One of Each review " the joys of fish and chips explored by Clare Brennan

Wetherby Whaler, York, and touring until 9 SeptemberMikron's minimalist study of a British dietary staple is a joy Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on May 17, 2015☆⚑

Shafted! review " a 'post-mining' drama with real emotional impact by Clare Brennan

East Riding theatre, BeverleyJohn Godber and his wife, Jane Thornton, convince in his powerful two-hander about a couple's struggle with unemployment following the 1984 miners' strike Contin…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on May 3, 2015☆⚑

King John review " a stunning pageant by Clare Brennan

Church of the Holy Sepulchre, NorthamptonWhat James Dacre's sweeping retelling of Shakespeare lacks in drama it makes up for in spectacle Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on May 3, 2015☆⚑

Shafted! review " a 'post-mining' drama with real emotional impact by Clare Brennan

East Riding theatre, BeverleyJohn Godber and his wife, Jane Thornton, convince in his powerful two-hander about a couple's struggle with unemployment following the 1984 miners' strikeJohn Go…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on May 3, 2015☆⚑

Far From the Madding Crowd review " less haste, more feeling by Clare Brennan

Watermill, NewburyAn atmospheric adaptation of Thomas Hardy's tortured romance stumbles in its race to the finish Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on April 26, 2015☆⚑

Uisge-Beatha Gu Leòr (Whisky Galore) review " a suitable whiff of whimsy by Clare Brennan

Òran Mór, Glasgow Iain Finlay Macleod's Gaelic updating of Compton Mackenzie's classic is funny but loses something on the way Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on April 19, 2015☆⚑

After Electra review " feels forced and preachy by Clare Brennan

Tricycle, LondonAn intriguing premise fails to find its form in April De Angelis's play about an artist who would like her 81st birthday to be her last Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on April 12, 2015☆⚑

Cyrano de Bergerac review " swashbuckling panache by Clare Brennan

Royal and Derngate, Northampton Nigel Barrett's powerful swordsman-poet leads a fine cast in this nuanced yet highly theatrical co-productionCyrano de Bergerac is drawing to the end. What we…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on April 12, 2015☆⚑

Private Lives review " touching and humane by Clare Brennan

Octagon, BoltonUnder Elizabeth Newman's fine direction, Noël Coward's caustic wit is balanced by real feeling Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:00am on April 12, 2015☆⚑

The Harvest review " an amusing absurdity lacking bite by Clare Brennan

Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal BathPavel Pryazhko's deceptive comedy doesn't quite reach the semi-satirical heights it aspires to Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on April 5, 2015☆⚑

Little Sure Shot review " how Annie got her gun by Clare Brennan

The Egg, Theatre Royal BathVerity Kirk hits the bullseye as wild west sharp-shooter Annie Oakley in this musical biographyIn Little Sure Shot, writer and composer Lucy Rivers delivers a clas…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on April 5, 2015☆⚑

Anna Karenina review " a Russian Downton-by-the-Am by Clare Brennan

Royal Exchange, ManchesterTolstoy's passionate epic feels more like a soap opera in this clinical adaptation Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on March 29, 2015☆⚑

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾: the Musical review " impeccable performances, hamfisted script by Clare Brennan

Curve, LeicesterSue Townsend's sly writing is pummelled to fit narrative arcs of love triumphant and ambition realised in this musical adaptationWhat do you ask of a new musical? Attention-g…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 4:00am on March 22, 2015☆⚑

God Bless the Child review " perfectly judged humour by Clare Brennan

Lyric, BelfastFrank O'Connor's hilarious childhood tales are beautifully adapted for the stage Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 4:00am on March 22, 2015☆⚑

King Lear review " Jonathan Miller's production is revelatory by Clare Brennan

Viaduct theatre, HalifaxNorthern Broadsides open up a whole new way of looking at Shakespeare's tragedy through seemingly straightforward, at times rough-hewn performancesFollowers of Nort…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 4:00am on March 8, 2015☆⚑

Hamlet review " breathtaking by Clare Brennan

Clwyd Theatr Cymru, MoldArtistic director Terry Hands's farewell is an extravagant, bravura production Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on February 28, 2015☆⚑

Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage review " a dynamic study of coming out and trauma by Clare Brennan

Sherman Cymru, CardiffThe contrasting fortunes of Welsh rugby player Gareth Thomas and two struggling Bridgend teenagers are handled boldly Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on February 28, 2015☆⚑

Scuttlers review " vigour and desperation of Rona Munro's street gangs by Clare Brennan

Royal Exchange, ManchesterRona Munro's engaging story of 19th-century Manchester mill workers is powerfully produced, though dramatically a little formulaicA sole musician sits up in the gal…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on February 22, 2015☆⚑

Boi Boi Is Dead review " sprightly ease and emotional depth by Clare Brennan

West Yorkshire Playhouse, LeedsZodwa Nyoni's jazz-inflected African village drama is gripping, humorous, poetic and finely acted Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on February 22, 2015☆⚑

Blasted review " Sarah Kane's debut revived by Clare Brennan

Sheffield Theatres Studio Richard Wilson directs Sarah Kane's first play with searing clarity and precision as part of the Crucible's season of her work Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on February 15, 2015☆⚑

Merit review " interesting ideas struggling for dramatic form by Clare Brennan

The Drum, Theatre Royal, PlymouthA mother and daughter fall out over an employer's motive in a shapeless play set in austerity-era Spain Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:01am on February 8, 2015☆⚑

Macbeth review " something wacky this way comes by Clare Brennan

Citizens GlasgowFilter's co-production of the Scottish play arrives soundtracked with bangs, whooshes and tinkles Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on February 8, 2015☆⚑

A View From the Bridge review " a smouldering slow fuse by Clare Brennan

The Octagon, BoltonColin Connor is magnificent in this production of Arthur Miller's modern classic Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on January 25, 2015☆⚑

Re:play festival review " 'a stimulating encounter between stage and audience' by Clare Brennan

Number One First Street, ManchesterFemale identity and the first world war are among the subjects explored at the ninth celebration of the local fringe scene Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on January 18, 2015☆⚑

The Shoemaker's Holiday review " Dekker's 1599 critique feels tremendously contemporary by Clare Brennan

Swan, Stratford-upon-AvonThomas Dekker's tale of love and power among the artisan classes of 16th-century England has amazing resonance Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:02am on January 4, 2015☆⚑