Behind the arras, reviews of professional and amateur theatre

bta head

Theatres are doing all they can to keep audiences safe but safety for everyone, the theatre staff, the cast and crew of the show you are watching as well as the people sitting around you will rely on everyone playing their part and following the rules that have been put in place for both your and their protection.

Audiences are the lifeblood of theatres but if you are hesitant about going to the theatre amid rising cases then you can still support theatres by booking to see future shows or you can order some quite superb plays to watch online.

Search the Arras

AMATEUR THEATRE REVIEWS A-Z Index of affiliate reviews Reviews listed by affiliates And Then There Were None, The Nonentities, The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster The Effect, Hall Green Little Theatre Relatively Speaking, Grange Players, Grange Playhouse Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Loft, Leamington Spa Passion Play, Highbury Theatre Centre Heroes, The Nonentities, The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster Trust Me, I'm a doctor, Edward's Boys, King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon. My Cousin Rachel, Grange Players, GrangePlayhouse, Walsall And then there were none, Hall Green Little Theatre Handbagged, Highbury Theatre Centre The Seafarer, The Loft, Leamington The Deep Blue Sea, Sutton Arts Theatre See how they run, The Nonentities, The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster Twist, The Nonentities, The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster How the other half loves, Highbury Players, Highbury Theatre Centre The Dixie Swim Club, Grange Players, Grange Playhouse Sleeping Beauty, Sutton Arts Theatre Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Hall Green Little Theatre House Guest, Highbury Theatre Centre The Secret Garden, The Nonentities, Kidderminster. Elton John's Glasses, Grange Players, Walsall Anne Boleyn, The Loft. Leamington Gaslight, The Nonentities, The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster Maurice's Jubilee, Highbury Theatre Centre An Ideal Husband,Sutton Arts Theatre The Farndale Avenue Murder Mystery, The Nonentities, Rose Theatre,Kidderminster Dirty Dancing CB (11-21) Coventry Belgrade Nell Gwynn, Highbury Players, Highbury Theatre Centre Underneath the Lintel, Criterion Theatre, Coventry The Wind in The Willows,, The Loft Theatre, Leamington Spa. Pre-lockdowns Edith in The Dark, Hall Green Little Theatre The Dixie Swim Club,The Grange Players, The Grange Playhouse, Walsall Yes, Prime Minister, Swan Theatre Amateur Company Directory of leading amateur companies. If you want details about becoming an affiliate contact Sue Clarke. sue.clarke@behindthearras.com NEWS ARCHIVE Past reviews The Late John Slim's FINAL THOUGHTS SMALL THOUGHTS			PROFESSIONAL THEATRE REVIEWS Reviews by title Reviews by theatre (If an older review is not found try Other reviews) LATEST REVIEWS Ladies of Letters, Malvern Theatres Magic Goes Wrong, Birmingham Hippodrome We will Rock You, Wolverhampton Grand Would You Bet Against Us? Birmingham Rep Immerse, Elmhurst Ballet Company, Elmhurst Ballet School Private Peaceful, Coventry Belgrade Waitress, Birmingham Hippodrome Animal Farm, Wolverhampton Grand The Play That Goes Wrong, The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett, Assembly Festival Gardens, Coventry An Evening of Music and Dance, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Birmingham Rep Private Peaceful, Malvern Theatres Nothello, Coventry Belgrade Studio to Stage, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Birmingham Rep Dance Track 25, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Birmingham Rep Mamma Mia! Birmingham Hippodrome My Dearest Mr Coward, Worcester Theatres Cluedo, The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, Malvern Theatres The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Derby Theatre Protests, Hymns and Caskets, Coventry Belgrade Gamble, Coventry Belgrade Catch Me If You Can, The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham Mademe Butterfly, Welsh National Opera, Birmingham Hippodrome Dragons and Mythical Beasts, Coventry Assembly Festival Garden Jenůfa, Welsh National Opera, Birmingham Hippodrome Grimeboy, Birmingham Rep Footloose, The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Malvern Theatres ARCHIVE FOR YOUR DIARY Radio 4 and latterly ITV comedy Ladies of Letters has been brought to the stage and will be posted to Derby and then Malvern this month. More Smash hit Girl from the North Country, set to the music of Bob Dylan arrives in Birmingham next year. More Performing arts Performing Arts Archive 1 2 NEWS FEATURES IN THE DARK When theatres were closed and dark, reviewers turned their thoughts to things theatrical Contact roger_clarke@behindthearras.com

	Listings, theatre details and links to videos and podcasts London theatre link for what's on and bookings
	Est. 2009
	Find us on	Follow us on Coventry Belgrade
	To find out about Behind the Arras cookie policy click here
	Latest
	RADIO 4 and latterly ITV comedy Ladies of Letters has been brought to the stage and will be poted to Derby and then Malvern. More ALEXANDRA THEATRE: Smash hit Girl from the North Country, set to the music of Bob Dylan is set to tour arriving in Birmingham next year. More ELMHURST BALLET COMPANY is set to hrsd out on the road again with it's new production Immerse which will open at its home theatre at Elmhurst Ballet Company in Edgbaston Birmingham, before heading of to Sadler's Wells. More THE ALEXANDRA THEATRE: Samantha Womack heads the cast of the critically acclaimed production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe which is set to bring the chills of Narnia's winter to the Alex Theatre in March. More BRB's Cinderella had a ball with her prince in the splendid ballroom at the newly reopened Grand Hotel. More ALEXANDRA THEATRE: Strictly star Johannes Radebe will be bringing his Freedom tour to the Alex next year with dance and music from around the world. More
		Actor Samuel West makes a heartfelt plea to save funding for theatres - More
	News and features
	BTA Awards are a little different this year, a year when there are no losers, only winners and we thank every one of them for keeping theatre alive. More
	Frankie Valli in the shape of Ben Joyce has come to the rescue of The Alex after covid and the vocal demands of the Jersey Boys left the cast down on numbers, so with no West End show today, Joyce hot-footed to Brum to save the day. More
	Coventry's Albany Theatre has postponed its community Panto, Dick Whittington, do to open on 30 December, to February half term because of fears of increasing covid infections. More
	COVID is making a comeback for Christmas and theatres are doing all they can to keep audiences safe. The latest rules and advice for many Midland theatres is available Here.
	Birmingham Ormiston Academy and Alice are heading into Wonderland again at The Old Rep vebturing down the rabbit hole and through the looking glass in a journey that takes them to the end of the year. More
	HGHBURY PLAYERS will be heading back in time on Tuesday when they delve into the life of orange seller, actress and mistress Nell Gwynn in Jessica Swales Olivier winning comedy. More
	ROCK OF AGES rocked Birmingham Alexandra Theatre three years ago and next week it is back as sexy and raunchy as ever loaded with rock anthems that have stood the test of time. More
	THE BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME'S CEO and artistic director, Sydney-born Fiona Allan is set to return home in autumn to take over as chief executive of Opera Australia. More
	THSH: A new name and a new look as Town Hall and Symphony Hall open up for live music again with a programme of international and home grown stars. More
	Birmingham Royal Ballet is heading back to its home stage of Birmingham Hippodrome in October and has announced its programme from Romeo and Juliet to the festive Nutcracker. More
	Bedknobs and Broomsticks, the Disney classic film, 50 years old this year, takes to the stage in August in a world premiere musical which will be bringing its magic to the Alaxandra and the Grand. More
	For more information, comments or views about the site you can contact us on roger.clarke@behindthearras.com

RADIO 4 and latterly ITV comedy Ladies of Letters has been brought to the stage and will be poted to Derby and then Malvern. More

ELMHURST BALLET COMPANY is set to hrsd out on the road again with it's new production Immerse which will open at its home theatre at Elmhurst Ballet Company in Edgbaston Birmingham, before heading of to Sadler's Wells. More

THE ALEXANDRA THEATRE: Samantha Womack heads the cast of the critically acclaimed production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe which is set to bring the chills of Narnia's winter to the Alex Theatre in March. More

BRB's Cinderella had a ball with her prince in the splendid ballroom at the newly reopened Grand Hotel. More

ALEXANDRA THEATRE: Strictly star Johannes Radebe will be bringing his Freedom tour to the Alex next year with dance and music from around the world. More