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.

Music and Lyrics: Howard Goodall Book: Melvyn Bragg Director: Andrew Keates Reviewer: Ian Foster The Public Reviews Rating: The Hired Man was Howard Goodall’s first musical, setting Melvyn Bragg’s story of turn-of-the-century everyday rural Cumbrian life to a score inspired by Kurt Weill but primarily influenced by English choral and folk music. Based on events that happened to [...]

Writer and Composer: Howard Goodall in collaboration with Richard Curtis and John Retallack Director: Lydia Milman Schmidt Reviewer: Joanna Forrest The Public Reviews Rating: The music of Howard Goodalls ‘Girlfriends’ is an absolute treat, brought to life this evening expertly by musical director Aaron Clingham. Set in Norfolk in 1941 ‘Girlfriends’ is a heartfelt look at the [...]

Music: Howard Goodall Lyrics and Book: Charles Hart Director: Lotte Wakeham Reviewer: Ian Foster The Public Reviews Rating: The Kissing-Dance is a Howard Goodall musical with lyrics and book by Charles Hart which is based on the 18th Century Oliver Goldsmith classic comedy She Stoops To Conquer. Set over one long night in Nonesuch, somewhere in the English [...]

It has been said here before and I’ll say it again; 2011 is the Year of the Musical. The West End is brimming with a high level of talented performers on its stages, and theatres are seeing good audience numbers continuing to support the shows on offer. With a selection of eagerly anticipated new shows [...]

Book: Melvyn Bragg Music/Lyrics: Howard Goodall Director: David Thacker Reviewer: John Roberts The Public Reviews Rating: David Thacker is well and truly established at the Octagon now and has recently revealed his second year long season which takes us to June 2011. After many hits in his inaugural season including All My Son’s, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and [...]

Original Book by: Erich Segal Music: Howard Goodall Book and Lyrics: Stephan Clark Director: Rachel Kavanaugh Reviewer: Jim Nicholson The Public Reviews Rating: I certainly do not give five star ratings to shows lightly, in actual fact, on this site, this is my first ever. I have seen literally hundreds of shows over the years, including every major [...]