Tag Archives: theatre review

Press Review: Peter Pan Goes Wrong at The Alexandra Theatre

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Directed by Adam Meggio and written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, the members of the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society are back on stage, battling technical hitches, flying mishaps and cast disputes as they attempt to present J.M Barrie’s much-loved tale of Peter Pan. But will they ever make it to Neverland? 

Peter Pan Goes Wrong, part of the ever growing Mischief Theatre (which includes the hugely successful The Play That Goes Wrong), has remained one of my favourite productions since I was lucky enough to watch it in February 2020. Would it be just as funny the second time round?

Yes. Yes it was. 

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Press Review: An Officer and a Gentleman – The Musical

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Based on the award-winning 1982 classic starring Richard Gere and Deborah Winger, we follow the story of Zack Mayo and his fellow recruits as they embark on their gruelling training to become Navy Jet Pilots. 

Zack (Luke Baker) – a military brat who was forced to live with his alcoholic US Navy Petty Office father in the Philippines following his mother’s suicide – has a bad attitude and immediately clashes with their drill sergeant Emil Foley (Jamal Crawford). With an unexpected romance with young factory workers Paula Pokrifki (Georgia Lennon), Zach and his fellow candidates learn some tough lessons about love and life. 

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Press Review: The Full Monty at The Alexandra Theatre

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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the smash-hit movie, Simon Beaufoy’s The Full Monty has arrived on stage at The Alexandra Theatre. 

The Full Monty tells the story of a group of men from Sheffield who are down on their luck and dealing with their own personal daily struggles. Gaz (Danny Hatchard) and Dave (Neil Hurst), unemployed former  steel workers, accompanied by Gaz’s young son Nathan (Rowan Poulton), are caught stealing beams from the former factory by depressed and lonely security guard Lomper (Nicholas Prasad). Gerald (Bill Ward), their former boss, is hiding the fact he has been out of work for six months from his wife, Linda. After seeing the success of a local performance of the Chippendales and in desperate need of money for his child support arrears, Gaz hatches a plan to make some money by convincing the men to form their own troupe of male strippers. After advertising for more members, they meet Horse (Ben Onwukwe) and Guy (Jake Quickenden).

The Full Monty Production photos taken on 15th September 2023 in Cheltenham at the Everyman Theatre

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Press Review: The Bodyguard, The Musical at The Alexandra Theatre

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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ – “An incredible evening of pure nostalgia.”

Based on Lawrence Kasdan’s 1992 Oscar nominated Warner Bros. movie starring Whitney Houstonand Kevin Costner, The Bodyguard tells the story of the complicated relationship between former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer and superstar Rachel Marron, when Farmer is hired to protect her from an unknown stalker. 

‘Each expects to be in charge; what they don’t expect is to fall in love.’

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Press Review: Murder in the Dark at the Alexandra Theatre

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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

What happens when the lights go out?

From the acclaimed writer Torben Betts and directed by Philip Franks, this psychological thriller brings a seemingly endless twists and turns throughout, with plenty of jump-out-of-your-seat moments, interspersed with an unexpected sprinkling of wit.

Similarly to The Mousetrap, it is requested that the audience ‘spread the word but not the spoilers’ once the twists have been revealed, so there is less to say than I would perhaps like, particularly because I thoroughly enjoyed it!

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Press Review: Twelve Angry Men at The Alexandra Theatre

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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ “Absolutely a must-see show!”

Following a record-breaking West End season, this powerful production of Twelve Angry Men is back in session…

Twelve Angry Men is perhaps best known as one of the most highly-regarded films of its era, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Citizen Kane and The Godfather when it comes to cinematic legacy. Yet the piece actually began life as a television play in 1954, being adapted for the stage the following year. Following its incredibly successful run on the West End, this new production has brought the story back to the Alexandra Theatre stage, ready to remind audiences why this drama has retained its legacy status.

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Press Review: Calendar Girls The Musical at The Alexandra Theatre

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Written by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth and directed by Jonathan O’Boyle, the newly reimagined musical adaptation of the 2003 smash-hit movie is back on tour for the first time since 2019, and the cast list alone is enough to spark excitement. 

Based on the now world-famous true events of a group of middle-aged women in Yorkshire, Calendar Girls The Musical follows the story of the members of the Knapley Women’s Institute. Annie (Tanya Franks), is devastated following the loss of her husband John (Colin R Campbell) to cancer. With her friend Chris (Amy Robbins), they hit on the idea of creating a nude calendar featuring members of the WI to raise money for a new sofa in the visitors lounge of the hospital where John received treatment. But can they get approval from the notoriously traditional Women’s Institute and will they be able to convince their fellow WI members Ruth (Maureen Nolan), Jessie (Lyn Paul), Celia (Marti Webb), Cora (Honeysuckle Weeks) and self-proclaimed leader Marie (Paula Tapenden) to participate?

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Press Review: Wish You Were Dead at The Alexandra Theatre

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Following on from five hit stage shows and the new acclaimed ITV series ‘Grace’ the work of best-selling author Peter James returns to The Alexandra, Birmingham with the world premiere stage adaption of Wish You Were Dead.

Inspired by a strange holiday in France by author Peter James and his family, Wish You Were Dead tells the story of Detective Superintendent Roy Grace (George Rainsford) and his wife Cleo (Katie McGlynn), who arrive at a French Maison D’Hôtes in the rain for a much-needed holiday with their new baby. Accompanied by their nanny, Kaitlynn (Gemma Stroyan), things haven’t gone according to plan – Kaitlynn’s boyfriend (and Roy’s colleague) Jack (Alex Stedman) has yet to arrive, the hotel is run-down and nothing like what was advertised and the greeting received from Madame L’Eveque (Rebecca McKinnis) is far from welcoming. 

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Press Review: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ A spectacle that needs to be seen!

From the imagination of Neil Gaiman, best-selling author of Coraline, Good Omens and The Sandman, comes the National Theatre’s major new stage adaptation of The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

Returning to his childhood home, a man finds himself beside the pond of the old Sussex farmhouse where he used to play. He’s transported to his 12th birthday when his remarkable friend Lettie claimed it wasn’t a pond, but an ocean – a place where everything is possible… Plunged into a magical world, their survival depends on their ability to reckon with ancient forces that threaten to destroy everything around them.

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Press Review: Home, I’m Darling

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Every couple needs a little fantasy to keep their marriage sparkling. But behind the gingham curtains, things start to unravel, and being a domestic goddess is not as easy as it seems…

Directed by Tamara Harvey written by Laura Wade, the 2019 Olivier award-winning Home, I’m Darling tells the story of Judy (Jessica Ransom) and husband Johnny (Neil McDermott), who are living a 1950s fantasy life – Judy has left her job to fully embrace the role as a housewife after an upbringing with a feminist and activist mother (Diane Keen). Their love of the era is shared by friends Fran (Cassie Bradley) and Marcus (Steve Blacker-Barrowman), but for them, it is merely a hobby.

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