Independent theatre reviews

Once Upon A Time in Sokoto by Inua Ellam is currently on tour and I was invited to review it at Oxford Playhouse. Directed by Roy Alexander Weise, the narrative focusses on the Sokoto Caliphate between 1865 and 1903, before British colonisation. Interestingly, the show includes discussion of slavery within Africa, a topic unlikely to be addressed in typical history lessons. The music (Femi Temowo) playing when we entered the auditorium, along with the set (Amelia Jane Hanki

It’s hard to believe the original film version of Dirty Dancing turns 40 in 2027. There remains a huge fanbase for the show which makes it obvious why the staged version is currently touring to packed theatres both in the UK and elsewhere. I was pleased to be invited to review the current tour at the New Theatre in Oxford. The moment the music began the energy level in the auditorium rose, and not just on the stage. The majority of the audience appeared to be anticipating e

August Wilson’s Fences has been brought back to the stage by Headlong, Leeds Playhouse, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and Home Manchester. I went along to review the show at Oxford Playhouse and somehow managed to have no prior knowledge of the story, so had the pleasure of absorbing it as it unfolded before me. Before we even entered the auditorium the programme caught my eye – if you see the show I highly recommend buying one. Entering the theatre space, the visual impact wa

During the second half of my holiday in Scotland, I noticed the tour of Annie was at Edinburgh Playhouse, and thought it would be a good opportunity to review it. I went along to a matinee performance. The first thing to note about the Edinburgh Playhouse is, it is a huge theatre, but incredibly well organised. The announcement that “this is a musical not a singalong” made me smile. Most people even seemed to take note of it, although there were people keeping the ushers bu

I picked up my phone one morning in August and saw an Instagram advert for A History of Paper. The first thing that crossed my mind was - this theatre could not be farther away, closely followed by, hang on, that’s when I’m staying in Braemar as part of my holiday in Scotland. By the time I arrived to review the show, all I knew was the title and cast members. I deliberately didn’t read anything else about it in advance and I highly recommend this approach if you are consid

I was invited to review Bury the Hatchet at Southwark Playhouse Borough by Out of the Forest Theatre. Written by Sasha Wilson, the narrative is based on the unsolved mystery of whether Lizzie Borden killed her own father and stepmother, and described as a lively melding of true crime, courtroom drama and live folk gig, I was keen to review the show. On walking into The Little the set (Damien Stanton) was comprised of shelves featuring various items which were tagged, as if

Charming! The Musical is one of four shows by Grownup Playhouse currently playing at Edinburgh Festival Fringe. I went to review it at Just The Fancy Room at Just the Tonic at the Caves. Tom Rolph plays the prince, who simply can’t understand why he’s not being offered a show (or film, or theme park) when all the princesses get these deals. In front of all of us “peasants”, he laments the fact that the princes always seem to be a support character in Disney shows. Through

Am I Losing my Mind or Just My Figure? is a one woman play originally written by Sam Holland-Bunyan and reworked in collaboration with Genevieve Labuschagne. I went to review the show during my time at Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Fin (Genevieve Labuschagne) is an illustrator but has a side hustle as a zero hours cycle courier to pay the bills. As turning 30 becomes an issue, so do the common "helpful" comments from the people around her, and with them the relentless pressure

This was my first visit to Edinburgh Festival Fringe and while I was planning my trip, I was determined to keep a slot for a “wildcard” show. I’m usually quite focussed and pick shows to review that I am fairly sure I will enjoy to a certain extent, to get off to a good start. But I was determined to see one thing that was right outside of my usual parameters. So it was that if found myself going to see I Made A Mixtape. Pitched to me as “a 90s dorm party meets Meisner-base

I was invited to review Woody Sez during its run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and it sounded interesting to me due to the fact there would be live folk music being performed by actor-musicians. Indeed, on walking into the Underbelly Bristo Square venue (Cowbarn), four actors were on stage playing gorgeous music, which was a lovely way to be welcomed in to watch a show. Devised by David M. Lutken, the narrative is about the life and career of Woody Guthrie, an accomplished

GIRLZ is currently playing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and after reading the description, I was keen to review it. There have been shows on TV and stage about the formation of bands before, but would this one follow similar lines? There was only one way to find out. In the queue we were handed information on when you can video or take photographs (oh, how I wish every show I saw gave such clarity!). With a flyer and a wristband to take away, it’s a fun concept. The en

Bliss the Musical has been brought to the stage by producers Susan Edelstein, ATG and Gavin Kalin, and is showing at Edinburgh Festival Fringe until 31 August. Four princesses, (Akshara Gunda, Alexandra Emmerson-Kirby, Miriam Nyarko and Matilda Shapland) have been living locked in a castle tower by their father who is making them study in every waking moment. The song that opens the show and introduces us to their predicament, Inside These Castle Walls, evokes memories of S

A long time ago in a village far, far away (from Edinburgh Festival Fringe), I remember sitting and watching Gifford’s Circus and loving the show and one cast member in particular. When the programme for Edinburgh Festival Fringe fell onto my doorstep I was excited to see Tweedy’s Massive Solo Show listed. Showing in Udderbelly – a circus tent shaped as a giant purple cow, the excitement was palpable before the show even began, with plenty of young children filling seats wit

Spraywatch: A Beautiful Rescue is a musical from Low Fat Productions. The protagonist is based on a character from Baywatch, but this is not a retelling of any episode of that series. The show’s Instagram account made it obvious Spraywatch was going to be light hearted and not take itself too seriously. I was keen to review it during my visit to Edinburgh Festival Fringe. A relentlessly upbeat Santa Monica lifeguard (Izabella Webb) has a disastrous day at work when her col

I reviewed Trans People are Awful at Bunker One at Pleasance Courtyard, and have to wonder if there would be a more fitting place for this particular show at Edinburgh Festival Fringe. As the story is set in a garage and the visible props as we entered the room gave an instant air of menace, it was the perfect venue. Boy (Ros Watt) bursts into the room, and he is fired up. There’s no other way to describe it but the energy is instant, constant and relentless. The character

Renwick McAslan’s Woman Seeking Cuddles, is currently showing at Edinburgh Festival Fringe so I went along to review it on my first night in the city. This is a one woman show featuring Harper (played brilliantly by Hannah Strauss), who at first seems like any other young person about to leave their hometown, as she goes out to celebrate this pivotal moment in her life. When she tells us about an accidental sexual encounter with her sperm donor father (not a spoiler, this i

Graham Greene's black comedy Our Man in Havana, has been adapted for the stage by Clive Francis and is currently touring the UK. I was pleased to be able to review the show at Oxford Playhouse. On walking into the auditorium we instantly noticed the set (Julie Godfrey), which was a lovely design, along with music that evoked the setting of Cuba. It must also be said that throughout the performance, the lighting design by Nick Richings and the sound design by Andy Graham sto

The Night Ali Died is a solo play written and performed by Chris Sainton-Clark, and brought to the stage by Raising Cain Productions. I reviewed this show on my last night at Ventnor Fringe. Recounting in detail the activities of three other characters – including a mob boss and a detective - as well as the titular Ali, this was a show I was excited to see. Ali is working in a chemistry lab alongside his friend, and he realises, unlike his own life that he perceives as bori

Amy Ambrose’s musical rom-com Dogmum made its debut at Ventnor Fringe and I was pleased to be able to review it. Billed as 'a musical rom-com for anyone whose Prince Charming turned out to be a cockapoo', Amy not only wrote the show but also starred in it herself. As the show was introduced, Amy let us know that she was filming the show to pitch it to a film director, and that most of her band members (who also doubled as actors) “missed their ferry” so she was stuck with s

Brainfools Circus visited Ventnor Fringe and I had the pleasure of reviewing Balance in the Bosco Theatre, which was the perfect venue for this show. Using a combination of acrobatics and theatre, Balance is set in 1940s London, with implied threat from air raid sirens overhead and a radio broadcast to place us firmly in this timezone. There is a story to it, however you can take what you want to from it while you’re watching which is clever – because for some of the younge