From the 3rd to the 11th of August the Orange Tree Theatre are showing four productions from emerging directors who have been studying on the Orange Tree and St Mary’s University MA Theatre Directing Course. Last night I saw two of these productions: Pilgrims by Elinor Cook, directed by Ellie Goodall and Sadness and Joy in the Life of Giraffes by Tiago Rodrigues, … [Read more...]
The Mikvah Project | Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography
From the 3rd to the 11th of August the Orange Tree Theatre are showing four productions from emerging directors who have been studying on the Orange Tree and St Mary’s University MA Theatre Directing Course. On the opening evening of the festival, I saw two of these productions: The Mikvah Project by Josh Azouz, directed by Georgia Green and Eight Gigabytes of … [Read more...]
Guildford Shakespeare Company’s Twelfth Night – 14th Open-Air Season
Having attended many productions by Guildford Shakespeare Company in the last few years my overwhelming feeling is how imaginative the company are in finding unique and special places to put on their productions. The audience may come to watch a play but many like me will also have discovered how lovely this historic town is. This summer’s Twelfth Night is being … [Read more...]
Billy Bishop Goes To War at Southwark Playhouse | Review
I fell just a little bit in love with this production as I walked in, Daisy Blower’s set design is wonderful! The tiny performance area, just big enough for the cast of two is crammed with vintage items and topped off with parachutes. Oh, I would love to have helped put this together. Billy Bishop Goes To War was first performed in Canada in 1978 and is now one of … [Read more...]
Measure for Measure – Guildford Shakespeare Company | Review
As the action begins I am comfortably sat at a table with a cheese board and a gin and tonic. How have the Company made the church seem so big this time? Didn’t there used to be pews either side of a narrow aisle? How have they done it? The space is transformed and the audience is spread over the whole central area. There is no obvious focal point; there are at least … [Read more...]
The Railway Children at Leatherhead Theatre | Review
The Railway Children is the second production in Leatherhead Rep Theatre’s three-week season. Dave Simpson has created this as a brand new musical version of the classic story with composer Katherine Mount. This morning performance is mainly for local schools. There were a few independent visitors though including a lady who had travelled many miles to bring her … [Read more...]
Alice in Wonderland | Guildford Shakespeare Company | Review
This revival of Guildford Shakespeare Company’s Alice in Wonderland is timed to commemorate 150 years since Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) came to Guildford for the first time to find a home for his family. It was a great honour to be welcomed to the service at the beautiful St Mary’s Church by The Reverend Charles Dodgson himself (Eliot Giuralarocca). Reverend … [Read more...]
Review: Teechers by John Godber – Guildford Fringe Theatre Company
Teechers was written by John Godber in 1984, and like most of his plays, it is for a small cast and a minimal set. The actors playing the three main parts of students Gail, Hobby and Salty are performing a play within a play to their favourite teacher who, like them is leaving at the end of term. This play is ideal for the Star Inn’s intimate theatre space with … [Read more...]
Spiders at Tristan Bates Theatre | Review
The stage of the Tristan Bates theatre is transformed into a squat so realistically grubby that I have to resist the urge to scratch! Even my children's university accommodation has never looked as bad as this. Graffiti covers the walls; rubbish is strewn across the floor and the mattress that is serving as a sofa has some very unpleasant stains on it. Harry (Sam … [Read more...]