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AMATEUR THEATRE REVIEWS

A-Z Index of affiliate reviews

Reviews listed by affiliates 

 

Di and Viv and Rose, Highbury Theatre Centre

The Railway Children, Hall Green Little Theatre

Rumours, The Nonentities, The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster

The Dumb Waiter/This Wide Night, Sutton Arts Theatre

Blood Brothers - The Play Highbury Theatre Centre

Chase me up Farndale Avenue, s’il vous plait, Hall Green Little Theatre

Platform 2, STAC, Swan Theatre, Worcester

The Children, the Nonentities, The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster.

Gaslight, Hall Green Little Theatre

Arms and the Man, Second Thoughts, Stratford-upon-Avon

A Taste of Honey, Sutton Arts Theatre

Rules for Living, Grange Playhouse, Walsall

Death of a Salesman, Highbury Theatre Centre

Antigone, Hall Green Little Theatre

How the other half loves, Swan Theatre Amateur Company, Swan Theatre, Worcester

Calendar Girls, The Nonentities, The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster

Love, Love, Love, Highbury Theatre Centre

The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery, Highbury Theatre Centre

Private Lives, Hall Green Little Theatre

Art, The Loft, Leamington Spa

Flat Out, Sutton Arts Theatre

Tom, Dick & Harry, The Nonentities, The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster

Sleeping Beauty, Hall Green Little Theatre

Robin Hood & the Babes in the Wood, Sutton Arts Theatre

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, Highbury Theatre Centre

Go Back for Murder, Grange Players, Grange Playhouse, Walsall

Dear Jack, Dear Louise, The Nonentities, The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster

A Walk in the Woods, Sutton Arts Theatre

Art , Highbury Theatre Centre

The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe, Hall Green Little Theatre

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Lichfield Operatic Society

Bunkered, Hall Green Little Theatre

A Month of Sundays, Grange Playhouse, Walsall

It Runs in The Family, Highbury Theatre Centre

Going Straight, The Nonentities, The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster

The Girl on the Train, Sutton Arts Theatre

Status Update & Education, Education, Education, Stage2 The Crescent Theatre

Goodnight Mr Tom , Hall Green Little Theatre

Taking The Waters, The Loft, Leamington Spa

Private Lives, The Talisman Theatre, Kenilworth

Agnes of God, Swan Theatre Amateur Company

Cranford, The Nonentities, The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster

Present Laughter, The Loft Theatre, Leamington Spa

Company, Sutton Arts Theatre

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.

 

 

Directory of leading amateur companies.

 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

  

Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of), Malvern Theatres

The Ocean at The End of The Lane, The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

Peaky Blinders: the Redemption of Thomas Shelby, Birmingham Hippodrome

Rock of Ages, Wolverhampton Grand

The Beekeeper of Aleppo, Coventry Belgrade

Legacy, Elmhurst Ballet Company

Wasteland, Birmingham Rep

Heathers -The Musical, The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

The Bodyguard - The Musical, Wolverhampton Grand (v)

Bouncers, Worcester Rep, The Swan Theatre, Worcester

Unexpected Twist, Malvern Theatres (v)

Blaze of Glory, Welsh National Opera, Birmingham Hippodrome

The Magic Flute, Welsh National Opera, Birmingham Hippodrome (v)

Of Mice and Men, Malvern Theatres

Home, I’m Darling. The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

The Commitments, Birmingham Hippodrome

Lord of the Flies, Coventry Belgrade

Drive Your Plough Over the Bones of the Dead, Coventry Belgrade

Titanic - The Musical, Birmingham Hippodrome

Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of),  Birmingham Rep

The Spongebob Musical, Birmingham Hippodrome

Unexpected Twist, Coventry Belgrade

Mrs Warren’s Profession, Malvern Theatres

The Big O, Coventry Belgrade

Annie, Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham.

Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom,  Birmingham Bach Choir, St Pauls Church, Birmingham

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Wolverhampton Grand

Blood Brothers, Coventry Belgrade

Manon, Opera Warwick, Warwick Arts Centre

The Sacrifice, Birmingham Hippodrome

Robin Hood & the Major Oak DerbyTheatre

The Time Machine, Malvern Theatres

The Rocky Horror Show, The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

The Mousetrap, Lichfield Garrick

Of Mice and Men, Birmingham Rep

Steel Magnolias, The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

Teechers Leavers '22, Lichfield Garrick

Run Rebel, Coventry Belgrade

Fisherman's Friends: The Musical, Malvern Theatres (v)

Michaelmas Term, Edward's Boys

Family Tree, Coventry Belgrade

Death Drop Back in The Habit, The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

My Fair Lady, Birmingham Hippodrome

Jersey Boys, Wolverhampton Grand (v)

The King and I, The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

Home. I'm Darling, Malvern Theatres

An Inspector Calls, Coventry Belgrade

The Way Old Friends Do, Birmingham Rep

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

Mother Goose, Wolverhampton Grand

The Chicago Blues Brothers, Malvern Theatres

Idiots Assemble, Spitting Image Saves the World,

The Mirror Crack'd The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

Swan Lake, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Birmingham Hippodrome

The Verdict, Lichfield Garrick

Around The World In 80 Days, Malvern Theatres

The Mousetrap, Coventry Belgrade

Strictly Ballroom - The Musical, Wolverhampton Grand

Wodehouse in Wonderland, Derby Theatre

Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of)  CB (02-23) Coventry Belgrade

 Home, I'm Darling, Derby Theatre

The Tempest, The Royal Shakespeare Company

Girl from the North Country, The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty, Birmingham Hippodrome

Starchitects, A mission to the Moon, Birmingham Hippodrome

The Mousetrap, Malvern Theatres

Wodehouse in Wonderland, Malvern Theatres

A Christmas Carol  Malvern Theatres

Dick Whittington, Birmingham Hippodrome

The Bah Humbug Club, Lichfield Garrick Studio

Jack and the Beanstalk, Birmingham Rep

Beauty and the Beast, Malvern Theatres

ARCHIVE

FOR YOUR DIARY

 

Dada Masilo has created a fusion of European and African dance and culture in The Sacrifice which arrives at Birmingham Hippodrome thus week. More BLACK SABBATH and BRB are the unlikeliest of bedfellows to a collaboration on Black Sabbath - The Ballet is one of those landmark events theatre can throw up, a fascinating  prospect all made in Brum. More

THE KING AND I returns to The Alexandra Theatre in February with Call the Midwife's Helen George as Anna and Broadway's Darren Lee as the king. More.

Birmingham Royal Ballet has set chance to the best young ballet graduates from around the world including a UK tour of classical favourites. More

The Osmonds run  has been the launchpad for The Alexandra Theatre's And They Call it Puppy Love fundraising appeal for Guide Dogs Midlands & East More

The Alexandra Theatre hosted Dreamgirls over Christmas and four of the show's stars gave a preview of the show with a convert performance at the Alex. Watch it here

Highbury Theatre Centre aim to make 'em laugh with farce It Runs In The Family to open the new season wandering through horror and more laughs until the bigger buns arrive for Calendar Girls More

Sutton Arts open their new season with The Girl on the Train and head through spies and laughs, drama and despair on their way to a classy musical finale with Funny Girl More

Smash hit Girl from the North Country, set to the music of Bob Dylan arrives in Birmingham next month. More

 

Performing arts

Archive 1 2

NEWS

FEATURES

The festive season is upon us and theatres are grearing up for the festive season with pantos and family shows for the Christmas season and here is a directory of some of the best shows of the season. More

Pantomime's origins, at least in name, stretch back more than 2,000 years, building through the middle ages, adding on an Italian import, finding there is nothing like a dame, and even incorporating mediaeval religion. That's Panto for you, Oh yes it is! More 

Victor Hugo's Les Misérables didn't have an easy ride at its launch as either a book, or  now smash hit musical. It runs at Birmingham Hippodrome in August 2022 and we look where it all started. More

IN THE DARK

When theatres were closed and dark.

  

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Theatrical gleanings

BLACK SABBATH and BRB are the unlikeliest of bedfellows to a collaboration on Black Sabbath - The Ballet is one of those landmark events theatre can throw up, a fascinating  prospect all made in Brum. More

BRB has set up a new company to give a chance to the best young ballet graduates from around the world including a UK tour of classical favourites. More

THE KING AND I returns to The Alexandra Theatre in February with Call the Midwife's Helen George as Anna and Broadway's Darren Lee as the king. More

 DREAMGIRLS ran at The Alexandra Theatre  to New Year's and here we talk to Brandon Lee Sears who plays Jimmy Early in the award winning musical. More.

THE OSMONDS has been the launchpad for The Alexandra Theatre's And They Call it Puppy Love fundraising appeal for Guide Dogs Midlands & East More

THE ALEXANDRA THEATRE will be hosting Dreamgirls over Christmas and four of the show's stars gave a preview of the show with a convert performance at the Alex. Watch it here

THE LOFT in Leamington Spa celebrates its centenary of performances this year and as part of the celebrations brought together one of our finest actors, David Bradley and the doyen of theatre critics, The Guardian's Michael Billlington, to reminisce and talk about al things theatre. More

HIGHBURY THEATRE CENTRE aim to make 'em laugh with farce It Runs In The Family to open the new season wandering through horror and more laughs until the bigger buns arrive for Calendar Girls More

 SUTTON ARTS open their new season in September with The Girl on the Train and head through spies and laughs, drama and despair on their way to a classy musical finale with Funny Girl to end the year. More

 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
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME: Dada Masilo has created a fusion of European and African dance and culture in The Sacrifice which arrives at Birmingham Hippodrome thus week. More
The festive season is upon us and theatres are grearing up for the festive season with pantos and family shows for the Christmas season and here is a directory of some of the best shows of the season. More
Pantomime's
origins, at least in name, stretch back more than 2,000 years, building through the middle ages, adding on an Italian import, finding there is nothing like a dame, and even incorporating mediaeval religion. That's Panto for you, Oh yes it is! More   
Birmingham Hippodrome: Victor Hugo's Les Misérables didn't have an easy ride at its launch as either a book, or  now smash hit musical. It runs at Birmingham Hippodrome in August 2022 and we look where it all started. More
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

 

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