Theatre reviews for you, by you. If you would like to review for us,
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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 [...]

Books/Music/Lyrics: Dougal Irvine Director: Sally Rapier Reviewer: John Roberts The Public Reviews Rating: It is hard to believe that a little over a year ago, InSTEP Theatre company who originated out of LIPA produced their debut production, a rather splendid and well perfectly formed presentation of Jason Robert Browns’ song cycle Songs for a New World. 12 months [...]

Theatre often has its finger firmly on the pulse of modern society – sometimes, such as in the case of the Tricycle Theatre’s rapid response to the summer riots, even more so than those in power. This week’s top picks recognise theatre’s power to respond to and reflect our world with a selection of plays [...]

Music: Tchaikovsky Director/Choreographer: Matthew Bourne Reviewer: John Roberts The Public Reviews Rating: Many have tackled Tchaikovsky’s ballet standard, but not many have managed to bring such a level of originality and vision to the piece as Matthew Bourne has done here. Originally produced over 20 years ago, Nutcracker! has an almost filmic quality to it, one that leaves [...]

Book/Music/Lyrics: Eric Idle Music: John du Prez Director: Christopher Luscombe Reviewer: John Roberts The Public Reviews Rating: The tongue is firmly rooted in the cheek with Spamalot, a musical based on the eccentric sense of humour of Monty Python and akin to its celluloid sister (The Holy Grail) this Bill Kenwright produced tour is as cheap as it [...]

Music and Lyrics: Irving Berlin Book: David Ives & Paul Blake Director: David Morgan Reviewer: Steph Rowe The Public Reviews Rating: It certainly makes a pleasant change at this time of year to go to review a Christmas show that is not a Pantomime. Based on the Hollywood film “Holiday Inn” and using the songs of Irving [...]

Reviewer: Audrey Pointer The Public Reviews Rating: Few people in show business enjoy a career as long and successful as Ken Dodd, who has been a comedian, singer and actor for at least five decades. Indeed, he said he was celebrating 57 years on the stage this year. His well known repertoire of props and comic concepts include [...]

Writer: Jeff Young Composer: Patrick Dineen Director: Graeme Phillips Reviewer: John Roberts The Public Reviews Rating: The Unity Theatre’s artistic director finds himself back in the driving seat for the latest collaboration between the theatre and the city’s artist development programme Hope Street Ltd and whilst Sinbad the Sailor’s heart is firmly in the right place – a [...]