Latest Reviews

Boogie Shoes Silent Disco Walking Party Brighton Seaside Special

Brighton got their boogie shoes on as they danced around Brighton with Boogie Shoes Silent Disco Walking Party under the guidance of our ship's captain Mama Roo and her shipmat…

Fiction Romance

Antonio is a very interesting character in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

Words Without Consent

Katie Rice and Ellen Patterson are two performers on a mission to highlight how womxn are portrayed in today's world, as well as specifically within the political environment.

Watson: The Final Problem

Following on from his success at the Brighton Fringe with Waiting for Hamlet, a two-hander with Nicholas Collett, Tim Marriott returns to the Rialto Theatre with a solo show that i…

Divorced, Beheaded, Survived: An Audience with King Henry VIII

Period music greets loyal subjects as they enter the Friends Meeting House to attend Divorced, Beheaded, Survived: An Audience with King Henry VIII, written and directed by John Wh…

Ross Kamp: Seeing Queerly

Seeing Queerly was a comedy show that presented a different take to life during and after lockdown, as well as dating.

Blood, Glorious Blood!

Blood Glorious Blood was not just your normal one woman show.

The Sensemaker

Beethoven’s Ode to Joy is anything but that when played ad nauseam on a loop while you are kept on hold by a robotic voice saying, “All our operators are currently busy.

Diary of an Expat

Diary of an Expat makes a striking impression even before Cecilia Gragnani enters the stage for her solo play at the Rialto Theatre, directed by Katharina Reinthaller.

LEGS

It was interesting to see a show that presented the possibility that we take our bodies very much for granted.

Sing For Better Health!

Singing has been proven over time to be beneficial for mindfulness and wellbeing - and not just for the professionals.

Bard in the Yard: The Scottish Play

Review
★★★★★
Richard Beck
London Fringe
12th Jun, 2021

The Scottish Play is a solo performance written by Victoria Gartner, founder and artistic director of Will & Co which produces plays about Shakespear, under the umbrella title …

The Vertical Hour by David Hare

The burst of applause did not mark the end of the performance.

Henry Churniavsky: Lockdown Diaries 2020-2021... Any End?

Let’s admit it – Zoom calls are not ideal for stand-up comedy.

Make-up

One day perhaps someone will write a play about a drag queen where, beneath the frock and below the wig, above the high heels and under the layers of slap exists a man who is happy…

Lone Flyer

The Jermyn Street Theatre continues its Footprints Festival with Lucy Betts’ acclaimed production of Ade Morris’s Lone Flyer, which was first staged at The Watermill Theatre la…

The Cloak of Visibility

Review
★★★★
Skot Wilson
London Fringe
The Space
11th Jun, 2021

Amy cannot socialise with the other mums after the school run because she is needed in the office.

Chamberlain: Peace in our Time

History is brought to life, and the man behind one of the most famous speeches in British history is revealed in this delightful two-hander, Chamberlain: Peace in our Time, from Se…

An Intervention

Juicy Lime Productions presents Mike Bartlett’s 2014 play An Intervention, as part of the Brighton Fringe at the Sweet Room, Old SteineTwo characters, identified in the script on…

After All These Years

After All These Years is a trilogy of plays courtesy of Close Quarter Productions and Theatre Reviva! in association with Holofcener Ltd.

Drama King

Unless you have studied the history of theatre it's easy to imagine that performances on stage have always been very much as they are today.

Hugs, Tears and Replacement Bus Services

Hugs, Tears & Replacement Bus Services by Nod at The Fox is a 16-minute fully audio production complete with the dialogue fully subtitled to allow those who are hearing impaire…

An Evening With Professor Edvard von Goosechaser

Professor Edvard Von Goosechaser is the leading 17th Century monsterologist promising to entertain us with his Anglo-Saxon insult-based humour.

Yes Queens

Whenever we hear the term 'Yes Queen', these days what automatically pops into our heads is the popular association with RuPaul's Drag Race.

Waiting for Hamlet

Waiting for Hamlet has itself been waiting for some time.

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

There seems to be a resurgence of interest in the adaptability of works by Robert Louis Stevenson for the stage, with productions popping up in many quarters.

Broken Link

It’s been five years since Ellie’s death.

Agent November Online Escape Room: Virtual X-Caper

Oh no, Agent November is captured and held prisoner by the evil mastermind Marty Orri.

Why I Am an Avocado

The title of the show and the name of the company drew me to this production.

A Highly Suspect Murder Mystery

Bring together the work of Jane Austen and the modern world of dating together to create a murder mystery with a twist you get An Austentatious Murder.

BAIT with Live Score by Gwenno and Georgia Ellery

What a relief to be sitting in an actual theatre watching something where no one mentions the 'C word', unless it's Cornwall that is.

About The Garden

Take yourself away from the busy seafront streets and you’ll find About the Garden, a charming and quirky production staged in 4 Rigden Road’s garden, in the heart of Hove.

A Matter of Time

Anjali Singh has created a show that is a fusion of a Ted Talk, comedy and musical theatre, to depict how much time changes in the blink of an eye.

Forever Plaid

On February 9th 1964 four young men were on their way to perform their first major concert as ‘Forever Plaid’.

Between Two Waves

Between Two Waves by Australian playwright Ian Meadows interweaves an urgent call to recognise the world’s impending climate crisis and the troubled smaller world of a young clim…

Shakespeare (She/Her)

Those who know of William Shakespeare will probably recognise several of his intricate plots.

Ancient Antics: Mock the Greek

Mock the Greek was a show that sent up the myths and legends of Greece.

Notflix

Notflix was a musical experience with a twist.

Big Quiffy Bingo

Big Quiffy Bingo was a show that was full of glitz and glamour, thanks to the host of the evening Boogaloo Stu.

The True Story Of The Little Girl Who Thought She Was The Second Coming Of Jesus Christ

Ellie is a schoolgirl with a very bright future ahead of her.

A Red Square

Everything about A Red Square is different.

There's A Ghost In My House

Reality and fiction fuse in this interesting piece focusing on the paranormal world, as a TV editor called Sam struggles to accept where the lines of reality lie when asked to chan…

Sparkly Bird

How do you live after your sister dies by her own hand? You mourn.

Lionel and Cindy: The Greatest Love Story

Char Brockes and Jack O'Neill (Ava Cardo) brought the Rialto Theatre to life with their unique styles of drag and slapstick comedy, in order to explore the theme of Romantic Co…

Greek mythology creative writing online workshop

Despite some technical issues with the Brighton Fringe website, this Greek Mythology Creative Writing Workshop run by Amanda Potter (from the Open University) was a good way to get…

Touch Hunger

During both lockdowns, everyone experienced something being taken away that we possibly have taken a lot for granted.

Open Return

Throughout our lifetime we meet hundreds of different people.

The Late Show

The Late Show was a comedy night that lit up The Warren with much needed silliness, laughter and joy with the return of live shows.

The Doll Who Came to Tea

We all have secrets to keep.

No Strings Attached

On the 27th May something remarkable happened.

The Lady in the Van

The Brighton Open Air Theatre was full of joy, not just because of theatre starting again after recent uncertain times, but due to The Lady in the Van being the opening show of the…

There Was A Little Girl

Meet Millie.

THIS IS REALITY 2000

In July 2000 we found ourselves glued to our screens as series one of UK’s Big Brother aired for the first time and proved to be a major hit.

The Signalman

Review
★★★
Monica Yell
Online & Broadcast
London
27th Apr, 2021

Adapted from Charles Dickens’ eerie and twisty short story, The Signalman weaves a spooky yarn about ghosts and trains (but no ghost trains).

Vespertilio

The greater mouse-eared bat belongs to the family Vespertilionidae of the genus Myotis.

Saving Britney: Prologue

When thrust into the circus, it can never be easy to tame the lions.

The Black Cat

The notion of a man becoming particularly attached to a handsome black cat may initially feel a familiar experience, especially as around 3.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Review
★★★★
Pete Shaw
Online & Broadcast
26th Feb, 2021

Lucian begat Goethe begat Dukas begat Disney begat Richard Hough and Ben Morales Frost; for this new musical by the latter writing duo has history.

Good Grief

Review
★★★★
Pete Shaw
Online & Broadcast
12th Feb, 2021

Kicking off at the end of a particularly boozy and pizza-fuelled wake, then time-skipping over the months of post-funeral aftermath, Good Grief charts the stuttering relationship o…

Readymade Cabaret 2.0

The first rule about a Dada performance is that you don’t start one with the history of Dada.

Ingénue: Deanna Durbin, Judy Garland and the Golden Age of Hollywood

A simple premise lays the foundation for Melanie Gall to recount the story of two of Hollywood’s brightest golden age stars, Deanna Durbin and Judy Garland: a New York Times jour…

Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me But Banjos Saved My Life

What do tomatoes, banjos and a recovering executive have in common? Keith Alessi, who used to consume excessive amounts of tomatoes and had 52 banjos in his closet, but couldn’t …

An Intervention

It is a complete delight to watch these two actors practice their craft.

Every Time A Bell Rings

The phrase "Every Time a Bell Rings" is well known and resonates especially at Christmas time: straight away we expect a link to the classic It’s a Wonderful Life, and …

Little Gift

M6 Theatre Company have put together a heartwarming show filled with the Christmas spirit, with some truly charming use of puppetry, storytelling and stage magic It is exactly the …

The Secret Theatre

Where is the glitter and magic, our annual Christmas treat, without the Sugar Plum Fairy or the Snow Queen? With theatre doors closed during these sad times, Scottish Ballet have c…

A Christmas Carol

Review
★★★★★
Elanor Parker
Brighton
The Spire
17th Dec, 2020

When I first heard that TrueStory Theatre would be back with a one man production of A Christmas Carol I felt in parts excited and uneasy.

Sasha Regan's All Male The Pirates of Penzance

The works of WS Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan are jewels in the English theatrical treasury and I, generally, have scant patience (no pun intended) with 'reimaginings'.

The Snow Queen

What is magic, really? Is it an evil enchantress who can freeze a person in ice? Is it a crow who can talk? Or is it seeing dozens of little faces light up with joy? The Snow Queen…

Hansel and Gretel? (A Postmodern Pantomime)

Outdoor theatre? In December? Yes, it’s happening! Brighton Open Air Theatre (BOAT) have launched their first ever Christmas programme with a bang as Hansel and Gretel? A Postmod…

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Working with a tight script from Stuart Crowther and some inspired direction from Stephen Smith, Threedumb Theatre have created a wonderfully atmospheric version of The Strange Cas…

Séance

It’s Halloween evening at the Brighton Open Air Theatre and what better time for a séance? Even if it has to be a socially distance séance – there’s no hand holding or grou…

Howerd's End

Review
★★★
Kate Copstick
UK Regional & Tours
Golden Goose Theatre / The Old Joint Stock Pub
1st Nov, 2020

A lot of love has gone into this imagined duet between Frankie Howerd and his lover Dennis Heymer.

The Geek Shall Inherit...

Hattie Snooks has staged an existential crisis, and somehow humour and song only enhanced this portrait.

Furlough She Better Don't

Clap Back Club have done it again! The feminist performance troupe, that started off as a choir, never fail to bring harsh truths to a laughing audience through parody and song.

SpaceXPat

SpaceXPat explores the motivation and aftermath of an astronaut expat called Pat deciding to stay permanently on the International Space Station (spot that pun in the title).

My Boy Danny

It’s worth noting first off that My Boy Danny was never originally intended to appear as an MP3 available for streaming on YouTube, with that compromise being a happy result of l…

Iain Dale: All Talk with Gyles Brandreth

Iain Dale’s Wednesday broadcast featured Gyles Brandreth’s mellifluously plummy tones navigating his way from pornography to Maureen Lipman, from dad jokes to serial killers, a…

Frills in Lockdown

I knew it! This is what the Scottish lassies have been up to during lockdown.

I Am Gavrilo Princip

“I lit the spark that burned the world down”, declares Oliver Yellop’s Gavrilo Princip, before a dying trumpet slide suggests the spark may have been, in fact, rather more of…

Iain Dale: All Talk with Alastair Campbell

It shouldn’t be controversial to assume that one’s ability to enjoy this particular interchange may well rest ultimately on personal politics and the level of individual anger …

Lest We Forget By Charlotte Green & Rasheka Christie-Carter

Lying not too far beneath the CV19 surface of 2020 lie a series of news events that seem to epitomise our times.

Five Lock Down

Conceived, written and acted by Timothy Quinlan, this short film features some of the better acting on offer at the Fringe, and like so many others, is inspired by the strange real…

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE* *But Just The Deaths (and the gory bits too)

This jaunty little potter through the more gruesome elements of Shakespeare’s works really ‘gets’ the tone needed for this strange 2020 hybrid of live theatre / film / desper…

Lady M

In Nia Williams’ upcoming new musical, Lady Macbeth is a creepy life coach who takes advantage of the collective incapacity of lockdown to bring her own particular brand of… we…

Countdown to Clowntown:

When Covid-19 is up, the economy down and Brexit looming around the corner, you need clown therapy.

Vampire's Ball Ultimate Halloween Party

Brad Tassell and Steve Goodie describe themselves as a pair who have been ‘all-around nutty goofballs for more than 30 years’; and it shows.

Haunted

Review
★★
Rebecca Vines
Online & Broadcast
Thespace
15th Aug, 2020

The chaos of a house move.

Lockdown Drag-out

It’s either a mid-conversation pick-up or a recording error that opens Jane Martin’s monologue, Lockdown Drag-Out, in which she appears as the plummy and plumpy Audrey Stanton …

Short Film Night

Closing the first day of [email protected] on Monday 11th of August was an online short film screening and Q&A with Phil Spencer, available to watch online in full.

The Plague Thing

If you’ve been feasting on BBC iPlayer during lockdown and enjoying the delights of Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads, it’s worth taking six minutes out of your social isolation t…

Boom Room

The Boom Room is a sweet little radio play that captures the ennui and idiosyncratic Englishness of lockdown – cleaning out spice racks, a sudden urge to plant potatoes – and p…

Too bored to stay in, too scared to go out!

The 72-year-old cabaret performer Nigel Osner knows a thing or two about ageing and self-isolating during the pandemic.

Smoking Gun

A dodgy MP, a new and potentially dangerous drug and a mysterious whistle-blower.

The Tell-Tale Heart

The lockdown goes on and theatre will likely not return anytime soon.

Live From The Phoenix Flat

Review
★★★★★
Pete Shaw
West End
The Phoenix Arts Club Facebook Live Page
21st Mar, 2020

Tonight I figured out how to beam a Facebook video to my TV so I could watch – amongst other things – a burlesque performer do a striptease on a unicycle.

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