UK Regional Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations Page 37

BWW Review: FEAR AND MISERY OF THE THIRD REICH, Union Theatre, January 12 2016
by Gary Naylor - January 13, 2016

Gary Naylor sees a powerful and important production that is of its time, but speaks with a loud and clear voice to our own....

BWW Review: GREY GARDENS, Southwark Playhouse, January 7 2016
by Gary Naylor - January 08, 2016

Gary Naylor sees the well executed European premiere of a musical based on a cult classic movie, but is left ill at ease about its content....

BWW Review: CINDERELLA, Barclaycard Arena Birmingham, December 21 2015
by Jenny Ell - December 22, 2015

Pantomime is old hat in this country with hundreds of productions taking place across the UK each Christmas period. But how can the format be given a fresh spin and shaken up a little? Why not put it in the largest auditorium that a pantomime has ever played! Performing to just under 5000 people eac...

BWW Review: SHOW BOAT, Sheffield, Dec 16 2015
by Ruth Deller - December 21, 2015

Daniel Evan's final Christmas musical at the Crucible is full of heart and life/...

BWW Review: PETER PAN, Wolverhampton Grand, December 15 2015
by Jenny Ell - December 16, 2015

After seeing a similar panto production of Peter Pan at Birmingham Hippodrome a few years, Qdos Entertainment have rolled it out to the Wolverhampton Grand this Christmas, starring the Chuckle Brothers and John Altman. With stunning sets, flying and plenty of gags, what more can you ask for!...

BWW Review: MIRROR MIRROR, King's Head Theatre, December 15 2015
by Gary Naylor - December 16, 2015

Gary Naylor sees another fine and funny pantomime from the boutique opera company that never misses the chance to lower the baritone if there's laughs to be had....

BWW Review: HAIRSPRAY, New Alexandra Theatre Birmingham, December 14 2015
by Jenny Ell - December 15, 2015

The dust has only recently settled on the last production of Hairspray at the Curve in Leicester but now this production is on the road across the UK. Based on the packed house at the New Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham last night, it's proven itself to be a show that people will return to. It's jus...

BWW Review: KITTEN IN HEELS, Lost Theatre, December 11 2015
by Gary Naylor - December 16, 2015

Gary Naylor sees an adult panto in which everyone has a lot of fun with the usual mix of crazy costumes and corny quips....

BWW Review: ALADDIN, Solihull Arts Complex, December 11 2015
by Jenny Ell - December 14, 2015

Mr Solihull panto himself Malcolm Stent is back for his 25th consecutive pantomime at Solihull Arts Complex this year in which he writes, directs and stars. Aladdin sees a talented cast of both familiar and fresh faces returning to the newly refurbished auditorium and front of house areas at the the...

BWW Review: Hilarious World Premiere of DAVID WALLIAMS' GANGSTA GRANNY, New Alexandra Birmingham
by Emma Cann - December 09, 2015

The world premiere of David Walliams' Gangsta Granny, brilliantly adapted by the Birmingham Stage Company, turned out to be a star-studded event indeed; the Britain's Got Talent judge was there in person, creating quite a stir amongst the children in the audience. It's small wonder really - his book...

BWW Review: NUTCRACKER! THE MUSICAL, Pleasance Theatre, December 9 2015
by Gary Naylor - December 10, 2015

Gary Naylor sees an ambitious and original concept for musical theatre that does not reach its potential due to both creative and technical flaws....

BWW Review: THROUGH THE MILL, London Theatre Workshop, December 8 2015
by Gary Naylor - December 09, 2015

Gary Naylor sees Judy Garland brought back to life by three very fine performances in a show that is at its best when the songs are being sung....

BWW Review: JACK & THE BEANSTALK, Lichfield Garrick, December 8 2015
by Jenny Ell - December 09, 2015

Old favourite Jack and the Beanstalk is Lichfield Garrick's pantomime this year; jam-packed full of content, comedy and catchy musical numbers delivered by a talented, enthusiastic ensemble cast. Ian Adams returns once again to write, direct and star as Dame Trixie Trott this festive season....

BWW Reviews: THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS, Chickenshed, December 5 2015
by Gary Naylor - December 06, 2015

Gary Naylor sees another fine seasonal offering from Chickenshed that entertains and, ever so gently, educates kids (and adults) about a better world....

BWW Review: BEAUTY & THE BEAST, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, December 3 2015
by Jenny Ell - December 04, 2015

Last night featured my first pantomime of this year's festive season, the unconventional Beauty and the Beast at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry. There is the usual rotation of pantomimes that many theatres alternate; most commonly Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty and Dick...

BWW Reviews: THE LION, THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE, Birmingham Rep Theatre, December 1 2015
by Jenny Ell - December 02, 2015

C.S.Lewis' timeless story The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is a perfect fit for the festive season. It has had several stage reincarnations over the years and the fact that it has been revisited again at the Birmingham Rep is a testament to its appeal. The theatre last staged the show in 2009 as...

BWW Review: THE SNOW QUEEN, Royal and Derngate, Nov 27 2015
by Verity Wilde - November 29, 2015

THE SNOW QUEEN is the first of Royal and Derngate's two pantomimes to open - Verity Wilde was there to review for BroadwayWorld....

BWW Review: GUYS AND DOLLS, New Alexandra Theatre Birmingham, November 25 2015
by Jenny Ell - November 26, 2015

Guys and Dolls has a long musical history. Originating and premiering on Broadway in 1950 and winning the Tony Award for Best Musical the following year, the show was soon turned into a film starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra, which it is most fondly recognised for. There have been a multitude...

BWW Review: TREASURE ISLAND, Old Rep Theatre Birmingham, November 24 2015
by Jenny Ell - November 25, 2015

Birmingham's Old Rep Theatre are staging a brand new take on the classic Robert Louis Stevenson tale, Treasure Island, as their Christmas show this year - the first sizeable run the theatre has had since Birmingham Ormiston Academy became their creative partner. Because of this, a handful of BOA stu...

BWW Review: MEDEA, Gate Theatre, November 9 2015
by Gary Naylor - November 11, 2015

Gary Naylor sees a remarkable adaptation of Medea, one that allows the children to tell the story of their tragic fate....

BWW Review: THE MOUSETRAP, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, November 9 2015
by Jenny Ell - November 10, 2015

Amongst the ongoing change and turnover in the West End, Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap has always been solid and constant. After a short UK tour, the show set up camp at the Ambassadors Theatre in London in 1952 where it played for 22 years before moving to the bigger St Martin's Theatre where it ...

BWW Review: THE DISTANCE, Crucible Studio, Sheffield, Nov 3 2015
by Ruth Deller - November 07, 2015

There isn't a bad performance in the Orange Tree Theatre/Sheffield Theatres production of Deborah Bruce's The Distance, currently playing at the Crucible Studio....

BWW Review: LORD OF THE FLIES, Birmingham Rep Theatre, November 3 2015
by Jenny Ell - November 04, 2015

William Golding's epic novel Lord of the Flies may have been published over sixty years ago but its themes and content are still supremely relevant today. This was reflected last night at Birmingham Rep with a virtually full house, consisting of many school parties. The book still remains on the sch...

BWW Review: TITUS ANDRONICUS, New Wimbledon Studio, October 31 2015
by Liz Cearns - November 03, 2015

Shakespeare's bloodiest drama is playing at the New Wimbledon Studio for one more week....

BWW Review: HAIRSPRAY, Palace Theatre Manchester, October 26 2015
by Adrian Bradley - October 29, 2015

Revived again, the touring favourite Hairspray is again packing out theatres across the country.  This new production delivers some impressive performances and a fun evening, if not quite living up to dancing in the aisles quality of the West End original....