theatre
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Birdsong At The Birmingham Rep: Moving And Powerful
The iconic Birdsong returned to Birmingham last night at the city’s Rep theatre, and once again, it was a powerful reminder of the futility of war. The Sebastian Faulks novel, adapted for the stage by Rachel Wagstaffe, is essentially a love story, one of a man for a woman, and of men for their comrades. It is moving, powerful, and utterly devastating, an elegy of fighting when you’ve completely forgot what you are fighting for. It is one of the most incredible pieces of theatre you will see in this year, or any year. It is unmissable. The story mainly follows the book with three clear sections. The first, set…
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The Makings of A Murderer 2
If you enjoy reading about, or watching documentaries about true crime in the UK, then you will have heard all about Colin Sutton. Colin is the former head of a Metropolitan Police murder squad, the Senior Investigating Officer who caught serial killer Levi Bellfield and ‘The Night Stalker’ Delroy Grant. The story of these key investigations have been dramatised in an ITV series starring Martin Clunes. This TV series has given Colin Sutton the title Manhunter, and he is now involved in a TV documentary series called ‘The Real Manhunter’. Colin is currently touring in the UK’s top true crime theatre tour, The Makings of a Murderer 2, following on…
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Blood Brothers at the Wolverhampton Grand
I can finally write my review of Blood Brothers after stemming the tears that fell and fell at the heartbreaking finale. Willy Russell’s musical story of the tragic Johnstone Twins arrived in Wolverhampton at the Grand Theatre last night, and managed to near impossible feat of wringing both tears of laughter and sadness from the sell out audience. Blood Brothers is a musical that we know ends in tragedy, we see this in the opening scene, but how we get to the tragic final scene and the song ‘Tell me it’s not true’ is one of the greatest stories in modern theatre, and one which still resonates, shocks and devastates…
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Carlos Acosta’s Nutcracker In Havana
I must’ve seen The Nutcracker more than 20 times. I’ve seen the famous Birmingham Royal Ballet version every Christmas for at least 15 years. I’ve seen the London Coliseum version. I’ve watched it on TV. It’s safe to say I’m a fan but, until last night, I had never seen The Nutcracker in the sun. Who would’ve thought that would work, but it really does. The Nutcracker in Havana, performed last night at the Wolverhampton Grand by Acosta Danza is a colourful, exhilarating masterpiece. A standing ovation was much deserved. The story is familiar, and yet transformed. It’s still Christmas Eve, but a Cuban Christmas Eve, with dancing, presents and…
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A Christmas Wassail At Oldbury Rep
A Christmas Wassail is a real, traditional touch of Christmas, one firmly entrenched in the folk lore of Christmas past, before our modern ideas of Christmas developed. A Wassail is a celebration, and exploration of Christmas in story and song, with the lighthearted moments being meshed into the darker sides of the festive season. A Wassail is actually a drink. A hot, spiced drink that was part of an ancient English tradition that involved drinking to the health of others, and so was an integral part of Christmas. Wassailing is a centuries-old tradition that involves drinking to the health of others, often while singing. It became a key part of…
