MURDERED TO DEATH - REVIEW - NETWORK THEATRE

Comedy, drama, and murder – this play has it all! Murdered to Death by Peter Gordon is an absolute must-see for anyone who enjoys detective dramas, particularly fans of Agatha Christie. Directed by Owain Jones, this Network Theatre Production is as gripping as it is hilarious. The show will run for four performances from the 17th–20th of May at the Network Theatre (make sure you give yourself plenty of time to find the theatre beforehand, as it is notoriously difficult to locate, but believe me it’s worth the journey once you get there!)

This play’s incredible ensemble makes it almost impossible to pick a favourite, as each of these characters, despite being so different, complement each other marvellously. The show is set in a country manor house in the 1930s, where Mildred, her niece Dorothy, and butler Bunting await the arrival of their guests, but, as I’m sure you can imagine, once everyone has arrived and settled into the house, someone is murdered and a classic ‘whodunnit’ ensues. With this comes the arrival of Inspector Pratt, a hilariously incompetent yet stubborn detective, and Constable Thomkins, the much more level-headed of the duo. And of course, one cannot forget Joan Maple, who counts herself ‘unlucky’ for the fact that whenever she goes anywhere, murder always seems to follow her (much like Christie’s iconic Miss Marple). This gives Maple a deliciously calm demeanour about death, delivered excellently by Jennie Rich – she delivers the news of a murder in the same manner as if she was simply asking if you wanted a cup of tea.

Everyone in this cast is excellent. A particular shoutout must go to Lio Lylark as Inspector Pratt, as their comedic timing is nothing short of impeccable, particularly balanced by the calm and logical demeanour of Jess McGivern as Constable Thomkins. This pair are absolutely hysterical to watch! Another highlight is the character of Bunting, played by Frederick Johnson, whose completely oblivious nature always managed to catch me off guard, for instance, when he would announce himself to the room but leave the guests behind. Again, Johnson’s comic timing is amazing. The entire cast is incredible, also starring Moira Cane, Daniella Harrison, Kate Hannam, Will Stotton, Lorna Miri, and Liam McMahon. There is great energy in this ensemble, and I could talk at length about moments in the play that had me in stitches, but alas I don’t want to give away the plot!

It’s also important to point out that this is the Network’s first fully open-captioned show, thanks to the producer and caption programmer KC Lylark and captioner Audrey Guillois. It’s crucial for theatre to be made more accessible to all audiences, and I really appreciated the ability to follow along with the script while the show was happening. They did a brilliant job and I hope that more theatres see this and implement the same technology into their shows. Overall, I can’t recommend this show enough, and I encourage everyone to grab a ticket to Murdered to Death at the Network Theatre this May.

{🎟 AD – PR invite – Tickets were gifted in exchange for an honest review}

A CHRISTMAS CAROL – REVIEW – ALEXANDRA PALACE
by Ellie Preston
Spine-tingling yet heart-warming, Mark Gatiss’s retelling of A Christmas Carol truly encapsulates the haunting atmosphere of a Victorian ghost story, balanced out with enough humour so as to capture the festive season. Led by Keith Allen as Scrooge, with Peter Forbes as Marley, this show is perfect for Christmas viewing. The set design by Paul Wills is instantly captivating, containing stacks of metal cabinets towering over the theatre, moveable by the cast to allow space for other central props like doors, beds and tables. In addition to this, the puppetry design by Matthew Forbes is incredibly clever, adding creepy elements to the show such … More A CHRISTMAS CAROL – REVIEW – ALEXANDRA PALACE
A WOMAN WALKS INTO A BANK – REVIEW – THEATRE503
by Tom Carrao
The title of this winner of Theatre 503’s 2023 International Playwriting Award by Roxy Cook may seem like the set-up to a joke, but the narrative that unspools is instead an affectionate, gently barbed and at base quite sobering portrait of three ordinary souls (and one restless feline) adrift in modern Moscow. There is much affable, satirical back-and-forth commentary on the accepted myths & stereotypes of the Russian spirit & soul. Beset by the indignities of age, opportunism, graft, fatigue, the characters orbit one another, doomed to play out their roles in an unjust, predatory and saturnine universe. The play opens … More A WOMAN WALKS INTO A BANK – REVIEW – THEATRE503
PETER PAN GOES WRONG – REVIEW – LYRIC THEATRE
by Amy Rye
Peter Pan Goes Wrong first premiered in London at the Pleasance Theatre in 2013, and earlier this year the show made its Broadway debut. Now the production is back in the West End for the Christmas season. Following on from The Play That Goes Wrong, in this production, J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan is staged by the fictitious Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society and goes awry, disastrously so. The meta-comedy is filled with slapstick comedy, sometimes the humour may be predictable and silly, but it’s universally funny throughout – there is something for everyone here, and the laughs come thick and fast … More PETER PAN GOES WRONG – REVIEW – LYRIC THEATRE
GHOST STORIES BY CANDLELIGHT – REVIEW – SAM WANAMAKER PLAYHOUSE
by George Rennie
Drawing heavily from the classic canon of the British supernatural, High Tide’s trio of contemporary Gothic narratives uses traditional storytelling formats to address contemporary themes. Directed by Elayce Ismail, reverent musical interludes accompany tales of apparitions and nighttime conjurings that speak of women from the East of England. Unfortunately, the effect is less chilling and more lightweight, with conventional structures, predictable plot twists and an over-reliance on external forces to drive narrative shoring up some of the less relatable aspects of the genre. Nicola Werenowska’s The Beach House, perhaps the cleanest of the three tales, tells of a mother and … More GHOST STORIES BY CANDLELIGHT – REVIEW – SAM WANAMAKER PLAYHOUSE
CINDERELLA – REVIEW – LYRIC HAMMERSMITH
by Jenny Skuse
Drum roll please…(Cue a literal drum rolling across the stage.) The Lyric pantomime is one of traditions with the return of many well-loved jokes and skits. Costumes and sets are all made at the Lyric itself by Good Teeth, with set pieces being reused year on year. This year Cinderella gets the Hammersmith makeover, with some success. The costuming is fun and vibrant, with the ugly stepsisters’ equine pyjamas and hoop-skirted ball gowns giving all the wrong kinds of extra you need for those characters. Cinderella’s on stage dress transformation is magical and really well-timed. The Dame, Lady Jelly-Bottom’s, outfits … More CINDERELLA – REVIEW – LYRIC HAMMERSMITH