UK REGIONAL THEATER REVIEWS

A pared back but wholly successful production that places the storytelling and poetry at the centre of the storm of hubristic violence....

Mother Courage and her Children grows with relevance as Josie Lawrence turns in a once in a lifetime performance as a woman whose eye for business blinds her to what really matters....

Imagine This is considered and serious in its examination of life in the Warsaw Ghetto, but is ultimately let down by a plodding book and samey songs....

A timely revival for Terry Johnson's play that delivers on its themes, but falls short on its drama....

Chekhov's classic is given a fresh update in this beautifully staged and passionately acted production....

There's always a place for upbeat escapism in musical theatre. When times are tough, a few numbers that wriggle their way into your consciousness is a welcome thing....

Disjointed. Chaotic. Haunting. The Tin Drum is a chilling tale that resonates in so many eras of society. Based on the 1959 novel Die Blechtrommel by G nter Grass, Kneehigh's production tells the story of Oskar, a boy born into the world already weary with the state of humanity. We see everything th...

Flashdance The Musical may lack narrative drive, but it more than makes up for it with iconic songs and energetic performances full of star power....

A musical comedy adapted from 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail', this new UK tour of 'Spamalot' is more intimate than previous productions, but is no less entertaining....

Frankenstein, likes its eponymous anti-hero, is often brilliant but flounders on its ambition....

Eugene O'Neill's classic play is beautifully staged in this evocative production at the Crucible Theatre....

Chris Thompson's new play offers a witty and cutting take on the meaning of family, performed by an excellent cast....

Three years after Jeff Pope's acclaimed television miniseries Cilla was broadcast on ITV, he has now adapted her story for a new touring musical....

There's been a bit of a resurgence of the comedy horror musical format over the past few months. With The Toxic Avenger returning to London after a successful run at Southwark Playhouse (and in Edinburgh), Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein about to open at the Garrick Theatre and even the full-throttle...

I once had the honour of interviewing the legendary Tommy Steele at the New Wimbledon Theatre. It was the venue where Half A Sixpence was first performed, and the show - which acted as a star vehicle for the talented young performer - became a classic piece of British musical theatre....

A family Christmas hurtles towards disaster with hilarious consequences in RULES FOR LIVING at Royal and Derngate in Northampton ahead of a national tour....

Crafting The Caretaker (or indeed any Pinter) off the page takes a great deal of nuance and skill. Thankfully, in this new co-production from the Bristol Old Vic and Royal & Derngate Northampton, Christopher Haydon directs with the right amount of faithfulness to the text alongside flexibility for h...

The timeless story of Danny and Sandy, and the T-Birds and Pink Angels, comes to life again in this touring production which features the hit songs 'Summer Nights', 'You're The One That I Want' and 'Hopelessly Devoted To You'....

There's such a rich history of musical theatre in London. World renowned, the West End has become a place of pilgrimage for the stagey community. But if you would like to understand better the heritage of the theatrical community and find out the origins of some of the biggest and most famous shows ...

Salad Days is easy to dismiss is the lightest of light entertainment, but has plenty of political punch under its joyous exterior....

A flamenco show is always easy to spot when you take your seat at the theatre. The stage is stark except for a few unevenly placed chairs. The performers are left to do all the work here and that includes 75 year old Paco Peña along with his small but effective ensemble of singers, dancers and musi...

The colossal touring production of Miss Saigon takes up residency at Birmingham Hippodrome for an extended run as the theatre's annual summer musical. A potentially unusual choice in a slot usually filled by a more family-friendly musical, it is a treat to see the Hippodrome's huge stage filled by t...

The Cunning Little Vixen is a opera favourite but no less fascinating for that, especially in this innovative and engaging production....

A compelling fusion of traditional fairy tales with contemporary society, What We Wished For, by Sheffield People's Theatre, follows the journey of community members in modern-day Sheffield, as they struggle to fight back against a mysterious invasion of Wolves that instil fear and threaten their po...

Samir Bharma's production promises an evening of 'theatrical magic' and an 'innate sense of fun'....