Widowers' Houses review " Bernard Shaw is just too entertaining by Clare Brennan

Orange Tree, RichmondThe playwright sugar-coated his lively critique of the evils of the housing market that remains all too relevant todayThat people should face eviction so that others can…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on January 4, 2015☆⚑

Little Shop of Horrors review " perfectly pitched horticultural sci-fi horror by Clare Brennan

Royal Exchange, Manchester This theatre-in-the-round staging of the schlocky horror musical is hard to faultTheatre-in-the-round has been called "the ultimate challenge" (as an unrelated son…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on December 28, 2014☆⚑

Old Mother Goose review " creative mayhem by Clare Brennan

Theatre Royal, YorkDame, damsel and villain camp it up, courtesy of the longest-serving Christmas team everIt's not just the jokes that are worked to death: three little words in the program…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on December 21, 2014☆⚑

The Sound of Music review " pastel sweetness and true human values by Clare Brennan

Curve, LeicesterPaul Kerryson's final show combines picture-book wholesomeness with a message for the darkest of times Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on December 6, 2014☆⚑

An Ideal Husband review " splendid and witty, but stuffy by Clare Brennan

Chichester Festival theatrePatricia Routledge and Edward Fox carry this revival of Wilde's 1895 'play of modern life' Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on November 29, 2014☆⚑

Alice in Wonderland review " magical effects, live music and consistent thrills by Clare Brennan

Octagon, BoltonA bright new adaptation of Lewis Carroll is at its strongest when it stays true to the original Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on November 22, 2014☆⚑

Queen Coal review ruptured relationships in a former mining community by Clare Brennan

Crucible, SheffieldThe effects of the miners strike on a family are explored in a production that is powerful but ultimately contrived Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on November 15, 2014☆⚑

Bondagers review hard labour for farm women by Clare Brennan

Royal Lyceum theatre, EdinburghA fine new production of Sue Glovers 1991 play looks at the plight of 19th-century female agricultural labourers with a sometimes sentimental eye Continue read…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:05pm on November 1, 2014☆⚑

A Farewell to Arms review a physical equivalent to Hemingways prose by Clare Brennan

Dukes, LancasterLove, war and video cameras fight it out in Imitating the Dogs multimedia adaptation of Hemingways novel Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on October 18, 2014☆⚑

Romeo & Juliet review Rachel ORiordans star crossd soap opera by Clare Brennan

Sherman Cymru, CardiffDespite fresh and lively performances, period language and modern behaviour clash to mixed effect Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on October 11, 2014☆⚑

United We Stand review a striking piece of work, whatever your politics by Clare Brennan

Lantern, LiverpoolThis play about the 1972 building workers pay dispute uses music, poems, puppets and dialogues to re-examine the history of a so-called conspiracy Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on October 4, 2014☆⚑

Romeo and Juliet review: a watery death for the star-crossed lovers by Clare Brennan

Victoria Baths, ManchesterStaging Shakespeares tragedy in a swimming baths might have seemed like a good idea, but the production quickly gets into deep water Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on September 27, 2014☆⚑

Kill Johnny Glendenning review a body count to rival Jacobean tragedy by Clare Brennan

Royal Lyceum, EdinburghDC Jacksons comedy thriller is lively, deadly, wordy and seriously out of puff by its disappointing ending Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:04pm on September 27, 2014☆⚑

Home Sweet Home review life in a care home is far from sweet by Clare Brennan

Emma Adamss play, drawn from the experiences of older people, makes ageing look scary but fun Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:04pm on September 20, 2014☆⚑

Roundelay review both magnificent and a disappointment by Clare Brennan

Stephen Joseph, ScarboroughAlan Ayckbourns experimental playlets are moving and hilarious but their fragmentary nature often hobbles the drama Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on September 13, 2014☆⚑

She Stoops to Conquer review lively and absurd by Clare Brennan

Viaduct, Halifax and touringThis production of Oliver Goldsmith's 1773 comedy is absurdly funny but they need to turn down the volume a touch Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on September 6, 2014☆⚑

Front; Escaping War; Helen Lawrence review by Clare Brennan

Royal Lyceum; The Hub; King's theatreTwo takes on war employ different media and disciplines to connect with the past, while a noir tale of corruption scuppers itself with technical trickery…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:01pm on August 30, 2014☆⚑

Pitcairn review vivid but untidy by Clare Brennan

Chichester festival theatreRichard Bean's new account of the Bounty's mutineers is vivid but untidy Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:01pm on August 30, 2014☆⚑

Thérèse Raquin review Pippa Nixon is a compelling presence by Clare Brennan

Theatre Royal, BathA fine cast rescues a melodramatic new adaptation of Thérèse Raquin Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:07pm on August 16, 2014☆⚑

Bad Jews review a gripping inheritance drama by Clare Brennan

Ustinov Studio, BathAn emotional struggle between three cousins has more to it than meets the eye Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on August 16, 2014☆⚑

The Boy Who Fell Into a Book review a knockout mix by Clare Brennan

Stephen Joseph theatre, ScarboroughAlan Ayckbourn's tale of fiction coming to life makes an inspiring leap from page to stage Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on July 26, 2014☆⚑

Hansel and Gretel review the woods are alive in the Dukes' annual al fresco show by Clare Brennan

Williamson Park, LancasterHilltop, woodland and lake are the perfect setting for Zosia Ward's vivid retelling of multiple fairytalesHansel and Gretel may get top billing at the Dukes' annual…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on July 19, 2014☆⚑

Dead Dog in a Suitcase (and Other Love Songs); Mametz review by Clare Brennan

Everyman, Liverpool; Great Llancayo Upper Wood, MonmouthshireAn updating of The Beggar's Opera and a retelling of a first world war battle are undone by dramatic formOne of the glories of th…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:04pm on June 28, 2014☆⚑

Seeing the Lights review an emotionally engaging and witty drama by Clare Brennan

Theatre by the Lake, KeswickBrendan Murray's tale of family reunion makes dramatic capital from the premise that blood ties are often a mixed blessingA small kitchen and a cluttered sitting-…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:00am on June 23, 2014☆⚑

The Valley of Astonishment review a treat for the senses by Clare Brennan

Warwick Arts Centre and touringA celebration of people who experience synesthesia has 'the qualities of a Beethoven late quartet'Sometimes there are conundrums (conundra?). I loved this new …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05pm on June 14, 2014☆⚑