Theatre, opera, dance and showcase reviews from The Stage - a fresh look at entertainment 2013-05-20T12:57:24Z tag:www.thestage.co.uk,2013:05.20 http://www.thestage.co.uk/images/blogbuttons/reviews.gifThis feed is intended for personal, non-commercial use only. George Hall tag:www.thestage.co.uk,2013:05.20.38568 2013-05-20T12:57:24Z 2013-05-20T13:18:23Z

<p><strong>Glyndebourne, Lewes:</strong> Glyndebourne opens the summer festival season with a new production of the elegant Strauss/Hofmannsthal conceit in which preparations for a new opera seria by a young composer are rudely interrupted by the announcement that it will be played simultaneously with the frivolous entertainment provided by a commedia dell&#039;arte troupe. In the second half we see the results, in which prima donna Ariadne laments her abandonment by Theseus until swept off her feet by the arrival of the god, Bacchus; meanwhile vaudeville star Zerbinetta and her troupe distract her along the way.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38568/ariadne-auf-naxos">Read the full review</a></p>

<p><strong>Glyndebourne, Lewes:</strong> Glyndebourne opens the summer festival season with a new production of the elegant Strauss/Hofmannsthal conceit in which preparations for a new opera seria by a young composer are rudely interrupted by the announcement that it will be played simultaneously with the frivolous entertainment provided by a commedia dell&#039;arte troupe. In the second half we see the results, in which prima donna Ariadne laments her abandonment by Theseus until swept off her feet by the arrival of the god, Bacchus; meanwhile vaudeville star Zerbinetta and her troupe distract her along the way.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38568/ariadne-auf-naxos">Read the full review</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=fvRYcJq1dvA:AWi2Sx8jLT0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=fvRYcJq1dvA:AWi2Sx8jLT0:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=fvRYcJq1dvA:AWi2Sx8jLT0:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheStageReviews/~4/fvRYcJq1dvA" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38568/ariadne-auf-naxos William McEvoy tag:www.thestage.co.uk,2013:05.20.38567 2013-05-20T12:33:22Z 2013-05-20T12:33:22Z

<p><strong>Jubilee Square, Brighton:</strong> This outdoor performance of the famous Marlowe/Goethe story is set in the 1920s prohibition era. It uses fire, a range of dance styles from jive to breakdancing, and a jazzy, bluesy soundtrack to tell the story of the classical scholar who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for infinite knowledge.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38567/brighton-festival-faust">Read the full review</a></p>

<p><strong>Jubilee Square, Brighton:</strong> This outdoor performance of the famous Marlowe/Goethe story is set in the 1920s prohibition era. It uses fire, a range of dance styles from jive to breakdancing, and a jazzy, bluesy soundtrack to tell the story of the classical scholar who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for infinite knowledge.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38567/brighton-festival-faust">Read the full review</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=dDoI_Ft1x38:a2cuX_BYqEQ:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=dDoI_Ft1x38:a2cuX_BYqEQ:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=dDoI_Ft1x38:a2cuX_BYqEQ:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheStageReviews/~4/dDoI_Ft1x38" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38567/brighton-festival-faust Heather Neill tag:www.thestage.co.uk,2013:05.20.38566 2013-05-20T11:11:20Z 2013-05-20T13:15:10Z

<p><strong>The Tower of London and Gippeswyk Hall, Ipswich:</strong> Anne Boleyn is endlessly fascinating - was she a sexy minx, political manipulator, religious reformer or all of these? The facts of her life - her French upbringing, beguiling of Henry VIII and fall from power when she failed to produce a son - are well known, but little is certain about her character or even her appearance.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38566/fallen-in-love">Read the full review</a></p>

<p><strong>The Tower of London and Gippeswyk Hall, Ipswich:</strong> Anne Boleyn is endlessly fascinating - was she a sexy minx, political manipulator, religious reformer or all of these? The facts of her life - her French upbringing, beguiling of Henry VIII and fall from power when she failed to produce a son - are well known, but little is certain about her character or even her appearance.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38566/fallen-in-love">Read the full review</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=I11wB-YCqFI:Nei5PyG12Ew:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=I11wB-YCqFI:Nei5PyG12Ew:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=I11wB-YCqFI:Nei5PyG12Ew:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheStageReviews/~4/I11wB-YCqFI" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38566/fallen-in-love Sarah Frater tag:www.thestage.co.uk,2013:05.20.38565 2013-05-20T11:03:19Z 2013-05-20T11:17:22Z

<p><strong>Sadler's Wells, London:</strong> &quot;Once, the only sounds to be heard were the buzzing of bees in the grass and the song of birds in the sky,&quot; is the evocative opening of Varmints, Helen Ward&#039;s story for children that describes one creature attempts to preserve his little bit of nature. Director Sally Cook and choreographer Wilkie Branson have taken the story from the page to the stage, creating a short, studio-scale dance-drama aimed at children.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38565/varmints">Read the full review</a></p>

<p><strong>Sadler's Wells, London:</strong> &quot;Once, the only sounds to be heard were the buzzing of bees in the grass and the song of birds in the sky,&quot; is the evocative opening of Varmints, Helen Ward&#039;s story for children that describes one creature attempts to preserve his little bit of nature. Director Sally Cook and choreographer Wilkie Branson have taken the story from the page to the stage, creating a short, studio-scale dance-drama aimed at children.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38565/varmints">Read the full review</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=Zf5zTjC9Wxo:8m7f3z3Ajyo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=Zf5zTjC9Wxo:8m7f3z3Ajyo:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=Zf5zTjC9Wxo:8m7f3z3Ajyo:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheStageReviews/~4/Zf5zTjC9Wxo" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38565/varmints Paul Vale tag:www.thestage.co.uk,2013:05.20.38564 2013-05-20T10:57:16Z 2013-05-20T12:45:18Z

<p><strong>Criterion Theatre, London:</strong> In an inordinately large graduating year of 54 musical theatre students it is rewarding to see that GSA does not cut any corners on quality. </p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38564/gsa-three-year-musical-theatre-course">Read the full review</a></p>

<p><strong>Criterion Theatre, London:</strong> In an inordinately large graduating year of 54 musical theatre students it is rewarding to see that GSA does not cut any corners on quality. </p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38564/gsa-three-year-musical-theatre-course">Read the full review</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=I23ZlPjobE8:g4-cGZoVVAg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=I23ZlPjobE8:g4-cGZoVVAg:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=I23ZlPjobE8:g4-cGZoVVAg:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheStageReviews/~4/I23ZlPjobE8" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38564/gsa-three-year-musical-theatre-course Liz Arratoon tag:www.thestage.co.uk,2013:05.20.38563 2013-05-20T10:37:14Z 2013-05-20T15:12:39Z

<p><strong>Theatre Royal, Norwich:</strong> Sequence 8 is les 7 doigts&#039;, or the 7 Fingers&#039; eighth creation and rather neatly has a cast of eight. This UK premiere bears its familiar imprint; ensemble work with all the artists onstage more or less throughout, detailed and thrilling chorography and an intriguing mix of music. But maintaining the heady standards of its previous shows, such as Traces and Psy, must be getting harder.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38563/norfolk-and-norwich-festival-les-7-doigts-de">Read the full review</a></p>

<p><strong>Theatre Royal, Norwich:</strong> Sequence 8 is les 7 doigts&#039;, or the 7 Fingers&#039; eighth creation and rather neatly has a cast of eight. This UK premiere bears its familiar imprint; ensemble work with all the artists onstage more or less throughout, detailed and thrilling chorography and an intriguing mix of music. But maintaining the heady standards of its previous shows, such as Traces and Psy, must be getting harder.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38563/norfolk-and-norwich-festival-les-7-doigts-de">Read the full review</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=MZx261_y7zE:UoGF_bBtWMY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=MZx261_y7zE:UoGF_bBtWMY:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=MZx261_y7zE:UoGF_bBtWMY:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheStageReviews/~4/MZx261_y7zE" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38563/norfolk-and-norwich-festival-les-7-doigts-de Paul Vale tag:www.thestage.co.uk,2013:05.20.38562 2013-05-20T10:29:12Z 2013-05-20T13:17:05Z

<p><strong>Riverside Studios, London:</strong> Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Grenada-born Leslie Hutchinson was the toast of the cabaret circuit. He was a friend of Cole Porter&#039;s while living in Paris and was an early interpreter of his work. After moving to London, Hutchinson became one of the highest paid entertainers in the UK and was a favourite of the Prince of Wales, but an indiscreet private life coupled with prejudice and hyposcrisy from the ruling class led to his downfall.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38562/hutch">Read the full review</a></p>

<p><strong>Riverside Studios, London:</strong> Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Grenada-born Leslie Hutchinson was the toast of the cabaret circuit. He was a friend of Cole Porter&#039;s while living in Paris and was an early interpreter of his work. After moving to London, Hutchinson became one of the highest paid entertainers in the UK and was a favourite of the Prince of Wales, but an indiscreet private life coupled with prejudice and hyposcrisy from the ruling class led to his downfall.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38562/hutch">Read the full review</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=bbbfzymL2sM:ACeR9AvuGWg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=bbbfzymL2sM:ACeR9AvuGWg:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=bbbfzymL2sM:ACeR9AvuGWg:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheStageReviews/~4/bbbfzymL2sM" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38562/hutch Susan Elkin tag:www.thestage.co.uk,2013:05.20.38561 2013-05-20T10:17:10Z 2013-05-20T13:16:23Z

<p><strong>Little Angel, London :</strong> It&#039;s probably as good a success indicator as any if you come out of a mini-musical humming the songs. Barb Jungr&#039;s haunting, accessible melodies - many cheerfully based on major thirds with gentle forays into chromatic minor keys for stressed moments - are a delight. Most songs are beautifully accompanied on guitar by one of the puppeteers while another adds a jolly trombone turn at the end and yet another, at one point, plays a flute continuo.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38561/were-going-on-a-bear-hunt">Read the full review</a></p>

<p><strong>Little Angel, London :</strong> It&#039;s probably as good a success indicator as any if you come out of a mini-musical humming the songs. Barb Jungr&#039;s haunting, accessible melodies - many cheerfully based on major thirds with gentle forays into chromatic minor keys for stressed moments - are a delight. Most songs are beautifully accompanied on guitar by one of the puppeteers while another adds a jolly trombone turn at the end and yet another, at one point, plays a flute continuo.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38561/were-going-on-a-bear-hunt">Read the full review</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=Iz5cIoWOBhg:GHiIZ3qUd5Y:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=Iz5cIoWOBhg:GHiIZ3qUd5Y:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=Iz5cIoWOBhg:GHiIZ3qUd5Y:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheStageReviews/~4/Iz5cIoWOBhg" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38561/were-going-on-a-bear-hunt Honour Bayes tag:www.thestage.co.uk,2013:05.20.38560 2013-05-20T10:07:09Z 2013-05-20T13:15:24Z

<p><strong>Royal Court Theatre, London:</strong> Will Adamsdale&#039;s trick is to make his pieces look home-made and rather makeshift, when actually they are anything but.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38560/the-victorian-in-the-wall">Read the full review</a></p>

<p><strong>Royal Court Theatre, London:</strong> Will Adamsdale&#039;s trick is to make his pieces look home-made and rather makeshift, when actually they are anything but.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38560/the-victorian-in-the-wall">Read the full review</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=vDOb4GnMlpQ:S_JA-vWJ620:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=vDOb4GnMlpQ:S_JA-vWJ620:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=vDOb4GnMlpQ:S_JA-vWJ620:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheStageReviews/~4/vDOb4GnMlpQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38560/the-victorian-in-the-wall George Hall tag:www.thestage.co.uk,2013:05.20.38559 2013-05-20T09:55:07Z 2013-05-20T09:55:07Z

<p><strong>Royal Opera House, London:</strong> The original plan was for the Royal Opera to share Luis Pasqual&#039;s production of Rossini&#039;s opera based on Sir Walter Scott&#039;s poem The Lady of the Lake, but when that staging opened in Paris in 2010 it bombed; so the decision was taken to present instead a new one by John Fulljames, who had recently been appointed the company&#039;s associate director of opera.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38559/la-donna-del-lago">Read the full review</a></p>

<p><strong>Royal Opera House, London:</strong> The original plan was for the Royal Opera to share Luis Pasqual&#039;s production of Rossini&#039;s opera based on Sir Walter Scott&#039;s poem The Lady of the Lake, but when that staging opened in Paris in 2010 it bombed; so the decision was taken to present instead a new one by John Fulljames, who had recently been appointed the company&#039;s associate director of opera.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38559/la-donna-del-lago">Read the full review</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=nFPc_r2LZI4:w8pS8Tu_MBE:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=nFPc_r2LZI4:w8pS8Tu_MBE:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=nFPc_r2LZI4:w8pS8Tu_MBE:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheStageReviews/~4/nFPc_r2LZI4" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38559/la-donna-del-lago Catherine Usher tag:www.thestage.co.uk,2013:05.17.38558 2013-05-17T18:47:35Z 2013-05-17T18:47:35Z

<p><strong>New Wimbledon Theatre, London:</strong> With Marti Pellow starring as the brooding Che, Evita is out on the road on a national tour, and at the heart of the production Madalena Alberto emulates the star quality of the original Eva with ease.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38558/evita">Read the full review</a></p>

<p><strong>New Wimbledon Theatre, London:</strong> With Marti Pellow starring as the brooding Che, Evita is out on the road on a national tour, and at the heart of the production Madalena Alberto emulates the star quality of the original Eva with ease.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38558/evita">Read the full review</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=4GeFehKkgr4:oWcgRCyXeUo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=4GeFehKkgr4:oWcgRCyXeUo:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=4GeFehKkgr4:oWcgRCyXeUo:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheStageReviews/~4/4GeFehKkgr4" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38558/evita Roger Foss tag:www.thestage.co.uk,2013:05.17.38557 2013-05-17T17:08:55Z 2013-05-17T17:31:21Z

<p><strong>Liverpool Unity Theatre:</strong> Northern Spirit is on wondrous mission: to counter corny cliches about life in the north of England by celebrating life as it is lived. Instead of an everyday existence of gritty grimness, the northern worlds explored in four mini-dramas, elegantly crafted by a quartet of rising new writers, is far more diverse, each story beginning in a recognisable locality but ending deep in the northern soul. </p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38557/a-wondrous-place">Read the full review</a></p>

<p><strong>Liverpool Unity Theatre:</strong> Northern Spirit is on wondrous mission: to counter corny cliches about life in the north of England by celebrating life as it is lived. Instead of an everyday existence of gritty grimness, the northern worlds explored in four mini-dramas, elegantly crafted by a quartet of rising new writers, is far more diverse, each story beginning in a recognisable locality but ending deep in the northern soul. </p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38557/a-wondrous-place">Read the full review</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=hc4o5pQWIAE:6HYj4zEzf40:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=hc4o5pQWIAE:6HYj4zEzf40:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=hc4o5pQWIAE:6HYj4zEzf40:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheStageReviews/~4/hc4o5pQWIAE" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38557/a-wondrous-place Susan Elkin tag:www.thestage.co.uk,2013:05.17.38556 2013-05-17T16:52:44Z 2013-05-17T16:52:44Z

<p><strong>Criterion Theatre, London:</strong> This succinct showcase would benefit from being a little longer and allowing its 22 students more chance to show what they can do. As it is we see them only once and there is no demonstration of versatility. On the other hand, using just five extracts does at least give the audience enough length to begin to settle into the depth of each piece. Worryingly though, there is too much woefully misguided casting and some directorial decisions which do little to support students in demonstrating their strengths rather than highlighting their weaknesses.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38556/drama-studio-london-two-year-course-graduate">Read the full review</a></p>

<p><strong>Criterion Theatre, London:</strong> This succinct showcase would benefit from being a little longer and allowing its 22 students more chance to show what they can do. As it is we see them only once and there is no demonstration of versatility. On the other hand, using just five extracts does at least give the audience enough length to begin to settle into the depth of each piece. Worryingly though, there is too much woefully misguided casting and some directorial decisions which do little to support students in demonstrating their strengths rather than highlighting their weaknesses.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38556/drama-studio-london-two-year-course-graduate">Read the full review</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=9Yvi6c9gTd8:dUKak6lVVsE:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=9Yvi6c9gTd8:dUKak6lVVsE:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=9Yvi6c9gTd8:dUKak6lVVsE:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheStageReviews/~4/9Yvi6c9gTd8" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38556/drama-studio-london-two-year-course-graduate Tom Wicker tag:www.thestage.co.uk,2013:05.17.38555 2013-05-17T10:33:36Z 2013-05-17T16:36:52Z

<p><strong>Theatre503, London:</strong> Can a woman have it all? That question is at the heart of this premiere of Hannah Patterson&#039;s follow-up to her well-received debut play Much.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38555/playing-with-grownups">Read the full review</a></p>

<p><strong>Theatre503, London:</strong> Can a woman have it all? That question is at the heart of this premiere of Hannah Patterson&#039;s follow-up to her well-received debut play Much.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38555/playing-with-grownups">Read the full review</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=ukRIbB7rMG0:I9y1VnRn7KA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=ukRIbB7rMG0:I9y1VnRn7KA:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=ukRIbB7rMG0:I9y1VnRn7KA:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheStageReviews/~4/ukRIbB7rMG0" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38555/playing-with-grownups Elizabeth Warlock tag:www.thestage.co.uk,2013:05.16.38554 2013-05-16T13:03:58Z 2013-05-16T13:03:58Z

<p><strong>Winter Gardens and Playhouse Theatre, Weston Super Mare:</strong> High winds and rain could not deter 500 magicians from attending this &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.bristoldayofmagic.co.uk/&quot;&gt; annual one-day magic convention&lt;/a&gt; to see some top international performers strut their stuff. And in keeping with the current trend it was magic of the close-up kind which dominated, where cards cavorted and coins appeared from nowhere.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38554/53rd-bristol-day-of-magic">Read the full review</a></p>

<p><strong>Winter Gardens and Playhouse Theatre, Weston Super Mare:</strong> High winds and rain could not deter 500 magicians from attending this &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.bristoldayofmagic.co.uk/&quot;&gt; annual one-day magic convention&lt;/a&gt; to see some top international performers strut their stuff. And in keeping with the current trend it was magic of the close-up kind which dominated, where cards cavorted and coins appeared from nowhere.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38554/53rd-bristol-day-of-magic">Read the full review</a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=B57HN9egk-I:aBbZ1femQjI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=B57HN9egk-I:aBbZ1femQjI:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?a=B57HN9egk-I:aBbZ1femQjI:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheStageReviews?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheStageReviews/~4/B57HN9egk-I" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/38554/53rd-bristol-day-of-magic