If you were in Birmingham last night, there was only one place to be seen, and that was at Fat Sam’s Grand Slam Speakeasy. Yes the fabulous jazz age musical Bugsy Malone had its press night at The Rep last night in sassy, splurging style and was an absolute triumph. It is bold and bright, super funny, and played with aplomb by a talented young cast who looked like they were having a ball. It received a much deserved standing ovation at its end, and will delight audiences all through the summer. Im short, it is a smash! Chicago was a dangerous place to be during the 1920s, especially if…

I saw Cluedo earlier in the year at The Alexandra Theatre, and the greatest compliment I can give it is that I was so looking forward to seeing it again at the Wolverhampton Grand, because in the realms of both cleverness and hilarity, it is truly off the scale. A comedy that not only channels the ‘golden age of murder’ with its nods to Agatha Christie, and the famous board game it is based on, but also references that great British tradition of physical comedy and farce, Cluedo is hilariously entertaining with a killer cast. It is not to be missed. Anyone who spent rainy days playing the board game…

The much anticipated musical Waitress arrived at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre last night, and completely wowed the audience, with the cast receiving a standing ovation. Based on the Adrienne Shelly much loved cult movie of the same name, Waitress is by turn, funny, sad, bittersweet and poignant, and despite being full of cakes, pies and baking, it is never sickly sweet. Waitress is the sweetest of desserts, but with the bite of a dash of chilli thrown in for good measure. Jenna works at Joe’s Pie Diner, creating wonderful new pies and desserts every day, using recipes she learnt with her mother as a way to escape an abusive father.…

Paignton based Bijou Theatre Company have been delighting audiences since 1984 with their Summer productions of works by the Queen of crime, Agatha Christie.  After a hiatus due to the pandemic, the company has made a triumphant return to the Paignton Playhouse this Summer with a production of one of Agatha’s least known, but most effective works, ‘The Unexpected Guest’. This is a 1950’s play that has twists galore, an interesting cast of suspects, and an ending, that after more than 50 years since its publication, still has the power to make you gasp. MIchael Starkweather is ‘the unexpected guest’ of the title, a driver whose car has gone into…