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Writer: Alan Plater with additional material by Lee Hall Director: Samuel West Music: Alex Glasgow Designer: Soutra Gilmour Reviewer: Laura Stimpson The Public Reviews Rating: “It might be history to some people. To us it’s family, pet” Close the Coalhouse Door is the latest offering from Live Theatre and Northern Stage. It’s admirable that these theatres have reinvented [...]

Following the launch of the World Shakespeare Festival this weekend, which is to run alongside the Olympics as part of the London 2012 Festival, it seems only appropriate to focus on the works of the great man in this week’s theatrical recommendations, from all-male productions to the Bard in hip hop. Catherine Love casts her [...]

Musicals, classic plays, new writing and German existentialism –  our theatres offer plenty to tempt. Catherine Love has scoured the theatre listings across the country to pick some highlights to tempt you this week, 1) BIG AND SMALL (GROSS UND KLEIN) – BARBICAN THEATRE, LONDON In a tantalising international treat, Cate Blanchett’s award-winning turn in this [...]

Writers: Val McDermid, Rachel Barnett, Noreen Rees, Lee Mattison Director: Gillian Hambleton Reviewer: Anna Ambelez The Public Reviews Rating: An evening of love, life, longing and laughter. These four words were the inspirational basis of the writing and are at the centre of this quartet of new plays. Although each play is related to one of the words, [...]

Writer: Zoe Cooper Director: Max Roberts Reviewer: Gemma Wilson The Public Reviews Rating: Nativities, a dark comedy set in a call-centre, explores the daily life of a working office and the profound lives of those working within it. Nativities, which premiered 14th February 2012 at Live theatre, Newcastle, perfectly reflects life within a call-centre, and the small quirks [...]

Why not try something new this week? From work transferring fresh from across the pond or down from the Edinburgh Fringe to brand new world premieres, this week’s selection of plays are all relatively new kids on the block.   1) ALL NEW PEOPLE – KING’S THEATRE, GLASGOW Zach Braff takes off the scrubs to [...]

In the immortal words of Slade … IT’S CHRISTMAS! Well, not quite yet, but we’re well on our way to the festive season as December approaches. Theatres up and down the country are accordingly decking their auditoriums with boughs of holly and inviting the sort of silliness that at any other time of year would [...]

At the end of this week the world will mark ten years since the tragic events of 11 September 2001. As everyone prepares to commemorate the event in different ways, with countless memorial services, exhibitions and television documentaries, this country’s theatre has formed its own responses to the disaster. From creative new plays to timely [...]