These Theatre Thoughts

  My review of  Teechers Leavers 22 at The Greenwich Theatre, London, on behalf of Adventures in Theatreland:  School… whatever we thought of it at the time, we’ll often look back with a kind of rose-tinted nostalgia that makes us wish we were still there. It was simpler then, wasn’t it? There were fewer problems to deal with, weren’t there? The future was bright, right?  That’s what we might think, but what Teechers Leavers 22 (a reimagined 21 st century version of John Godber’s 1984 classic Teechers ) reminds us is that school has always been a battlefield, no matter how well you did or how popular you were. There were always issues and always more than met the eye. It was like that back then and, it seems, it’s still like that today. That’s why Teechers Leavers 22 is such an important play, and as John Godber himself says, it’s perhaps even more relevant today than it ever was when he first wrote it.  Read more at:  https://adventuresintheatrelandd.bl...

  Tickets: Paid for  Date: 23rd April 2023 Seat: U22 (Stalls) Star Rating: 5 Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP9dRG-9OYs The Great British Bake Off Musical gives us an entire series of Bake Off distilled down into a couple of hours. And there are moments that you’ll recognise, like the infamous 'bingate', someone badly cutting their thumb, and a contestant constantly referring to Paul Hollywood (in this case, Phil Hollinghurst) as the male judge. It runs through everything from meeting the contestants to signature bakes and technical challenges, and showstoppers. It’s got eliminations. It’s got judging and blind judging. It’s got the comedy moments from the presenters, and it’s even got the judges chatting about who’s going home, just like on the show.  That’s the premise. We get a lot more than that – there’s a love story running throughout, there’s a baddie, there’s the competition itself and who’s going to win, there’s tension and drama and comedy, and ...

  My review of   Abigail's Party  at The Churchill Theatre, Bromley,  on behalf of Pocketsize Theatre: As the action starts in the latest production of Mike Leigh's Abigail's Party, you can’t help but feel a prickling sense of anticipation. This marvel of 1970’s British social dysfunction has once again graced the stage, proving that the party never truly ends; it simply finds a new host. Read more at:  http://www.pocketsizetheatre.com/2023/04/review-abigails-party-at-churchill.html

  My review of   The Makings of a Murderer  at The Adelphi Theatre, London  on behalf of West End Best Friend: “There’s been a murder…”  This is how the ‘Scottish Detective’, David Swindle, begins his fascinating deep dive into killers and what makes them tick in The Makings of a Murderer . This Taggart -based joke is a moment of levity – and there are a few of them – that provides a brief respite from the weighty subject matter, allowing the audience to come up for air before Swindle offers more information and more anecdotes about his time as a detective.  Read more at:  https://www.westendbestfriend.co.uk/news/review-the-makings-of-a-murderer-adelphi-theatre-tour

My review of   Snowflakes at The Park Theatre, Finsbury Park,  on behalf of Theatre Weekly: Snowflakes  makes you think. It makes you laugh. It makes you want to look away (although you find you can’t). But what  Snowflakes  really does is make you afraid. Because this might be an imagined future, one in which vigilante justice isn’t just condoned but legitimised, but it feels just a little too real for comfort. A little too real to be fiction for too long. That’s where the power of  Snowflakes  lies, and that’s why it’s an important play right now – it’s a haunting and compelling lesson about what could happen if we keep rushing down this road, and the destination is a bloody one. Read more at:  https://theatreweekly.com/review-snowflakes-at-park-theatre/

  My review of The Lost Spells at The Polka Theatre   on behalf of Adventures in Theatreland: There are many lessons children need to learn in life. They need to learn about nature and the world around them. They need to learn about words and the power they have, and they need to learn about themselves and how they can make a difference.  The Lost Spells  teaches all of these lessons and more. Read more at:  https://adventuresintheatrelandd.blogspot.com/2023/04/review-lost-spells-polka-theatre-london.html  

My review of  Family Tree  at Brixton House Theatre on behalf of Adventures in Theatreland: Family Tree  is a captivating and poetic drama that explores the untold story of Henrietta Lacks, one of the most remarkable people in medical history. Her cells have formed the basis of groundbreaking medical research, from cancer to HIV to COVID, but her  contribution was never acknowledged during her lifetime. In  fact, those cells that  have made so much difference to the world were  taken without her permission .  Read more at:  https://adventuresintheatrelandd.blogspot.com/2023/04/review-family-tree-brixton-house-london.html

Ben Onwukwe in The Shawshank Redemption. Photo credit Jack Merriman Tickets: Gifted Date: 11th April 2023 Seat: R5 (Stalls) Star Rating: 4 Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHRl1tM2Aak It’s not very often that people feel happy to find themselves behind bars, but when it comes to the stage version of The Shawshank Redemption , it’s a different matter. Here, audience members are asked to journey along with prisoners Red and Andy as they navigate the harsh realities of life inside the walls of Shawshank prison, otherwise known as The Shank – the name itself a painful reminder of what violence awaits around every corner. But despite this, and despite making it very clear to the audience, this play brings to life the enduring themes of hope, friendship, and, of course, redemption. With its powerful performances and poignant storytelling,  The Shawshank Redemption  is a theatrical experience that will leave audiences moved and inspired.   Adapted from Stephen ...

  Tickets: Paid for Date: 8th April 2023  Seat: E23 (Stalls) Star Rating: 5 Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhOL58oWqWw The King and I , a timeless classic, is brought to life once again, and that can only be a good thing. New musicals are exciting and fresh, but being able to see where it all started and understand why these classics really are classics is just as wonderful, and this new production of The King and I is all about wonder. I'll admit, the main reason for booking these tickets was because the show was to star Helen George , a definite favourite in our household, thanks to her radiant portrayal of Trixie in Call The Midwife , and although I enjoy The King and I , I was most excited to see her play Anna. However, once we arrived at the theatre, we discovered that it was to be Maria Coyne, not Helen George, taking the part. The term 'crushing disappointment' has never been so apt.  But hear me out.   I was wrong. With  the enchant...

  Tickets: Paid for Date: 7th April 2023  Seat: F32 (Stalls) Star Rating: 3 Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0TZit1MNEE If you’re looking for a fun and chilling way to spend an evening, When Darkness Falls is the ideal choice. Things falling from the walls, thunder, and flickering lights are all staples of a good scary story, and you can count on them here; they’re used to great effect. And while these conventions are part of the story, the play by James Milton and Paul Morrissey stands out for its ability to emotionally engage the audience. The story is based on actual events and transports us to the island of Guernsey, where we learn about the local legends and ghost stories that have been passed down through the generations, ranging from witch trials to sightings of the dead in a hospital during World War II.   Tony Timberlake plays a history professor who meets Thomas Dennis's paranormal investigator character (known only as the Speaker) in order to ...

  My review of Hanging Around at the Pleasance Theatre, Islington on behalf of Theatre Weekly: Hanging Around  is a wickedly entertaining production that will leave you feeling thoroughly bewitched. Burn Bright Theatre and Stacey Evans have brewed up a devilishly clever concoction of horror and comedy, sprinkled with a healthy dose of feminist fury. Read more at:  https://theatreweekly.com/review-hanging-around-at-the-pleasance/