All stories by Clare Brennan on BroadwayStars

Sunday, March 30, 2025

The week in theatre: The Women of Llanrumney; North By Northwest – review by Clare Brennan

Theatre Royal Stratford East, London; York Theatre Royal Azuka Oforka’s bold, ambitious play confronts the horrors of slavery, while Emma Rice takes on Hitchcock’s classic, sidelining su…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:36AM
Sunday, March 23, 2025

Wild Rose review – heart-grabbing musical of the Jessie Buckley-starring film by Clare Brennan

Royal Lyceum, EdinburghA Glasgow country-singing ex-con single mother dreams of the big time in Nicola Taylor’s new musical, directed by John Tiffany Rose-Lynn is twentysomething and wild,…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:48AM
Sunday, March 9, 2025

Edward II review – intrigue bows to spectacle in RSC’s tragic game of thrones by Clare Brennan

Swan theatre, Stratford-upon-AvonDaniel Raggett’s hit-and-miss Marlowe production has wonderful moments but errs on the side of excess in its staging of the king’s doomed love affair Edw…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:36AM
Sunday, March 2, 2025

Housemates review – a dynamic rock’n’roll riff on a global gamechanger in neurodivergent care by Clare Brennan

Sherman theatre, Cardiff The remarkable true story of how the resident of a Cardiff institution and a student revolutionised supported living is told with agit-prop energy and via superb per…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:48AM
Sunday, February 23, 2025

The Autobiography of a Cad review – a playful mockery of entitlement and greed by Clare Brennan

Watermill theatre, NewburyA fine, multitasking cast of three deliver laughs aplenty in Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s adaptation of a 1930s satire, though the cad’s true malice is lacking …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:42AM
Sunday, February 16, 2025

Escaped Alone and What If If Only review – a dislocating Caryl Churchill evening of two halves by Clare Brennan

Royal Exchange, ManchesterThese two short plays offer differing pleasures – one in the acting, the other in its subtle meditation on mourning Escaped Alone (2016) is first in this double b…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:42AM
Sunday, February 2, 2025

We Will Hear the Angels review – five characters in search of connection by Clare Brennan

Fruitmarket, Edinburgh Multi-art form company Magnetic North celebrate 25 years with a drifting musical journey that moves from isolation to belonging Scottish theatre company Magnetic North…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:36AM
Sunday, January 26, 2025

A Man for All Seasons review – Martin Shaw excels in Robert Bolt’s timeless Tudor morality play by Clare Brennan

Theatre Royal BathShaw conveys both the public and private Thomas More in a period-perfect if patchy production of Bolt’s 1960 play of power and corruption A “monstrous baby whom none da…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:24PM
Sunday, January 19, 2025

La Pendue: La Manékine review: puppets and dreams create an utterly strange fairytale by Clare Brennan

The Pit, Barbican, LondonFrench company La Pendue’s MimeLondon curtain-raiser reimagines a Brothers Grimm tale with puppets and a one-man band The poet Pierre Quillard, defending the symbo…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:06AM
Sunday, January 12, 2025

Twelfth Night review – a musically uplifting, concept-heavy RSC production by Clare Brennan

Royal Shakespeare theatre, Stratford-upon-AvonShakespeare’s fleet-footed romance is somewhat constrained by Prasanna Puwanarajah’s direction, yet there are memorable moments Life and dea…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:06PM
Sunday, December 22, 2024

Aladdin review – wishes do come true by Clare Brennan

Stephen Joseph theatre, ScarboroughA stand-in Genie saves the day in a magical production of the age-old story that has audience members young and old suspending disbelief Audience participa…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:24AM
Sunday, December 15, 2024

The Borrowers review – Mary Norton’s classic brought to vivid little-and-large life by Clare Brennan

Hull Truck TheatreThe audience sees above and below the floorboards – with a little help from puppets – as Mark Babych’s production cleverly plays with scale A family forced to flee th…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:54AM
Sunday, December 1, 2024

The Three Musketeers review – a swashbuckler without a dramatic cutting edge by Clare Brennan

New Vic theatre, Newcastle-under-LymeTheresa Heskins’s Dumas adaptation provides fantastic action yet reduces the scheming servant Milady to a plot device Flashing swords, swirling capes a…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:24AM
Sunday, November 24, 2024

The Sound of Music review – a joyous blast of song and hope that speaks to today by Clare Brennan

Pitlochry Festival theatreThis captivating production of the evergreen musical is a fitting swansong from Pitlochry’s outgoing artistic director, Elizabeth Newman Light breaks through dark…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:36AM
Sunday, November 10, 2024

Kenrex review – co-writer Jack Holden plays an entire town in ‘true’ crime thriller by Clare Brennan

Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse, SheffieldHolden and Ed Stambollouian’s one-man drama based on a real-life murder in 80s America uses film tropes to great effect – but it plays with the fac…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:12AM
Sunday, November 3, 2024

Summer 1954 review – Rattigan double bill packs an intellectual and emotional punch by Clare Brennan

Theatre Royal, BathMen struggling to hide their feelings are uncloaked in James Dacre’s astute revival of the playwright’s Table Number Seven and The Browning Version Director James Dacr…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:06AM
Sunday, October 27, 2024

The New Real review – the spin doctors fight it out in David Edgar’s sweeping political satire by Clare Brennan

The Other Place, Stratford-upon-AvonTwo American strategists compete to influence an eastern European election in a nuanced new play that suffers from tackling too many subjects In the 21st …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:18AM
Sunday, October 20, 2024

Becoming Nancy review – 70s-set coming-out musical radiates optimism by Clare Brennan

Birmingham RepTerry Ronald’s true-life tale of a bullied gay teenager who prevails in the school production of Oliver! is performed with affecting verve Today, Terry Ronald is a successful…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:06AM
Sunday, October 13, 2024

Reverberation review – Matthew López’s romcom is rooted in violence and rejection by Clare Brennan

Bristol Old VicFussy filmic visuals hobble fine performances in the European premiere of the Inheritance writer’s study of three characters struggling for connection London-based American …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:06PM
Sunday, October 6, 2024

Bright Lights Over Bentilee review – UFO show shines a light on Stoke by Clare Brennan

The Dipping House, Stoke-on-TrentClaybody Theatre’s show about a famed flying saucer sighting on a housing estate is whimsical fun Back in 1967, the most extraordinary thing about Bentilee…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:18AM
Sunday, September 29, 2024

Angela Carter’s The Company of Wolves review – a moving variation on Red Riding Hood by Clare Brennan

New Vic theatre, Newcastle-under-LymeChoreography accentuates the otherness of the creatures in a fluid take on the dark coming-of-age fable Form thrillingly matches content in this new stag…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:12PM

The Lieutenant of Inishmore review – savage sectarian satire that lacks real bite by Clare Brennan

Everyman, LiverpoolMartin McDonagh’s black comedy about a violent republican terrorist can feel like a parody of 007 in its action but it is hard to be stirred by the dully repetitive scen…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:12PM
Sunday, September 22, 2024

Romeo and Juliet review – diversity doubles the power of Shakespeare’s tragedy by Clare Brennan

Shakespeare North Playhouse, PrescotA cast of deaf, disabled and neurodivergent actors throw new light on the star-crossed lovers in Graeae’s uneven yet often thrilling show Actors appear,…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:32AM
Sunday, September 15, 2024

Show & Tell review – Alan Ayckbourn’s clever, very funny 90th play by Clare Brennan

Stephen Joseph theatre, ScarboroughA ‘sprightly comedy’ isn’t all it seems in this beautifully performed drama, which the playwright directs On one level, Alan Ayckbourn’s 90th play …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:24AM
Sunday, September 1, 2024

Stones in His Pockets review – immersive revival of the rural Ireland film shoot tragicomedy by Clare Brennan

Barn theatre, CirencesterMarie Jones’s 1996 hit play is given a spectacular, Hollywood-style makeover by her son Matthew McElhinney, though the momentum of the drama suffers Throw a stone …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:54AM
Sunday, August 25, 2024

Bedroom Farce review – deliciously funny production of Ayckbourn’s 1975 classic by Clare Brennan

The Mill at Sonning, ReadingA fine ensemble cast deliver plenty of laughs and more in Robin Herford’s terrific production of the playwright’s intertwined tale of three couples Reviewing …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:54AM
Sunday, August 18, 2024

The Birthday Party – Pinter’s strangeness reframed by Clare Brennan

Ustinov Studio, BathDirector Richard Jones tries to capture the menace felt by the play’s first audiences, but the result is overmannered Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party was almost un…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:30AM
Sunday, August 4, 2024

Alice in Wonderland review – a perfect promenade show for children by Clare Brennan

Williamson Park, LancasterAndrew Pollard turns Lewis Carroll’s classic into a delightful quest, tirelessly acted and cleverly designed We are sitting in a wooded dell, ranged on felled tre…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:30AM
Sunday, July 28, 2024

Barnum review – dazzling all-singing, all-juggling musical by Clare Brennan

Watermill theatre, NewburyThere are somersaults, pivots and tumbles aplenty in this gleeful tribute to the 19th-century circus showman turned politician Barnum dances a tightrope between con…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:06AM
Sunday, July 21, 2024

Galway international arts festival: Reunion; Endgame – review by Clare Brennan

Black Box; Town Hall theatre, GalwayA family reunion unravels with viciousness and humour in Mark O’Rowe’s new play. And Garry Hynes’s searing direction makes Beckett new Since it laun…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:18AM
Sunday, July 14, 2024

The School for Scandal review – a triumph of style over substance by Clare Brennan

Royal Shakespeare theatre, Stratford-upon-AvonSheridan’s comedy of manners is given an all too knowing makeover in Tinuke Craig’s fitfully amusing new production Richard Brinsley Sherida…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:32AM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Nov 17, 2024: Elf - Marquis Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre