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Archive for the 'Amateur' Category

Hello, Dolly! – Theatre Royal, Norwich

Book: Michael Stewart Music And Lyrics: Jerry Herman Musical Director: Matt Brown Director: Ray Jeffrey Reviewer: James Clark The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★★☆ Based on the play ‘The Matchmaker’ by Thornton Wilder, the Norfolk & Norwich Operatic Society version of ‘Hello, Dolly!’ is an enjoyable production, truly loved by its audience, new and old from start to finish. [...]

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Seussical – The Musical – Warrington Collegiate

Writer: Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Director: James Baker Reviewer: Tracey Lowe The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★★★ The stars were shining in an unexpected location this January, as Warrington Collegiate gave a spectacular performance of Seussical. This was by no means a bumbling production in a gym cum cafeteria; this was an extremely [...]

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The Adventure Principle – Contact Theatre, Manchester

Created by Coney, Contact and CYAC Directors: Dan Canham/Tassos Stevens Reviewer: Jo Beggs The Public Reviews Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Are you afraid of the dark? Are you afraid of heights? Just two of the questions we’re asked as we arrive at Contact for The Adventure Principle. There’s an air of anticipation as a small group of participants are led through [...]

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Passion/Demo – New Wolsey Studio, Ipswich

Passion Writer: Edward Bond Director: Rob Salmon and the company Demo Devised by the company Director: Laura Norman Reviewer: Michael Gray The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★½☆ Edward Bond’s short play Passion, written forty years ago for the CND, is a pretty unsubtle piece of agit-prop. Green Shield stamps show its age, but otherwise it remains sharp and pertinent as [...]

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Solve – Martin Harris Centre for Drama, Manchester

Writer/Director: Piers Black-Hawkins Reviewer: Dave Cunningham The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★☆☆ ‘Solve’ is produced by the Drama Society of the University of Manchester as part of their Autumn Showcase. This support enables a large cast to be assembled that would be beyond the financial means of most theatre companies. To a certain extent it also subtly shapes the play. [...]

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The Producers – West Bromwich Operatic Society at New Alexandra Theatre , Birmingham

Book: Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan Music & Lyrics: Mel Brooks Director: Mike Capri Reviewer: Selwyn Knight The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★★☆ ‘The Producers’ must be a serious contender for the most non-PC mainstream production ever! It mercilessly lampoons, among others, the Nazi party, an interesting spin on the casting couch, foreigners of all shades and accents, camp gay [...]

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Encore – The Customs House, South Shields

Reviewer: Ian Cain The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★½☆ Once again, the phenomenon that is ‘Encore’ makes a welcome return to The Customs House, bringing with them a large crowd of loyal followers. Indeed, each and every time the group play the venue, they virtually sell-out the theatre for the entire week’s run! With an entertaining combination of comedy, music [...]

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Shakespeare Schools Festival – Contact Theatre, Manchester

Writer: William Shakespeare Director: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Mrs Helena Hart), Romeo and Juliet (Amy Wilan), Much Ado About Nothing (Miss Colette Marchington), Macbeth (Miss L Cordingley) Reviewer: Laura Maley The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★★☆ In its 11th year, the nationwide Shakespeare Schools Festival goes from strength to strength involving 600 schools performing in 78 theatres from Aberdeen to [...]

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