REVIEW: Bat Boy, Southwark Playhouse ✭✭✭✭

Georgina Hagan and Rob Compton in Bat Boy at Southwark Playhouse. Photo: Garry Lake

Rob Compton is quite remarkable in the title role here. The pain and anger and fear he expresses through vocal guttural cries combined with the way he uses his almost entirely naked body to establish precisely how instinctive, alert and animalistic his existence, his life in subterranean caves, has caused him to be, is enthralling to watch.

Weekly Rep Returns To Theatre Royal Windsor

Theatre Royal Windsor

The Theatre Royal Windsor and Paul Taylor-Mills have announced the return of weekly repertory theatre to the theatre with one company presenting a season of six classic revivals from Tuesday 26th May to Saturday 4th July 2015. The Theatre Royal Windsor has a strong history of repertory theatre dating back to 1938. When the theatre was converted into a cinema in 1929 to cater for the arrival of the talking pictures, John Counsell, who went on to be the theatre’s director for almost 50 years, lead a campaign to restore the theatre as a playhouse. In 1938, the theatre was successfully reopened and a repertory company was founded with a standing company of actors. The Company remained at the theatre unsubsidised for almost five decades, and in 1988 celebrated its fiftieth birthday; an occasion attended by Her Majesty the Queen. Robert Miles, Executive Director of Theatre Royal Windsor said today: … Read more

Bat Boy Cast Announced

Rob Compton to star as Bat Boy at Southwark Playhouse

Casting has been announced for Bat Boy: The Musical, which will sink its fangs into the London stage in a brand new production in The Large at Southwark Playhouse from Friday 9 January to Saturday 31 January 2015. Rob Compton will take on the title role of Bat Boy, alongside Georgina Hagen as Shelley Parker, Russell Wilcox as Sheriff, Nolan Frederick as Bud, Simon Bailey as Reverend Hightower, Andy Rees as Rick, Pepper Harrison as Ruthie and Lindsay Scigliano as Maggie. They join the previously announced Lauren Ward as Meredith Parker and Matthew White as Dr Parker. A strange bat-child is discovered in a dank cave in deepest, darkest West Virginia. For the small community of Hope Falls, the discovery threatens to shake its moral core and the residents turn to the town veterinarian, Dr. Parker, in the hope that he will know what to do with the strange creature. … Read more

Bat Boy The Musical Revived At Southwark Playhouse

Bat Boy The Musical at Southwark Playhouse

Ten years after the last known sighting, Bat Boy will return to sink his fangs into the London stage in a brand new production in The Large at Southwark Playhouse from Friday 9 January to Saturday 31 January 2015. A strange bat-child is discovered in a dank cave in deepest, darkest West Virginia. For the small community of Hope Falls, the discovery threatens to shake its moral core and the residents turn to the town veterinarian, Dr. Parker, in the hope that he will know what to do with the strange creature. Taken under the wing of Dr Parker’s wife, the boy is taught in the ways of the world and adjusts to life in this seemingly normal American family. However, ‘normal’ is merely the cycle on Mrs Parker’s washing machine. Secrets, lies and a mysterious case of dead cows leave our Bat Boy at the mercy of his God-fearing … Read more

REVIEW: Rent, Greenwich Theatre ✭✭✭✭

Rent Greenwich Theatre

In this production, the creative team and cast have clarified Jonathan Larson’s message. By returning to the Broadway roots, recreating the ambiance of the bohemian Alphabet City of the Nineties, and focussing on the narrative drive of the show, Rent becomes relevant. This is an admirable revival of a modern classic.