for its large-scale productions, so,devising a piece which, by its very title Crowd, requires plenty of people is a good choice. The show was devised by the team and developed with the actors ...