http://www.thepublicreviews.com Theatre reviews for you, by you. Thu, 17 May 2012 06:07:02 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/we-love-you-city-belgrade-theatre-coventry/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/we-love-you-city-belgrade-theatre-coventry/#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 06:07:02 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32785 Writer: Nick Walker Music: Derek Nisbet Director: Paul Warwick Reviewer: Selwyn Knight The Public Reviews Rating: 5 out of 5 stars What better day to watch We Love You City, the Belgrade Theatre and Talking Birds Theatre Company’s homage to Coventry City’s FA cup win in 1987 than the exact twenty-fifth anniversary? These feelings were [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/we-love-you-city-belgrade-theatre-coventry/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-king-and-i-alhambra-theatre-bradford/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-king-and-i-alhambra-theatre-bradford/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 20:42:38 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32779 Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II Director: Paul Kerryson Choreographer: David Needham Designer: Sara Perks Reviewer: Laura Stimpson The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Based on Margaret Landon’s novel ‘Anna and the King of Siam’, The King and I is Rodgers and Hammerstein’s fifth musical, first performed on Broadway in 1952. [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-king-and-i-alhambra-theatre-bradford/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/an-inspector-calls-royal-derngate-theatre-northampton/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/an-inspector-calls-royal-derngate-theatre-northampton/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 16:36:49 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32768 Director: Stephen Daldry Writer: J.B. Priestley Reviewer: Sue Dixon The Public Reviews Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars Director Stephen Daldry is a renowned and celebrated director winning accolades for films such as The Reader and Billy Elliot. This production of An Inspector Calls represents the longest running play revival in history, having been seen by [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/an-inspector-calls-royal-derngate-theatre-northampton/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-yalta-game-alma-tavern-theatre-bristol/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-yalta-game-alma-tavern-theatre-bristol/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 14:36:00 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32763 Writer: Brian Friel Director: Timothy Howe Reviewer: Shane Morgan The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Everybody has done it at one time or another. You are sitting in a cafe, a bar, on a train or just idly strolling by and you see someone and wonder who they are and what they [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-yalta-game-alma-tavern-theatre-bristol/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/close-the-coalhouse-door-the-lowry-salford/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/close-the-coalhouse-door-the-lowry-salford/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 13:10:28 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32758 Writer: Alan Plater with additional material by Lee Hall, Based on stories by Sid Chaplin Music: Alex Glasgow Director: Samuel West Musical arrangement and direction: Sam Kenyon Reviewer: Dave Cunningham The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars   There are so many people involved in the development of this production of Close the [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/close-the-coalhouse-door-the-lowry-salford/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/henry-v-arts-theatre-cambridge/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/henry-v-arts-theatre-cambridge/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 08:33:02 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32750 Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Dominic Dromgoole Reviewer: Davina Moss The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars The Cambridge Arts Theatre will never quite be the Globe, but this touring production of Henry V takes us incredibly close. Playing heavily on Shakespeare’s early apologies that no theatre can become “the vasty fields of France”, [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/henry-v-arts-theatre-cambridge/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/camille-osullivan-feel-spiegeltent-at-wonderground-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/camille-osullivan-feel-spiegeltent-at-wonderground-london/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 14:23:10 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32743 Reviewer: Natalie Barker The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars I’ve seen Camille O’Sullivan perform in London twice before now and enjoyed her original take on powerful narrative songs from the likes of Tom Waits, Nick Cave and David Bowie. Her touring shows, Dark Angel and Chameleon, are similar – she has performed [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/camille-osullivan-feel-spiegeltent-at-wonderground-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/cd-review-a-song-cycle-for-soho/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/cd-review-a-song-cycle-for-soho/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 12:29:13 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32723 Producer: Simon Greiff and Neil Marcus Reviewer: Julie Robinson The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Mercury Musical Developments are an organisation dedicated to the development and support of new writing in musical theatre and, in their 20th anniversary year, they collaborated with SimG Productions on the A Song Cycle For Soho project. [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/cd-review-a-song-cycle-for-soho/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/simon-amstell-numb-harrogate-theatre/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/simon-amstell-numb-harrogate-theatre/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 12:25:49 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32722 Reviewer: Rosie Revell The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Simon Amstell is shy and funny. He must be, he repeatedly tells us he is. Taking to the Harrogate stage in what can only be described as stand-up self-help, Amstell is searching for a way to overcome his shyness and thus his social [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/simon-amstell-numb-harrogate-theatre/feed/ 1 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/starlight-express-new-wimbledon-theatre-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/starlight-express-new-wimbledon-theatre-london/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 12:24:39 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32725 Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Richard Stilgoe Director: Arlene Philips Reviewer: John Roberts The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Ironic that the start of the latest touring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express should encounter a 15 minute delay in departure – however, it is not the only departure that is [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/starlight-express-new-wimbledon-theatre-london/feed/ 1 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/steel-magnolias-richmond-theatre-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/steel-magnolias-richmond-theatre-london/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 11:11:07 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32714 Writer: Robert Harling Director: David Gilmore Reviewer: Alex Ramon The Public Reviews Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars Soap queens and theatre grande dames constitute the astutely-assembled cast of David Gilmore’s engaging revival of Steel Magnolias, Robert Harling’s 1987 talk-fest about the lives, loves and losses of six Louisiana women. Best known in its 1989 [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/steel-magnolias-richmond-theatre-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/chair-lyric-hammersmith-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/chair-lyric-hammersmith-london/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 08:40:35 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32708 Writer and director: Edward Bond Reviewer: Catherine Love The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars   In the concluding offering of Edward Bond’s trio of Chair Plays, the future looks anything but bright. We are in 2077 and the chair of the title, a surprisingly sinister piece of furniture, is offered by Alice [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/chair-lyric-hammersmith-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/derren-brown-svengali-the-lowry-salford/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/derren-brown-svengali-the-lowry-salford/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 08:33:44 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32704 Writers: Derren Brown, Iain Sharkey with Stephen Long Director: Polly Findlay Designer: Will Bowen Reviewer: Julie Burrow The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars   Derren Brown has sworn me to secrecy. I’m not allowed to give any details away about what happens – so this will be a very tricky review. Mostly [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/derren-brown-svengali-the-lowry-salford/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birds-of-a-feather-the-new-alexandra-theatre-birmingham/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birds-of-a-feather-the-new-alexandra-theatre-birmingham/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 05:46:40 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32698 Writers: Laurence Marks, Maurice Gran, Gary Lawson and John Phelps Director: Simon James Green Reviewer: James Garrington The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars A number of popular sit-coms have been adapted for the stage over the past few years. In some cases they are essentially nothing more than repeats of TV episodes [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birds-of-a-feather-the-new-alexandra-theatre-birmingham/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/bette-and-joan-belgrade-theatre-coventry/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/bette-and-joan-belgrade-theatre-coventry/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 05:41:28 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32692 Writer: Anton Burge Director: Bill Alexander Reviewer: Selwyn Knight The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Two ageing Hollywood stars have been feuding for thirty years. Although they have some similarities in their backgrounds and lives, their philosophies towards life and Hollywood couldn’t be more different. One, Bette Davis, sees herself as a [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/bette-and-joan-belgrade-theatre-coventry/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/paul-merton-out-of-my-head-the-lowry-salford/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/paul-merton-out-of-my-head-the-lowry-salford/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 11:36:08 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32683 Reviewer: Geoff Lovelock The Public Reviews Rating: 2 out of 5 stars   Judging by the poster in which a velvet-clad Merton stands in the sea, his head encased in a bird-cage with a tiny horse atop it, you’d think we were in for night of delightful surrealism. We’re not. We’re really not. I’ve seen [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/paul-merton-out-of-my-head-the-lowry-salford/feed/ 2 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/music-for-silents-vampyr-the-lowry-salford/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/music-for-silents-vampyr-the-lowry-salford/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 11:28:35 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32676 Script: Carl Th Dreyer adapted from ‘ In A Glass Darky’ by J. Sheridan Le Faneu Director: Carl Th Dreyer Score composed and performed by: Steven Severin Reviewer:  Dave Cunningham The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars   The film Vampyr, written and directed by Carl Th Dreyer, originates from 1932 and its [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/music-for-silents-vampyr-the-lowry-salford/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hormonal-housewives-richmond-theatre-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hormonal-housewives-richmond-theatre-london/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 10:18:46 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32670 Writers: Julie Coombe and John McIsaac Reviewer: Deborah Klayman The Public Reviews Rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars   Despite being billed as “a night of fun and frolics with the girls”, Hormonal Housewives offers little to their largely female audience other than well-worn material about the trials and tribulations of womanhood. A three-hander that [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hormonal-housewives-richmond-theatre-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/amateur-transplants-adam-kays-smutty-songs-the-lowry-salford/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/amateur-transplants-adam-kays-smutty-songs-the-lowry-salford/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 09:58:31 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32664 Writer: Adam Kay Reviewer: Laura Maley The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Amateur Transplants frontman Adam Kay sits at a grand piano and sings smutty parody songs. It really is as simple, and funny as that. He sometimes comes to the front of the stage for a bit of chat, but other [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/amateur-transplants-adam-kays-smutty-songs-the-lowry-salford/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/merrily-we-roll-along-theatr-clwyd-mold/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/merrily-we-roll-along-theatr-clwyd-mold/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 09:17:24 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32655 Book: George Furth Music & Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Director: Nikolai Foster Reviewer: Malcolm Wallace The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars   Based on the 1934 play of the same name by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, Merrily is one of Stephen Sondheim’s least performed works due, in part, to its infamous [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/merrily-we-roll-along-theatr-clwyd-mold/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/whats-hot-14th-may-2012/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/whats-hot-14th-may-2012/#comments Sun, 13 May 2012 23:01:37 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32646 Theatre is at its most powerful when it reflects our everyday lives. Love, affairs, death, class, education – all provide writers with plenty of material for powerful drama. Catherine Love looks at some productions across the country this week that hold a mirror to our  lives.   1) BETRAYAL – CRUCIBLE THEATRE, SHEFFIELD Harold Pinter’s [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/whats-hot-14th-may-2012/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/circles-various-venues-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/circles-various-venues-london/#comments Sun, 13 May 2012 13:44:17 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32639 Writer: Beverly Andrews Director: Vik Sivalingam Music: Lyra Laura Veroli Reviewer: Samuel Hopkins The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars   Circles is a site specific interactive piece of theatre exploring ideas of empathy; each night the audience is transported to four very contrasting worlds to watch the stories of four central characters [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/circles-various-venues-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/faulty-towers-the-dining-experience-thistle-hotel-brighton/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/faulty-towers-the-dining-experience-thistle-hotel-brighton/#comments Sat, 12 May 2012 15:38:02 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32629 Theatre Company: Interactive Theatre International The Public Reviews Rating: 5 out of 5 stars   Being a big fan of the TV series I approached the evening with a slight concern that the cast would have a difficult task ahead of them in trying to recreate the success of the original show. My concerns were [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/faulty-towers-the-dining-experience-thistle-hotel-brighton/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/titus-andronicus-etcetera-theatre-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/titus-andronicus-etcetera-theatre-london/#comments Sat, 12 May 2012 13:55:49 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32623 Writer: William Shakespeare Director/Producer: Zoé Ford Reviewer: Lucy Thackray The Public Reviews Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars   Titus Andronicus, one of Shakespeare’s earliest and most violent plays, could be described as his first stab at tragedy (pun intended). With rape, mutilation, murder and cannibalism galore, it’s no Much Ado, and is rarely performed [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/titus-andronicus-etcetera-theatre-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/babel-caledonian-park-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/babel-caledonian-park-london/#comments Sat, 12 May 2012 13:49:47 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32616 Producers: WildWorks, Battersea Arts Centre, World Stages London Reviewer: Benjamin Vivian-Jones The Public Reviews Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars   The story of Babel is set deep within many traditions and religions. The tower and city appear in the Book of Genesis, the direct architectural result of the world’s inhabitants – “in the beginning [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/babel-caledonian-park-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/slaughterhouse-comedy-to-die-for-joshua-brooks-manchester/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/slaughterhouse-comedy-to-die-for-joshua-brooks-manchester/#comments Sat, 12 May 2012 11:10:18 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32608 Writer: James Jowett, Adam Davies Director: Peter Carruthers Reviewer: Laura Maley The Public Reviews Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars   Blackhand Productions’ Adam Davies and James Jowett present their first comedy sketch show, ‘Slaughterhouse, Comedy to Die For’ downstairs at Joshua Brooks, Manchester. After great success at the King’s Arms, Salford, with BoJazz Comedy [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/slaughterhouse-comedy-to-die-for-joshua-brooks-manchester/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-beekeeper-waterloo-east-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-beekeeper-waterloo-east-london/#comments Sat, 12 May 2012 10:51:24 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32604 Writer: Michael Ashton Director: Adrian McDougall Reviewer: Theo Cowan The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars   Michael Ashton’s The Beekeeper explores the unusual relationship built between Monowitz prisoner Menachem Stressler (Eliot Giuralarocca) and Commandant Richard Baer (Robert Harding). Protagonist Stressler is Monowitz’s allocated beekeeper, supplying honey for the Nazi officers. Seen by [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-beekeeper-waterloo-east-london/feed/ 1 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/pandoras-box-arcola-theatre-tent-dalston/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/pandoras-box-arcola-theatre-tent-dalston/#comments Sat, 12 May 2012 10:42:15 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32598 Writer/ Producer: Ade Solanke Director: Ola Animashawun Reviewer: Louise Thompson The Public Reviews Rating: 5 out of 5 stars   I have approximately 500 words in which I can review this play and all I want to write is ‘absolutely brilliant’ 250 times. However, I will give a little bit more information and tell you [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/pandoras-box-arcola-theatre-tent-dalston/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/norfolk-and-norwich-festival-the-strange-undoing-of-prudencia-hart-norwich-university-college-of-the-arts/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/norfolk-and-norwich-festival-the-strange-undoing-of-prudencia-hart-norwich-university-college-of-the-arts/#comments Sat, 12 May 2012 10:34:21 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32591 Writer: David Greig Director: Wils Wilson Reviewer: Lu Greer The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars   The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart is very much a show of two parts – with the show before the interval being the story of Prudencia, a young woman from Edinburgh, who on one fateful night [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/norfolk-and-norwich-festival-the-strange-undoing-of-prudencia-hart-norwich-university-college-of-the-arts/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/big-daddy-vs-giant-haystacks-the-public-west-bromwich/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/big-daddy-vs-giant-haystacks-the-public-west-bromwich/#comments Sat, 12 May 2012 07:58:05 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32583 Writers: Brian Mitchell and Joseph Nixon Director: Brian Mitchell Reviewer: Selwyn Knight The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars The Foundry Group describes itself as a band of writers and performers committed to producing affordable, popular, intelligent touring shows with a broad appeal. This is certainly the case with this offering, which premiered [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/big-daddy-vs-giant-haystacks-the-public-west-bromwich/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/tender-napalm-curve-leicester/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/tender-napalm-curve-leicester/#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 16:30:53 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32577 Writer: Philip Ridley Director: David Mercatali Reviewer: Karen McCandless The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Violent, full of very strong language and a bit trippy, Tender Napalm is not a play that will appeal to everyone. Phillip Ridley’s critically acclaimed new work pushed the boundaries of the theatre world and was one [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/tender-napalm-curve-leicester/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/mother-adam-jermyn-street-theatre-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/mother-adam-jermyn-street-theatre-london/#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 12:22:22 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32570 Writer: Charles Dyer Director: Gene David Kirk Reviewer: Sheila Cornelius The Public Reviews Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars Jermyn Street Theatre’s production of a rarely performed, fascinating sixties tragedy is a real treat for theatre-goers and was warmly applauded by an enthusiastic audience. Adam’s elderly mother is the last survivor of a missionary family [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/mother-adam-jermyn-street-theatre-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/dna-brewery-theatre-the-tobacco-factory-bristol/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/dna-brewery-theatre-the-tobacco-factory-bristol/#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 11:00:46 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32559 Writer: Dennis Kelly Director: Anthony Banks Reviewer: Shane Morgan The Public Reviews Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Writer Dennis Kelly struck gold when he wrote Deoxyribonucleic Acid for the National Theatre’s 2007 Connections Festival. It received its professional debut at the National, rapidly became the play of choice for young actors and landed on [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/dna-brewery-theatre-the-tobacco-factory-bristol/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/street-of-dreams-manchester-arena-manchester/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/street-of-dreams-manchester-arena-manchester/#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 08:10:34 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32552 Music & Lyrics: Trisha Ward Director: John Stephenson Reviewer: Paul Downham The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars   When you have an idea to turn ITV’s longest running soap opera into a hit musical where better place to have your world premiere than in one of Europe’s biggest indoor arenas? This is [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/street-of-dreams-manchester-arena-manchester/feed/ 1 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-pirate-project-the-studio-royal-exchange-theatre-manchester/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-pirate-project-the-studio-royal-exchange-theatre-manchester/#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 08:00:23 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32546 Writers: Chloé Déchery, Lucinka Eisler and Simone Kenyon Director: Lucy Foster Reviewer: Tracey Lowe The Public Reviews Rating: 2 out of 5 stars There are lots of theories on how women can escape a male-centric society and gain completely equal rights, but I’m not sure taking inspiration from female pirates is something I can get [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-pirate-project-the-studio-royal-exchange-theatre-manchester/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/henry-v-theatre-royal-norwich/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/henry-v-theatre-royal-norwich/#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 07:49:20 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32540 Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Edward Hall Reviewer: Lu Greer The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars   Henry V, which of course tells the story of one of Britain’s greatest folk law hero’s in one of his greatest battles, is here brought to life by the all-male Shakespeare company Propeller. They are a [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/henry-v-theatre-royal-norwich/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/small-mercies-our-lady-of-the-goldfinches-lowry-studio-salford/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/small-mercies-our-lady-of-the-goldfinches-lowry-studio-salford/#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 07:39:20 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32534 Written by: Jane McNulty Directed by: Bill Hopkinson Reviewer: Jo Beggs The Public Reviews Rating: 0.5 out of 5 stars   In 1972 Jean McConville, mother of ten, ex-Protestant, was taken from her West Belfast home, murdered by the IRA and buried on a beach. The IRA claimed she had been passing information on Republican [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/small-mercies-our-lady-of-the-goldfinches-lowry-studio-salford/feed/ 2 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/royal-liverpool-philharmonic-orchestra-huddersfield-town-hall/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/royal-liverpool-philharmonic-orchestra-huddersfield-town-hall/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 22:40:54 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32529 Conductor: Jakub Hrusa Soloist : Yevgeny Sudbin Reviewer: Matt Stimpson The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Founded in 1840 the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is the UK’s oldest professional symphony orchestra. The orchestra is rightly proud of this heritage, but is also one of the most forward thinking orchestras, with some excellent [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/royal-liverpool-philharmonic-orchestra-huddersfield-town-hall/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/mary-shelley-playhouse-theatre-liverpool/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/mary-shelley-playhouse-theatre-liverpool/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 11:34:38 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32517 Writer: Helen Edmundson Director: Polly Teale Reviewer: Jamie Gaskin The Public Reviews Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars What happens when the intellectual power and passion of romantic radicalism clashes with the reality of debt and respectability? Writer Helen Edmundson’s Mary Shelley gives us an insight, and so much more, in her finely honed look [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/mary-shelley-playhouse-theatre-liverpool/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/2401-objects-lowry-theatre-salford/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/2401-objects-lowry-theatre-salford/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 11:20:29 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32511 Writers: Hannah Barker, Lewis Hetherington and Liam Jarvis Director: Liam Jarvis and Hannah Barker Reviewer: Tracey Lowe The Public Reviews Rating: 5 out of 5 stars 2401 Objects tells the (true) story of Henry Molaison, who in 1953 underwent pioneering surgery on his brain in an attempt to stop him having seizures. The experiment didn’t [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/2401-objects-lowry-theatre-salford/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/sleeping-beauty-harrogate-theatre/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/sleeping-beauty-harrogate-theatre/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 10:30:27 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32504 Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Director: Christopher Moore Reviewer: Katie Lee The Public Reviews Rating: 2 out of 5 stars Ballet Theatre UK presents their version of the classic story of Sleeping Beauty in Harrogate, as part of a lengthy UK tour. The ballet follows the tale of Princess Aurora’s birth, long sleep and awakening by [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/sleeping-beauty-harrogate-theatre/feed/ 2 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-winters-tale-theatre-royal-norwich/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-winters-tale-theatre-royal-norwich/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 09:57:25 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32499 Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Edward Hall Reviewer: Glen Pearce The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars   Shakespearian scholars may have to revise their thesis for, if we are to believe Ed Hall’s vibrant staging of The Winter’s Tale, Delia Smith’s now infamous Carrow Road touchline cry of ‘let’s be having yer’ is [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-winters-tale-theatre-royal-norwich/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/i-dreamed-a-dream-cliffs-pavilion-southend/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/i-dreamed-a-dream-cliffs-pavilion-southend/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 09:47:08 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32492 Director: Ed Curtis Musical Supervisor/Director/Orchestrations: Kenny Aitchinson Choreographer: Nick Winston Reviewer: Maureen Hylands The Public Reviews Rating: 5 out of 5 stars   It’s said that the words of a song are only as good as the singer, otherwise they don’t mean as much. From the moment the curtain rose, the air is filled with [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/i-dreamed-a-dream-cliffs-pavilion-southend/feed/ 5 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-full-monty-theatre-royal-bury-st-edmunds/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-full-monty-theatre-royal-bury-st-edmunds/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 09:14:47 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32486 Music and Lyrics: David Yazbek Director: Nigel Turner Musical Director: Mark Jefferson Reviewer: Flip Miller The Public Reviews Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars   It would appear that the gyms around Bury St Edmunds have been very busy this year getting a certain six gentlemen into shape for this show. The hard work, and [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-full-monty-theatre-royal-bury-st-edmunds/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-real-thing-west-yorkshire-playhouse-leeds/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-real-thing-west-yorkshire-playhouse-leeds/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 09:08:07 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32484 Book/Source: The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard Director: Kate Saxon Assistant Director: Emily Kempson Composer: Dominic Haslam Reviewer: S. E. Webster The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing, first performed over thirty years ago at the Strand Theatre in the West End, is currently treading the floorboards of [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-real-thing-west-yorkshire-playhouse-leeds/feed/ 1 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/vampirette-the-opera-house-manchester/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/vampirette-the-opera-house-manchester/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 08:22:11 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32477 Written: Jonathan Choat Director: Ed Curtis Reviewer: Paul Downham The Public Reviews Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars   The World Premiere of Vampirette is the latest offering from ATG’s ‘Manchester Gets it First’ initiative of bringing the best new productions to the Manchester stage before anywhere else in the UK. Not being the world’s [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/vampirette-the-opera-house-manchester/feed/ 6 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/anne-boleyn-festival-theatre-edinburgh/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/anne-boleyn-festival-theatre-edinburgh/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 22:55:15 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32468 Writer: Howard Brenton Music: William Lyons Director: John Dove Reviewer: Gareth Ireland The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Anne Boleyn is a compelling piece of theatre that explores who she was and the effect she had on King James I. The newly crowned King finds Boleyn’s controversial legacy that leads him to [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/anne-boleyn-festival-theatre-edinburgh/feed/ 2 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/yes-prime-minister-civic-theatre-darlington/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/yes-prime-minister-civic-theatre-darlington/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 19:07:19 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32458 Written: Anthony Jay and Jonathan Lynn Director: Jonathan Lynn Reviewer: Lindsay Sykes The Public Reviews Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars It’s a strange situation when you’re sat in a theatre watching a farce that slowly evolves into a story about paedophilia. Not a particularly funny subject. There may have been a clever point being made [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/yes-prime-minister-civic-theatre-darlington/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/ladies-in-lavender-yvonne-arnaud-theatre-guildford/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/ladies-in-lavender-yvonne-arnaud-theatre-guildford/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 19:00:47 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32457 Writer: William J. Locke (original short story) Adapter: Shaun McKenna, based on the film written by Charles Dance Reviewer: James Martin The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars   Sitting by the river in the scenic garden of the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre enjoying a glass of wine in the brilliant evening sunshine was [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/ladies-in-lavender-yvonne-arnaud-theatre-guildford/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-king-and-i-curve-leicester/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-king-and-i-curve-leicester/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 17:54:45 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32448 Writer: Richard Rogers & Oscar Hammerstein II Director: Paul Kerryson Reviewer: Karen McCandless The Public Reviews Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars The King and I made a triumphant return to the Curve after hitting the road on a tour across the UK – and what a return it was. Directed by Curve’s own Paul [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-king-and-i-curve-leicester/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/henry-v-oxford-playhouse/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/henry-v-oxford-playhouse/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 17:46:09 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32437 Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Dominic Dromgoole Reviewer: Mary Tapper The Public Reviews Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars Jamie Parker won plaudits for his portrayal of Prince Hal in the 2010 productions of Henry IV parts I & II at the Globe and here returns to complete the set of plays as Henry V. So, [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/henry-v-oxford-playhouse/feed/ 2 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/knives-in-hens-alma-tavern-theatre-bristol/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/knives-in-hens-alma-tavern-theatre-bristol/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 10:27:56 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32426 Writer: David Harrower Director: Iain MacDonald Reviewer: Shane Morgan The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Knowledge is power. What you do with that power makes or breaks you. This is the discovery of the Young Woman in David Harrower’s pre-industrial struggle of innocence in an ugly world. Harrower’s more successful Blackbird (2005) [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/knives-in-hens-alma-tavern-theatre-bristol/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/big-daddy-vs-giant-haystacks-the-lowry-salford/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/big-daddy-vs-giant-haystacks-the-lowry-salford/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 09:46:38 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32421 Writer: Brian Mitchell, Joseph Nixon Director: Brian Mitchell Reviewer: Laura Maley The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars The Foundry Group brings the story of two of the biggest names of the 70s and 80s to The Lowry Studio, Salford: Big Daddy vs Giant Haystacks. There were other wrestlers, and the WWE corporate [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/big-daddy-vs-giant-haystacks-the-lowry-salford/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/murder-on-the-nile-lowry-theatre-salford/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/murder-on-the-nile-lowry-theatre-salford/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 09:41:30 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32417 Writer: Agatha Christie Director: Joe Harmston Reviewer: Iain Sykes The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Let us get the most common misconception out of the way first. Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Nile contains no famous Belgian detective. That’s her earlier work, Death on the Nile, you’re thinking of there. The one [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/murder-on-the-nile-lowry-theatre-salford/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/avenue-q-lowry-theatre-salford/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/avenue-q-lowry-theatre-salford/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 07:13:12 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32411 Book: Jeff Whitty Music and Lyrics: Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx Director: Jason Moore Reviewer: Tracey Lowe The Public Reviews Rating: 5 out of 5 stars   It takes a certain special something for a new musical to succeed. Throughout the years we’ve seen such critical failures as ‘The Witches of Eastwick’ and ‘Carrie the [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/avenue-q-lowry-theatre-salford/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/bette-and-joan-royalderngate-theatre-northampton/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/bette-and-joan-royalderngate-theatre-northampton/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 05:30:14 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32405 Writer: Anton Burge Director: Bill Alexander Reviewer: Maggie Constable The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars This year is the 50th anniversary of the now cult film oldie What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? Anton Burge’s play Bette And Joan tells the story behind this classic film. After much acclaim and incredible success [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/bette-and-joan-royalderngate-theatre-northampton/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-art-of-concealmeent-riverside-studios-london/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-art-of-concealmeent-riverside-studios-london/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 15:36:55 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32401 Writer: Giles Cole Director: Knight Mantell Reviewer: JohnnyFox The Public Reviews Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars I was looking forward to ‘The Art of Concealment’, Giles Cole’s biographical piece about the life and work of Terence Rattigan, having heard good things from its outings both at the Brighton Festival and Jermyn Street theatre. Perhaps [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-art-of-concealmeent-riverside-studios-london/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/dancing-in-the-streets-new-theatre-cardiff/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/dancing-in-the-streets-new-theatre-cardiff/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 14:03:58 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32391 Director: Keith Strachan Reviewer: Jacqui Onions The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Dancing in the Streets is a perfect example of how you don’t need to add a tenuous plot and two-dimensional characters to make a highly enjoyable stage show out of popular songs. This is not a jukebox musical. Rather refreshingly, [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/dancing-in-the-streets-new-theatre-cardiff/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-harrogate-dinner-theatre-and-hotel-stay-package/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-harrogate-dinner-theatre-and-hotel-stay-package/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 13:06:58 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32386 The Public Reviews have teamed up with Harrogate Theatre to offer five amazing prizes, one for each year of The Public Reviews. This competition offers one lucky reader dinner at Le Bistrot Pierre, a pair of tickets to A Government Inspector on Tuesday 18th September and a night’s stay at The Crown Hotel. Enjoy an [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-harrogate-dinner-theatre-and-hotel-stay-package/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/calendar-girls-bristol-hippodrome/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/calendar-girls-bristol-hippodrome/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 12:50:49 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32374 Writer: Tim Firth Director: Jack Ryder Reviewer: Shane Morgan The Public Reviews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars I will not cease from mental fight, Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand, Till we have built Jerusalem In England’s green and pleasant land. So ends the hymn often sung in Calendar Girls and so [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/calendar-girls-bristol-hippodrome/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-harrogate-theatre-english-touring-opera-festival/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-harrogate-theatre-english-touring-opera-festival/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 12:44:26 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32373 The Public Reviews have teamed up with Harrogate Theatre to offer five amazing prizes, one for each year of The Public Reviews. This competition offers one lucky reader a pair of tickets for all three shows of the English Touring Opera festival on November 1,2 and 3 One pair of tickets for The Lighthouse 1st [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-harrogate-theatre-english-touring-opera-festival/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/32359/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/32359/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 12:26:27 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32359 The Public Reviews have teamed up with Harrogate Theatre to offer five amazing prizes, one for each year of The Public Reviews. This competition offers one lucky reader a pair of tickets for all three shows of the All Points North festival on the date of your choice. One pair of tickets for A Government [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/32359/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-the-girl-with-the-iron-claws-harrogate-theatre/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-the-girl-with-the-iron-claws-harrogate-theatre/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 12:01:25 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32355 The Public Reviews have teamed up with Harrogate Theatre to offer five amazing prizes, one for each year of The Public Reviews. This competition is for one family ticket for The Girl With The Iron Claws on Friday 15th June at 7pm. This is a story about a girl who dares to follow her longing. The [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-the-girl-with-the-iron-claws-harrogate-theatre/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/steel-magnolias-grand-opera-house-york/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/steel-magnolias-grand-opera-house-york/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 11:27:45 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32350 Director: David Gilmore Writer: Robert Harling Reviewer: Rosie Revell The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Steel Magnolias is most famous as the 1989 hit film starring legendary actresses as Shirley Maclaine, Sally Field, Julia Roberts and Dolly Parton. Written to help the writer overcome his grief at his sister’s death from diabetes, [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/steel-magnolias-grand-opera-house-york/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/sampled-festival-day-2-the-junction-cambridge/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/sampled-festival-day-2-the-junction-cambridge/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 10:50:00 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32345 Festival Director: Kate Madden Reviewer : Jack Trott   The Sampled Festival of Performance is a mini fringe festival, taking place over a weekend, that is exactly as it says – a sample of works in progress as well as tried and tested performances. With seemingly every performance space, office, side room, foyer and even [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/sampled-festival-day-2-the-junction-cambridge/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/barefoot-in-the-park-arts-theatre-cambridge/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/barefoot-in-the-park-arts-theatre-cambridge/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 09:41:37 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32339 Writer: Neil Simon Director: Maureen Lipman and Peter Cregseen Reviewer: Flip Miller The Public Reviews Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars   It is nearly 50 years since Neil Simon’s Barefoot in The Park appeared on Broadway but this delightful play is still just as relevant today as it was in 1963. The curtain rises [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/barefoot-in-the-park-arts-theatre-cambridge/feed/ 1 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hightide-festival-brunch-plays-the-cut-halesworth/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hightide-festival-brunch-plays-the-cut-halesworth/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 18:08:04 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32332 Writers: Shiona Morton, Berri George, John Barton, Karis Halsall Director: Melanie Spencer Reviewer: Glen Pearce A leisurely Sunday morning. Coffee, bacon rolls and new writing. What could be better? HighTide have assembled a team of writers either based in, or inspired by the area, to write a series of micro plays. Given rehearsed, script in [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hightide-festival-brunch-plays-the-cut-halesworth/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hightide-festival-the-adventure-the-printworks-halesworth/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hightide-festival-the-adventure-the-printworks-halesworth/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 15:48:33 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32325 Writer: Oliver Birch Director: Dan Bird Reviewer: Glen Pearce The Public Reviews Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars   Some reviews are difficult to write, not because there isn’t anything to say about a production, but, because the fact that the element of surprise is so central to the success of the piece, that to [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hightide-festival-the-adventure-the-printworks-halesworth/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hightide-festival-the-hour-of-feeling-the-rifle-hall-halesworth/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hightide-festival-the-hour-of-feeling-the-rifle-hall-halesworth/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 15:01:08 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32316 Writer: Mona Mansour Director: Richard Fitch Reviewer: Glen Pearce The Public Reviews Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars Middle Eastern political upheaval often causes ripples way beyond the national boundaries of the countries involved. It’s perhaps appropriate then, that HighTide have chosen Mona Mansour’s The Hour Of Feeling as one of a quartet of plays [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hightide-festival-the-hour-of-feeling-the-rifle-hall-halesworth/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hightide-festival-the-best-years-of-your-life-the-rifle-hall-halesworth/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hightide-festival-the-best-years-of-your-life-the-rifle-hall-halesworth/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 14:41:06 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32287 Writers: Nancy Harris, Kenny Emson, Nicola Werenowska, Mahlon Prince, Tom Eccleshare Director: Joe Murphy Reviewer: Glen Pearce The Public Reviews Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars What is the best year of your life? Turning 16? 18? Your 21st? These formative years as you journey from childhood to adulthood are often looked back on with [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hightide-festival-the-best-years-of-your-life-the-rifle-hall-halesworth/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hightide-festival-organs-of-little-apparent-importance-the-cut-halesworth/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hightide-festival-organs-of-little-apparent-importance-the-cut-halesworth/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 14:31:45 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32281 Writer: John Mcleod Dramaturg: Rob Drummer Reviewer: Glen Pearce The Public Reviews Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Theatre is often seen as a communal experience, although we individually have differing responses to a piece we share that collective response with fellow audience members and share in the live experience as a whole. John Mcleod’s [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/hightide-festival-organs-of-little-apparent-importance-the-cut-halesworth/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-an-evening-with-dementia-the-public-west-bromwich/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-an-evening-with-dementia-the-public-west-bromwich/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:56 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32178 A bitter-sweet play about living with the condition of dementia, is to take place at The Public in West Bromwich this June. ‘An Evening with Dementia’, a heart warming and touching production by ex-Royal Shakespeare Company actor, Trevor T. Smith, dares to deal in depth with an issue theatre often ignores. Taking its audience on [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-an-evening-with-dementia-the-public-west-bromwich/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-porgy-bess-mayflower-theatre-southampton/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-porgy-bess-mayflower-theatre-southampton/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:55 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32191 Don’t miss this rare chance to see George Gershwin’s universally loved ‘people’s opera’, Porgy and Bess, which has emerged as one of the great icons of American music theatre. Featuring unforgettable and uplifting songs including Summertime, I Got Plenty of Nuttin’ and It Ain’t Necessarily So, this enduring masterpiece is brought thrillingly to life by [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-porgy-bess-mayflower-theatre-southampton/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-new-london-consort-handels-acis-and-galatea-bridgwater-hall-manchester/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-new-london-consort-handels-acis-and-galatea-bridgwater-hall-manchester/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:55 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32074 We have teamed up with The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester to offer one winner a pair of tickets to Handel’s Acis and Galatea on Thursday 21st June at 7:30pm Acis & Galatea was first performed in 1718 while Handel was resident at Cannons serving the Duke of Chandos as domestic composer. In this semi-staged production, duplicating [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-new-london-consort-handels-acis-and-galatea-bridgwater-hall-manchester/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-sleeping-beauty-new-wolsey-theatre-ispwich/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-sleeping-beauty-new-wolsey-theatre-ispwich/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:46 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32087 The Public Reviews has teamed up with the New Wolsey, Ipswich to offer 5 readers a pair of tickets and programme to the opening night of Sleeping Beauty on November 22nd. Including Celebration, Don’t Leave Me This Way, Wake Up Little Susie, The Shoop Shoop Song, Hey Baby, Wake Me Up Before You Go Go [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-sleeping-beauty-new-wolsey-theatre-ispwich/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-close-the-coalhouse-door-yvonne-arnaud-theatre-guildford/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-close-the-coalhouse-door-yvonne-arnaud-theatre-guildford/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:45 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32201 Celebrating the magnificent spirit of the North East Close The Coalhouse Door is told with a wry smile, punchy dialogue and moving songs by an extended family of wives, vicars, sons, daughters and, of course, the miners themselves. An exhilarating ride through the strikes, victories and frustrations of British mining history, the show captures the [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-close-the-coalhouse-door-yvonne-arnaud-theatre-guildford/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-margaret-catchpole-eastern-angles-30th-anniversary-production/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-margaret-catchpole-eastern-angles-30th-anniversary-production/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:45 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32095 We have teamed up with Eastern Angles to offer one reader a pair of tickets and signed programme for Eastern Angles 30th Anniversary Production of Margaret Catchpole. The prize is valid for any performance (subject to availability) for any performance excluding July 1st. (show runs 21 June – 8 July) Marking their 30th Anniversary acclaimed [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-margaret-catchpole-eastern-angles-30th-anniversary-production/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-family-treat-the-lowry-salford/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-family-treat-the-lowry-salford/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:39 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32196 we have teamed up with the Lowry Theatre to offer one winner a chance to win a family ticket for the following two productions. Disney Live! Mickeys Magic Show – Weds 4th August at 4:30pm Abracadabra! It’s Disney Live! presents Mickey’s Magic Show! Mickey, Minnie and a host of Disney friends come together with world-class [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-family-treat-the-lowry-salford/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-kafkas-monkey-warwick-arts-centre/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-kafkas-monkey-warwick-arts-centre/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:38 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32173 “Esteemed members of the academy! You have done me the great honour of inviting me to give you an account of my former life as an ape.” Brutally imprisoned and desperate to escape, the ape-man reveals his rise through the ranks of the beasts to become a master of the ‘civilised world’ – a walking, [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-kafkas-monkey-warwick-arts-centre/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-festival-of-chaos-royal-derngate-northampton/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-festival-of-chaos-royal-derngate-northampton/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:37 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32228 We have teamed up with Royal and Derngate Theatre’s in Northampton to offer 1 winner a pair of tickets to the following three shows. The Bacchae – Sat 19th May “He is wildness. He is freedom. He is everywhere.” In the underbelly of a modern city built on money and greed, a riotous underground world [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-festival-of-chaos-royal-derngate-northampton/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-legally-blonde-opera-house-manchester/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-legally-blonde-opera-house-manchester/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:33 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32081 The international award-winning hit Legally Blonde The Musical is now on tour and we have teamed up with The Opera House, Manchester to offer one winner a Family ticket to see the show on 11th September at 7:30pm. Winner of 7 major awards including Best Musical 2011 (Olivier Awards) this all singing, all dancing romantic [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-legally-blonde-opera-house-manchester/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-peters-friends-tobacco-factory-bristol/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-peters-friends-tobacco-factory-bristol/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:32 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32149 “Do anything you can to get tickets!” Derren Brown Magical mastermind Peter Clifford returns to the TFT with some of the best magical performers in the country. See magic in the best way possible – up close and personal. In a full evening of fantastic entertainment you will be thoroughly bamboozled by two great acts [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-peters-friends-tobacco-factory-bristol/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-an-evening-of-dirty-dancing-various-venues/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-an-evening-of-dirty-dancing-various-venues/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:31 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32133 An Evening of Dirty Dancing is a musical celebration of one of the most iconic movie soundtracks of all time starring the winner of Channel 4‘s Musicality Matthew Goodgame (Grease, Chicago), West End leading lady and Coronation Street actress, Rachael Wooding (Evita, Hairspray, Jersey Boys) & at certain dates Sophia Ragavelas who is one of [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-an-evening-of-dirty-dancing-various-venues/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-treasure-island-nuffield-theatre-southampton/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-treasure-island-nuffield-theatre-southampton/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:30 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32222 We have teamed up with the Nuffield Theatre in Southampton to offer two readers a family ticket to this year’s Christmas production of Treasure Island – valid for most performances(Subject to availability and certain date restrictions) Full details of the production have yet to be announced but you can be sure that as with all [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-treasure-island-nuffield-theatre-southampton/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-darlington-civic-theatre-package/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-darlington-civic-theatre-package/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:28 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32162 We have teamed up with Darlington Civic Theatre to offer one winner a chance of grabbing not one pair of tickets, but a pair of tickets for three separate productions.   1 pair of tickets for Cirque du Ciel (Thursday 31 May, 7.30pm)   With over 30 amazingly multi-talented and skilled performers, this marvellous extravaganza combines acrobatics, [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-darlington-civic-theatre-package/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-a-midsummer-nights-dream-royal-exchange-manchester/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-a-midsummer-nights-dream-royal-exchange-manchester/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:27 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32140 We have teamed up with The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester to offer two readers a pair of tickets for Filter Theatre & Lyric Hamersmith’s acclaimed production of Shakespeare’s enduring comedy of love and magic A Midsummer Night’s Dream on the 6th July. The UK’s best contemporary Shakespeare company presents a 90-minute production that’s more of a [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-a-midsummer-nights-dream-royal-exchange-manchester/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-dandy-dick-theatre-royal-brighton/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-dandy-dick-theatre-royal-brighton/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:25 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32217 Written in Brighton in 1887, Dandy Dick is the inaugural production of Theatre Royal Brighton Productions. This will be its first major revival for forty years, and stars Olivier Award-winner Patricia Hodge, whose career spans film (Betrayal, Behind Enemy Lines), theatre (Noises Off, Calendar Girls) and television (a BAFTA nomination for Hotel du Lac, The [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-dandy-dick-theatre-royal-brighton/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-birmingham-rep-double/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-birmingham-rep-double/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:25 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32211 We have teamed up with The Birmigham REP to offer 1 person a pair of tickets to the following shows. The Just Price of Flowers at AE Harris on Monday 18 June at 7.00pm A play about the 2008 financial collapse, set in 17th Century Netherlands, looking like a Rembrandt, featuring origami and paying homage [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-birmingham-rep-double/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-dumb-show-oldham-coliseum/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-dumb-show-oldham-coliseum/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:23 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32126 Dumb Show is a fierce satire on the relationship between the morality of the press and the ethics of celebrity culture and forms part of Oldham Coliseum’s season of plays being performed at new venues while their building is being refurbished. Steve Huison (Full Monty, Coronation Street) plays Barry – star of Saturday night TV [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-dumb-show-oldham-coliseum/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-prima-donna-membership-floral-pavilion-new-brighton/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-prima-donna-membership-floral-pavilion-new-brighton/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:23 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32067 The Public Reviews have teamed up with The Floral Pavilion in New Brighton to offer one reader a Prima Donna Membership to the theatre for one year. Prima Donna Membership includes · 15% discount off a concessionary ticket (or full price ticket if no concessions available) on a large number of shows indicated in the [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-prima-donna-membership-floral-pavilion-new-brighton/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-against-time-new-theatre-oxford/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-against-time-new-theatre-oxford/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:21 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32062 English National Ballet and The Public Reviews are offering three lucky winners the chance to win tickets to see English National Ballet and Flawless in Against Time at the New Theatre Oxford this summer. Each winner will receive a pair of tickets to see the show on Thursday 14th June at 7.30pm, along with a [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-against-time-new-theatre-oxford/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-breakin-convention-lyceum-theatre-sheffield/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-breakin-convention-lyceum-theatre-sheffield/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:19 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32256 Breakin’ Convention, the critically acclaimed international festival of hip hop dance theatre, is back with another line-up of jaw-dropping performances by companies from around the world and around the corner. Now in its ninth year, this hugely popular Sadler’s Wells production is hosted and curated by eminent UK hip hop theatre artist Jonzi D. Alongside [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-breakin-convention-lyceum-theatre-sheffield/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-helena-blackman-the-sound-of-rodgers-hammerstein/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-helena-blackman-the-sound-of-rodgers-hammerstein/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:19 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32187 Best known as runner-up in the BBC’s How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, West End star Helena Blackman releases her debut solo album The Sound of Rodgers & Hammerstein, celebrating her ongoing association with this legendary musical theatre writing duo. She is joined in two exclusive duets by the number one classical charting [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-helena-blackman-the-sound-of-rodgers-hammerstein/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-vip-tickets-to-mercury-theatre-colchesters-panto/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-vip-tickets-to-mercury-theatre-colchesters-panto/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:18 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32105 We have teamed up with The Mercury Theatre, Colchester to offer one reader a VIP experience to their Annual Pantomime (Still to be announced) on Sat 8th December at 2:30pm. The winner will get the complete VIP Treatment which icludes 4 of the best seats in the house, signed programme, interval drinks and ice creams and [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-vip-tickets-to-mercury-theatre-colchesters-panto/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-reduced-shakespeare-co-the-complete-world-of-sports-york-theatre-royal/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-reduced-shakespeare-co-the-complete-world-of-sports-york-theatre-royal/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:11 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32251 The Reduced Shakespeare Company in The Complete World of Sports (abridged) The original “bad boys of abridgement” are back in the UK following a highly successful run in New York and a sell-out US tour of The Complete World of Sports (abridged). In this merciless but affectionate satire, The Reduced Shakespeare Company canter through the [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-reduced-shakespeare-co-the-complete-world-of-sports-york-theatre-royal/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-unhappy-birthday-mac-arts-birmingham/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-unhappy-birthday-mac-arts-birmingham/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:10 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32206 Amy Lamé invites you share her birthday. Morrissey- icon for the bookish, bespectacled weirdos of the world – is invited too. A seat is reserved for him…will he arrive clutching a bunch of flowers and a gift? Will he turn up at all? Cake, quiffs and craziness collide in a flurry of balloons and beer, [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-unhappy-birthday-mac-arts-birmingham/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/whats-hot-7th-may-2012/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/whats-hot-7th-may-2012/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:06 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32142 There’s a real focus on the quality of writing in theatre at the moment, and up and down the country productions are being staged that celebrate the power of writing. From brand new plays to classics, to plays looking at writers themselves – the word is King. Catherine Love sharpens her pen and picks five [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/whats-hot-7th-may-2012/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-avenue-q-belgrade-theatre-coventry/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-avenue-q-belgrade-theatre-coventry/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:05 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32156 London’s funniest show by far is hitting the road. The Tony Award-winning Avenue Q is the irresistibly charming musical about the lovably hopeless characters on a downtown New York street trying to make sense of life’s burning issues: love, work, relationships, and above all, just how are you supposed to pay the bills with a [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-avenue-q-belgrade-theatre-coventry/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-read-write-direct-package-oberon-books/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-read-write-direct-package-oberon-books/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:02 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32121 Our Friends at Oberon Books have put together an exclusive birthday book package for all aspiring Writers, Directors and Actors with three of their latest offerings. 1 winner will get a copy of each of the following books. THE WELL READ PLAY – Stephen Unwin The Well Read Play, deepens our appreciation and enjoyment of [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-read-write-direct-package-oberon-books/feed/ 0 http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-the-mousetrap-marlowe-theatre-canterbury/ http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-the-mousetrap-marlowe-theatre-canterbury/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 23:01:02 +0000 The Public Reviews http://www.thepublicreviews.com/?p=32112 The Marlowe Theatre will be making theatrical history this year, when it hosts the world premiere of the first-ever touring production of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. Famous around the world as being the longest running show in the history of British theatre, to celebrate 60 incredible years on the West End stage, The Mousetrap is [...]]]> http://www.thepublicreviews.com/birthday-competition-the-mousetrap-marlowe-theatre-canterbury/feed/ 0