Find all our reviews of shows on in the North West of England here!
- ROMEO & JULIET – REVIEW – ROYAL EXCHANGE THEATRE
A near-perfect production that is electrifying, fun, and modern. Romeo & Juliet is director Nicholai La Barrie’s Royal Exchange debut, and it is a daunting venture. With Shakespeare, the difficulty is freshening the text and its themes; any Shakespearean production must justify its revival. While many people cite universal themes, exemplary dramatic narratives, and heritage … More ROMEO & JULIET – REVIEW – ROYAL EXCHANGE THEATRE - 14% – REVIEW – CONTACT MANCHESTER
A seemingly simple audio-visual experience which proffers a stunningly complex meditation on ideas of heritage and identity. Created by Keisha Thompson and directed by Nathan Powell, 14% is an immersive new play which explores football culture, identity, heritage, and modern England. For Thompson, football culture is a launchpad for discussions of identity and belonging. Thompson … More 14% – REVIEW – CONTACT MANCHESTER - GREAT EXPECTATIONS – REVIEW – ROYAL EXCHANGE MANCHESTER
Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations has been adapted by Tanika Gupta and is directed by Pooja Ghai, in this co-production between the Royal Exchange Theatre and Tamasha. Dickens’s classic story of a working-class boy becoming a gentleman still resonates today. Pip’s longing to move beyond his station, Miss Havisham’s desire for revenge against the men who have wronged … More GREAT EXPECTATIONS – REVIEW – ROYAL EXCHANGE MANCHESTER - JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR – REVIEW – THE PALACE THEATRE
This is a visually spectacular show which is defeated by a weak first act and the cast’s poor diction. Jesus Christ Superstar is a global commercial success and an important reference point in musical theatre history. This re-imaging of the Easter story as a sung-through rock opera premiered in 1970 and has been revived semi-regularly … More JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR – REVIEW – THE PALACE THEATRE - RACHEL FAIRBURN: SHOWGIRL – REVIEW – THE OPERA HOUSE, MANCHESTER
Rachel Fairburn: Showgirl is a fun piece of theatre which ticks all the stand-up comedy boxes, but the show’s impact is limited by cohesion and commitment issues. Showgirl is written and performed by Rachel Fairburn, with Tom Lawrinson as the supporting act. Fairburn has six critically acclaimed solo shows and is a regular on the UK stand-up circuit. … More RACHEL FAIRBURN: SHOWGIRL – REVIEW – THE OPERA HOUSE, MANCHESTER
You can find our latest reviews of touring productions below!
- THE JINKX & DELA HOLIDAY SHOW – REVIEW – LONDON PALLADIUM
Drag sensations BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon are an iconic duo with reputations which have surpassed their RuPaul’s Drag Race seasons. Jinkx and Dela are known for their holiday shows and the latest rendition is an absolute success! Jinkx and Dela poke immediate fun at all the different Christmas parodies and storylines they’ve already used in previous … More THE JINKX & DELA HOLIDAY SHOW – REVIEW – LONDON PALLADIUM - TREASON THE MUSICAL – REVIEW – ALEXANDRA PALACE
Creating musical theatre around historic events has become an increasingly popular thing to do within the last few years, following on from the international successes of Hamilton and Six. However, it doesn’t always work, and unfortunately, that is the case with Treason the Musical. Treason began its life as a 5 track EP in 2020, … More TREASON THE MUSICAL – REVIEW – ALEXANDRA PALACE - ANNIE – REVIEW – NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE
When Annie first hit Broadway in 1977, it won a Tony award for Best Musical as well as Best Actress for Dorothy Loudon as Miss Hannigan and has been a staple of the musical theatre canon ever since. Yet perhaps more famous than Loudon is the original young prodigy, Andrea Macardle, whose enormous belt has … More ANNIE – REVIEW – NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE - HIGH STEAKS – REVIEW – JACKSON’S LANE ARTS CENTRE
Eloina’s High Steaks is a raw and honest show about the shame some feel about their labia. With the majority of labiaplasties being performed for purely cosmetic reasons in the present day, our schools failing to teach us about the uniqueness of everyone’s vagina, and the media only showing edited or surgically altered versions of … More HIGH STEAKS – REVIEW – JACKSON’S LANE ARTS CENTRE - SHREK THE MUSICAL – REVIEW – NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE
A solid family favourite since the movie premiered in 2001, the musical adaptation soon followed, premiering on Broadway in 2008. Currently on a tour of the UK, stopping off in Wimbledon this week, whilst this production of Shrek The Musical may transport the younger members of the audience to a land Far Far Away, there’s … More SHREK THE MUSICAL – REVIEW – NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE
And you can check out our reviews in London and elsewhere here!