A Midsummer Night's Dream review " top marks for Bottom by Alfred Hickling

Everyman, LiverpoolNick Bagnall's ingenious production sets the action amid the chalk clouds of a minor public school " and in an enchanted forest that's properly sinister Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:46am on March 29, 2015[SHARE]

Anna Karenina review " grand passion and domestic discomfort in superb revival by Alfred Hickling

Royal Exchange, ManchesterJo Clifford reorchestrates Tolstoy's vast, five-act opera for a string quartet in this pared-down adaptation Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:29am on March 25, 2015[SHARE]

Playing for Time review " a vivid sense of the chaos of concentration camp life by Alfred Hickling

Crucible, SheffieldSiân Phillips is outstanding as a member of the Auschwitz Women's Orchestra, helping to redeem one of Arthur Miller's most contentious plays Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:27am on March 19, 2015[SHARE]

Uncle Vanya review " communication breakdown in modern-world Chekhov by Alfred Hickling

West Yorkshire Playhouse, LeedsSamuel Adamson's new adaptation has some uncompromising outbursts, but a defeatist air wafts through the countryside … and the theatre Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:09am on March 9, 2015[SHARE]

Jonathan Miller and Barrie Rutter: 'At this age, people assume you to be either dead or senile' by Alfred Hickling

Jonathan Miller is notching up his eighth Lear. How did he persuade Barrie Rutter to play the king? By telling him it's a comedy Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:38pm on March 4, 2015[SHARE]

Solace of the Road review " Siobhan Dowd's novel is a runaway success on stage by Alfred Hickling

Derby theatreThe late author's tale about a teenager who road-trips around Ireland under a false persona proves a great vehicle for Rebecca RyanSiobhan Dowd, who died of cancer in 2007 aged …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:39am on March 4, 2015[SHARE]

Hindle Wakes review " one-woman rebellion at the dawn of emancipation by Alfred Hickling

Octagon, BoltonThe mill-town drama that scandalised audiences with its daringly resolute heroine is meticulously revived a century on Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:34am on February 25, 2015[SHARE]

Yen five-star review " brutal but tender study of brotherhood by Alfred Hickling

Royal Exchange, ManchesterAnna Jordan's prize-winning play about two teenagers living alone in a filthy flat is difficult to watch yet easy to love Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:34am on February 24, 2015[SHARE]

Posh review " dinner club reunion makes for a satirical feast by Alfred Hickling

The repartee is irresistible in Laura Wade's glimpse into the secret world of the Oxbridge dinner society Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:16pm on February 22, 2015[SHARE]

Boi Boi is Dead review " a vivid study of a hard bop life by Alfred Hickling

West Yorkshire Playhouse, LeedsThe highly stylised treatment and evocative music add extra dimensions to this study of family sorrow " although little is revealed about the titular character…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:15am on February 19, 2015[SHARE]

Educating Rita review " Willy Russell revival is a class act by Alfred Hickling

Liverpool Playhouse Gemma Bodinetz's astute production, starring Leanne Best and Con O'Neill, asks what happens when we confuse education with erudition Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:33am on February 16, 2015[SHARE]

Hamlet review " dazzling swansong for Terry Hands by Alfred Hickling

Theatr Clwyd, MoldThe outgoing artistic director of Theatr Clywd bows out with a tragedy powered by an overwhelming momentumTerry Hands's tenure as artistic director of Theatr Clwyd has last…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:04am on February 12, 2015[SHARE]

Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights Live review " not for the easily offended by Alfred Hickling

Manchester arenaFrom an invasion of angry dwarves to a musical mashup of Gary Glitter and Rolf Harris, Peter Kay and co are as off-colour as everPhoenix Nights fans have been waiting si…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:25am on February 5, 2015[SHARE]

The Mist in the Mirror review " Susan Hill's ghost story can't conjure a chill on stage by Alfred Hickling

Oldham Coliseum theatreWith its surfeit of special effects, this Woman in Black follow-up offers a pale reflection of its predecessor's simple horror Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:32am on February 4, 2015[SHARE]

That's Amoré review " what Titanic, a-ha and teddy bears can teach us about love by Alfred Hickling

Unity theatre, LiverpoolLiverpool group Tmesis deconstruct romance using movie skits and science, and though this show skirts sentimentality, it's entirely without cynicism Continue reading.…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:40am on February 3, 2015[SHARE]

A View from the Bridge review " chilling revival from Miller's own director by Alfred Hickling

Octagon, BoltonThe honour of an entire community is besmirched in David Thacker's take on Arthur Miller's multi-angled masterpiece Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:19am on January 22, 2015[SHARE]

Re:play review " pick'n'mix festival reinvents the revue by Alfred Hickling

Home arts centre, ManchesterFrom Justin Moorhouse's mini family saga set in a bacon factory to an absurdist allegory about immigration, a diverse lineup keeps it short and sweetNow into its …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:18am on January 13, 2015[SHARE]

Little Shop of Horrors review " puppet musical lets Seymour see more by Alfred Hickling

Royal Exchange, ManchesterThe visible army of puppeteers giving fiercely expressive life to a carnivorous potted superstar almost upstage the actors in Derek Bond's production Continue readi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 5:33am on January 7, 2015[SHARE]

The Borrowers review " Mary Norton's tiny adventurers take the stage by Alfred Hickling

New Vic theatre, Newcastle-under-LymeTheresa Heskins's production makes ingenious use of outsize props and puppets to create a palpable sense of danger Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:59am on January 6, 2015[SHARE]

James and the Giant Peach review " a thrilling psychedelic trip by Alfred Hickling

West Yorkshire Playhouse, LeedsThis seasonal offering for younger audiences roots Roald Dahl's dark, fantastical tale firmly in the far-out 60s Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:44am on January 5, 2015[SHARE]

The Princess and the Pea review " a charming 21st-century retelling by Alfred Hickling

Crucible, SheffieldClaire Burns is a delightfully pragmatic princess in Mike Kenny's smart update on the Disneyfication of the tween generation Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05am on December 22, 2014[SHARE]

Bad boys: the secret world of the pantomime villain by Alfred Hickling

With panto season in full swing, three theatre baddies " including Nigel Havers, currently playing King Rat in Dick Whittington " open up about 'the biggest ego-trip there is'"Every actor se…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on December 22, 2014[SHARE]

Alfred Hickling's top 10 theatre of 2014 by Alfred Hickling

Sea Breeze sent shivers down the spine in Morecambe, National Theatre Wales took us to Dylan Thomas's village inspiration and Liverpool hosted a giant walkaboutThe industrious audio-visual c…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:00am on December 18, 2014[SHARE]

Get Santa review " not your average Christmas entertainment by Alfred Hickling

Northern Stage, NewcastleA seven-year-old plans to trap Santa with crisps, glue and chilli powder in Anthony Neilson's weird seasonal offering Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:43am on December 17, 2014[SHARE]

Old Mother Goose review " a golden egg of a panto by Alfred Hickling

York Theatre RoyalIrrepressible panto dame Berwick Kaler is dunked, hoisted, soaked and squished in the rarely seen pantomime classic Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:03am on December 16, 2014[SHARE]