Monthly Archives: October 2012

Brandon Thomas’s farce opened in 1892 and was an instant box office success, running for a record-breaking 1,466 performances. “I am Charley’s aunt from Brazil where the nuts come from” became a popular catch-phrase. At one stage the play was … Continue reading →

Voltaire dismissed Berenice in 1670 as unworthy of the tragic stage. “A tragedy need not have blood and death,” said Racine. “It’s enough that it all be filled with that majestic sadness that is the pleasure of tragedy.” Titus wants … Continue reading →

David Grindley directs a fine ensemble of young actors, who are cast as wounded soldiers in a military hospital in 1984. Despite suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, they still have to face the possibility of dishonourable discharge for a … Continue reading →

There was a time when some critics absurdly started comparing Alan Ayckbourn to Chekhov; but though he may not be in that league – his characters are too often cyphers – he has, undeniably, made a major contribution to British … Continue reading →

Beatrice and Benedict are far too wise to woo peaceably and their witty sparring has been set in every century from the Renaissance to the present times. Iqbal Khan’s production is not the first RSC production to relocate Shakespeare’s merry … Continue reading →

Roger Rees at 68 still has the enormous charm and nervous energy he used to have when he was a young actor at the RSC and memorably playing Nicholas Nickleby. His gently entertaining one-man show includes soliloquies from Shakespeare, Dickens’s … Continue reading →

It’s not theatre; it’s a concert celebrating Beatles’ songs. There is no story line, no drama and no information; but clearly there are many middle-aged fans out there just wanting to relive their screaming youth and are happy to be … Continue reading →

Audiences, who come to see Strindberg’s intimate and naturalistic play, which was initially banned for 18 years in Sweden for its immorality, will find that director Frederic Fisbach had updated it, opened it up and that they are watching a … Continue reading →