Nottingham.

ANY MEANS NECESSARY: Kefi Chadwick.
Nottingham Playhouse, to 20 Feb.
www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk.
Runs: 2h 40m: one interval: till 20th February.
Performance times: 7.45pm (matinees Thurs 1.30pm and Sats 2.30pm),
Review: Alan Geary: 9th February 2016.

Fictionalised account of real-life scandal. Absorbing.

Northampton.

THE SNOW QUEEN
by Hans Christian Andersen adapted by Georgia Pritchett music by Dougal Irvine.

Royal & Derngate (Royal auditorium) Guildhall Road NN1 1DP To 3 January 2016.
10.30am 1-3, 8-11 Dec.
1.15pm 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 24, 26-28, 31 Dec, 2, 3 Jan.
2.15pm 1-4, 8-11, 15-17, 21-23, 29, 30 Dec.
5.15pm 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 24, 26-28, 31 Dec, 2, 3 Jan.
7.15pm 4, 15-17, 21-23, 29, 30 Dec.
Audio-described 17 Dec 2.15pm, 28 Dec 5.15pm.
BSL Signed 10 Dec 2.15pm.
Captioned 29 Dec 7.15pm.
Runs 1hr 55min One interval.

TICKETS: 01604 624811.
www.royalandderngate.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 28 November.

Visually vibrant production with energetic performances.

Newcastle-under-Lyme.

ROBIN HOOD & MARIAN
adapted by Theresa Heskins.

New Vic Theatre Etruria Road ST5 0JG To 30 January 2016.
10.30am 24 Dec, 5-8, 12-15, 19-22, 16-20 Jan.
2.15pm 19, 21-23, 28-31 Dec, 2, 5, 9, 12, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30 Jan.
3pm 24 Dec.
7.30pm 18, 21-23, 28-30 Dec, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30 Jan.
Audio-described 23 Jan 2.15pm.
Captioned 16 Jan 2.15pm.
Runs 2hr One interval.

TICKETS: 01782 717962.
www.newvictheatre.org.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 14 December.

Action and adventure rule the dramatic roost.

Birmingham
Flatpack Film Festival
Birmingham 2016
Review: Carl Hopley 26 April 2016
Info: flatpackfestival.org.uk

Much loved and needed, scaled down but strong as ever

Northampton.

GASLIGHT
by Patrick Hamilton.

Royal & Derngate (Royal auditorium) Guildhall Road NN1 1DP To 7 November. 2015.
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat Thu & Sat 2.30pm.
Audio-described 4 Nov (+ Touch Tour 5.30-6pm), 5 Nov 2.39pm.
BSL Signed 5 Nov 7.45pm.
Captioned 3 Nov.
Runs 2hr 20min One interval.

TICKETS: 01604 624811.
www.royalandderngate.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 22 October.

Shining light on dark areas.

Nottingham.

THE GLASS MENAGERIE: Tennessee Williams.
Nottingham Playhouse.
www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk.
Runs: 2h 20m: one interval: till 26th March.
Performance times: 7.45pm)
Review: Alan Geary: 15th March 2016.

An American masterpiece well served by a fine production.

Birmingham
ALADDIN
Birmingham Hippodrome
Runs: 2h 40m, one interval, to Sunday 31 01 16
Tickets: 0844 338 5000
Info: www.birminghamhippodrome.com

Review: Alexander Ray Edser, 21 12 15

Bigger, brasher, and better than ever.

Birmingham
Ex Cathedra Summer Concert:
Various: Rogers, Mathews, Morley, Joubert, Britten, Vaughan Williams, MacMillan, Rose, Rutter, Gershwin, Welch & Bennett, Brown, Elgar, Roth, Delius.
Conductor: Jeffrey Skidmore
Birmingham Cathedral, Tuesday 21 June 2016
Ran: 1h 20m, no interval
Info: www.excathedra.co.uk

Review: David & Paul Gray

So much variety, yet a satisfying whole

Chipping Norton.

ROBIN HOOD
by Ben Crocker music by Sarah Travis.

The Theatre 2 Spring Street OX7 5NL To 10 January 2016.
10.15am 20, 24-27 Nov, 1-3, 8, 9, 15 Dec, 6 Jan.
11am 29 Nov, 8, 13, 20, 27 Dec, 4, 10 Jan.
1.45pm 19, 20, 24-27 Nov, 1-4, 8, 9, 15 Dec, 5, 6 Jan.
2pm 21, 28 Nov, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 21-24 28-31 Dec, 2, 9 Jan.
4pm 29 Nov, 6, 11, 13, 16, 20, 26, 27 Dec, 3, 7, 8, 10 Jan.
6pm 21, 28 Nov, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 21-24, 28-31 Dec, 2, 5, 9 Jan.
7.30pm 19 Nov, 4, 11, 16, 26 Dec, 7, 8 Jan.
Runs 2hr 15min One interval.

TICKETS: 01608 642350.
www.chippingnortontheatre.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 18 November.

A triumph of lightness, wit and theatrical resourcefulness.

Birmingham
Birmingham Royal Ballet; Nutcracker, Tchaikovsky
Choreography: Peter Wright, Lev Ivanov, Vincent Redmond
Runs 2h 15m, one interval, Birmingham Hippodrome to 13 December 2015

Info: www.brb.org.uk
Booking: 0844 338 5000

Review: Alexander Ray Edser, 27 11 15

A seasonal treat.

Nottingham.
KINGS: Daniel Hoffman-Gill.
Nottingham Playhouse.
www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk.
Runs: 2h 0m: one interval: till 30th April.
Performance times: 8pm (matinees Tues, Thurs and Sats 2pm)
Review: Alan Geary: 22nd April 2016.

Powerful and moving; and often funny.

ANITA AND ME: Adapt Tanika Gupta from the original book by Meera Syal
Birmingham Rep
0121 236 4455
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
Runs: 2h 25m, one interval, till 24 October

Review: 14 October 2015, Alexander Ray Edser

Warm-hearted look at a serious topic.

Bimirngham
MADE UP: Devised by Emily Holyoake and Alexis Tuttle, Written by James Yarker
Birmingham Rep 14 – 21 May
Runs: Approx 70m, no interval
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

Review: Alexander Ray Edser, 16 May 2016

A made up play about make up, and about the make-up of women and how they're made up.

Birmingham
SINGLE SPIES: Alan Bennett
(AN ENGLISHMAN ABROAD, A QUESTION OF ATTRIBUTION)
Birmingham Rep, to 27 February 2016
0121 236 4455
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

Runs 2h 10m, one interval.
Review: Alexander Ray Edser, Birmingham Rep, 19 February 2016

Quality inside and outside, through and through

Birmingham
KING LEAR: William Shakespeare
Birmingham Rep to 28 May
Runs: 3h 30m, one interval
BO: 0121 236 4455
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

Review: Alexander Ray Edser, 24 May 2016

Clear storytelling, honest performances, time well spent; and a 'but'.

Banbury.

ALICE
by Kate Kerrow adapted from Lewis Carroll.

The Mill Arts Centre Spiceball Park OX16 5QE To 2 January 2016.
10am 24 Dec.
2pm 21-24, 26-31 Dec, 2 Jan.
7.30pm 21-23, 26-30 Dec, 2 Jan.
Relaxed Performance 30 Dec 2pm.
Runs

TICKETS: 01295 279002/01865 766266.
www.creationtheartre.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 20 December.

An enjoyable winter Wonderland.

Birmingham Royal Ballet; Shakespeare Triple Bill
WINK (Choreography Jessica Lang, Music Jakub Ciupinski), MOOR'S PAVANE (Choreography Jose Limon, Music Henry Purcell), SHAKESPEARE SUITE (Choreography David Bintley Music Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhdorn)
Runs 2h 10m, two intervals, Birmingham Hippodrome
Info: www.brb.org.uk
Tickets: 0121 338 5000

Review: Alexander Ray Edser, 25 06 16

Varied, multi-faceted, yet a satisfying whole

Birmingham
THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE
C S Lewis, adapted by Adrian Mitchell, Music by Shaun Davey
Birmingham Rep
0121 236 4455
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
Runs: 2h 40m, one interval, to 16 January

Review: 28 November 2015, Alexander Ray Edser

A thrilling theatrical adventure

Nottingham/Touring.

HANDBAGGED: Moira Buffini.
Theatre Royal: Tkts 0115 989 5555 www.royalcentre-nottingham.co.uk.
Touring Information: Eleanor Lloyd Productions.
Runs: 2h 10m: one interval: till 24th October.
Performance times: 7.30pm, (Matinees 2.00pm Weds and 2.30pm Sat).
Review: Alan Geary: 27th July 2015.

Funny certainly. But there’s also depth and complexity.

Birmingham
KING CHARLES III: Mike Bartlett
Birmingham Rep
0121 236 4455
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
Runs: 2h 50m, one interval, to 19 09 15, then touring

Review: 8 September 2015, Alexander Ray Edser

Strong performances, intriguing debate, weighed down by form.