Regional

REVIEW: The Jew Of Malta, Swan Theatre ✭✭✭✭

Regional, Reviews
The Jew Of Malta at the Swan Theatre

This is a play where the inhabitants of a Nunnery are slain by poisoned porridge; where the daughter of a Jew becomes a Christian Nun, twice; where, having purchased a Thracian slave, owner and slave engage in a bout of one-upmanship about the vile deeds they claim to enjoy; where Friars are referred to as “religious caterpillars”; where the Jew inquires if theft is the basis of Christianity; where a Friar casually asks if the Jew has been “crucifying children”; and where no one, really, has any redeeming features. It all but screams farce, even if some of the subject matter is repugnant and, sadly, deadly accurate.

REVIEW: The Merchant Of Venice, Royal Shakespeare Theatre ✭✭✭✭✭

Regional, Reviews
RSC Merchant Of Venice

Findlay’s production of The Merchant Of Venice, like all great productions of Shakespeare, is brimming with ideas, spoken with assurance and intelligence, and illuminates the text insightfully and vigorously. Refreshing and fascinating. Findlay breathes complexity and assuredness into Shakespeare’s play by focussing on sex and greed. But there is no shortage of hatred either.

REVIEW: A Damsel In Distress, Chichester Festival Theatre ✭✭✭✭✭

Regional, Reviews
A Damsel In Distress at Chichester Festival theatre

The cast, like a fine soufflé, is full of first rate choices and rises to the occasion in exactly the right way. The singing here is glorious. The Gershwins make a lot of demands upon singers and Williams ensures that every note is hit truly and that the froth and bubble in the music is given full release. The dance routines in Nice Work If You Can Get It, Stiff Upper Lip, I Can’t Be Bothered Now, French Pastry Walk and Fidgety Feet are effortlessly engaging, thrilling to watch. As you emerge from the auditorium, it is impossible not be cheery.

Cast Announced For Gate’s The Christians

News, Off West End, Regional
The Christians by Lucas Hnath plays the Gate Theatre and the Traverse Theatre as part of the Edinburgh Festival

Casting has been announced for the UK Premiere of The Christians by Lucas Hnath which forms part of the Gate’s Icons and Idols Season. The company of The Christians includes William Gaminara (Pastor), Jaye Griffiths (Pastor’s Wife), Stefan Adegbola (Associate Pastor), Lucy Ellinson (Congregant) and David Calvitto (Elder). For the last twenty years, Pastor Paul has been building his church. Starting in a modest storefront, he now presides over a flock of thousands. Idolised by his followers, today should be a day for joy and celebration. But the sermon that Paul is about to preach will shake the very foundations of his followers’ beliefs. As fractures spread throughout his congregation, Paul must fight to prevent his church from tearing itself apart. This is the UK première of Lucas Hnath’s remarkable exploration of faith and community in the modern world. Featuring a full-scale community choir, it asks profound questions about what … Read more

Clwyd Theatr Cymru Appoints Tamara Harvey as Artistic Director

News, Regional
Tamara Harvey joins Vlwyd Theatr Cymru as Artistic Director

It was announced today that Tamara Harvey has been appointed the new Artistic Director of Clwyd Theatr Cymru from August 2015. She becomes the sixth Artistic Director in the theatre’s thirty-nine year history. On her appointment Tamara Harvey said: “I am thrilled to have been invited to be the artistic director of Clwyd Theatr Cymru at such an exciting moment in its history. Terry Hands has done an extraordinary job in building a family of artists and producing brilliant work for a growing loyal audience. Now, as the company moves into its fortieth year, I look forward to widening that circle: nurturing talent from Wales and beyond, and collaborating with companies and artists both near and far to ensure that this beacon of innovation on top of a hill in Mold is an inspiration for Wales, the UK and the rest of the world.” Tamara Harvey has directed in the … Read more

REVIEW: Death Of A Salesman, Royal Shakespeare Theatre ✭✭✭

Regional, Reviews, West End
Death Of A Salesman by Arthur Miller at the Royal Shakespeare Company

The role of Willy Loman is very exacting, requiring great range and subtlety from the actor. The single greatest requirement, though, is for the actor to be Loman rather than to play him; there needs to be total immersion in the character, and the character’s different stages. It must be possible to see the Loman who so enthralled and impressed his sons, the Loman who believed in the Dream and to contrast that against the Loman who is engulfed, diminished, destroyed. Antony Sher gives a prickly, vigorous, erratically explosive performance. He might wear Loman’s skin but he never gets under it.

REVIEW: Love’s Sacrifice, The Swan Theatre ✭✭

Regional, Reviews
Love's Sacrifice at the Swan Theatre

Despite a delicious design from Anna Fleischle (the black velvet floor and beautifully detailed costumes especially) and some winning, often charming, performances from Catrin Stewart, Jamie Thomas King, Andy Apollo, Colin Ryan and Matthew Needham, Dunster’s production does not establish any case for Love’s Sacrifice to be revived.

REVIEW: Love’s Labour’s Won, Royal Shakespeare Theatre ✭✭✭✭

Regional, Reviews
The RSC production of Love's Labour's Won at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre

Christopher Luscombe’s very funny version of the Beatrice/Benedick show complete with magnificent, period set (Simon Highlett), some fabulous costumes, Nigel Hess’ delightful music and Jenny Arnold’s joyful movement. Setting the play in the post-World War 1 period works nicely; the sense of changing times is entirely appropriate. It’s a gentle but frisky time and you can almost hear the approach of the flappers.