Reviews Archive Part 2
BACKBEAT To 24 March.
London.
BACKBEAT
adapted for the stage by Iain Softley and Stephen Jeffreys.
Duke of York’s St Martin’s Lane WC2N 4BG To 24 March 2012.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Wed & Sat 2.30pm.
Runs 2hr 30min One interval.
TICKETS: 0844 871 7623.
www.backbeatlondon.com
Review: William Russell 11 October.
A less than fab four.
THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA To 22 October.
Northampton.
THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
by William Shakespeare.
Royal & Derngate (Royal auditorium) Guildhall Road NN1 1DP To 22 October 2011.
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat Thu & Sat 2.30pm.
Audio-described 12 Oct.
BSL Signed 13 Oct 7.45pm.
Runs 2hr 35min One interval.
TICKETS: 01604 624811.
www.royalandderngate.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 4 October.
The glass of fashion reflects some Shakespeare.
THE KILLING OF SISTER GEORGE To 29 October.
London.
THE KILLING OF SISTER GEORGE
by Frank Marcus.
Arts Theatre Great Newport Street WC2H 7JB To 29 October 2011.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Thu & Sat 3pm.
Runs 2hr 20min One interval.
TICKETS: 020 7907 7092.
www.artstheatrewestend.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 10 October.
More period-piece than classic, in a revival with some strong performances.
PRIVATE LIVES To 22 October.
Nottingham.
PRIVATE LIVES
by Noel Coward
Nottingham Playhouse Wellington Circus NG1 5AF To 22 October 2011.
Tue-Sat 7.45pm Mat 15 October 2.30pm, 13 & 20 October 1.30pm.
Runs 2hr 5min One interval.
TICKETS: 0115 9419419.
www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk
Review: Jen Mitchell 11 October.
A superb evening of acerbic wit and sophisticated banter.
TWO BROTHERS AND ONE WORLD CUP
Two Brothers and One World Cup: Zach Lee
Stripes Theatre Company
At Bury Met Theatre
Info: twww.umbroindustries.com/idea/Stripes-Theatre-Companys-TWO-BROTHERS-AND-ONE-WORLD-CUP
Running Time – 80 minutes approx
One interval – 15 minutes
FOOTBALL FANS AND FAMILY
AUTOBIOGRAPHER To 8 October.
Tour.
AUTOBIOGRAPHER
by Melanie Wilson.
Tour to 8 October 2011.
Runs 1hr 20min No interval.
Review: Timothy Ramsden 5 October.
Highly concentrated theatricality and nuanced performances make for a gripping, and never gratuitous, experience.
ROLL OUT THE BERYL: Elaine Pantling, Touring
Nottingham/Touring.
ROLL OUT THE BERYL: Elaine Pantling.
Touring Info: Laurielorry Theatre.
Runs: 1h 45m: one interval.
Review: Lakeside Arts centre, Nottingham, Alan Geary: 7th October 2011.
Not an unqualified success but worth a look.
HONEYPOT To 30 October.
London.
HONEYPOT
by Julia Pascal.
New Diorama Theatre 15-16 Triton Street Regent’s Place NW1 3BF To 30 October 2011.
Wed-Sun 7.45pm Mat Sun 3.30pm.
Runs 2hr 10min One interval.
TICKETS: 020 7383 9034.
www.newdiorama.com
Review: William Russell 14 October.
Some skilled direction can’t make this believable.
DRIVING MISS DAISY To 17 December.
London.
DRIVINGF MISS DAISY
by Alfred Uhry.
Wyndham’s Theatre 32 Charing Cross Road WC2H 0DA To 17 December 2011.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Wed & Sat 2.30pm.
Runs 1hr 30min No interval.
TICKETS: 0844 482 5120.
www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk
Review: Carole Woddis 6 October.
Rose blinkered spectacles, but has its moments.
HOW TO BE HAPPY To 5 November.
Richmond.
HOW TO BE HAPPY
by David Lewis.
Orange Tree Theatre 1 Clarence Street TW9 2SA To 5 November 2011.
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat Sat 3pm & 6, 13, 20 Oct 2.30pm (+ post-show discussion).
Audio-described 1 Nov, 5 Nov 3pm.
Runs 2hr 20min One interval.
TICKETS: 020 8940 3633.
www.orangetreetheatre.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 8 October.
The audience, at least, is happy.
STAR QUALITY To 31 March.
Tour.
STAR QUALITY
by Noël Coward adapted by Christopher Luscombe.
Tour to 31 March 2012.
Runs: 2hr One interval.
Review: Alan Geary: 11 October.
Coward far from his best; and it’s a production with problems. Worth a look though.
EARTHQUAKES IN LONDON till 12 November.
EARTHQUAKES IN LONDON: Mike Bartlett
Headlong Theatre and NT: Touring till 12 November
Runs: 3h, one interval
Review: Rod Dungate, Malvern Theatre, 04 10 2011
Tour info: www.headlongtheatre.co.uk
Shaky foundations lead to giant chasms
THE DASILVA MARIONETTE CIRCUS To 6 November.
Tour.
THE DASILVA MARIONETTE CIRCUS
Runs 45min No interval.
Review: Timothy Ramsden 9 October at Little Angel Theatre Islington.
Roll up and see a pleasant show unfold.
SQUARE DANCES
Square Dances
Brunswick & Woburn Squares WC1
10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm, 4.30pm
Queen & Gordon Squares WC1
11am, 12pm, 1pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm
www.danceumbrella.co.uk
Review by Carole Woddis of performance seen Oct 9, 2011
One-off, and one very special event.
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW To 29 October.
London.
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
by William Shakespeare.
Southwark Playhouse Shipwright Yard corner of Tooley St and Bermondsey St SE1 2TF To 29 October 2011.
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat 18-20 Oct 1.30pm.
Runs 1hr 55min One interval.
TICKETS: 020 7407 0234.
www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 12 September.
Too tame but quite shrewd.
THE GLASS MENAGERIE To 5 November.
Newcastle-under-Lyme/Oldham.
THE GLASS MENAGERIE
by Tennessee Williams.
New Vic Theatre Etruria Road ST5 0JG To 15 October.
Tue-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat 2.15pm.
Audio-described 15 Oct 2.15pm.
Captioned 11 Oct.
Post-show Discussion 11 Oct.
TICKETS: 01782 717962.
www.newvictheatre.org.uk
then Coliseum Theatre Fairbottom Street OL1 3SW 20 October-5 November 2011.
Tue-Sat 7.30pm Mat 26, 29 Oct, 5 Nov 2.30pm.
Audio-described 2 Nov.
BSL Signed 4 Nov.
TICKETS: 01604 624 2829.
www.coliseum.org.uk
Runs 2hr 25min One interval.
Review: Timothy Ramsden 6 October.
Production not quite at home with theatre or play.
FAMILY BUSINESS To 29 October.
Watford/Oxford.
FAMILY BUSINESS
by Julian Mitchell.
Palace Theatre 20 Clarendon Road WD17 1JZ To 22 October.
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat Wed & Sat 2.30pm.
Captioned 20 Oct.
Post-show Discussion 18 Oct.
TICKETS: 01923 225671.
www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk
then Oxford Playhouse 11-12 Beaumont Street OX1 2LW 25-29 October 2011.
Tue-Thu; Sat 7.30pm Fri 8pm Mat Thu & Sat 2.30pm.
TICKETS: 01865 305305.
www.oxfordplayhouse.com
Runs 2hr One interval.
Review: Timothy Ramsden 15 October.
Play that takes the scenic route.
SWEENEY TODD To 5 November.
Chichester.
SWEENEY TODD
Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim book by Hugh Wheeler.
Chichester Festival Theatre Oaklands Park PO19 6AP To 5 November 2011.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat 12, 15, 18, 21, 22, 26, 29 Oct, 3, 5 Nov 2.15pm.
Audio-described 21 Oct 7.30pm, 28 Oct, 5 Nov 2.15pm.
BSL Signed 26 Oct 7.30pm.
Post-show Discussion 13 Oct.
Runs 2hr 45min One interval.
TICKETS: 01243 781312.
www.cft.org.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 8 October.
A Sweeney Todd well worth attending.
THE VEIL To 11 December.
London.
THE VEIL
by Conor McPherson.
Lyttelton Theatre Upper Ground South Bank SE1 9PX In rep to 11 December 2011.
Runs 2hr 35min One interval.
TICKETS 020 7452 3000.
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/tickets
Review: Carole Woddis 4 October.
A Play in Which Every Word Counts.
KING LEAR To 22 October.
Leeds.
KING LEAR
by William Shakespeare.
West Yorkshire Playhouse (Quarry Theatre) Quarry Hill LS2 7UP To 22 October 2011.
Tue-Sat 7.15pm Mat Thu & Sat 1.30pm.
Audio-described 12 Oct, 15 Oct 1.30pm.
BSL Signed 8 Oct 1.30pm.
Captioned 13 Oct 7.15pm.
Runs 3hr 15min One interval.
TICKETS: 0113 213 7700.
www.wyp.org.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 30 September.
A splendid coming together of theatre space, director, actor and cast overall.