Talent review " Victoria Wood's first play comes home by Clare Brennan

Crucible, SheffieldWood's trademarks are all in place in her talent-show debut drama, first performed at the Crucible in 1978, though it feels somewhat dated now The talents that made the la…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:36am on July 11, 2021[SHARE]

As You Like It review " the setting is the star by Clare Brennan

Watermill, NewburyA green adaptation of Shakespeare's romcom focuses on the climate crisis, but takes its time to get the blood stirring Duke Senior, banished by his usurping brother, praise…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:06am on July 4, 2021[SHARE]

The Jungle Book review " vivid adaptation takes best of book and film by Clare Brennan

Grosvenor Park Open Air theatre, ChesterNeither too Disney nor too Kipling, this witty staging also carries an ecological message Mowgli, Baloo, Bagheera " Kipling may have created them but…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:18am on June 27, 2021[SHARE]

Atalanta Forever review " she shoots, she scores! by Clare Brennan

Piece Hall, Halifax; now touringAmanda Whittington's new play is a stirring account of a Yorkshire women's football team playing on despite FA opposition in the 1920s The sky above the enorm…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:18pm on June 19, 2021[SHARE]

The Girl Next Door review " Ayckbourn's inventive time-bending comedy by Clare Brennan

Two sets of neighbours from 2020 and 1942 interact in an entertaining tale of love and endurance If the title leads you to expect hallmark Alan Ayckbourn split set and inventive staging, the…

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

Four Quartets review " Ralph Fiennes meets TS Eliot in a triumphant return by Clare Brennan

Theatre Royal Bath and touringThe actor and director gives a compelling performance of the poet's wartime epic in this solo show What an achievement! Simply to recite TS Eliot's 1943 poem, a…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:03am on June 6, 2021[SHARE]

A Russian Doll review " from St Petersburg with hate by Clare Brennan

Barn, CirencesterCat Goscovitch's gripping play explores the Russian troll factory that used social media to manipulate the Brexit vote Manipulation of public opinion to political ends is no…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:42am on May 30, 2021[SHARE]

The Greatest Play in the History of the World review " a face-to-face delight by Clare Brennan

Stephen Joseph theatre, ScarboroughJulie Hesmondhalgh recounts a tale of rediscovery and romance in a solo show perfect for live theatre's return Somewhere in outer space, the Actor tells us…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:03am on May 23, 2021[SHARE]

The Sorrows of Satan review " Faustian fun from a stately home by Clare Brennan

Available onlineBased on a fin-de-siecle novel loved by Oscar Wilde, this satanic stage musical has snappy songs and a devilish wit This light, witty, devilishly well delivered "play with mu…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:24am on May 16, 2021[SHARE]

Boland: Journey of a Poet review " a profound portrayal of Eavan Boland's life by Clare Brennan

Mick Lally theatre, Galway; available onlineDrawing on her early writings, Colm Tóibín captures the essence of the late Irish poet in this transformative livestreamed production Eava…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:03am on May 2, 2021[SHARE]

London international mime festival: 5 Short Films review " now everyone can watch by Clare Brennan

Available onlineAs this year's event goes virtual, five newly commissioned videos showcase the diversity of its artists My heart went out to Jonathan Agnew, having to commentate on England's…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:42am on January 24, 2021[SHARE]

Mustard review " one-woman show doesn't quite cut it by Clare Brennan

Eva O'Connor's piece about 'madness, heartbreak and condiments' loses its bite in this online performance Writer-performer Eva O'Connor describes her latest play, Mustard, as a "one-woman sh…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:32am on December 6, 2020[SHARE]

Here's What She Said to Me review " a hugely ambitious Nigerian-Yorkshire family saga by Clare Brennan

Crucible, SheffieldThree fine actors portray more than 35 characters over decades in Mojisola Elufowoju's impressive production of Oladipo Agboluaje's new play The bad news is: a second lock…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:06am on November 8, 2020[SHARE]

Dr Blood's Old Travelling Show review " devilishly good by Clare Brennan

Leeds PlayhouseA fun-filled tale of local authority corruption This new, outdoor show from the innovative company imitating the dog (ITD) is a sanguinary tale of local authority corruption "…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:42pm on October 24, 2020[SHARE]

Faith Healer review " this virtual Friel is the stuff of miracles by Clare Brennan

Old Vic, LondonMichael Sheen, Indira Varma and David Threlfall are magnificent in Matthew Warchus's enthralling livestreamed production of Brian Friel's 1979 play Does faith healing come abo…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:24am on September 27, 2020[SHARE]

Sweet Mother review " sorrow, joy and self-reliance in Toxteth by Clare Brennan

St Luke's Bombed Out Church, Liverpool theatre festival Prejudice and passion powers Maria Paul's oral history of three white women who married black men in Liverpool 8 Performers are the pu…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:18am on September 19, 2020[SHARE]

Educating Rita; The Comedy of Errors review " a breath of fresh air by Clare Brennan

Minack theatre, Porthcurno, Cornwall; Grosvenor Park Open Air theatre, ChesterAn unflappable duo braved the elements in Willy Russell's comedy drama, while Shakespeare's crowd-pleaser cheere…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:03am on August 30, 2020[SHARE]

Coriolanus review " a vivid, fast-flowing production by Clare Brennan

Crucible, SheffieldDirector Robert Hastie makes the most of the now-nostalgic shared space between audience and cast Writing a review, today, feels strange. Coriolanus was the last performan…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:42am on March 22, 2020[SHARE]

Mrs Puntila and Her Man Matti review " socialist satire starved of humour by Clare Brennan

Royal Lyceum, EdinburghThe comic talents of Elaine C Smith and Steven McNicoll can't save Denise Mina's stilted, gender-switching adaptation of a Bertolt Brecht comedyBertolt Brecht and Finn…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 4:24am on March 15, 2020[SHARE]

Blue Stockings review " terrific energy as the fight goes on by Clare Brennan

Storyhouse, ChesterFour female undergraduates in 1890s Cambridge struggle for equality in this buoyant production of Jessica Swale's 2013 classroom classicA renowned expert has come to the U…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 5:06am on March 8, 2020[SHARE]

Quality Street review " a box of mixed delights by Clare Brennan

Viaduct theatre, HalifaxThis adaptation of JM Barrie's 1901 romcom doesn't always hit the mark, but it roars to the sweetest conclusionTo some readers, the name Quality Street may conjure ga…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 1:54am on February 23, 2020[SHARE]

The Ballad of Johnny Longstaff review " an extraordinary portrait of a working-class hero by Clare Brennan

Northern Stage, Newcastle upon TyneSet against the upheaval of world events, music from folk trio the Young'uns and animation combine to tell the story of the young anti-fascist activist A …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:04am on February 16, 2020[SHARE]

Dr Korczak's Example review " lessons from the Warsaw ghetto by Clare Brennan

Leeds PlayhouseDavid Greig's 2001 drama about the doctor who founded an orphanage in the Warsaw ghetto continues to educate in this atmospheric production The first thing we see as we enter …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 5:24am on February 2, 2020[SHARE]

The Gift review " a deft portrayal of prejudice by Clare Brennan

Belgrade theatre, CoventryFine performances carry this tale of a young African girl's arrival in Queen Victoria's court interlaced with a modern family's move from London to Cheshire Janice …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 1:18pm on January 26, 2020[SHARE]

The week in theatre: Cuttin' It; The Girl With Glitter in Her Eye; Rooman " review by Clare Brennan

The Studio, Royal Exchange, Manchester; the Bunker; Barbican, LondonTwo young Somali women find themselves on opposite sides of the FGM argument in a fine revival of Charlene James's 2016 pl…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:12am on January 18, 2020[SHARE]