Review: &Juliet – A Riotous, glittering triumph of Shakespearean rebellion
Gerardine Sacdalan as Juliet (centre) and the cast in & Juliet, credit Matt Crockett Venue: Milton Keynes Theatre Performance Date: 31 March 2025 Reviewer: Gemma Fincher Star Rating: ★★★★★ What if Juliet didn’t die? What if the quill was snatched from Shakespeare’s hand and given to his wife, Anne Hathaway, to rewrite one of the world’s most famous tragedies? […]
REVIEW: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – the fairest panto in the land!
Photo courtesy of Aylesbury Waterside Theatre Venue: Aylesbury Waterside Theatre Performance Date: 05 December 2022 Reviewer: Gemma Fincher Star Rating: ★★★★ Aylesbury Waterside Theatre can always be relied on to deliver a rip-roaring and riotous pantomime. 2023’s offering of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is no exception. This magical panto transports the audience into a […]
REVIEW: Aladdin – Panto Perfection!
Venue: Aylesbury Waterside Theatre Performance Date: 06 December 2022 Reviewer: Gemma Fincher Star Rating: ★★★★★ It’s that time of year again when theatres are bursting with festive frolics, double entendres, and extravagant costumes. Panto season has begun in earnest and the magic and frivolity of this Great British tradition are alive and well at Aylesbury Waterside […]
REVIEW: Sister Act is an uplifting show that everyone could do with a dose of
Venue: Haymarket Theatre Basingstoke Performance Date: 18 May 2022 Reviewer: Leyla Demirel Following the rehearsal of Basingstoke Amateur Theatre Society’s (BATS) Sister Act, I was looking forward to seeing the finished show. And it provided the fun, high energy and laugh a minute show everyone could do with a dose with from time to time. Under […]
REVIEW: Beauty and the Beast is a dazzling revival of this tale as old as time and quite frankly… If it’s not Baroque, don’t fix it
Nigel Richards as Cogsworth, Sam Bailey as Mrs Potts, Gavin Lee as Lumiere in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast – Photo by Johan Persson © Disney Venue: Birmingham Hippodrome Performance Date: 09 March 2022 Reviewer: Gemma Fincher Star Rating: ★★★★★ Disney is enjoying somewhat of a UK stage renaissance of late. With Frozen, and Mary Poppins […]
REVIEW: Jersey Boys – Oh, What A Night – An excellent show that really does hit the high notes
LtoR Michael Pickering, Blair Gibson, Dalton Wood, Lewis Griffiths in Jersey Boys UK & Ireland Tour, credit Birgit + Ralf Brinkhoff Venue: Milton Keynes Theatre Performance Date: 23 February 2022 Reviewer: Jo Neville Star Rating: ★★★★ Great music, great singing, great acting. The boys are most definitely back. Since its Broadway debut in 2005, Jersey Boys […]
REVIEW: School of Rock – a commitment to excellence that shines throughout
The cast of School of Rock UK Tour – Photo Paul Coltas Venue: The Alexandra, Birmingham Performance Date: 31 January 2022 Reviewer: Alex Birch Star Rating: ★★★★★ Remember School of Rock? In 2003, almost twenty years ago, the Hollywood comedy film helmed by a youthful Jack Black was an international box office hit. Family-friendly without being […]
REVIEW: Bedknobs and Broomsticks – a musical with infinite potential
Dianne Pilkington in Bedknobs and Broomsticks – Photo Credit Johan Persson Venue: The Alexandra, Birmingham Performance Date: 11 November 2021 Reviewer: Ely King Star Rating: ★★★ Bedknobs and Broomsticks, the classic Disney film, was released 50 years ago this year and starred Angela Lansbury as the eclectic would-be witch, Eglantine Price. For many, Bedknobs holds a special […]
REVIEW: Blood Brothers – The Devil certainly has their number – Blood Brothers crashes onto the Hippodrome stage
Blood Brothers UK Tour 2021 – Production Photography Venue: Birmingham Hippodrome Performance Date: 01 November 2021 Reviewer: Ely King Star Rating: ★★★★ The heart-breaking story of The Johnstone Twins may not be known to all, but the term ‘Blood Brothers’ comes close. The tale of twins separated at birth plays out in spectacular fashion before your […]
REVIEW: Frozen the Musical – If a show was a warm hug, this would be it – theatrical magic at its finest
Samantha Barks as Elsa in Frozen: The Musical – Photograph Johan Persson Venue: Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London Performance Date: 08 September 2021 Reviewer: Gemma Fincher Rating: ★★★★★ In 2013 Disney introduced the world to a heroine who doesn’t need to be defined by a man, whose happily ever after isn’t riding off into the […]