Despite the title, this isn’t a retelling of the ancient story of Theseus, his new wife Phaedra and her lust for his son Hippolytus. Described as “after Euripides, Seneca and Racine”, it’s not a version of any of their plays, though you can recognise some source ideas, elements from them that are reused, usually differently.… Continue reading Phaedra
Month: February 2023
Ladies’ Day
It must be a dream come true for a playwright to be given the opportunity to take another look at one of his or her works, bringing it up to date and making it better. So Amanda Whittington must have been delighted when she was allowed to take a fresh look at her perennial favourite… Continue reading Ladies’ Day
The Snow Beast
Exeter-based Scratchworks Theatre Company continues to delight with a science-packed tale of derring-do, a perilous search for truth and much to learn. The Seldomland Science Academy final exams are looming and orphaned Faina’s experiment has combusted. Armed with an old, incomplete journal and with just three days to find a winning solution, she and adoptive… Continue reading The Snow Beast
Faustus: That Damned Woman
The Jacobean tale of Faustus is given a modern reworking in Francesca Goodridge’s pleasingly dark production which retains the element of the diabolical pact of the original story, but only partially delivers on the central concept of feminist struggle. The cast are an undoubted highlight of the performance with Olivia Sweeney a strong and constant… Continue reading Faustus: That Damned Woman
The Lavender Hill Mob
Seventy-two years on from its UK film première at Marble Arch Odeon, The Lavender Hill Mob stops off at Theatre Royal Bath on its penultimate week of touring. Adapted for the stage by Phil Porter (The Miser and Vice Versa), the source material is considered by the British Film Institute to be the 17th greatest British film of all… Continue reading The Lavender Hill Mob
The Ocean returns to Salford
Following a four-week run at The Lowry, the National Theatre’s production of The Ocean at the End of the Lane returns to Salford this October. Based on the novel by Neil Gaiman, adapted by Joel Horwood and directed by Katy Rudd, this adventure of fantasy, myth and friendship is currently on tour visiting 29 towns… Continue reading The Ocean returns to Salford
Wagatha Christie Trial for Lowry
Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial will tour following its run in the West End this spring—including three nights at The Lowry in Salford Lucy May Barker (Rebekah Vardy), Laura Dos Santos (Coleen Rooney), Jonathan Broadbent (Hugh Tomlinson QC), Tom Turner (David Sherborne) and Nathan McMullan reprise their roles at London’s Ambassadors Theatre before… Continue reading Wagatha Christie Trial for Lowry
Open pitch event for new musicals
New musical champion Katy Lipson is to hold an open pitching day in London to hear new musical work. The show to be presented can be at any stage of development but must include at least one new song. Aria Entertainment producer Lipson and the company’s literary manager Tom Ramsay will attend the presentations. New… Continue reading Open pitch event for new musicals
New Surrey summer season venue goes great guns
A new 250-seat covered, open air theatre is being opened for summer season shows in Banstead, Surrey. To be called The Lavender Theatre, the venue will host musicals and plays against a farmland setting, and the site offers a coffee bar, a full service glasshouse restaurant and picnic spaces. The opening production is to be Irving… Continue reading New Surrey summer season venue goes great guns
Around the World in 80 Days
It was a newspaper ad for Thomas Cook that caught Jules Verne’s eye and prompted him to write one of the world’s great travel stories. Since that time, 150 years ago, his prescribed circumnavigation of the globe has got rather easier, even though M. Verne specifies a taxi cab, two trains, four ships, a cast… Continue reading Around the World in 80 Days