Theatre reviews for you, by you. If you would like to review for us,
please contact us including a short review of what you have seen recently.

Once upon a time at the AdelphiLiverpool Playhouse – until 2nd August Written & Directed by Phil Wilmott Reviewed by Stephanie RoweBeing nearly 200 years since the first Adelphi Hotel opened its doors, it was really only a matter of time until someone was inspired enough to write a play/musical which centred around this world renowned Hotel. Steeped in history and with many urban legends connected to the place, there was plenty for Phil Wilmott to work with to help him produce a fabulous and truly inspiring musical, which is what we come to expect of Phil after such wonderful works as Around the world in 80 days and Dick Barton special agent. The parallel love story in the 1930’s with the modern day was a brilliant concept for the musical, telling the story of Thomspon and Alice in the heydays and Jo in the modern played be the amazing talent of Julie Atherton as the modern Jo and young Alice and the dazzling performance from Natasha Seale as the older Alice and Ma Thompson you were taken to a world of Glitz and Glamour of the hotel though the 30’s and 40’s Thompson (Alice’s love interest) played by the extremely talented Simon Bailey from many west end leads and theatre band Teatro, had you feeling every emotion possible as he led you through this tale of chaos and decadence.This musical had you gripped from beginning to end with a tragic love story and some laugh out loud comic moments with which the talents of Helen Carter came shining through in yet another fantastic performance after her success in last Christmas’s hit the Flint St Nativity. This is true ensemble musical theatre and each actor gave an outstanding performance bringing each character to life with such panache and musical theatre [...]

Sunset Boulevard The Watermill Theatre – Wed 9th Jul – Sat 30th AugMusic by Andrew Lloyd-WebberLyrics by Don Black Directed by Craig Revel Horwood Musical supervisor and arrangements by Sarah TravisReviewed by David Saunders < ?xml:namespace prefix = o />I had high hopes upon entering the theatre and was looking forward to a performance, inventively staged in what has come to be one of < ?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Britain’s premier small scale venues. I can say on my accounts my hopes were well founded. The piece focuses on washed writer Joe Gillis who after many years working in Hollywood has traded in his idealist goals for cynicism. Following a chase through the streets of Hollywood he arrives at the mansion of faded silent movie star Norma Desmond. The show then tells the story of these two people both struggling to find their way. The setting designed Diego Pitarch used a central grandiose spiral staircase as its focal point with all of the action taking place on a short thrust stage. The set had all the old Hollywood glamour required for this show and added the much needed elevation to the cramped stage floor. The piece itself is largely to do with scale and the art of the grand performer. The set certainly helped to facilitate those grand moments. The costume for the piece was very much as expected with the lion’s share of the wardrobe naturally going to Kathryn Evans as Norma Desmond. The remainder of the cast seemed to unfortunately have been sent to Marks and Spencer to find their own costume. While the focus must be on Norma it is still vital that the other characters have a clear relationship in their costume to the era the piece is set. It is not enough to have one [...]