Reviews Archive Part 2
SPEAKING LIKE MAGPIES. To 25 February.
London
SPEAKING LIKE MAGPIES
by Frank McGuinness
Trafalgar Studios (Studio 1) To 25 February 2006
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Wed & Sat 2pm
Runs 2hr 30min One interval
TICKETS: 0870 060 6632 (£2.50 booking fee per transaction)
www.theambassadors.com/trafalgarstudios
Review: Timothy Ramsden 20 February
Interesting ideas at times, and some lively production ideas, but dramatically neither a sparkler nor a banger.
A CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL. To 11 March.
Mold/Cardiff
A CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL
by Alan Ayckbourn
Clwyd Theatr Cymru (Anthony Hopkins Theatre) To 4 March
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat 2.30pm
Audio-described 18 Feb 2.30pm, 23 Feb
Captioned 25 Feb 2.30pm
Talkback 23 Feb, 2 March
then New Theatre Cardiff 7-11 March 2006
Tue-Sat 7.30pm Mat Thu & Sat 2.30pm
Runs 2hr 40min One interval
TICKETS: 0845 330 3565
www.clwyd-theatrcymru.co.uk (Mold)
029 2087 8889
www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk (Cardiff)
Review : Timothy Ramsden 14 February
Muted revival of a large-scale Ayckbourn as searing about amateur operatics and local corruption.
SMOKE. To 25 March.
Newcastle-under-Lyme/Scarborough
SMOKE
by Bryony Lavery
New Vic Theatre To 4 March
Mon-Sat 7.30pm not 23, 27 Feb Mat 4 March 2.30pm
Captioned/Talkback 28 Feb
then Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough 14-25 March 2006
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat 25 March 2.30pm
Runs: 2hrs 15min. One interval
TICKETS: 01782 717962
www.newvictheatre.org.uk (Newcastle-under-Lyme)
01723 370541 (Scarborough)
Review: Ranjit Khutan: 17 February 2006
Fun, flirtation, fixation and fear.
BARBER OF SEVILLE till 11 March
Bristol
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE
by Beaumarchais, in a new adaptation by Lee Hall
Bristol Old Vic until 11th March 2006
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Thu & Sat 2pm
Audio-described 11 March 2pm
BSL Signed 4 March 2pm
Runs 2hr 10min One interval
TICKETS:0117 987 7877
www.bristol-old-vic.co.uk
REVIEW: Stewart McGill, 20 February
Great fun and irreverent
FUTURES. To 25 February.
London
FUTURES
by Rebecca Prichard
Theatre 503 503 Battersea Park Road (above the Latchmere Pub) To 25 February 2006
Tue-Sat 8pm Sun 5pm
Runs 1hr 15min No interval
TICKETS: 020 7978 7040
www.theatre503.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 12 February
Family relationships boldly presented on the large-scale but detail is difficult to follow with limited stage action.
THE ROMANS IN BRITAIN. To 25 February.
Sheffield
THE ROMANS IN BRITAIN
by Howard Brenton
Crucible Theatre To 25 February 2006
Tue-Sat 7.30pm Mat 22, 25 Feb 2.30pm
Audio-described/BSL Signed/Post-show Talkback 23 Feb
Runs 2hr 35min One interval
TICKETS: 0114 249 6000
www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 16 February
What Sheffield has done for The Romans.
A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE. To 25 February.
Bolton
A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE
by Arthur Miller
Octagon Theatre To 25 February 2006
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat 18, 22 Feb 2pm
Audio-described 22 Feb 7.30pm
Runs 2hr 15min One interval
TICKETS: 01204 520661
www.octagonbolton.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 15 February
A bold production boasting some fine performances.
FABULATION. To 18 March.
London
FABULATION
by Lynn Nottage
Tricycle Theatre To 18 March 2006
Mon-Sat 8pm Mat Sat 4pm & 8 March 2pm
BSL Signed 2 March
Runs 1hr 55min One interval
TICKETS: 020 7328 1000
www.tricycle.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 22 February
Fun and wit surround a serious theme.
New Musical by UB40
Birmingham Rep's UB40 musical is coming in March
Here are the details as set out by the Birmingham Rep
Tartuffe. To 27 May.
Newbury/Tour
TARTUFFE
by Moliére adaptated by Ranjit Bolt
Watermill – West Berkshire Playhouse to 18 March then tour to 27 May 2006
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Thu & Sat 2.30pm except 18 March at 1.30pm & 6.30pm
Runs 2hr 15min One interval
TICKETS: 01635 46044
www.watermill.org.uk
Review: Stewart McGill 13 February
A handsome affair.
HONOR.
London.
HONOUR
by Joanna Murray-Smith.
Wyndhams Theatre.
Mon-Sat 8pm Mat Wed & Sat 3pm.
Runs 1hr 40min No interval.
TICKETS: 0870 950 0925.
Review: Timothy Ramsden 18 February.
Drama of re-forming lives will be especially strong for those seeing it for the first time.
THE SCHUMAN PLAN. To 25 February.
London
THE SCHUMAN PLAN
by Tim Luscombe
Hampstead Theatre To 25 February 2006
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat 3pm
Audio-described 18 Feb 3pm
Transcribed 20 Feb
Post-show talk 21 Feb
Runs 2hr 35min One interval
TICKETS: 020 7722 9301
www.hampsteadtheatre.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 11 February
A play contrasting political ideals and processes.
THE LINDEN TREE. To 25 March.
London
THE LINDEN TREE
by J B Priestley
Orange Tree Theatre To 25 March 2006
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat Sat 4pm & Thu 2.30pm (+ post-show discussion)
Audio-described 14 March, 18 March 4pm
Seminar: J. B. Priestley 11 March 10.30am-2.30pm
Runs 2hr 40min One interval
TICKETS: 020 8940 3633
www.orangetreetheatre.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 17 February
Once again, the Orange Tree is spot-on in choice of play and quality of production.
BILLY LIAR. To 25 February.
Liverpool
BILLY LIAR
by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall
Liverpool Playhouse To 25 February 2006
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat 2pm & 23 Feb 1.30pm
Runs 2hr 15mon One interval
TICKETS: 0151 709 4776
www.everymanplayhouse.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden
Truth to tell, a fine revival.
ARMS AND THE MAN. To 11 March.
Salisbury/Guildford/Windsor
ARMS AND THE MAN
by George Bernard Shaw
Salisbury Playhouse, To 25 February 2006 then Guildford & Windsor (details below)
Mons-Weds 7.30 p.m. Thur-Sats 8.00 p.m. Mat Mat Thu & Sat 2.30pm
Audio-dewscribed 23 March 2.30pm & 8pm
Runs 2 hours 5 minutes One Interval
TICKETS: 01722 320333
www.salisburyplayhouse.com
Review Mark Courtice: 18 February 2006
Shaw needs doughtier defenders than this.
All Quiet on the Western Front. To 25 February.
Nottingham
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
by Erich Maria Remarque adapted by Robin Kingsland
Nottingham Playhouse to 25 February 2005
Tue-Sat 7.45pm. Mat 23 Feb 1.30pm
Audio described 21, 22 Feb, 7.45pm.
BSL Signed 24 February 7.45pm.
Runs 2hr 15min. One interval
TICKETS: 0115 9419419
www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk
Review: Jen Mitchell 15th February 2006
The mechanics and machinery may have changed but this piece remains a timely reminder of the horrors and waste of war.
EYECATCHER. To 24 March.
Sheffield
EYECATCHER
by Richard Hurford
Crucible Studio To 18 February 2006 also South Yorkshire schools’ tour to 24 March
Runs 1hr 15min No interval
Review: Timothy Ramsden 16 February
A new angle on an old myth.
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. To 18 March.
Manchester
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
by William Shakespeare
Library Theatre To 18 March 2006
Mon-Thu 7.30pm Fri-Sat 8pm Mat Sat & 22 Feb, 1 March 3pm 8, 15 March 2pm
Audio-described 15 March 7.30pm, 18 March 3pm
BSL Signed 1 March 7.30pm
Captioned 6 March
Pre-show talk 23 Feb 6.30pm, 11 March 2pm
Playday 8, 15 March 10.30am (+ 2pm show)
Runs 2hr 50min One interval
TICKETS: 0161 236 7110
www.librarytheatre.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden
Strong central performances and intelligent direction recommend this production.
THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE. To 25 February.
Watford
THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE
by Martin McDonagh
Palace Theatre To 25 February 2006
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat Wed 2pm & Sat 3pm
Audio-described 25 Feb 3pm
Stagetext 28 Feb 3pm
Talkback 14 Feb
Runs 2hrs One interval
TICKETS: 01923 225671
www.watfordtheatre.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 8 February
All gall in Galway in vivid revival.
FESTEN. To 27 May.
Birmingham/Tour
FESTEN
dramatised by David Eldridge from the film and play by Thomas Vinterberg, Mogens Rukov and Bo Hr. Hansen.
Birmingham Repertory Theatre to 18 February then tour to 27 May 2006
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat 16 Feb 2.30pm
Audio-described 16 Feb 7.30pm
BSL Signed 17 Feb
Runs 2hr One interval
TICKETS: 0121 236 4455
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk (Birmingham)
Review: Jan Pick 7 February
An uncomfortable evening, but well worth it.