*

EX – Soho Theatre, London

Writer: Rob Young Music: Ross Lorraine Director: Tricia Thorns Reviewer: Lucy Thackray The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★½☆ EX is a lot like the Soho Theatre – kitsch, bold and in-your-face. Described as ‘a play with songs’, EX follows the chance meeting of exes Ruby and Jack in the bar where they met, their struggle with their leftover feelings for [...]

Read On →

Blood Brothers – Curve Theatre, Leicester

Music: Willy Russell Book/Lyrics: Willy Russell Directors: Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright Reviewer: Sarah Cundill The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★★★ This is the story of two brothers, born to a poverty-stricken single mother of many, Mrs Johnstone. She is just about beginning to make ends meet after getting a job cleaning for a well-off, childless couple, Mr and Mrs [...]

Read On →

PREVIEW: Casting announced for Oliver! UK tour

Samantha Barks has finally landed the role of Nancy… three years after auditioning for it. The Les Misérables star, who finished third in the 2008 TV talent show, has been announced as the leading lady of this winter’s UK tour of Oliver! She will join The Bill’s Iain Fletcher (Three Musketeers, Mamma Mia!) as Bill [...]

Read On →

The Village Social – National Theatre Wales at Rudry Parish Hall

Writers: Dafydd James & Ben Lewis Composer: Dafydd James Director: Ben Lewis Reviewer: Emily Pearce The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★★☆ From National Theatre Wales comes The Village Social, the brain-child of Ben Lewis and Dafydd James. As well as writing the play, they are also director and musical director respectively, so it is fair to say the piece wholly [...]

Read On →

Nevermore: A Musical – Courtyard Theatre, London

Lyrics: adapted from the work of Edgar Allan Poe Music: Matt Conner Book: Grace Barnes Director: Hayley Cusick Reviewer: Lucy Thackray The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★★★ From childhood’s hour I have not been As others were; I have not seen As others saw; I could not bring My passions from a common spring. From the same source I have [...]

Read On →

Over the Rainbow: The Eva Cassidy Story – Epsom Playhouse

Writer: Brian Langtry Director: Stephen Leatherland Reviewer: Lucy Thackray The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★½☆ A musical about Eva Cassidy’s life was not exactly my idea of heaven. I’ve loved Cassidy’s voice ever since hearing it as a teen; the raw emotion of her voice through a speaker interpreted classic songs far better than live performances or music videos ever [...]

Read On →

All The Fun Of The Fair – The Mayflower Theatre, Southampton

Music and Lyrics: David Essex Book: Jon Conway Director: Nikolai Foster The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★☆☆ There was a great deal of excitement coming from the audience at All The Fun of The Fair at The Mayflower Theatre, Southampton last night, partly due to the prospect of seeing a wall of death motorcycle ride but mostly at the [...]

Read On →

The Threepenny Opera – Theatro Technis, London

Writer: Bertolt Brecht Director: Hannah Kaye Composer: Assaf Noy, Andrei Ionescu Reviewer: Carmel Doohan The Public Reviews Rating: ★★★★★ The cast, decked out in rags and feathers parade the small stage and the Beggars Outfit Shop singing as if they are in a West End musical. We are in a Victorian London version of Primark and the customers are [...]

Read On →