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Francis, The Holy JesterWriter/Director: Dario FoReviewer: Deborah KlaymanFringe Rating: Two StarsThis production of Dario Fo’s play about Italy’s famous saint is performed as a one-man show by Mario Pirovano, Fo’s long time friend and collaborator. Translated from the Italian, this was touted as it’s first performance in English, however, I did not expect that it [...]

Stand By Your Van by Anna ReynoldsDirector: Paul BourneReviewer: Deborah KlaymanFringe Rating: Four Stars Produced by Menagerie in association with Pleasance and Escalator East to Edinburgh, ‘Stand By Your Van’ is a clever concept and an extremely enjoyable production. Spectacularly staged with a brand new vehicle at the centre of the action, twelve contestants compete [...]

AnnieBook: Thomas MeehanMusic: Charles StrouseLyrics: Martin Charnin Director/Choreographer: Roger HannahReviewer:Ian CainAsk any aficionado of musical theatre to name their favourite orphan and they’ll probably say either Annie or Oliver Twist. The heart-warming, rags-to-riches tale of the red-headed ragamuffin is playing at Sunderland Empire Theatre all this week and ‘Annie’ certainly charmed and delighted the capacity [...]

The BFG by Roald DahlAdapted by David WoodDirector: Phil ClarkReviewer: John RobertsStepping into the Palace Theatre, and seeing 100′s of excited children you cant help but slowly regress into an excited ten year old.Roald Dahl’s delightfully delicious and sometimes dark children’s books were a firm childhood favourite. I remember howling at delight at Mathilda and [...]

The Rebel CellWriter: Dizraeli and Baba Brinkman Reviewer: Deborah KlaymanFringe Rating: Four StarsFrom the producers of ‘Into The Hoods’ comes their politically charged play, ‘The Rebel Cell’. In the dystopian England of 2013 the BNP and BBC have merged and free speech is a thing of the past. Dizraeli, the leader of the revolution, has [...]

No Way Out by Jean-Paul SartreEnglish version by Frank HauserDirector: Luke KenaghanChoreographer:Kele Baker Reviewer: Leon TraymanSatre’s No Way Out (Huis Clos) discusses the lives and subsequent fates of three people. A Journalist, Socialite and Postal Worker. The play opens on an empty cell-like enclosure with over-turned chairs, three tables, a bronze bust, television monitor and [...]

Private PeacefulBy Michael MorpurgoAdaptor/Director: Simon ReadeReviewer: Deborah Klayman Fringe Rating: 5 StarsAdapted from Michael Morpurgo’s award-winning book, Private Peaceful tells the tale of Thomas Peaceful (Tommo), a teenage boy who ends up as an infantry soldier in the First World War. A one-man show, Finn Hanlon is superb, playing the multitude of characters with a [...]

After CirclesWriter: Henry MartinReviewer: Deborah KlaymanFringe Rating: 2 Stars Often, a play that raises a lot of questions has you leaving the theatre thinking ‘I wish I knew more’. Other times, you leave not really caring what the answers were. After Circles is sadly in the latter category, with a convoluted plotline that jumps between [...]