Tag Archives: Traverse Theatre

Writer: Cora Bissett Director: Orla O’Loughlin Reviewer: Stephen Bates Sugar and spice and all things nice? In this case, not exactly; once a rock ’n’ roll singer, Cora Bissett looks to be made more of grit and graft and sheer resilience as she crashes into the rocks, rolls with the punches and always bounces back to get on with her ...

Writer: Penelope Skinner Director: Amy Hodge Reviewer: Stephen Bates “The play is translated from an imaginary Scandinavian language” we are told in the introduction to the printed text and it seems fitting that playwright Penelope Skinner’s solitary dash of humour should be one that is not heard during the 70 minutes performance time. The play is set we know not ...

Creators: Jennifer Kidwell and Scott R Sheppard with Lightning Rod Special Director: Taibi Magar Reviewer: Stephen Bates The small town of Hanover sits on what was, during the American Civil War, the Union side of the Mason-Dixon line. Over on the Confederate side, black slaves would enter the “underground railway” to escape to freedom through Hanover and, hopefully, onward to ...

Writer: Ian Kershaw Director: Raz Shaw Reviewer: Stephen Bates The script generously points out that the play’s title invites a two-word review. Can the writer mean “it isn’t”? Well true, it isn’t, but this charming piece of romantic whimsy from the husband and wife team of writer Ian Kershaw and actor Julie Hesmondhalgh is still worth a look. The play ...

Writer: Henry Filloux-Bennett Director and choreographer: Jonnie Riordan Reviewer: Stephen Bates Back in the days when Michelin stars were a thing of the future for the UK and Fanny Craddock was teaching the nation to cook, a 12-year-old Nigel Slater was learning his craft by helping his Mum to make jam tarts and mince pies in her Wolverhampton kitchen. Now ...

Writer: David Ireland Director: Gareth Nicholls Reviewer: Stephen Bates Have you heard the one about the Englishman, the Irish woman and the American? Yes, any jokes beginning similarly have long been branded politically incorrect, but all the rules of PC are put through the shredder in David Ireland’s brutal, excoriating and blisteringly funny black comedy. The Englishman is theatre director ...

Creators: Daphna Attias and Terry O’Donovan Writer: Chris Goode Director: Daphna Attias Reviewer: Stephen Bates Firstly, this show is not found at the Traverse Theatre itself, rather it is at the Jeelie Piece Café, a modern corner coffee bar about ten minutes walk away. The show is site-specific and immersive; lattes and muffins are optional and come at extra cost. ...

Writers and directors: Iseult Golden and David Horan Reviewer: Stephen Bates Who would be a teacher? Walking through the modern minefield of rigid rules and political correctness, young Mr McCafferty asks himself just that question in this 85-minute one-act play first seen at the Dublin Theatre Festival. There are sharp edges beneath the surface of Iseult Golden and David Horan’s ...