All stories by John Murphy on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Coriolanus review at Crucible Theatre, Sheffield – ‘thrilling and timely’ by John Murphy

In 2017, Robert Hastie announced himself as the new artistic director of Sheffield Theatres with his inaugural production – a thrilling version

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:47AM
Thursday, March 5, 2020

Run Sister Run review at the Crucible Studio, Sheffield – ‘ingeniously structured new writing’ by John Murphy

It’s the start of a new era for Paines Plough. Charlotte Bennett and Katie Posner took over last year as joint artistic

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:56AM
Wednesday, March 4, 2020

The Glee Club review at Cast, Doncaster – ‘a tender exploration of male friendship’ by John Murphy

Richard Cameron’s The Glee Club was the first ever production at Doncaster’s Cast theatre in 2013, so it seems an appropriate venue

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:43AM
Monday, February 17, 2020

The Turn of the Screw review at Grand Theatre, Leeds – ‘exudes an air of menace’ by John Murphy

Benjamin Britten’s adaption of Henry James’ novella The Turn of the Screw presents a number of challenges to any director, not least

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:12AM
Monday, February 3, 2020

The Marriage of Figaro review at Leeds Grand Theatre – ‘joyous and witty’ by John Murphy

Mozart’s most famous opera has been staged so many times it’s difficult to see how much freshness can be brought to a

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:02AM
Thursday, January 30, 2020

Dr Korczak’s Example review at Leeds Playhouse – ‘timely revival of David Greig’s play’ by John Murphy

To coincide with International Holocaust Remembrance Day, James Brining revives his production of David Greig’s 2001 short play, Doctor Korczak’s Example. Brining’s

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:38AM
Thursday, December 19, 2019

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs review at Alhambra Theatre, Bradford – ‘Billy Pearce on especially entertaining form’ by John Murphy

Billy Pearce is as much as a Bradford institution as curry houses and wool mills. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 01:10PM
Monday, December 16, 2019

Cinderella review at Cast Theatre, Doncaster – ‘fun but formulaic’ by John Murphy

Doncaster’s Cast theatre’s pantomime has always been a more modest, small-scale production, eschewing celebrity casting and gimmicks and this year’s Cinderella is

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:32AM
Wednesday, November 27, 2019

The Wizard of Oz review at Leeds Playhouse – ‘will inspire a whole new generation to fall in love with Oz’ by John Murphy

It must be quite a challenge to stage something as iconic as The Wizard of Oz. How do you breathe new life

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 11:24AM

Jack and the Beanstalk review at Theatre Royal, Wakefield – ‘fun but overlong traditional panto’ by John Murphy

There can’t be too many pantomimes that begin with a Hamilton parody, but that’s exactly how Rhiannon Hannon’s production of Jack and

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:40AM
Thursday, November 14, 2019

My Mother Said I Never Should review at Crucible Studio, Sheffield – ‘a creative staging’ by John Murphy

Written in 1987 and performed many times since, Charlotte Keatley’s play has never been staged in the way that Sheffield Theatres and

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:42AM
Wednesday, October 16, 2019

La Boheme review at Grand Theatre, Leeds – ‘witty, poignant and enjoyable’ by John Murphy

Before she helmed the global hit Mamma Mia!, Phyllida Lloyd began her career as an opera director with Opera North in 1991.

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:13AM
Wednesday, October 2, 2019

The Last King of Scotland review at Crucible Theatre, Sheffield – ‘powerful, thought-provoking adaptation’ by John Murphy

An eccentric leader sweeps to power, promising to put his countrymen first. His leadership is initially welcomed with dancing in the streets,

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:55AM
Thursday, September 19, 2019

Reasons to Stay Alive review at Crucible Studio, Sheffield – ‘handled with skill and sensitivity’ by John Murphy

Just as there are ‘unfilmable’ novels, it’s difficult to imagine how Matt Haig’s Reasons to Stay Alive could be adapted for the

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:56AM
Tuesday, September 17, 2019

The Greek Passion review at Grand Theatre, Leeds – ‘accessible and affecting’ by John Murphy

Bohuslav Martinu’s The Greek Passion may be more than 60 years old, but its contemporary relevance is stinging. The Czech composer’s opera,

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:57AM
Wednesday, September 11, 2019

One Man, Two Guvnors review at Derby Theatre – ‘gloriously daft and highly entertaining’ by John Murphy

One Man, Two Guvnors may only be eight years old, but it feels like it’s been around a lot longer. Since its

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:49AM
Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Swallows and Amazons review at Theatre Royal, York – ‘witty and winsome score’ by John Murphy

Helen Edmundson’s musical adaptation of Arthur Ransome’s classic children’s novel Swallows and Amazons is proving to have quite a shelf life. Following

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 11:35AM
Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Life of Pi review at Crucible Theatre, Sheffield – ‘pure theatrical magic’ by John Murphy

It was hard to envisage how any theatremaker could possibly do justice to Yann Martel’s Booker-winning multimillion-selling novel about a boy named

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:59AM
Friday, May 17, 2019

Be My Baby review at Leeds Playhouse – ‘poignant and heartfelt performances’ by John Murphy

Even though Amanda Whittington’s play was written more than 20 years ago, and it’s set in the mid-1960s, there’s something eerily prescient

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:50AM
Friday, April 12, 2019

Around the World in 80 Days review at Leeds Playhouse – ‘an irreverent and unashamedly silly adaptation’ by John Murphy

Leeds Playhouse follows Amy Leach’s intense, sprawling production of Hamlet with Toby Hulse’s irreverent, pacy and unashamedly silly adaptation of Jules Verne’s

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 12:11PM
Thursday, March 21, 2019

Standing at the Sky’s Edge review at Crucible Theatre, Sheffield – ‘a glorious musical tribute to an iconic Sheffield building’ by John Murphy

Park Hill flats have stood over Sheffield for nearly 60 years, as much a part of the city’s history as steel, snooker

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:44AM
Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Hamlet review at Leeds Playhouse – ‘Tessa Parr is remarkable in inspired take on Shakespeare’s classic tragedy’ by John Murphy

It starts with a good-natured fencing battle. It ends with a slightly less good-natured fencing battle, with bodies strewn across the stage.

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:34AM
Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Hang review at Crucible Studio, Sheffield – ‘a taut, intense revival’ by John Murphy

Taio Lawson’s revival of Debbie Tucker Green’s 2015 play Hang is incredibly tense. The incessant hum of the air conditioning, the flickering

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:27AM
Monday, February 11, 2019

Random review at Leeds Playhouse – ‘superbly performed’ by John Murphy

7.37am. An alarm clock blares, a family stirs. It’s the start of another day, in which children complain about their burnt porridge

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:07AM
Friday, February 1, 2019

Review: The Department of Distractions at Sheffield Crucible by John Murphy

...sorry, where were we? John Murphy reviews Third Angel's detective story about distraction and misdirection. The post Review: The Department of Distractions at Sheffield Crucible appeared …

SOURCE: exeuntmagazine.com at 06:11AM
Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Review: Kiss Me, Kate at Sheffield Crucible by John Murphy

Raising the roof: John Murphy reviews Sheffield Crucible's slick and spectacular production of the Cole Porter classic. The post Review: Kiss Me, Kate at Sheffield Crucible appeared first on…

SOURCE: exeuntmagazine.com at 04:51AM
Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Robin Hood and the Babes in the Woods review at Cast, Doncaster – ‘fun festive treat’ by John Murphy

There’s a brand new pantomime team installed at Doncaster’s Cast and Ben Crocker and Chris Lawson have marked the occasion by mashing

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:19AM
Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Peter Pan review at Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield – ‘reliably delightful’ by John Murphy

Paul Hendy’s Christmas pantomimes have become something of a Sheffield institution, with Peter Pan marking his 12th consecutive production for the Lyceum.

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:03AM
Sunday, November 25, 2018

A Christmas Carol review at Leeds Playhouse – ‘Dickens with added panto cheer’ by John Murphy

It takes skill to inject freshness into A Christmas Carol. Yet Amy Leach has managed just that, by adding some pantomime elements

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 09:30AM
Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Review: Windows of Displacement at Sheffield Crucible by John Murphy

"Be a mother to another": John Murphy writes on Akeim Toussaint Buck's engaging and accessible solo dance piece on the diasporic experience. The post Review: Windows of Displacement at Sheff…

SOURCE: exeuntmagazine.com at 10:33AM
Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Europe review at Leeds Playhouse – ‘frighteningly relevant’ by John Murphy

  Leeds Playhouse’s pop-up season opened last month with Jim Cartwright’s Road, and the theme of community continues on a more global

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:09AM

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