Review: My Mother Said I Never Should at the St James Theatre

My Mother Said I Never Should 
St James Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 18th April 2016

★★★

Charlotte Keatley’s 1985 debut play My Mother Said I Never Should made its mark with an Olivier nomination for her as Most Promising Newcomer, and in 2000 it was listed as one of the 100 Significant Plays of the Twentieth Century by the National Theatre. While I wouldn’t personally bestow that sort of honour on it, this is a both moving and often very funny examination of relationships and social pressures told through the lives of four female members of the same family.

Review: Miss-Leading Ladies at the St James Studio

Miss-Leading Ladies

St James Studio

Reviewed on Friday 7th August 2015

★★★★

Brother and sister Ceri Dupree and Ria Jones team up for this hugely entertaining cabaret to celebrate the legendary ladies of stage and screen. It’s glamorous, glitzy and deliciously saucy, and it’s performed by two consummate professionals at the top of their game.

Review: Way Upstream at the Chichester Festival Theatre

Way Upstream 

Chichester Festival Theatre

Reviewed on  Saturday 2nd May 2015

★★★★

It must be something to do with the area’s boating heritage, because the Chichester Festival Theatre certainly has a thing about water. The 2011 production of Singin’ in the Rain saw some audience members given a soaking and in 2013, Tim Firth’s comedy Neville’s Island recreated an area of the Lake District with real water on stage and the cast members getting drenched.

Review: Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza at the Royal Albert Hall

Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza 
Royal Albert Hall

Reviewed on Tuesday 6th January 2015

★★★★

Since its birth from humble beginnings in 1984, contemporary circus group Cirque du Soleil has grown into a global phenomenon with no less than 18 productions currently running around the world, including two lucrative residencies in Las Vegas. 

Review: The Beautiful Game at the Union Theatre

The Beautiful Game
The Union Theatre

Reviewed on Tuesday 8th April 2014

The original production of this Andrew Lloyd Webber/Ben Elton musical opened in London in 2000 and ran for around 11 months, picking up a Critics’ Circle Award for Best Musical along the way. But by ALW standards at the time I suppose a run of less than a year could be considered something of a flop plus the show never made it to Broadway — although a reworked version under the alternative title of The Boys in the Photograph directed by Elton opened in Canada in 2009.

Review: Another Country at Trafalgar Studios

Another Country 

Trafalgar Studios (Studio 1)

Reviewed on Friday 4th April 2014

Julian Mitchell’s 1981 play about life at an English public school between the wars helped launch the careers of Rupert Everett, Kenneth Branagh, Daniel Day-Lewis and Colin Firth and now this West End transfer of last year’s acclaimed Chichester Festival production, directed by Jeremy Herrin, could well be the stepping-stone for a few more glittering careers.

Review: The Weir at the Wyndham's Theatre

The Weir 

Wyndham's Theatre

Reviewed on Wednesday 22nd January 2014

The reputation of Conor McPherson’s 1997 play The Weir precedes it, having had successful runs in London and on Broadway and earning the author an Olivier for best play in 1999. Now last year’s sell-out Donmar Warehouse production, directed by Josie Rourke, gets a West End transfer and proves the 17-year-old work is still in fine fettle indeed.

Review: Lost Boy at the Charing Cross Theatre

Lost Boy
Charing Cross Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 14th January 2014

With 2014 marking the 100th anniversary of the First World War it’s safe to assume that there are more than a few theatrical events planned to mark the occasion. One of the first to show its hand though is this new musical from Phil Willmott, and whatever follows it’s hard to imagine that Lost Boy will be matched, at least for its sheer inventiveness.

Review: Let It Be at the Savoy Theatre

Let It Be
Savoy Theatre

Reviewed on Thursday 26th September 2013

“You say it’s your birthday”

When Beatles musical Let It Be opened in London it’s fair to say that it divided critics, with some seeing it as a fun evening out and an opportunity to enjoy the Beatles concert we never had, and others bemoaning yet another theatre offering flimsily constructed around a pop back catalogue — albeit the best back catalogue there is. “A tribute band at West End prices” was one particularly caustic comment.