All stories by Chris Wiegand on BroadwayStars

Friday, July 26, 2024

Rough Magic review – zany riff on Macbeth bewitches young audience by Chris Wiegand

Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, London Gleefully batty caper finds one of the weird sisters in hot cauldron water after making reckless promises of a very bright future to a passing …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:18AM
Sunday, July 21, 2024

Red Speedo review – moral dilemmas and personal fears surface in doping drama by Chris Wiegand

Orange Tree theatre, LondonFinn Cole plays swimmer Ray, whose life enters choppy waters when performance-enhancing drugs are discovered at his club A pair of swimming briefs is quite the cos…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:24PM
Friday, July 19, 2024

‘It’s mind-blowing for me’: Boris Charmatz on leading Pina Bausch’s Tanztheater Wuppertal by Chris Wiegand

The French choreographer took over Bausch’s dance company in 2022. He never met his hero, but explains how their histories have entwined In 2023, the German choreographer Pina Bausch’s g…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:02PM

Close Up review – zoom in on a sporty dance of cool control by Chris Wiegand

Opéra Grand, AvignonNoé Soulier’s new piece has six dancers, five musicians and one fixed camera which picks out details from individual and entwined figures For his new creation, French…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:48AM
Thursday, July 18, 2024

Forever (Immersion dans Café Müller de Pina Bausch) review – a heartbreaking redux by Chris Wiegand

La FabricA, AvignonBausch’s 1978 classic is presented six times, interspersed with memories of the performers, in this epic treatment by Boris Charmatz Since Pina Bausch’s death 15 years…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:02PM

La Vie Secrète des Vieux review – older people reveal the full glory of their sex lives by Chris Wiegand

Chartreuse de Villeneuve, AvignonThere is gallows humour and unzipped ribaldry as a mischievous group share stories that are joyful, tender and sometimes eye-watering Warning! The people in …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:54AM
Sunday, July 14, 2024

The Paddington Bear Experience review – the Marmalade Day jamboree must go on! by Chris Wiegand

County Hall, LondonVisitors get stuck in when they enter the world of 32 Windsor Gardens, thanks to a merry immersive show boasting hands-on games and evocative design touches Michael Bond�…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:42AM
Thursday, July 11, 2024

‘Dream come true’: Elizabeth Newman to be Sheffield Theatres’ artistic director by Chris Wiegand

After six years at Pitlochry, the admired director known for ‘big-hearted theatre work’ takes reins at major producing centre Sheffield Theatres have appointed Elizabeth Newman as artist…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:02AM
Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Grud review – sliding floors as teenager’s two worlds collide by Chris Wiegand

Hampstead theatre, LondonIn Sarah Power’s emotionally acute three-hander, 17-year-old Bo struggles to keep her father’s alcoholism a secret from her new college friend It’s a familiar …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:48AM
Monday, July 8, 2024

Edinburgh festival 2024: 12 tips for families by Chris Wiegand

With manga circus, a Jaffa Cake musical, silly science and a llama adventure, there is something to entertain audiences of all ages this summer The jaw-dropping, dreamlike animations of 1927…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:02PM
Friday, July 5, 2024

Acrobats on a bridge, dance in the cathedral: Lausanne’s free festival of priceless performance by Chris Wiegand

Audiences step out of their comfort zone at this annual extravaganza in the historic old town of the Swiss city, where the shows are staged in eye-catching settings Lausanne has been the off…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:06PM
Monday, July 1, 2024

The best theatre to stream this month: Shakespeare v the Tories, Mel C’s dance show and more by Chris Wiegand

This month’s picks include a Starlight Express intro for kids, a rollicking wedding play at the National and an explosive hour of dance Micheál Mac Liammóir’s 1960 solo show interweave…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:18AM
Friday, June 28, 2024

O, Canada! The Bard is ribbed and revered at Ontario’s Stratford festival by Chris Wiegand

The side-splitting Something Rotten! fondly mocks Shakespeare and musicals at the annual arts jamboree celebrated for both. It is a witty accompaniment to fresh takes on Romeo and Juliet, Tw…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:06PM
Thursday, June 27, 2024

Mean Girls review – Tina Fey’s high-school classic gets musical spin for the Insta era by Chris Wiegand

Savoy theatre, London Plastics and fellow students give high-grade performances but the songs and production don’t get quite enough As It’s 20 years since Tina Fey’s sharp-tongued tale…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:24PM
Friday, June 21, 2024

Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey to play Richard II on London stage by Chris Wiegand

Nicholas Hytner has shared details of his forthcoming production, which will give the actor his highest profile Shakespeare role to date Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey is to play Richard II …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:32AM
Monday, June 3, 2024

Jodie Whittaker returns to London stage to play The Duchess by Chris Wiegand

The Doctor Who star’s performance coincides with David Tennant’s Macbeth and Ncuti Gatwa appearing in The Importance of Being Earnest Jodie Whittaker is returning to the stage for the fi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:36AM

The Colour of Dinosaurs review – fascinating family show with raptor-ous revelations by Chris Wiegand

Polka theatre, LondonPalaeontologist Jakob Vinther joins a lively group of musicians for this gig-theatre production based on his groundbreaking research Adaptations are a safe bet in childr…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:12AM
Friday, May 31, 2024

The best theatre to stream this month: David Suchet’s Poirot secrets, Oklahoma! and more by Chris Wiegand

This month’s roundup includes the versatile actor’s 75th birthday show, Succession’s Harriet Walter playing Lorca’s matriarch and supreme showman Hugh Jackman in the classic musical …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:24PM
Monday, May 27, 2024

Exit, pursued by a panda: the Brits bringing eye-popping Shakespeare to the Baltics by Chris Wiegand

The Winter’s Tale is retold with a virtual reality plot set in Silicon Valley and hardly any lines from the original, staged at a bold Latvian theatre elevating English talent John Malkovi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:03AM
Monday, May 20, 2024

The Artist review – peppy stage show adds volume to silent cinema hit by Chris Wiegand

Theatre Royal PlymouthDrew McOnie’s version of the Oscar-winner is a visual treat, with expressive physical movement, lustrous dance routines – and an irrepressibly waggy puppet dog Ligh…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:02PM
Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Succession’s J Smith-Cameron to star opposite Mark Rylance in Juno and the Paycock by Chris Wiegand

Actors to play the lead roles in Matthew Warchus’s centenary West End revival of Seán O’Casey’s Irish civil war classic Sarah Snook has just finished her London theatre run in The Pic…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:24AM

The House Party review – teenage debauchery brings Strindberg to Saltburn by Chris Wiegand

Minerva theatre, ChichesterWrithing and retching while sandwiched between spectators, revellers navigate class, sex and power at Miss Julie’s 18th birthday celebration The Minerva’s last…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:24AM
Friday, May 3, 2024

Lily Allen to star in new version of Hedda Gabler ‘absolutely for now’ by Chris Wiegand

Matthew Dunster, who directed Allen in her West End debut 2:22: A Ghost Story, will write and direct the show for Bath’s Ustinov Studio next year Lily Allen is to play Hedda Gabler in a ne…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:18AM

Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith announce stage version of Inside No 9 by Chris Wiegand

The pair, whose final season of the hit horror-comedy will air on the BBC this month, say the West End production will feature familiar characters and fresh surprises As the ninth and final …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:18AM
Thursday, May 2, 2024

Sweat review – chilling vision of a divided, alienated America by Chris Wiegand

Royal Exchange theatre, ManchesterThis timely return of Lynn Nottage’s 2015 play that anticipated Trump’s presidency has powerful performances despite never finding the right rhythm Alth…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:32AM
Wednesday, May 1, 2024

The best theatre to stream this month: The Little Big Things, David Tennant in Good and more by Chris Wiegand

Musicals, Shakespeare and multiple versions of Nick Payne’s multiverse drama Constellations are among May’s digital theatre highlights One of the most celebrated new British musicals in …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:54AM
Monday, April 29, 2024

Ncuti Gatwa cast in National Theatre production of The Importance of Being Earnest by Chris Wiegand

Doctor Who star will play Algernon in the ‘hilariously subversive’ comedy, said artistic director Rufus Norris Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa is to make his debut at the National Theatre in…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:02AM
Tuesday, April 2, 2024

The best theatre to stream this month: Jekyll & Hyde, Daniel Kitson’s Tree and more by Chris Wiegand

Forbes Masson stars in Gary McNair’s version of the gothic novella, Tim Key joins Kitson in an Old Vic two-hander and Jason Manford celebrates all musicals great and small Robert Louis Ste…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:36AM
Monday, March 25, 2024

Andrew Scott wins best actor at Critics’ Circle theatre awards by Chris Wiegand

Irish actor awarded prize for playing every role in Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, following his win at Critics’ Circle film awards Andrew Scott has been named best actor at the Critics’ Circl…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:18AM

‘Magic to do – just for you’: the miracle of Stephen Schwartz’s musical Pippin by Chris Wiegand

A 50th-anniversary concert in London celebrates the unlikely show about the son of a holy Roman emperor that became one of Broadway’s biggest hits In the 2019 bio-series Fosse/Verdon, Sam …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:02AM
Thursday, March 21, 2024

Ian McKellen’s Player Kings to tour England by Chris Wiegand

The play, adapted by Robert Icke from both parts of Henry IV, stars McKellen as John Falstaff for the first time in his career and will take in Bristol, Birmingham and Newcastle after its We…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:02AM

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