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Writer: Alan Bennett Director: Daniel Buckroyd Reviewer: Glen Pearce The Public Reviews Rating: ‘Our perspective on the past alters… Looking back, immediately in front of us is dead ground.’ It’s a tip a teacher gives potential Oxbridge scholars in Alan Bennett’s The History Boys. Perhaps nine years is still recently fresh in historical terms but, while the social [...]

Writer: Melvyn Bragg Music: Howard Goodall Lyrics: Howard Goodall Director: Daniel Buckroyd Reviewer: Rebecca Taylor The Public Reviews Rating: A spell-binding performance that will have you on an emotional rollercoaster throughout. This accomplished musical, a collaboration between Curve Theatre and Mercury Theatre, tells the story of a typical young family in Cumbria in the early 1900s, making a [...]

Music and Lyrics: Howard Goodall Book: Melvyn Bragg Director: Daniel Buckroyd Musical Director: Richard Reeday Reviewer: Glen Pearce The Public Reviews Rating: The on-going discussion on the future of the British musical continues to rumble apace. On a night when the latest West End blockbuster The Book of Mormon was drawing the attention of the national print critics [...]

As venues across the country pack up the last remnants of panto for another year, thoughts begin to turn to the rich pickings on offer across the country in 2013. Our team of regional editors look at highlights coming up across the UK. South West – Chosen by Regional Editor Jacqui Onions As we enter 2013, Britten [...]

While many theatres are currently announcing their spring seasons, Colchester Mercury Theatre has gone one step further, today announcing programming for the entire of 2013. In his inaugural year at the Essex Theatre, new Artistic Director Daniel Buckroyd has launched what the venue is promoting as its ‘Made In Colchester’ season. For Buckroyd it’s a [...]

Writer: Michael Morpurgo Adaptor: Daniel Buckroyd Director: Daniel Buckroyd Reviewer: Michael Gray The Public Reviews Rating: Farm Boy is Michael Morpurgo’s sequel to War Horse, and tells the story of the boy who came back from the Great War, saved Joey from the horse butcher, and ploughed with horses until one May Day in Iddesleigh… Daniel Buckroyd’s [...]

Writer: Michael Morpurgo adapted by Daniel Buckroyd Director: Daniel Buckroyd Reviewer: Sally Cinnamon The Public Reviews Rating:   After the sensational hit of both the stage and film versions of ‘War Horse’, it seems like the natural next step to adapt Michael Morpurgo’s sequel, ‘Farm Boy’. Here, we’re greeted by Albert’s grandson (John Walters), now a [...]

From the book by: Michael Morpurgo Director and Adaptation: Daniel Buckroyd Reviewer: David Cundill The Public Reviews Rating: The Butterfly Lion is a fantastic piece of family theatre, bringing Michael Morpugo’s beautiful and endearing story to life with sophistication and wit that will charm people of all ages. My daughter was on the edge of her seat for [...]