The School for Scandal review " teasing, tongue-wagging and nods to Twitter by Lyn Gardner

Tobacco Factory, BristolSheridan's high comedy of low morals is revived in a salacious production that isn't quite sharp enough to justify its three-hour length Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:17am on April 16, 2015☆⚑

Fringe theatre? There's no such thing by Lyn Gardner

Theatre is theatre, whatever the venue. The term 'fringe' hardly captures the breadth of nationwide activity, and only leads to segregated audiences and funding inequalitiesI was in Sale in …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:59am on April 16, 2015☆⚑

The theatre show that asks the audience how to spend a pot of cash by Lyn Gardner

There are no actors and there is no script, but there is high drama in The Money, which brings out the best and worst in its participants"Of course there's manipulation. Manipulating audienc…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on April 14, 2015☆⚑

Devon knows how to make homegrown theatre by Lyn Gardner

Doorstep Arts, a project conceived by Battersea Arts Centre and delivered locally by people in Torbay, is fast putting down roots " and we need more initiatives like itWhat happens when you …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:20pm on April 13, 2015☆⚑

Plan your week's theatre: top tickets by Lyn Gardner

BAC's Phoenix Fundraiser has a great line-up at the Royal Festival Hall, the magnificent Blythe Duff faces down evil in Glasgow, and there's a second chance to catch 1927's inventive anti-te…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:27am on April 13, 2015☆⚑

Oysters review " screamingly obvious problems by Lyn Gardner

Trinity House, LondonPerhaps if the same person hadn't written and directed this look at the decline of Essex oyster industry, the myriad inconsistencies and plotholes might not have slipped…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:34am on April 9, 2015☆⚑

Mermaid review " muddled Hans Christian Andersen reimagining by Lyn Gardner

Richmond theatre, LondonShared Experience's modern update of the Little Mermaid has a seductive dreaminess, but there's far too much going on to successfully re-empower the character Continu…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:28am on April 9, 2015☆⚑

Shooting With Light review " passionate story of a fearless photojournalist by Lyn Gardner

New Diorama, LondonIdle Motion have unearthed another untold gem in this terrific show about Gerda Taro, partner of Robert Capa, who died in the Spanish civil war Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:27am on April 8, 2015☆⚑

Want to save your local theatre? Buy a ticket for a friend by Lyn Gardner

Donations are a welcome cash boost to local stages, but the best way of ensuring their longevity is converting new audiences to the joys of theatreThere's been a lot of love and donations an…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:32am on April 7, 2015☆⚑

The History Boys review " still full of wit and wisdom by Lyn Gardner

Theatre Royal, WinchesterAlan Bennett's tale of maverick teachers with wandering hands isn't quite so innocent nowadays, but this production cannily critiques abuse of all kinds Continue rea…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:14am on April 7, 2015☆⚑

Chris Thorpe: Theatre is a 'laboratory for thinking about how we think' by Lyn Gardner

The writer and performer discusses his one-man show Confirmation, his death metal gig Torycore and the critical importance of arts centres for communitiesThe writer and actor Chris Thorpe re…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:00am on April 7, 2015☆⚑

Plan your week's theatre: top tickets by Lyn Gardner

Enda Walsh's The Twits at the Royal Court, Margaret Thatcher's speeches crossed with 1980s hits at the Royal Exchange in Manchester, and Gob Squad at the Behaviour festival in GlasgowIt's yo…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 1:59am on April 6, 2015☆⚑

Plan your week's theatre: top tickets by Lyn Gardner

Tamasha tour with a new play of desire and conflict, Cyrano de Bergerac is revived in Northampton and there's a magic carpet ride at the Polka Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:00am on March 30, 2015☆⚑

Eggs Collective Get a Round review " pink heels, cheap plonk and a wild audience by Lyn Gardner

Buzzcut festival, GlasgowIt's hardly sophisticated but this shambolic show about a night on the tiles makes us recognise its tales of shame and triumph Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:40pm on March 23, 2015☆⚑

Buzzcut reaches into people's lives " and lets them open their hearts by Lyn Gardner

At the Glasgow festival, children and excitable teenagers mixed with the live art, and passersby didn't just stop to watch but joined in, with fascinating resultsA great deal of theatre and …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:37am on March 23, 2015☆⚑

Plan your week's theatre: top tickets by Lyn Gardner

Punchdrunk make a show for children at the Royal Maritime Museum, Imelda Staunton takes Gypsy into the West End and Howard Barker's The Dying of Today is revived in CardiffChris Thorpe's Con…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:40am on March 23, 2015☆⚑

Buzzcut festival review " sparks fly as a kiss makes it better by Lyn Gardner

Pearce Institute, GlasgowFrom race to pain to lap dancing, the performances in this festival explore a wide range of themes with inspiring results " and it's free Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:34pm on March 22, 2015☆⚑

Error 404: the show with an unbroken link between performer and audience by Lyn Gardner

Daniel Bye's interactive performance at the Polka theatre asks big philosophical questions yet makes us all feel comfortable joining in the conversationWhat questions would you ask if you wa…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:15am on March 20, 2015☆⚑

The Broken Heart review " a grisly revenge tragedy, with comic overkill by Lyn Gardner

Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, LondonCaroline Steinbeis gives John Ford's gloomy drama a humorous touch, but the mad laughter sometimes trips over into Carry On-style anticsForced to abandon her b…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:56am on March 19, 2015☆⚑

Wink review " debut play explores what it means to be a real man by Lyn Gardner

Theatre 503, LondonThe plot is a bit stretched, but this story of two confused males " a French teacher and the teenager who idolises him " is sharp, funny and entertaining Continue reading.…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:03am on March 18, 2015☆⚑

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ review " quaint, charming musical by Lyn Gardner

Curve, LeicesterSue Townsend's tormented teenage hero makes a jaunty musical debut in this smart, low-key adaptation Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:27am on March 18, 2015☆⚑

It's Shakespeare Week: are children well-school'd in the Bard? by Lyn Gardner

Too many kids grow up thinking Shakespeare is boring " or that they're ignorant for not enjoying his plays. We need more shows like the Unicorn's Henry the FifthHow should we introduce child…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:10am on March 17, 2015☆⚑

Dracula review " fright and flight in acrobatic horror show by Lyn Gardner

New Vic theatre, Newcastle-under-LymeThis ambitious production brings a chilling atmosphere of repressed sexuality to the batty Victorian melodrama Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:37am on March 16, 2015☆⚑

Plan your week's theatre: top tickets by Lyn Gardner

There's a buzz around Glasgow as the Buzzcut festival begins, Curious Directive go out on tour from Cambridge, and Chris Thorpe's knotty Confirmation returnsIt's your last chance for the dev…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on March 16, 2015☆⚑

Crave review " Sarah Kane's penultimate play thrives in a stark, simple revival by Lyn Gardner

Crucible Studio, SheffieldKane's penultimate play, a fragmentary tale of a ruined world and the damaged humans who inhabit it, is given room to find its unique rhythm in this stripped-down r…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:50pm on March 15, 2015☆⚑