“…a brilliant mix of dark and funny…” The Wasp by Morgan Lloyd Malcom, People’s Theatre, Newcastle By Lauren Powell TRIGGER WARNING: this play contains references to infertility, sexual assault, domestic violence and other similarly grim things. I hate to open […]
“…genuinely funny… shows the brilliance of the comic greats…” The Last Laugh by Paul Hendy, Buxton Opera House By Phil Scown The Last Laugh is seriously funny, and also deadly serious. It is a comedy about comedy, and being a […]
“…a truly amazing night…” Burlesque The Musical by Steven Antin, Sunderland Empire By Lauren Powell The suspense has been killing me. The press night for Burlesque The musical has been changed more often than my hair colour when I was […]
“…warm, delightful, joyous and funny – a love letter to anyone who struggles with depression…” Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe, Theatre by the Lake By Ken Powell Theatre by the Lake (TBTL) puts on a great […]
“…a joyously glitchy triumph of absurdist comedy…” Technical Difficulties by Joe Venable (writer and co-lyricist) and Samuel Macdonald (composer and co-lyricist), Hull Truck Theatre By Sean Sable The first play I ever had a line in was a youth theatre […]
“…the most joyful celebration of life…a must-see of must-sees…” Calendar Girls the Musical by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, Theatre by The Lake By Ken Powell You know when you have a conversation with someone that you realise, in real […]
“…Madeleine Carter’s Mercutio commanded the stage…” Mabel by Madeleine Carter, Gala Theatre, Durham By Kay Wilson I love a piece of pre-show performance that engages your interest before a play begins. This Sisu Theatre production, Mabel, had an almost empty […]
“…Lovelady’s voice, accent work and easy rapport with the audience are all worth the price of admission…” Topless The Musical by Miles Tredinnick, Epstein Theatre By Melissa Molloy I went along to Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre to watch Topless The Musical, […]
“…a love letter to two country legends…” The Ballad of Johnny and June by Des McAnuff and Robert Cary, Grand Opera House York By Sean Sable I grew up on one of the finest record collections of all time. When […]
“…as joyously funny as it is confronting…” Sh*t Life Crisis by Olivia Hannah, Hull Truck Theatre By Sean Sable Blaze of Glory by Bon Jovi. It’s my go-to karaoke song. I don’t care where I am, or how sober I […]
“…outstanding performances, immaculate staging… a story with real heart at its centre…” Let The Sun Shine! by Helen Redcliffe, Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre, Chester By Melissa Molloy I’ve seen a few shows at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre over […]
“…a manic thrill ride that is still as saucy and as fun today…” The Rocky Horror Show by Richard O’Brien, Grand Opera House York By Sean Sable “Here, you will need this.” These were my friend Diane’s words when she […]
“…packed with music, laughter and energy…” Outlaws: A Robin Hood Story by Kieran Lynn, Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre, Chester By Abi Kelly There’s something completely magical about spending a summer evening in Grosvenor Park. Storyhouse’s Outlaws: A Robin Hood […]
“…an absolute visual feast…” The Karate Kid The Musical by Robert Mark Kamen, Sunderland Empire By Lauren Powell Would you believe Karate Kid The Musical sparked some of the most in-depth debate I’ve had with a plus one about the nature of […]
“…a show with a zany heart and a love for the absurd…” Birdbrained by Sketchy Gooses at The Library, Woodhouse, Leeds By Sean Sable My formative teenage years were marked by a near bacchanal of bootleg videos. I knew all […]
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