Theatre reviews for you, by you. If you would like to review for us,
please contact us including a short review of what you have seen recently.

Writers: Richard Levinson & William Link Director: Michael Lunney Reviewer: Ian Cain The Public Reviews Rating: Although many of us will, undoubtedly, automatically think of Peter Falk when talking about Lieutenant Columbo, the dogged and dishevelled homicide detective, he was in fact the third actor to portray the character. The first actor, Bert Freed, appeared as Columbo in [...]

Award-winning jazz singer Tina May is bringing the hits of Ella Fitzgerald to Darlington in a show that pays tribute to the ‘First Lady of Song’ and her musical contemporary, Frank Sinatra. Our reporter Steve Burbridge caught up with Tina ahead of the gig. Tina May is a lady with a lot to be pleased [...]

Writers:Linda A. Carson, Jill Daum, Alison Kelly, Robin Nichol, Barbara Pollard & Deborah Williams Director: Andrew Lynford Reviewer: Ian Cain The Public Reviews Rating: ‘Mum’s The Word’ seems to be something of a phenomenon. It has played nine UK tours, since 2002, and has also been performed in Canada, Australia, America and Ireland. It has enjoyed a West [...]

Reviewer: Ian Cain The Public Reviews Rating: It’s difficult to believe that the legendary songstress Elkie Brooks has been in the music business for half a century – for one thing she doesn’t look nearly old enough. But, the facts speak for themselves and with over fifty singles and dozens of albums to her credit, she’s certainly cemented [...]

Writer: Brian Cooke and Johnnie Mortimer Director: Michael Kingsbury Reviewer: Ian Cain The Public Reviews Rating: It’s a strange idea to produce a theatre show around the format of a ‘live’ radio recording of a comedy sketch show, but that’s basically the premise of ‘Stop Messing About.’ Interestingly, for me, it worked rather well. The team behind the [...]

Author: Susan Hill Adaptor: Stephen Mallatratt Director: Robin Herford Reviewer: Ian Cain The Public Reviews Rating: The popularity of ‘The Woman in Black’ cannot be disputed. Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s 1983 novel began life at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough in 1987 and is now in its twenty-first year at the Fortune Theatre in London’s West [...]

Writer/ Executive Producer:Jon Conway Director:David Fleeshman Reviewer:Linda Barker ‘It’s Chico time’ in Darlington as the 2005 ‘X-Factor’ quarter-finalist heads the cast of the Civic Theatre’s pantomime, ‘Aladdin.’ With an enormous stage presence, that also fills the auditorium, the effervescent performer is perfect for panto and he excels in the role of principal boy. He’s got [...]

Director & Choreographer: Mitch Sebastian Musical Director: Dominic Barlow Reviewer:Linda Barker Celebrating the incredible singing talent of three legends of the twentieth century, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr, this spectacular festive production transports you back to the glamorous, glitzy nights of The Sands Hotel, Las Vegas, in the late 1950s and early [...]