Modern Theatre Reviews (2010)

I enjoy the good fortune of living in an area which is well blessed for good quality theatre. In less than a twenty minute journey from my home I can reach the Bradford Alhambra Theatre, Leeds Grand Theatre, and the West Yorkshire Playhouse (with two auditoria, based in Leeds City Centre). Extend that journey to forty minutes and I can also take in the Halifax Victoria Theatre, Huddersfield Lawrence Batley Theatre and the Wakefield Royal Opera House. Consequently, I visit one or other of these theatres fairly regularly and I thought it would be good to share my impressions from these outings with visitors to this website.

The scores given below are intended to reflect my own overall level of satisfaction with, and/or enjoyment of, the show concerned (based of course upon my own personal tastes). They are not intended to be necessarily indicative of the technical and/or artistic merits of the particular production concerned. I am not a professional critic or reviewer, and pay full price to see all of these shows for my own entertainment. Consequently, I have no vested interest nor any axe to grind, but neither do I pay to see shows which prima facie do not have a good reputation or do not appeal to me. These then are my own honest opinions. Note that only shows scoring 60% or less do I consider a disappointment, and 50% or less not worth seeing.

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Comedy

Drama

Tragedy

Thriller

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Click on the production title for a detailed review

Production

Genre

Date / Venue / Produced by

Score

Dangerous Liasions

10th September, 2010
WY Playhouse, Leeds

 

Will be posted after production.

3rd September, 2010
St. Georges Hall, Bradford

Charles Ross

76%

A frenetic action/comedy show that is a must see for all LOTR enthusiasts.

27th August, 2010
Alhambra Theatre, Bradford

Chris Moreno Productions

86%

Sacharrine sweet but with a cutting acidic edge. Undemanding, escapist fun for the entire family.

20th August, 2010
Grand Theatre, Leeds

Bill Kenwright Productions

82%

A slightly dated but essentially funny and appealing observational comedy peeking into the privacy of the marital bedroom.

13th August, 2010
Grand Theatre, Leeds

Spirit Productions

78%

Flawed in some respects but otherwise a lively and colourful evening of feel-good musical entertainment.

6th August, 2010
Grand Theatre, Leeds

Bill Kenwright Productions

68%

Worth seeing for the performances but otherwise an essentially slow and dated piece.

23rd July, 2010
Grand Theatre, Leeds

The Flying Music Company Limited

82%

A tremendous tribute show that brings back to life three of music's all time greats.

22nd July, 2010
Shakespeare's Globe, London

Shakespeare's Globe On Tour

86%

Slick, fast paced, and delightfully bewildering - a comedy with enough twists and turns to keep you spinning for a week.

22nd July, 2010 (mat)
Waterloo Station, London

The Touring Consortium (RC) Ltd

88%

A unique theatrical experience in a unique location. A treat for all the family. Unmissable.

21st July, 2010
Coloseum, London

Mikhailovsky Ballet

92%

Colourful and impressive, an excellent rendition of a rarely seen ballet.

21st July, 2010 (mat)
Theatre Royal, Haymarket, London

Menier Chocolate Company

86%

Not the best musical ever written but outstanding livewire performances make it an ingratiating, exuberant show with memorable music and some great humour.

20th July, 2010
Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London

The Bolshoi Ballet

98%

Big bold and brash. A thrilling and dramatic story ballet.

15th July, 2010
WY Playhouse, Leeds

Rifco Arts

84%

Colourful, fresh and vibrant, a real shot in the arm for British musical culture.

9th July, 2010
Alhambra Theatre, Bradford

Calibre Productions

78%

A great piece of nostalgia sure to please anyone with fond memories of this much loved British comedy classic.

2nd July, 2010
WY Playhouse, Leeds

WY Playhouse

88%

A tremendous evening of scintillating and sophisticated entertainment.

25th June, 2010
Grand Theatre, Leeds

Stage Entertainment UK Ltd

98%

A high octane romp with great music, memorable songs, and dazzling choreography all laced with a generous helping of humour. The feel-good show of the year.

24th June, 2010
Alhambra Theatre, Bradford

Bill Kenwright and Laurie Mansfield

82%

Formulaic but lively musical with plenty of catchy tunes to keep you foot-tapping along.

23rd June, 2010
Theatre Royal, Wakefield

Central School of Ballet

76%

A pleasant evening but below par compared to Central Ballet's other productions of recent years.

17th June, 2010
St. Georges Hall, Bradford

Kate Rusby and Band

90%

Superb traditional folk music with a fresh, lively edge and popularist appeal.

11th June, 2010
Grand Theatre, Leeds

Opera North

92%

Musically rich and boasting an incredible central performance, a hugely welcome reappearance of Dvorak's too rarely produced tragic opera.

4th June, 2010
WY Playhouse, Leeds

UK Arts International and Nottingham Playhouse

88%

Slick, lively and tremendously entertaining - reggae at it's best.

2nd June, 2010
Alhambra Theatre, Bradford

The Comedy Theatre Company

78%

A passable re-creation sure to please any devotees of the popular TV sitcom.

28th May, 2010
WY Playhouse, Leeds

Look Left Look Right and The Roundhouse

66%

Amusing at times but poorly constructed and as a result lacking in any significant insight or impact.

19th May, 2010
Theatre Royal, Wakefield

Lucy Porter and Special Guest

90%

A hilarious evening in the arms of a uniquely charming and talented observational comedian. A golden performance!

14th May, 2010
St. Georges Hall, Bradford

Lesley Garrett and Special Guest

88%

Amply illustrates why Lesley Garrett is Britain's best loved and most versatile soprano. A superb musical evening.

12th May, 2010
The Carriageworks, Leeds

New Perspectives

80%

Imaginative, informative and highly entertaining. The most enjoyable history lesson of the century.

7th May, 2010
Alhambra Theatre, Bradford

Companhia de Danca Deborah Colker

86%

Vibrant, intoxicating and visually stunning. An exquisite blend of passion and performance.

30th April, 2010
WY Playhouse, Leeds

Much Loved Productions

64%

A highly eccentric take on the classic story. Funny at times with plenty of action, but captures little of the poignancy or emotional angst of the original story.

24th April, 2010
St. Georges Hall, Bradford

Much Loved Productions

80%

An evening of musical entertainment certain to delight all Gilbert and Sullivan fans.

23rd April, 2010
Grand Theatre, Leeds

UK Productions

90%

Tuneful and exuberant, with excellent sets and costumes and some truly memorable musical numbers.

16th April, 2010
WY Playhouse, Leeds

Northern Broadsides

72%

Hilarious at times, poignant at others and ribald in the extreme. Overly long but otherwise a lewd, funny and occasionally moving selection of tales from the original classic.

9th April, 2010
Grand Theatre, Leeds

Bill Kenwright

76%

Musically satisfying and delightfully staged with some great individual performances but unfortunately lacking in emotional impact.

2nd April, 2010
Grand Theatre, Leeds

Bill Kenwright

74%

An enjoyable piece of escapist hokum that has stood the test of time remarkably well. Worth seeing.

27th March, 2010
St. Georges Hall, Bradford

Icon Theatrical

88%

Eight top-class female vocalists covering a range of styles in an evening of superb musical entertainment.

26th March, 2010
Alhambra Theatre, Bradford

Bill Kenwright and Agatha Christie Ltd

78%

A murder mystery wrapped up in a gripping courtroom drama with a genuine twist in the tail. Well worth seeing.

22nd March, 2010
Grand Theatre, Leeds

Norwell Lapley and Theatre Mogul

84%

Funny, thought provoking and highly ellucidating. A must for anyone who wants to understand what makes the opposite sex tick.

12th March, 2010
Alhambra Theatre, Bradford

Riverdance Dance Troupe (Corrib Cast)

90%

A 'Farewell Tour' that, admittedly, lacks the show's original freshness but which has lost none of the high-octane energy or exhilarating excitement that has made it such a phenomenon. Don't miss a last chance to see.

5th March, 2010
Grand Theatre, Leeds

Northern Ballet Theatre

92%

An enthralling, dramatic and rich looking production with superb choreography and, of course Prokofiev's stirring music to pull at the heart strings.

25th February, 2010
Grand Theatre, Leeds

Northern Ballet Theatre

86%

A varied evening and fabulous dance and wonderful music.

19th February, 2010
WY Playhouse, Leeds

Middle Gound Theatre Company Ltd

84%

An intense, engaging and darkly humourous alternative love story. Well worth going to see.

12th February, 2010
Grand Theatre, Leeds

Opera North

90%

Brilliant staging and performances. A real treat for any fans of Gilbert and Sullivan.

10th February, 2010
Alhambra Theatre, Bradford

Moscow State Circus

86%

Fast paced, colourful and inventive. A highly enjoyable circus spectacular.

5th February, 2010
WY Playhouse, Leeds

WY Playhouse and Theatre Royal Bath

78%

A funny, dramatic and at times pointedly acerbic exercise in subjunctive history - a slightly raw, occasionally maudlin, but mostly romantic revision of times gone by.

22nd January, 2010
Theatre Royal, Wakefield

Theatre Productions Ltd

74%

A not wholly successful fusion of great music with flawed drama, but never-the-less a treat for all Eva Cassidy fans.

3rd January, 2010
St. Georges Hall, Bradford

Hallé Orchestra with Natasha Marsh

88%

Fabulous music played and sung to perfection. A brilliant musical start to the New Year.

Amateur Productions

16th June, 2010
Alhambra Theatre, Bradford

The Upstagers

90%

Fabulous music, great acting and fantastic singing and dancing. A wonderful advertisement for northern amateur talent.

29th June, 2010
Arts Centre, Bingley

Bingley Little Theatre

76%

A very funny re-creation of the favourite TV sitcom.

18th June, 2010
The Carriageworks, Leeds

LIDOS

90%

Frighteningly funny and richly musical. A real triumph for LIDOS.

21st May, 2010
The Carriageworks, Leeds

Cosmopolitan Players

86%

Fast paced and hilariously funny, capturing and reproducing some of the best loved moments from the original TV series. A real success for the Cosmopolitan players.

29th January, 2010
St. Georges Hall, Bradford

Buttershaw St. Pauls AODS

82%

The swingingest rock and roll musical ever. A great nostalgia fest for those who remember the period but with enough verve and energy to appeal to all ages.

28th January, 2010
The Carriageworks, Leeds

Leeds Arts Centre

70%

An interesting and, at times, very funny alternative take on the Hamlet story seen through the eyes of two of it's minor characters.


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