Tag Archives: Theatre

Writer: Bella Heesom Director:  Donnacadh O’Briain Reviewer:  Richard Maguire This is not the first time that a woman’s sexual organs have been demystified on the stage. In the 1990s, performance artist Annie Sprinkle famously invited an audience to come up and, with the help of a speculum and torch, observe her cervix in the sensibly entitled Public Cervix Announcement. Before ...

By: Clap Back Club Reviewer: Simon Topping The congregation are all gathered in Brighton’s One Church to celebrate the life, or more accurately the death of, Pat Riarchy: father, husband and complete psychopathic narcissist. And as the tiny coffin trundles up the middle of the hall to be placed in position the ceremony begins. Pat, it would seem has touched ...

Writer: Zoe Cooper Director:  Guy Jones Reviewer:  Richard Maguire Zoe Cooper’s last play Jess and Joe Forever was a big hit for The Orange Tree Theatre in 2016, and her new play Out Of Water seems certain to repeat that success. A lyrical examination of gender’s position in evolution and, importantly, the education system, Out Of Water is nothing less than remarkable. Londoner ...

Book: Oscar Hammerstein II Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II Director: Bartlett Sher Reviewer: Matt Forrest As soon as the steamer glides onto the stage, you hear the opening note of I Whistle A Happy Tune, you know you’re in safe hands and are about to be treated to something special. For the arrival of the huge boat into ...

Writer: Alix Sobler Director:  Max Key Reviewer:  Richard Maguire Thinking you were made of glass was, apparently, not an unusual psychological condition in the past and in Alix Sobler’s new play at The Print Room Princess Alexandria of Bavaria is certain that as a child she swallowed, whole, a glass piano. This play, based on real people, could be an ...

Writer: Tabitha Mortiboy Director:  Hannah Hauer-King Reviewer:  Richard Maguire Unfortunately, there is a line in The Amber Trap, Theatre503’s new play, when one character explains her girlfriend’s behaviour by saying, ‘She’s joking, it’s just that she’s not funny.’ This observation just about sums up the whole show. Lovers Hope and Katie work in a corner shop in the Manchester area, ...

Writer: Michael Gyngell Directors:  Samuel Holmes and Nick Winston Reviewer:  Richard Maguire According to the song by 1980s band Wham!, Club Tropicana has it all. Free drinks. Fun and sunshine enough for everyone. All that’s missing, George and Andrew sing, is the sea. But this ‘80s jukebox musical of the same name is missing more than the sea. It also lacks ...

Director: Nicolas Kent Reviewer: Matt Forrest This must be the first time I’ve attended a comedy show where half way through there is a projected video of a stomach operation, whilst a laid-back jazz track plays out, with Thomas bellowing “staple, cut, staple”. But then again, this no normal show; this is a show about an institution that has impacted ...