Reviews

The festive season is well and truly upon us, and with it comes the time to be merry, jolly, and ready to usher in the new year. In the UK, nothing is more synonymous with Christmas cheer than a pantomime - and Guildford’s Beauty and the Beast certainly does not disappoint. Bursting with bright, colourful costumes, slapstick humour, and all the festive flair you could wish for, this year’s production guarantees magical fun for audiences of all ages. Back with another classic

Most of us are familiar with the music of The Kinks , whether by name or simply by recognising one of their iconic tunes. Yet far fewer of us know the band’s full story—how it began with brothers Ray and Dave Davies and grew into one of the most influential British groups of the 20th century. Their legacy reaches far beyond a playlist of hits, and Sunny Afternoon aims to trace the emotion, conflict, and ambition behind that legacy. Over the past two years of reviewing, thi

The sell-out, Irish-inspired Christmas concert returns for another UK tour, bringing festive cheer to audiences nationwide. Blending pop favourites, classic carols, Irish dance, and Celtic hits, A Fairytale for Christmas promises an evening that’s hard to forget. Having previously reviewed Seven Drunken Nights: The Story of the Dubliners —created by the same team as this production—I was pleasantly surprised by how much effort had gone into making A Fairytale for Christmas a

Still on the hunt for his infamous nemesis Professor Moriarty, the residents of 21B Baker Street once again find themselves entangled in a particularly knotty murder case. The year is 1901. The place? London. While the Great British Empire battles on and the dying Queen Victoria keeps the country on edge, strange happenings start to show that things aren’t as solid in the halls of power as they seem. Those cracks run all the way through the monarchy, the government, and the E

Blessed with an albeit shocking title, Sophia Chetin-Leuner ’s new play - P*rn Play - follows 30-year-old Ani as she struggles with an addiction to violent pornography. This play attempts to break down the barriers, showing that addictions that happen behind closed doors may very well find themselves up hindering your ability to live your life in the outside world. As Ani sees her life falls apart around her, she has to come to terms with the idea that what she thought would

DMT Live Production presents yet another Shakespearean triumph—this time tackling the infamous Scottish play, whose title is rarely uttered inside a theatre. Having missed their earlier sold-out staging of A Midsummer Night’s Dream due to train strikes, this reviewer was especially intrigued by the prospect of seeing Macbeth performed in a church. Admittedly, Macbeth is not a play this reviewer usually gravitates toward—blame Year 7 English Literature—but this production

The hit West End jukebox musical Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story has embarked on a new UK tour, once again delighting audiences with its iconic musical catalogue. The show follows Texas-born musician Buddy Holly as he breaks away from the conventions of country music and ventures into the emerging world of rock ‘n’ roll in the 1950s. At a time when this genre was still seen as rebellious—and even taboo among older generations— Buddy Holly and the Crickets helped to revolution

Based on the chart-topping hits of the multi-million-selling pop phenomenon Steps, Here & Now follows four friends and co-workers who make a pact to have the perfect “summer of love.” Naturally, things don’t go quite as planned. Set in a brightly lit supermarket, Better Best Bargains, the production makes clever use of its setting to create a vibrant, high-energy backdrop for the story. Despite its dynamic choreography and enthusiastic performances, the musical ultimately le

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, based on Rick Riordan ’s hit book series, is back after a successful run at The Other Palace — and this time, it’s heading out on a UK tour. The show is, as the name suggests, is based on the first novel of the Percy Jackson series. The story follows Percy, who is thrown into a world of gods, monsters, and destiny. Accused of stealing Zeus’s lightning bolt, Percy and his friends set off on a high-stakes quest across America — fi

Hot Mess , is a new original musical co-written by Jack Godfrey (Music and Lyrics) and Ellie Coote (Book). Also directed by Coote , the musical has found a temporary home at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant after a sold out and critically acclaimed run at the Birmingham Hippodrome (where the play was commissioned and produced) and the Edinburgh Fringe earlier this year. Hot Mess is a two handler musical, revolving around the relationship between Earth ( Danielle Steers ) a

The elegance and wit of Irving Berlin ’s Top Hat are stepping back into the spotlight with a new nationwide tour. First adapted for the stage in 2011, this musical reimagining of the 1935 Hollywood classic — complete with additional orchestration by Chris Walker — continues to capture audiences with its blend of romance, humour, and irresistible rhythm. The story follows the dashing Broadway dancer Jerry Travers as he travels to London to open a new show — only to find him

Recognised across the globe as “the most beautiful woman,” Hedy Lamarr was far more than just a pretty face. Behind her Hollywood glamour lay a brilliant mind that contributed to the development of pioneering technologies — yet despite her intellect and achievements, Hedy led a largely solitary life, isolated by an often misogynistic world. Told through a series of flashbacks, the play gives us glimpses of Hedy’s extraordinary journey as she recounts how she came to be questi

13 Going On 30 , a new musical adaptation of the 2004 rom com movie, makes a splashy and bold premiere at the Manchester Opera House. Directed by Andy Fickman , with book by Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa , the musical features music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner . The musical, filled with joy and nostalgia translates wonderfully on stage, creating a feel good evening of musical theatre. 13 Going On 30 follows the story of 13 year old Jenna Rink, who desperat

Earlier this year, this reviewer was given the chance to review this particular show. Those of you who have followed my page for a while...

Love Quirks follows four roommates with very different troubles as they navigate the emotional rollercoaster that is early adulthood....

Jane Austen 's famous 1815 comedic novel ' Emma ' is back for a new stage adaptation, and it is wittier and funnier than ever, delighting...

As a child, young Adolf Hitler went through a worrying period of night terrors and bed-wetting. Desperate to make her son better, Mrs....

Amidst the political turmoil of 2022, Alexander Molochnikov , a successful Russian director was working on Chekhov’s The Seagull. When...

Beginning its fifth year on the West End, Back to the Future: The Musical continues to thrill audiences with high stakes technical stunts, impressive choreography and unwavering energy. Having seen the show twice before, this reviewer did not expect to see so many subtle changes in characterisation. The introduction of Brian Conley as Doc Brown and Maddie Grace Jepson as Lorraine Baines imbued the performance with a renewed vitality, offering a genuinely refreshing interpre

War Horse takes the suburb writing of Michael Morpurgo and translates it to the stage, transporting the audience to the farmlands of England in 1914 and to the trenches of France during the First World War. Based off the book by Michael Morpurgo ‘ War Horse ’ follows Albert Narracott and his horse Joey and they’re forcibly separated by the First World War. Act One takes place in the English farmlands as the audience watches how Joey and Albert became a pair, whilst Act Two