All stories by Louise Penn on BroadwayStars

Saturday, November 6, 2021

‘The tension builds because we cannot see anything’: Some of Us Exist in the Future (Online review) by Louise Penn

One of the three Papatango New Writing prize-winning audio plays now available to listen to at a theatre near you, Nkenna Akunna’s Some of Us Exist in the Future is an ambitious piece whic…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 08:00AM
Wednesday, November 3, 2021

‘It’s a lesson about making assumptions’: ALBATROSS – Playground Theatre by Louise Penn

Isley Lynn’s complex and clever play, albatross, is revived by the represent theatre company as the first of two productions in their inaugural season. The stage at the Playground T…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 08:00AM
Wednesday, October 27, 2021

‘Nothing is held back or sugar-coated’: A PLACE FOR WE – Park Theatre by Louise Penn

The setting is one building in Brixton. The subject is tradition, family, community and change. A cast of four men and two women bring the play to life.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Monday, October 18, 2021

‘Black, bleak & ultimately deeply moving’: THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE – Lyric Hammersmith by Louise Penn

Martin McDonagh’s black comedy piece, co-produced by Chichester Festival Theatre and the Lyric Hammersmith, proves to be a deeper exploration of family conflict and secrets than his The Li…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Why shouldn’t you hate musicals? Adam Lenson’s new book Breaking Into Song has the answer by Louise Penn

Director Adam Lenson has something to say about musicals. In this essential text for theatre lovers, he challenges your perceptions of what a musical can, is, and might be.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Friday, October 8, 2021

‘A lot of potential’: GOING THE DISTANCE — Lawrence Batley Theatre (Online) by Louise Penn

Theatres were in trouble over the whole of 2020, and many are still waiting for audiences to return to their pre-pandemic levels.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Saturday, September 11, 2021

‘The musical we perhaps all need’: COME FROM AWAY – Apple TV+ (Online review) by Louise Penn

On 11 September 2021, it will mark the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. To commemorate the anniversary, Apple TV+ has filmed a performance of …

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Thursday, September 9, 2021

‘Literal shivers down the spine’: FALLING IN LOVE WITH MR DELLAMORT (Online review) by Louise Penn

Any new musical must bring cause for celebration, and so I approached this one with some interest. First planned as a stage production and billed as “the world’s first theremin musical�…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Wednesday, September 8, 2021

‘A completely successful piece of digital theatre’: WALDEN – Cinemas Nationwide (Online review) by Louise Penn

Twin sisterhood, space, and the uncertain near future are at play in Amy Berryman’s debut play, Walden, which recently enjoyed a run on stage as part of the Re:Emerge season at the Harold …

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Saturday, September 4, 2021

‘Stylish, visceral & very contemporary’: SALOMÉ – Southwark Playhouse (Online review) by Louise Penn

Currently running in stage in the Little at Southwark Playhouse, Lazarus Theatre’s version of Oscar Wilde’s Salomé proves to be a daring, electric, and exhausting feat of theatre.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Friday, September 3, 2021

‘Unapologetically both theatrical drama & a tense piece of work adapted for the screen’: THE SYSTEM (Online review) by Louise Penn

Paul is dead, killed at his own party. Everyone is a suspect, and most of them had a motive. Written and performed by Emily Head, directed by Guy Unsworth, The System is filmed live in one t…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:00AM
Monday, August 30, 2021

‘Definitely picks up the spirit of the era’: WARHOL: BULLET KARMA – Edinburgh Fringe (Online review) by Louise Penn

Garry Roost’s play Warhol: Bullet Karma focuses on the events around his shooting by Valerie Solanas (this ground was covered from a more feminist perspective in Femme Fatale).

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Sunday, August 29, 2021

‘Takes care to balance the comical & tragical with flair’: LOST IN LOVE – Edinburgh Fringe (Online review) by Louise Penn

Lost in Love is a new play presented by Flow Stage Productions. A brash and funny lady, Emily (Rachel Pryde) has something to tell about her life and the men in it.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:00AM
Saturday, August 28, 2021

‘A strong performance in a play which will entertain film buffs’: Bette Davis Ain’t For Sissies – Edinburgh Fringe (Online review) by Louise Penn

Bette Davis Ain’t For Sissies (the title refers to a Davis quote of some years later about old age) references the women’s lot in the Golden Age of Hollywood – exploitative auditions, …

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:00AM
Friday, August 27, 2021

‘A good balance of humour & compassion’: TILL LOVE DO US PART – Edinburgh Fringe (Online review) ★★★★ by Louise Penn

Till Love Do Us Part isn’t one of the flashiest productions on the digital fringe in terms of its technical style, but the writing carries it through.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Thursday, August 26, 2021

‘Inventive & funny’: PLANET OF THE GRAPES – Edinburgh Fringe (Online review) by Louise Penn

Over on the ZOOTV platform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, you’ll find Planet of the Grapes, a delicious livestream performed live in New York City. I’m told that on Sunday the city wa…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Wednesday, August 25, 2021

‘Beautifully written show’: MARIE LLOYD STOLE MY LIFE – Camden Fringe ★★★★★ by Louise Penn

Marie Lloyd Stole My Life is a beautifully written show, full of pathos and conjuring up the mores and expectations of the time – notably, both Power and Lloyd died prematurely, which high…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Monday, August 23, 2021

‘Accomplished & memorable’: Suffragettes – Edinburgh Fringe (Online review) ★★★★★ by Louise Penn

Nuworks Theatre, from Australia, bring their lively and passionate musical (written, directed and designed by David Dunn, with choreography by Meg Dunn) about the fight for women’s suffrag…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:00AM
Sunday, August 22, 2021

‘Intrigues from the first frame’: EAST BELFAST BOY – Edinburgh Fringe (Online review) ★★★★ by Louise Penn

East Belfast Boy intrigues from the first frame, and lends itself perfectly to the new format, redefining the boundaries between disparate art forms.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:00AM
Saturday, August 21, 2021

‘Shrewd, sensitive & sad’: CALL ME ELIZABETH – Edinburgh Fringe (Online review) ★★★★ by Louise Penn

In Call Me Elizabeth Kayla Boye takes on the difficult task of writing about, and portraying the icon which was Elizabeth Taylor (1932-2011). Just like Marilyn Monroe, you feel you already k…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Friday, August 20, 2021

‘It’s all sharp, funny & on point’: DEAD RINGERS – London Wonderground by Louise Penn

Celebrating 21 years as a hit radio show, the Dead Ringers team – in this case, Jon Culshaw, Debra Stephenson and Duncan Wisbey – have taken up a late August residency in the Big Top ven…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM

‘So many moments which are brilliantly put together’: THE ENTERTAINMENT – Edinburgh Fringe (Online review) ★★★★ by Louise Penn

Originally planned to be performed live at Summerhall, Katie Bonna’s audio play, The Entertainment, is “about what we carry around inside us”.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:00AM
Wednesday, August 18, 2021

‘Emotional & fearless’: THE TARANTULA – Edinburgh Fringe (Online review) ★★★★ by Louise Penn

Written and performed by Patricia Légaré Eddisford, The Tarantula is just under an hour of monologue, a story that transcends its one-room location.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:00AM

‘Rarely falters’: MEET CUTE – Camden Fringe ★★★★ by Louise Penn

Quackpot Productions has brought fresh and quirky show Meet Cute to the Camden Fringe, in which Tim and Gill’s budding romance goes anything but smoothly.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:00AM
Monday, August 16, 2021

‘A real highlight of the digital fringe’: FOW – Edinburgh Fringe (Online review) ★★★★ by Louise Penn

Streaming now on the Summerhall Online platform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Fow is a very clever and engaging love story from a deaf-led perspective.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:00AM
Friday, August 13, 2021

‘Captures the people perfectly’: BIG BIG SKY – Hampstead Theatre by Louise Penn

Not a lot happens, yet everything happens, as Big Big Sky’s premise is about ordinary people living ordinary lives. Under Tessa Walker’s direction – she has collaborated with Wells bef…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Thursday, August 12, 2021

‘Very much of its time’: NANA & PAIGE – Edinburgh Fringe (Online review) by Louise Penn

Filmed entirely on Zoom, whether depicting calls or trips in the car or out into the garden. Regina Frod’s production of Nana and Paige is now streaming in the Online@TheSpace platform at …

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 01:00PM
Tuesday, August 10, 2021

‘Clever piece of digital theatre’: Captain Condom & the Covid-19 Conundrum – Camden Fringe (Online review) by Louise Penn

Captain Condom & the Covid-19 Conundrum masks a very serious message about sexual awareness and education in a funny show utilising the superhero theme.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Monday, August 9, 2021

‘Full of emotional twists & turns’: PUSH – Edinburgh Fringe (Online review) ★★★★ by Louise Penn

Now streaming at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on the Pleasance Online platform, Popelei presents PUSH, a filmed theatre piece about a woman and a pregnancy test. The language is weird, stat…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 01:00PM

‘Very moving’: LEAR ALONE – And Tomorrow Theatre Company (Online review) by Louise Penn

In partnership with Crisis, the And Tomorrow Theatre Company has developed a quintet of plays (Abdictation, Dissolution, Isolation, Desolation) which take Shakespeare’s King Lear as inspir…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:00AM
Sunday, August 8, 2021

‘Really explores what is possible in the online medium’: ITHACA – Edinburgh Fringe (Online review) ★★★★★ by Louise Penn

Currently streaming on the Fringe Player platform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Ithaca is a one-person stage to screen version of The Odyssey.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 01:00PM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards