All stories by Mark Fisher on BroadwayStars

Monday, July 25, 2022

Romeo and Juliet review – a fierce and physical attraction by Mark Fisher

Grosvenor Park Open Air theatre, ChesterThe friskiness of title characters Samuel Awoyo and Joëlle Brabban is matched by the punchy assurance of their delivery Juliet is on her balcony in a…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:18AM
Wednesday, July 20, 2022

The Stamping Ground review – windswept romance set to the music of Runrig by Mark Fisher

Eden Court, InvernessTensions run high and relationships are tested in this poetic tale of love, community – and the threat of final orders Turns out the qualities that made Runrig one of …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:37AM
Sunday, July 17, 2022

Radio Ghost review – subversive scenes from a mall by Mark Fisher

Secret location, GlasgowAudacious interactive audio work puts participants in among the ordinary consumers in a shopping centre, but gives them a fuller view of the exploitation behind the f…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:33PM
Thursday, July 14, 2022

Around the World in 80 Days review – Phileas Fogg’s adventure goes alfresco by Mark Fisher

Pitlochry festival theatre, ScotlandA touch more peril might help an otherwise playful retelling of the Jules Verne voyage with a cast full of bounce and brio A big plus point in going outdo…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:48AM
Friday, July 8, 2022

Underwood Lane review – John Byrne’s rock’n’roll musical has pure heart by Mark Fisher

Johnstone town hallA 60s Scottish skiffle band aim for the big time in the Tutti Frutti writer’s tribute piece to Baker Street singer and teenage friend Gerry Rafferty John Byrne is not a …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:03AM
Wednesday, July 6, 2022

Goldilocks Goes to Greece review – deliriously daft holiday fun by Mark Fisher

Òran Mór, GlasgowThis preposterous pun-laden panto gets everything just right with a lusty dame, a bad-tempered bear and a heroine who channels Kate Bush If you must insist on a summer pan…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:48AM

Edinburgh festival 2022: 50 shows to see by Brian Logan, Mark Fisher and Lyndsey Winship

Phil Wang makes a heroic return, Ian McKellen stars in a balletic Hamlet and Sophie Duker is gleefully carefree. Here are our picks of the festival’s comedy, theatre and dance 20 great Ed…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:37AM
Friday, June 24, 2022

Tom, Dick and Harry review – songs, dances and silly voices in Stalag Luft III by Mark Fisher

New Vic theatre, Newcastle-under-LymeDirector Theresa Heskins adopts a larky tone as captured air force personnel attempt to tunnel their way to freedom The writers of Tom, Dick and Harry ma…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:54AM
Thursday, June 23, 2022

Rock/Paper/Scissors review – sharp-edged trilogy celebrates a city in flux by Mark Fisher

Sheffield TheatresChris Bush’s audacious production, performed simultaneously by the same cast across three theatres, intertwines comedy, romance and political rage to dazzling effect Thin…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:48AM
Thursday, June 16, 2022

Playboy of the West Indies review – Caribbean caper with lots to love by Mark Fisher

Birmingham RepThis bright calypso musical, a feelgood reboot of Mustapha Matura’s play, features a tremendous cast and sweet duets Is it a musical or is it a play with songs? It’s a moot…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:54AM

Blood Harmony review – sombre three-hander mourns a lost mother by Mark Fisher

The Lowry, SalfordThere are attractive performances and striking singing as sisters grieve in writer Matthew Bulgo’s drama Anna is in her late mother’s attic brandishing a book. It is ca…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:48AM
Sunday, June 12, 2022

Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Lipstick, Ketchup and Blood review by Mark Fisher

Pitlochry Festival theatreWhat starts as a straight Conan Doyle adaptation takes a surprising twist in this two-hander about the limitations of story At first, you assume Lesley Hart’s pla…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:42AM
Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Laurel and Hardy review – a dream of slapstick and sadness by Mark Fisher

Royal Lyceum, EdinburghStephen McNicoll and Barnaby Power make a consummate team as the comedy legends, delivering knockabout hilarity with a melancholy undertow Movie director Leo McCarey h…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:07AM
Sunday, June 5, 2022

Noises Off review – unconvincing reboot of Frayn’s farce-within-a-farce by Mark Fisher

Pitlochry Festival theatreDespite the actors’ efforts and some wide-collared 1970s designs, Ben Occhipinti’s adaptation suffers from a lack of clarity The actors in Noises Off have to pl…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:06AM
Thursday, June 2, 2022

Sunshine on Leith review – stirring journey from ‘misery to happiness’ by Mark Fisher

Pitlochry Festival theatreMusical built around the Proclaimers’ music is tear-jerking and joyful and awash with life We’ve romped most of the way through Life With You, the title track f…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:06AM
Wednesday, June 1, 2022

We Are the Best! review – all-girl teenage punk band has no future by Mark Fisher

Live theatre, NewcastleDespite lively performances the story of three 13-year-olds in 1980s Sweden skips by with nothing at stake and nothing to be resolved You can see why Jack McNamara was…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:07AM
Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Teechers Leavers 22 review – John Godber’s rowdy comedy graduates with honours by Mark Fisher

Hull Truck theatreUpdated for the era of remote learning, Godber’s 1987 work is still joyously energetic and bitter about systemic inequalities The most topical joke of the night is about …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:06AM
Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Corrina, Corrina review – onboard battle gets lost at sea by Mark Fisher

Everyman, LiverpoolChloë Moss’s play about a female officer who joins an all-male crew on a cargo ship skims the surface of its issues If you wanted to map the contours of the patriarchy,…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:24AM

Not Now review – sparky comedy about Belfast, belonging and the Bard by Mark Fisher

Òran Mór, GlasgowAn actor considers a move from Northern Ireland to London in this witty two-hander by Cyprus Avenue’s David Ireland Matthew is nervously running through his lines as he …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:54AM
Friday, May 20, 2022

Now Is Good review – mirthful musical celebration of community life by Mark Fisher

Storyhouse, ChesterTim Firth pays tribute to his eccentric father with a cheerfully anarchic tale of cross-generational trust The key moment in Tim Firth’s nourishing new musical would be …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:03AM
Friday, May 13, 2022

Maggie May review – deft dementia drama underscores the power of memory by Mark Fisher

Leeds PlayhouseEithne Browne gives a superb depiction of the bewilderment brought on by Alzheimer’s in Francis Poet’s sharp-witted play Frances Poet has form when it comes to dramatising…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:33AM

First Touch review – sexual abuse blights the beautiful game by Mark Fisher

Nottingham PlayhousePlaywright Nathaniel Price’s aim is true in a predatory pitch-side tale from the 1970s If there is a victory in Nathaniel Price’s new play, it takes place in extra ti…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:18AM
Thursday, May 12, 2022

Nothello review – clever and joyful, Shakespeare upended by Mark Fisher

Belgrade theatre, CoventryDesdemona’s twins step forward to speak out against the racist tropes that led to their parents’ tragedy in this inclusive, urgent production We are reaching th…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:12AM
Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Passion review – thrilling singing in a rousing Sondheim reboot by Mark Fisher

Hope Mill theatre, ManchesterRuthie Henshall and Kelly Price shine in a sophisticated and intimate staging of Stephen Sondheim’s 1994 musical Stephen Sondheim’s 1994 musical is about tha…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:33AM
Monday, May 9, 2022

The Bookies review – a collective gamble against stacked odds by Mark Fisher

Dundee RepThe staff at a betting shop, and their sole punter, find their hands forced in this quirky escapist comedy Is it a sitcom? A Narnian fantasy? A Tarantino-esque bloodbath? This new …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:18AM
Friday, May 6, 2022

I Wanna Be Yours review – romance across a cultural divide by Mark Fisher

Leeds PlayhouseEva Scott and Usman Nawaz deliver winning performances in this smart but ponderous tale of ill-fated love The elephant in the room is a trinket. It is an animal ornament that …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:12AM
Thursday, May 5, 2022

The White Card review – a subtle debate about art and privilege by Mark Fisher

Northern Stage, NewcastleClaudia Rankine’s tense and timely play about an art collector puts white liberalism under the microscope Charles is a property developer who has built private pri…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:42AM
Monday, May 2, 2022

The Hope River Girls review – bold teen show transcends target market by Mark Fisher

Byre theatre, St AndrewsVicki Manderson choreographs a quietly intense show about a disorder that causes a group of girls to dance uncontrollably Last time around it was called The Afflicted…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:24AM
Friday, April 29, 2022

I Am No Bird review – stripping back the Brontës’ chocolate-box history by Mark Fisher

Stephen Joseph theatre, ScarboroughThis anarchic show casts off the corsets to capture just what made these literary sisters so striking Those of us with a hatred of costume drama are in g…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:48AM
Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Habibti Driver review – culture-clash comedy never revs up by Mark Fisher

Octagon theatre, BoltonShamia Chalabi and Sarah Henley’s ‘East meets Wigan’ drama is at its best on the subject of cars and women’s independence You would expect the most interesting…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:48AM
Thursday, April 21, 2022

Opolis review – generation-gap drama plunges deep into virtual world by Mark Fisher

Alphabetti theatre, NewcastleThe possibility of trading bad memories for good drives tension in this disconcerting play by Ali Pritchard When they talk about the pre-crisis times in Ali Prit…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:24AM

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