*

Chris Addison, The Time Is Now, Again – Harrogate Theatre

Reviewer: Rosie Revell The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★½☆ As Chris Addison himself relates to the audience, he is slightly famous. Seemingly an understatement, Addison is instantly recognisable from TV shows such as Mock The Week, QI and The Thick Of It. His stand up is not so famous and, if I’m honest, not as memorable as his TV work. [...]

Read On →

The Public Comedy Showcase – The Public , West Bromwich

Reviewer: Selwyn Knight The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★½☆ The Public in West Bromwich hosts regular comedy nights in its intimate theatre. This time, it showcased some local talent on the bill. Local boy Lee Gee was the compere. An ex-teacher, Lee hails from Walsall. His trademark is observational comedy, but he didn’t go down that well with the audience [...]

Read On →

Kin – The Lowry Theatre, Salford

Writer/Director: Donna Rutherford Reviewer: Lizzie Kirkwood The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★☆☆ Donna Rutherford’s piece explores changing relationships between middle-aged children and their parents. Combining live monologues and filmed interviews, the show is a touching and anecdotal look at how familial relationships are affected by aging. The interviews with performers Tim Ingram (Reckless Sleepers), Richard Gregory (Quarantine), Cathy Naden and [...]

Read On →

After the Turn – Courtyard Theatre, London

Music: Tim Prottey-Jones Book: Robert Gould/Sarah Henley Direction: Sarah Henley Reviewer: Lucy Thackray The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★½☆ After the Turn first hits you with its original plot. Michael (Liam Doyle) is a talented young musician on the brink of making it big with his band when his single mother Amanda (Ashleigh Gray) is killed in an accident. Michael shuts down [...]

Read On →

Elio Pace – The Lowry, Salford

Reviewer: Dave Cunningham The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★☆☆ Elio Pace opens his concert with a mission statement set to music. ‘Oh So Tight’, as well as paying tribute to his rock’n’roll heroes, welcomes the audience and sets out his objective of delivering the maximum entertainment possible. If the final goal is only partly achieved it is because it is [...]

Read On →

Love’s Labour’s Lost – New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme

Writer: William Shakespeare Director:   Barrie Rutter Reviewer: Lorna Andrewes The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★★☆ The first time I saw Northern Broadside in 1993 (The Merry Wives of Windsor), they were like a gust of fresh air, breathing life into Shakespeare’s work. In this production, made in partnership with the New Vic Theatre, they show that this exciting company [...]

Read On →

The Pitchfork Disney – Arcola Theatre, London

Writer: Philip Ridley Director : Edward Dick Reviewer : Jonathan Grant The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★★★ The Pitchfork Disney is widely recognized as the first piece of “in yer face” theatre. That the play can still shock, some 21 years after it burst on to the London stage and during which time reality has caught up with and in [...]

Read On →

Beating Berlusconi – New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich

Writer: John Graham Davies Director: Matt Rutter Reviewer: Glen Pearce The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★★☆   “Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it’s much more serious than that.” For many, Bill Shankly’s quote could sum up Liverpool. A city of intense football passion and rivalry, loyalty to one of the city’s [...]

Read On →