Book: John Weidman Music: David Shire Lyrics: Richard Maltby Reviewer: Maryam Philpott Films from the 1980s are the bedrock of musical theatre right now, something about their big-hearted themes, easy social messaging and optimistic storytelling suits the frothiest of genres perfectly. 9 to 5opened earlier this year following a popular run for Heathers: The Musical and soon a song-filled version of ...
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Writers: Nicola Bland, Stacey Bland Director: Victoria Gimby Reviewer: Karl O’Doherty With the point clearly flagged up by Vicky’s mother in the opening minutes, the 1980’s in London was a potentially dangerous place for men and women stepping outside gender and sexuality norms. And Vicky isn’t stepping so much as leaping vibrantly into an unpredictable future, complete with leopard-print heels, ...
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Writer and Director: Paul Hendy Musical Director: Phil Hornsey Choreographer: Sarah Langley Reviewer: Janet Jepson Peter Pan is something of a tradition in Christmas shows at Sheffield Theatres, and has graced the stages of either the Lyceum or the Crucible four times since the beginning of the 1980s. Flying back through the years to 2010, 2000, 1992 and 1982, various ...
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Book: Dorothy Reynolds and Julian Slade Music: Julian Slade Lyrics: Dorothy Reynolds and Julian Slade Director: Bryan Hodgson Reviewer: Jo Beggs You might not be too familiar with Salad Days, written as a summer show by the youthful Julian Slade (just 24) and Dorothy Reynolds for the Old Vic in 1954, but you can see why, against all expectations, it ...
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Book and Lyrics: Dorothy Reynolds and Julian Slade Music: Julian Slade Director: Bryan Hodgson Reviewer: Selwyn Knight One can’t help wondering what on earth Julian Slade and Dorothy Reynolds were on when they wrote Salad Days in a month in 1954 to form the summer show at the Old Vic. Written at a time when Britain was still in the ...
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Writer: Ronald Harwood Director: Peter Rowe Reviewer: Cathy Swaby There has always been something compelling about a story that challenges our fear of mortality and growing old. Unlike the standard role of grandparent, wise bearded wizard or grumpy old man, it is refreshing when we are shown actors giving more guileless, positive impressions of being one step nearer the grave. ...
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Writer: Ronald Harwood Director: Peter Rowe Reviewer: Selwyn Knight Growing older is compulsory – or at least, better than the alternative, most would agree. What Writer, Ronald Harwood, seems to be suggesting is that what matters isn’t the physical fact of ageing, but how we cope mentally with the changes it inevitably brings. He tells his story through the eyes ...
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Writer: Ronald Harwood Director: Peter Rowe Reviewer: Molly Richardson Quartet tells of four retired and aging opera singers, who have taken residence in a care home. First, we meet trio Cecily (Wendi Peters), Reggie (Jeff Rawle) and Wilfred (Paul Nicholas), who are unearthing the mystery of who the new ‘star’ resident is to be – there are mixed reactions ...
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