All stories by Louise Penn on BroadwayStars

Monday, April 5, 2021

‘Strangers can share the most profound things’: OPEN MIC – Soho Theatre (Online review) by Louise Penn

This is a curious show: announced as a semi-improvised production with audience participation, Open Mic is streamed live from the Soho Theatre’s Cabaret Space.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Saturday, April 3, 2021

‘Feels very much of the here & now’: IN PLAIN SIGHT – Different Theatre (Online review) by Louise Penn

In Plain Sight is a surreal piece which toys with the expectations of both a digital ‘theatre’ piece and the historical characters it depicts.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Friday, April 2, 2021

‘Uneasy watch, but a necessary one’: THE LESSON (Online review) by Louise Penn

At slightly under 40 minutes, The Lesson has moments which are both hilarious and educational, as well as making the audience think about the truly shocking messages being discussed.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Thursday, April 1, 2021

‘Colourful & bright tale’: JABALA & THE JINN – Belgrade Theatre, Coventry (Online review) by Louise Penn

Jabala & The Jinn is a piece of drama which explores complex themes on growing up, honesty, and friendship.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Wednesday, March 31, 2021

‘A work of art in its own right’: FLAVOUR TEXT – Chronic Insanity (Online review) by Louise Penn

Flavour Text is the fourth show in Chronic Insanity’s 12×12 project for 2021. A browser-based game in which clues are followed to solve a mystery, it follows previous shows Means of Produ…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Thursday, March 25, 2021

‘Viewpoints sorely needed’: HEAR ME ROAR – Burn Bright (Online review) by Louise Penn

An excellent set of seven short plays made their debut on Monday night in a Zoom presentation called Hear Me Roar, produced by Burn Bright.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 12:00PM
Wednesday, March 24, 2021

‘Deeply effective & emotionally engaging’: BKLYN THE MUSICAL – Lambert Jackson Productions (Online review) by Louise Penn

BKLYN the Musical is assured, confident and dynamic, while staying true to its source material. I thoroughly enjoyed its innovation, cleverness and attention to detail.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 10:00AM
Monday, March 22, 2021

‘The music is magical & the visuals impressive’: DREAM – Royal Shakespeare Company (Online review) by Louise Penn

Dream, using motion capture of actors, animation, music and some audience interaction, is not an adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but is inspired by the forest presented within it.…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Sunday, March 21, 2021

‘Never flags in its delivery or pace’: WHERE THE BUGABOO LIVES – Little Angel Theatre (Online review) by Louise Penn

Where The Bugaboo Lives is the Little Angel’s first Zoom production, performed live. It joins the productions which have been available for free on their YouTube channel during theatre clo…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 10:00AM
Saturday, March 20, 2021

‘An innovative & imaginative piece’: CURSE OF THE CRACKLES – Shoreditch Town Hall (Online review) by Louise Penn

The world premiere of “the great sonic adventure” Curse of the Crackles proves to be 45 minutes of utter fun. Find yourself a dark space or wear an eye mask, plug in your headphones, and…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Friday, March 19, 2021

‘The music is absolutely beautiful’: LOVE IN THE LOCKDOWN (Online review) by Louise Penn

A web series from medieval music group The Telling, written and produced by their artistic director Clare Norburn; the third episode of Love in the Lockdown will land on YouTube on 23 March …

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 10:00AM
Tuesday, March 16, 2021

‘A narrative that entertains & educates’: JINA & THE STEM SISTERS – HMDT Music (Online review) by Louise Penn

Jina and the STEM Sisters is the story of young aspiring scientist Jina, who meets key women from the fields of Science, Tech, Engineering and Maths (STEM) as she tries to find her way home.…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 12:00PM
Tuesday, March 9, 2021

‘Pulling back the layers’: BIRDS & BEES – Theatre Centre (Online review) by Louise Penn

A production of the Theatre Centre, in association with Soho Theatre, Birds and Bees is an important new dramatic addition to the discussion around sexting, consent, and “revenge porn”.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Thursday, March 4, 2021

‘A light touch & a dose of laughter’: FABLES AT THE KITCHEN TABLE – Stute Theatre (Online review) by Louise Penn

Soph is a storyteller, sharing tales from Aesop’s Fables to a virtual audience of school groups on Zoom. Fables at the Kitchen Table is the latest show from Stute Theatre, aimed at childre…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Wednesday, March 3, 2021

‘Intriguing piece’: 24, 23, 22 – Chronic Insanity (Online review) by Louise Penn

24, 23, 22, the latest production from theatre whizzes Chronic Insanity runs about 48 minutes, and is viewed across two devices (computer and phone).

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Tuesday, March 2, 2021

‘Not simply a journey through history’: The Road to Prominence / Break Free – Thespie (Online review) by Louise Penn

Thespie has launched its newest concerts in celebration of Black musicians and composers, and of LGBTQIA+ performers. These are now available on demand, and their proceeds go to Black Lives …

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Sunday, February 28, 2021

‘A entertaining confection in the old Broadway style’: DADDY LONG LEGS – Boulevard Productions (Online theatre) by Louise Penn

Daddy Long Legs is an entertaining confection in the old Broadway style, filmed before an audience at the Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, and presented by Boulevard Productions.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Wednesday, February 24, 2021

‘Your chance to boogie in the stars’: HOTLINE – Tron Theatre (Online review) by Louise Penn

A new audio experience from Tron Theatre and Produced Moon, Hotline is an interactive piece over the telephone, concerning a call to the Moon.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Tuesday, February 23, 2021

‘Each performance is well worth seeing’: SECRET SOCIETY OF LEADING LADIES – Barn Theatre (Online review) by Louise Penn

The Secret Society of Leading Ladies is the latest initiative from the Barn Theatre and it gives you, the viewer, the power to create your own concert.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Monday, February 22, 2021

‘Simply unmissable’: THE COLOR PURPLE – Curve Leicester (Online review) by Louise Penn

I have loved both book and film of The Color Purple for as long as I can remember. Alice Walker’s novel of strong black females in an America which sees them as not just second-class citiz…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Saturday, February 20, 2021

‘Perhaps the best one yet’: The Theatre Channel – Episode 5 The Classics of Broadway (Online review) by Louise Penn

We are now into a third lockdown, but the Theatre Cafe and Adam Blanshay Productions continue undeterred with the Theatre Channel’s musical theatre spectaculars.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Friday, February 19, 2021

‘A hard-hitting fusion of text, images & sound’: AND BREATHE – Living Record Festival (Online review) by Louise Penn

Twelve minutes is the average lifespan of a plastic bag, we are told at the start of Mark Conway and Alex Packer’s hard-hitting fusion of text, images and sound, And Breathe.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Wednesday, February 17, 2021

‘Beautifully written & engagingly performed’: ALL ON HER OWN – stream.theatre (Online review) by Louise Penn

All On Her Own is an unusual monologue which holds the attention throughout; although perhaps the borderline hysterics of the original version are ultimately truer to the play as written.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Sunday, February 14, 2021

‘Amusing look at love in lockdown’: VALENTINE’S SKETCH SHOW – Northern Comedy Theatre (Online review) by Louise Penn

The material in Valentine’s Sketch Show feels a little rough at times, but when things click and the company runs with it, you do have a giggle. However, Northern Comedy Theatre (ba…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:30AM
Saturday, February 13, 2021

‘A quirky addition to the ‘shows at home’ space’: MANIMALS (Online review) by Louise Penn

Michelle Hudson’s love life is the anchor on which this “NSFW” Zoom show and online app is tethered. Manimals is an interactive show/online game presented as a workshop launch for a ne…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Friday, February 12, 2021

‘Now & again a synergy of performance, tech & location is achieved’: ROMEO & JULIET (Online review) by Louise Penn

This Romeo and Juliet is an inclusive and diverse production which should please those who wish to see something taking technological risks with a classic piece.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Thursday, February 11, 2021

‘It pulls back the curtain to look beyond the headlines’: MUM CAN YOU HEAR ME? – Living Record estival (Online review) by Louise Penn

Streaming as part of the Living Record Festival, this audio play by Bernadett Szabo, for Peripeteia Theatre Company takes inspiration from the recent people trafficking scandal resulting in …

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Saturday, February 6, 2021

‘Keeps enquiring minds entertained & educated along the way’: THIS NOISY ISLE – Living Record Festival (Online review) by Louise Penn

Streaming as part of the Living Record Festival, This Noisy Isle is an audio drama for children based on The Tempest with stories and activities, a prologue, four tracks and story packs. …

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Friday, February 5, 2021

‘This is as honest as it gets’: A BLOODY SHAMBLES – Living Record Festival (Online review) by Louise Penn

This 20-minute audio play is written, performed and sound-designed by Ella Dorman-Gajic. A Bloody Shambles shares a day in the life of Jess, who suffers from both heavy flow and period pover…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Thursday, February 4, 2021

From online festivals to streaming platforms, here’s a digital theatre catch-up to lift your spirits by Louise Penn

Welcome to our first 2021 round-up of digital shows available for you to watch in the next few weeks. From large-scale musicals to Zoom experiences, student showcases to the Bard, fi…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Tuesday, February 2, 2021

‘The friendly chemistry zips off the screen’: FALLING STARS – Union Theatre (Online review) by Louise Penn

Falling Stars, a loving musical tribute to the great songwriters of the first three decades of the 20th century, is now streaming for a second time on stream.theatre.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM

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
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 01, 2025: Glengarry Glen Ross
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre
TBA: Titanic