Yes! Yes! UCS! review " vibrant musical of worker power by Clare Brennan

Lantern theatre, SheffieldClyde dockworkers take a stand in 1970s Scotland, in an affecting new play by Townsend Productions The letters UCS, so firmly affirmed in the title, stand for Upper…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:48am on February 27, 2022[SHARE]

Anna Karenina review " overthought and underdone by Clare Brennan

Crucible, SheffieldThough well acted, this revival of Helen Edmundson's 1992 adaptation doesn't feel ready for the big stage "All ideas are good," according to the great theatre teacher Jac…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:54am on February 20, 2022[SHARE]

The Invisible Man review " therapy and sound effects in HG Wells update by Clare Brennan

Northern Stage, NewcastleDespite clever stagecraft and the best efforts of four committed young actors, the drama and bite of Philip Correia's new adaptation is muffled The staging is witty.…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:03am on February 13, 2022[SHARE]

The White Handkerchief review " Bloody Sunday powerfully relived by a local cast by Clare Brennan

Guildhall, DerryDrama, music and movement are combined to potent effect in this new play depicting the tragic events of 30 January 1972 Iconic photographs give this new musical play its titl…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:03pm on February 6, 2022[SHARE]

Jean-Daniel Broussé: (le) Pain review " baker's son gets a rise in this playful, affecting mime by Clare Brennan

The Place, LondonBroussé brings a tale of baking and suffering to glorious life in this much-kneeded autobiographical show The title of Jean-Daniel Broussé's solo show is a pun on the Fren…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:48am on January 23, 2022[SHARE]

Wendy & Peter Pan review " Wendy finds her way in a boy-shaped world by Clare Brennan

Leeds PlayhouseDeveloped between teams in Leeds and Tokyo, this spectacular reimagining brings new complexity to JM Barrie's story Ella Hickson's adaptation of JM Barrie's world-famous story…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:33am on January 16, 2022[SHARE]

The Play What I Wrote review " Morecambe and Wise homage brings us sunshine by Clare Brennan

Birmingham Rep This 20-year-old comedy with the nightly surprise guest works its magic in a superb revival directed by its co-writer, the Rep's artistic director, Sean Foley As the title sug…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:42am on December 19, 2021[SHARE]

A Chorus Line review " a timely revival of the 70s musical by Clare Brennan

Curve, LeicesterThe 70s musical centred on a group of Broadway musical auditionees is all about the ensemble in Nikolai Foster's winning revival It's not difficult to see why Nikolai Foster …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:24am on December 12, 2021[SHARE]

From a joyous Mancunian Wiz to the most charming of Beasts " the best Christmas family shows by Clare Brennan

Hull Truck; Hope Mill, Manchester; Barn, Cirencester; New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme; Watermill, NewburyThe Railway Children reduces our critic to tears, and a topical take on The Wizard of O…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:36am on December 5, 2021[SHARE]

My Voice Was Heard But It Was Ignored " vital voices on racism by Clare Brennan

Leeds Playhouse and touringThe arrest of a man outside a shop provides the framework for a dramatic investigation of black people's experiences Nana-Kofi Kufuor's new two-hander opens with a…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:18pm on November 21, 2021[SHARE]

Life Is a Dream review " an existential celebration to die for by Clare Brennan

Royal Lyceum theatre, EdinburghWils Wilson delivers a high-energy version of the 17th-century play about a monstrous prince faced with the ultimate question Edinburgh's Lyceum has reopened t…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:12am on November 7, 2021[SHARE]

Jitney review " August Wilson's cab drivers do the talking by Clare Brennan

Leeds PlayhouseA strong cast and the world-weary Pittsburgh cab drivers they portray are all battling circumstances beyond their control in this overly busy production of Wilson's 1982 play …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:24am on October 31, 2021[SHARE]

The Lemon Table review " love and death with Julian Barnes by Clare Brennan

Salisbury Playhouse and touringIan McDiarmid wryly contemplates mortality in his engaging new adaptation of two Julian Barnes short stories "Among the Chinese, the lemon is the symbol of dea…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:48am on October 24, 2021[SHARE]

The Enemy review " Ibsen goes digital by Clare Brennan

Dundee RepA powerful overhaul of An Enemy of the People weaves texts and emails seamlessly into the action Kieran Hurley's take on Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy of the People was about to go into …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:36am on October 17, 2021[SHARE]

Dracula: The Untold Story review " gripping vampire tale with added bite by Clare Brennan

Leeds PlayhouseImitating the Dog's technical marvel of a show turns an updated version of Bram Stoker's novel into a live-action graphic novel New Year's Eve; a police interrogation room in …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:12am on October 10, 2021[SHARE]

Typical Girls review " prison punks are too polite by Clare Brennan

Crucible Theatre, SheffieldClean Break theatre company and the Crucible join forces in Morgan Lloyd Malcolm's worthwhile if underpowered play featuring the music of the Slits Typical Girls i…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:36am on October 3, 2021[SHARE]

Missing Julie review " passion fights politics in laden Strindberg update by Clare Brennan

Theatr Clywd, MoldThe love triangle is gone, the wounds of war still raw in Kaite O'Reilly's alternately intense and laboured adaptation set in Wales in 1921 Kaite O'Reilly's new adaptation …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:12am on September 26, 2021[SHARE]

Mugabe, My Dad & Me review " a powerful personal tale of celebration and healing by Clare Brennan

York Theatre RoyalTonderai Munyevu's semi-autographical show addresses Zimbabwe's traumatic history with honesty and humour Clothes hang in broken rows above the bare stage (Nicolai Hart-Han…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:42am on September 19, 2021[SHARE]

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof review " powerhouse performances by Clare Brennan

Curve, LeicesterAnthony Almeida's staging is driven by Peter Forbes and Oliver Johnstone, magnificent in the roles of Big Daddy and Brick In this new production of Tennessee Williams's Pulit…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:54am on September 12, 2021[SHARE]

An Elephant in the Garden review " a tale that will never be forgotten by Clare Brennan

Barn theatre, CirencesterMichael Morpurgo's story of a family fleeing Dresden in 1945 resonates today, animated by Alison Reid's uncanny acting Michael Morpurgo's 2010 story presents a tale …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:36am on September 5, 2021[SHARE]

Smoking Is Bad for You review " Chekhov with a breath of fresh air by Clare Brennan

Pitlochry Festival theatreAlan Watt is superb in an adaptation of two Chekhov short stories in this pioneering theatre's fine new outdoor space Pitlochry Festival theatre has been much in th…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:06am on August 29, 2021[SHARE]

Edinburgh theatre round-up: Medicine; Doppler; Screen 9; Burnt Out " review by Clare Brennan

Traverse 1, Edinburgh; Newhailes House and Gardens, Musselburgh; Pleasance; Assembly Roxy, EdinburghDomhnall Gleeson is outstanding in Enda Walsh's revelatory new play about attitudes to men…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:18am on August 22, 2021[SHARE]

The Seagull review " powerfully atmospheric west of Ireland Chekhov by Clare Brennan

Coole Park, County GalwayDruid Theatre's fine production of Thomas Kilroy's adaptation finds rich resonance in the grounds of Lady Gregory's Coole Park estate Druid Theatre Company is presen…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:48am on August 15, 2021[SHARE]

The Comedy of Errors review " a descent into farce by Clare Brennan

Lydia & Manfred Gorvy Garden theatre, Stratford-upon-AvonPhillip Breen's RSC romp lacks a feel for Shakespeare's text and fails its female characters " but this new open-air venue is a w…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:36am on August 1, 2021[SHARE]

Gin Craze! review " raucous fun with a dark chaser by Clare Brennan

Royal & Derngate, NorthamptonApril De Angelis and Lucy Rivers bring 18th-century London to scabrous life in their boozy new musical satire with an excellent ensemble The opening number i…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:54am on July 25, 2021[SHARE]