First Five: Jamelia Donaldson

by Aliya Al-Hassan - June 12, 2026

Puccini's tear-jerker La bohème is always a crowd-pleaser for any opera festival. This production at The Grange Festival is the first opera from French actor-turned-director David Geselson who created it for Opéra National de Nancy Lorraine in 2025. Featuring some strong singing and exquisite play...

by Mica Blackwell - June 11, 2026

Whether you grew up with the 1968 film or are learning about it for the first time, this Chitty Chitty Bang Bang proves that with some imagination, theatrical magic can come from the simplest things....

by Caroline Cronin - June 10, 2026

Heartbreaking, thought-provoking and beautifully staged, The Beekeeper of Aleppo is one of those productions that stays with you. More than anything, it reminds us that behind every headline about refugees is a human story. For that reason alone, it feels like a play that everyone should see....

by Aliya Al-Hassan - June 08, 2026

A new version of Handel's 1724 opera Giulio Cesare is always an exciting prospect. The love story between Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, with the backdrop of war with Egypt, political ambition and domestic unrest is ripe for reinterpretation. Indeed, Handel and his librettist the librettist Nicola ...

by Christiana Rose - June 01, 2026

Tom Fletcher’s much loved Who’s in Your Book? series makes a joyful leap from page to stage in There’s a Monster in Your Show, a lively and engaging family musical which celebrates imagination, friendship and the importance of working together....

by Cindy Marcolina - May 31, 2026

Kenneth Branagh has returned to Stratford-upon-Avon to tread the boards of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, where we last saw him 33 years ago as the Prince of Denmark directed by Adrian Noble. This time around, Branagh takes on Shakespeare’s swan song under Richard Eyre. He gets to tick Prospero of...

by Sarah O'Hara - May 29, 2026

Walking into the Fabric Studios, Liverpool for innovative new theatre production Fish in a Kettle, I was intrigued to discover what was behind the layers of fabric curtains in front of me. Entering to the sound of 90s club hits - from 'Rhythm of the Night' to 'Rhythm is a Dancer' - you are immediate...

by Christiana Rose - May 27, 2026

Red is a dazzling and richly entertaining musical revue which celebrates the flame haired icons who have shaped stage and screen history, whilst simultaneously showcasing the extraordinary talents of its creator and performer, Amber Topaz. Stylish, intelligent and brimming with affection for its sub...

by Christiana Rose - May 27, 2026

Tales From Acorn Wood at artsdepot is a warm, engaging and visually playful introduction to theatre for young audiences, bringing Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much loved stories delightfully to life through puppetry, songs and audience participation....

by Aliya Al-Hassan - May 27, 2026

Former Prime Minister Jim Hacker and former Cabinet Secretary Sir Humphrey are reunited in poignant and nostalgic fashion in Jonathan Lynn's I'm Sorry, Prime Minister, the final chapter for two characters so beloved from the TV series that made them British institutions....