| Your theatre reviews |
|
Think you can do a better job than the BBC Nottingham review
team. Send us your verdicts on the latest shows to tread the boards in Nottinghamshire.
Fill in the form below to have your say.
|
|
went to see blood brothers
last week as sean jones (mickey) is a friend of the family, the show
was brilliant, and a real tearjerker! we had a great surprise when
we got their to find out that Barbara Dickson was to play mrs. johnston!
Sean Jones was a real credit to Denbigh, Wales. Were all proud of
him to make it this far! Well done to all the cast.
Beverly Jones, Denbigh, Wales - 31-May-2004 |
|
|
|
|
|
can anyone help me find
a website which tells you about the actors performance i,ve been trying
and nothing has helped me. i,m doing blood brothers for my gcse and
i am going to write about there performance and how they acted there
charactors
Helen, Liverpool - 31-May-2004 |
|
|
|
|
|
Great! Kenneth Alan
Taylor was amazing.
Mark Whit, Nottingham - 30-March-2004 |
|
|
|
|
|
I went to see Blood Brothers last
night with part of my drama GCSE group at Leeds Grand Theatre, and
i absolutely loved it, i cant believe how good it was! i thought
Sean Jones was amazing, and gorgeous! They were all brilliant actors
especially Mickey (Sexy Sean!), Eddie (Daniel Fine) and Mrs Johnstone
(Linda Nolen). Oh it was FAB and i am definately off to go see it
again! i would give Blood Brothers.. well Sean Jones 10/10 !! well
done! xXx
Vikki, Leeds - 08-December-2003
I went to see blood brothers at
nottingham on wednesday it was fantastic i am studying the play
as part of my gcses and the characters were amazing i thought mickey
was ded nice but i thought linda played a gd part as a 7 year old
i wud defo see it again!!!
Jess
wot a wonderful performance i was
in tears well acted by everyone well done !
|
|
|
|
|
|
Last night i went to
see "Of mice and men" starring Mathew Kelly as Lennie and George Costigan
as George. This was a performance to remember by Mr Kelly, convincing
in delineating the simple childishness of the character while, at
the same time, showing the underlying fear of life and what it could
do to him. Lennie is a loveable, but mentally retarded giant, who
does not know his own strength and unwittingly kills the animals he
loves to pet. His companion, George, has adopted the burden of looking
after Lennie and trying to make a life for them, which will ultimately
enable them to settle down in their own farm, where Lennie can fulfil
his dreams of looking after rabbits. One empathised with him and his
longing to stroke things that enabled him to retreat from a world
where people with his mental disability are treated with repugnance
and lack of understanding. The final denouement was therefore as horrifying
and as poignant as Steinbeck intended, leaving the shattered aud!
ie! nce nothing to do but applaud vigorously a superb piece of acting
and theatre. The play has a very sad ending which left the people
sitting behind me in tears.
Swix, Hertford, England - 08-December-2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
shoddy workmanship from
a shoddy cast.
I think that too many people give shakespeare too much reverence,.
If you don't know what i mean go to the nottingham playhouse and watch
othello. this is 2004 and you're doing a play, it's a play, not anything
more or less. the actors speak, but knowone can understand, your job
as an actor is to make me understand. you could a lot better that
go and see this pile of do!
kent countryside, Nottingham - 06-November-2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
I think this website
is useful and the book 'Hobsons Choice' is brillant it has been cleverly
written to entertain a wide range of people and has so very outstanding
and memberable characters.
laura, england - 24-October-2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
As I study Drama at AS Level,
I lukily got a SECOND chance to see 'Blood Brothers' at the Buxton
Opera House, with GCSE students from Trinity School, Nottingham.
It was the most breath-taking, sensational, energetic and moving
play I had ever experienced, written by Willy Russell. Each member
of the cast (with Linda Nolan as 'Mrs Johnstone', Sean Jones as
'Mickey') made the play so memorable and seem so realistic you'd
find it hard to believe it wasn't a true story. In particular, from
a female point of view, Sean Jones is such an incredible, phenomenal
and attractive actor, and has a great personality, which I encountered
when he did a workshop at our school. If you've never seen a play
before, I'd no doubt recommend 'Blood Brothers', and if you've already
seen it, see it again and again til your heart's content!
Valda, Nottingham - 24-October-2003
i have been yo see blood brothers
many times but my favourite performance is by far the one i saw
in the west end, with the lead roles being superbly played by linda
nolan, sean jones and keith burns (narrator.) linda nolan is absolutly
fantastic, and was extremely friendly when i met her after the show,
and kept telling me it wasnt real due to my relentless tears! sean
jones is amazing, hilarious as a child and tear jerkingly brilliant
as a depressed and deprived adult. the scene where he has an argument
with linda about the pills is played so fantastically well i could
not see one person who wasnt crying or brimming with emotion. when
i met him after the show, he was kind, friendly and really funny.
keith burns was fantastic as the narrator, and played it brilliantly
with precisely the right amount of prominance, dominance and movement.
an amazing show, which i shall be going to see time and time again!
anyone who does not cry at this production either has a hear! t
of stone or is unbelievably tough! thank you sooooo munch, and WOW,
FANTASTIC!
Kate, Tyne & Wear - 04-November-2003
|
|
|
|
|
|
Return to the Forbidden Planet |
 |
|
|
clearly a critic who
needs to review his own taste in musicals! This blew me away when
i first saw it and now have joined the university of leeds theatre
group to help stage it. Playing ariel is an honour! Come see it if
you can! DEC 2nd-6th at leeds uni!
Dan, Durham - 8-October-2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
This play has to be
the best ever written. This is by far the best play written by Arthur
Miller. Every character is loveable you are so absorbed into the play.
The setting is magical, and the whole cast are magic.
Sarah, Essex - 29-August-2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
Fantastic. We had to
go and watch it for a drama course, but trust me, as soon as it comes
back to Sheffield, I'll definitely go again. Sean Jones was brilliant,
played the part perfectly. Eddy (Daniel Fine) was excellent too, very
funny. If I had to say anything bad about it I would say Denise Nolan
overplayed the Mrs Johnstone part a bit at the end....she was still
crying when they took the bows!! Its a definitely have to see!
Megan Clatworthy, Sheffield - 26-June-2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
i went to see of mice
and men last night because we are doing it for our english g.c.s.e!i
just thought i'd tell you that i really enjoyed it, it was fantastic.much
better than the book! mathew kelly waved at me on the balcony!!hehe
:)
Lucy - 02-May-2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
It is the most amazing
experience to sit down and watch this show. I've seen it five times
now, once in London without Rebecca Storm, which wasn't half as good
i have to say. Seriously though, i plan on acting in a few years time
and my goal in life is to someday play Linda. It's difficult to express
in words how much i am in love with the show. Amazing cast helps a
lot.
Sinead Gallagher, Dublin, Ireland - 11-March-2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
I think Daniel Fine
is exceptionally Fine just like his name. I also think that Sean Jones
is just as cute. I have one problem with this reveiw, wheres the pictures
of Daniel. Apart from the gorgous brothers i think this is the most
amazing performance i have ever seen and we were this close to performing
it as a schoolplay. I think al of the actors are so amazing at acting
and equally as talented at singing. I am just about to go see it again
and i will give it 12 out of 10!!!
Sarah, Stoke-on-Trent - 11-March-2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
this was
a crud play i wish id never watched it!
Lee cooney, widnes -
07-March-2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
Blood Brothers IS BRILLIANT!!
Sean Jones is the BESt actor in the world, and is GORGEUS
Kelly Martindale, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, England - 27-February-2003
|
|
|
|
|
|
i think macbeth is
a good play but it can be abit boring in some times of the play
claire hewes - 11-February-2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
I have seen Blood Brothers
at least 25 times now, and I never tire of it. As the papers say:
'If you havn't seen it go, if you have go again!'. Both the touring
and London cast are excellent. They are very professional, putting
100% effort into each and every performance. Highly recommended.
Helen, Surrey. - 10-February-2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
i have seen the play
by willy and i thought the performance was excellent. this was the
best theatre play i have seen so far. i like the theme of the story,
of about how you end up to be what you are either by nature or nurture.
if i had the money i would see it again definately.
joe, gravesend, kent - 10-February-2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
i thuoght the production
was very well made and set and everything i especially thuoght paul
gaberial and kenneth alan taylor was really good i came to see mother
goose and my family and me thuoght paul gaberial played a great part
as the witch. I also came to see dick whittington and i really liked
it keep up the good everyone and i will see you in Aladin at the end
of this year good luck to you all bye xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
katie, nottingham/mapperley - 31-January-2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
I thought dick whittington was great amd i went to sees it lots of
times and i really enjoyed it. My faveourte adctors in the play was
paul who played sarah the cook and amanda who played fairy bowbells
lewis philips who played idle jack
katie nottingham/mapperley - 31-January-2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
I went to see Blood Brothers first as part of a Drama course- put
it this way, I loved it so much I bought tickets to see it again the
next day! It was superb both times, Sean Jones was absolutely phenomenal
as Mickey- I've never seen so much energy on stage! Daniel Fine had
the whole audience laughing at his perfectly timed one-liners. 11/10,
a must see for anyone who claims to be a fan of musicals!
Gemma Rogers - 24-January-2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
I was visiting from Canada and my friends from Keyworth brought me
as their guest. It was very intertaining and I couldn't have enjoyed
it more. The costumes of Madam FiFi were incrediable. It was very
touching to see everyone holding ahnds and singing Auld Lang Syne
at the end of the play. The play just helped to make my New Years
Eve away from home and family alot of fun.
Linda Andres, Edmonton/Alberta/Canada - 19-January-2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
excellent kate edgar
and colin wakefield did a smashing job the sets were fantastic especially
with the use of perspective in the whole set.The coryography was very
energetic and exciting and the children were great magicians gymnasts
and singers.With all of the effects included the overall message is
that it was the best that I have ever seen
mark stiven, salisbury - 18-January-2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
I took my son,mum and
friends sister to see peter pan for christmas. My son loved it especially
that peter pan could fly my friends sister loved tinker bell and my
mum just loved it all we had a good family night out.It was a well
acted panto that everyone should see. Thanx to all the cast for a
good show.
Sam, Notts - 18-January-2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
Fantastic! great family
entertainment. Funny and well presented! A woundefull night out!
Helen, Mansfield - 11-January-2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
Brilliant!!!
Lucy Marland, Nottingham, - 13-January-2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
well performed,highly
entertaining family show!!!
, - 03-January-2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
astounding! the best
production for a long time, all the actors and actresses were great
and the scenes and backgrounds were excellent, a better £20 than a
saturday at forest.
chris moody, radcliffe on trent, nottingham - 02-January-2003
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual City Education Seasonal
celebration |
 |
|
|
The Royal Concert Hall
hosted the Annual City Education Seasonal celebration on Monday night.
The evening featured performances by 24 of Nottingham’s Primary Schools,
8 Secondary Schools, the Adult Education Community Choir and a variety
of ensembles from Nottingham Music School, which runs on a Saturday
morning at Ellis Guilford School. What a fantastic evening! Community
carol singing, African drums, hand bell ringers (a particular highlight),
a song sung in Botswanan, traditional Christmas music, music from
Harry Potter, a fantastic rendition of Gimme Some loving by Rachel
King and Nottingham Music School Stage Band and, what must have been
the highlight of the evening, a brand new work (Canto Virginem ) by
Nottingham composer Robert Steadman which combined a choir of 150
with orchestra and African drums. To cap the evening there was an
appearance by Santa himself! I understood that Nottingham City was
meant to be a struggling LEA - perhaps the doubters should have been
at the RCH on Monday and seen this stunning concert with so many of
our youngsters shiningand showing just how talented they are.
William Warwick, Beeston - 18-December-2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
This performance brought
alive the atmosphere of 40's Brooklyn and was a joy to watch. It was
powerful and moving and I was captured by the authenticity and the
magnificent character performances of the actors. A truly magical,
absorbing and beatifully tragic evening.
Judith Eade, Nottingham, UK - 22-November-2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
i went to see blood brothers for
the first time,at the birmingham hippodrome, and i have to say i
was blown away.i was so moved by the story i felt i had to go back
and see it again, i enjoyed it more second time around. sean jones
was captivating as mickey jhonstone,wow! what a performance. daniel
fine was excellent too, as was all the cast. come again soon please.
but please bring sean jones back as mickey, mmmm.. gorgeous.dawn
west midlands.
dawn, west midlands - 21-November-2002
i went up to london yesterday
to watch blood brothers - what a show it is certainly the best show
i have ever seen!!! all characters were played brilliantly, they
were outstanding. when the show finished I started off the standing
avation!! my fav of course had to be mark hucthinson who played
eddie. he is very good looking as well!!! well done to all the cast,
musicians and everyone else who took part behind stage! U were all
great! i shall defenately be going to see it again!! well done to
everyone! keep up the good work XxX ps does any one know if mark
is single!! ha ha XxX
Stacey, Wales - 22-November-2002
|
|
|
|
|
|
It was fabulously acted
and totally thought-provoking
Catrin Rhys was just astonishing as Scout, a magnificent performance
Martin Garvey, Nottingham - 15-November-2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
Reduced Shakespeare Company -
Works of God |
|
|
|
I loved it. Enough
said.
Fibble, Manchester 07-November-2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
Return to Forbidden Planet |
|
|
|
I've been to see it.
and it is totally class. well worth seeing!
christine m, durham 28-October-2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
Innovative theatre in
an unusual venue, with a story-line that will make you laugh and cry,
and be glad you took the time to share the experience.
'Hard Graft' graft hard at their art. It's a joy to know that such
talented actors exist. This young theatre company have created a fantastic
piece of drama that takes you on the sad but hilarious journey of
2 friends who see thieving as being their ticket to riches and status.
But it all goes horribly wrong, though I won't spoil the ending by
telling you why! Just go and see it, and be brave, sit on the sofa
and be part of the action. For some extra fun, take the time to poke
around the wonderful stage set, and check the sell-by date on the
lettuce in the fridge!
Fay Harrison, Nottingham - 16-October-2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
new and creative use
of space and a fantastic plot and two fantastic actors to carry out
the play.
i have never seen a play like this, the story was simple enough but
the development of characters was great and the audience were thrown
into the lives of these two simple robbers. a fantastic play well
worth the entrance fee.
leana, nottingham - 14-October-2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
I take my hat off to
you, or I would if I wore one.
We go to the theatre at least twice a week. Last year we went 121
times. That's why we don't have any money. We went to the Nottingham
Playhouse to see 'Be My Baby' and outside we were accosted by Mark
Whiteley who asked us to go to see his play. We thought it was very
courageous that he had a, hired his unusual venue and b, was getting
'bums on seats' by sheer hard work and using his interpersonal skills.
We were delighted to support them by going to see 'Thick as Thieves'
and took a party of 5 - ranging from 13 to 64 years in age. We all
THOROUGHLY enjoyed it. It made us laugh and it made us feel as though
we were in the situation with them. We sat on the settee and felt
such a part of the action that I was tempted to join in with the dialogue.
They are both obviously very talented gentlemen and I hope that one
night there is someone very influential in the audience who will give
them the break they obviously deserve. We would certainly support
them in future ventures and wouldn't hesitate to recommend 'Thick
as Thieves' to anyone.
Yvette Price-Mear, Mansfield Woodhouse, Notts. - 14-October-2002
|
|
|
|
|
|
Original, hilarious,
simple and yet so effective, how theatre should be - a definate for
virgin theatre goers.
Brilliant play, simple but very well thought out and complimented
by a fantastic set and very original idea. Sitting on the sofa is
definately the best seat in the house and if you can brave it, the
dining room table! You feel like you're sat watching what could be
your own life and you experience all the emotions that the hapless
Barry and Steph do. The comedy is absolutely first class, and the
more serious aspect merely emphesises the extent of how versatile
these two talented men really are.
Emma, Nottingham - 14-October-2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
A PLAY THIS IS POETIC
IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD
BE MY BABY by Amanda Whittington Played to a 600 strong packed house
at the Nottingham Playhouse on Wednesday night. It is along time since
I was present in this theatre with such a warmth and a buzz about
a new play. The play was a joy to watch and a good debut at the Playhouse
for Nottingham born Amanda Whittington. Her play is well written and
a joy to hear , the words are like lyrics to a song or a verse of
a poem . The audience laughed along freely at all the comic moments
well performed by the talented young cast. The Matron and Mrs Adams
were greatly cast and easily held there own without being stereotyped.
The music was a joy to hear in the theatre and judging by the audiences
reaction and three encores later a great time was had by all .
Gina Reeves, Nottingham - 27-September-2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
An absorbing, vibrant
and professional production, very enjoyable.
Jean Bell, Normanton Nottingham - 18-September-2002 |
|
|
|
|
Honk
Anyone who hasn't seen Honk just has to! It's the best musical I've
ever seen, possibly the best production I've ever seen. It combines
great comedy, great songs, great dances, great plots and great characters!!!
It's GREAT!!! I saw it over a year ago and I still talk about it
all the time! When is it going to come to the West End?!?!!!
Jessica Smith
Deal,
Kent
|
A
Taste of Honey
i thought the script and the play was excellent but the ending could
have been better
terriann stewart, birkenhead |
Ghost
Train
I saw this in Cardiff with a slightly different cast as appauling
as Nottingham it would appear. We are to recreate a production of
this soon at a local railway station where I am to play Teddy Deakin
funnily enough .I usually play the Dame in panto. I shall take your
advice and add some mustard to the ham this time.
Gary Knowles
Chepstow |
|
Reduced
Shakespeare Company : The Bible (abridged)
Look 'ere. Is the world gone tonto? What is it with all the riligious nutters?
I went and saw this play and thought the acting was pretty sweet. I am shocked
that people didn't understand the humor that was in the play. I mean, no one really
thinks that any of them storys are real anymore, do they? So come on, lay off
the vicar talk and get with the programe!
Frank Handysize, Bethnal Green |
Deathtrap
I think that deathtrap is the best play ever i am an 18 year old who loves starsky
and hutch star david soul. When i went to see david in deathtrap in bath and also
in stoke on trent that man was a fabolous actor that i have ever saw ever. each
time there was something new that david put to the play . he is a very talented
and fantastic actor. It was a great play.! would recommend it to anyone without
any hessitation!!
Amy Rowland, Wiltshire |
Blood
Brothers
I have seen several productions of 'Blood Brothers' and have always enjoyed it
emencely, but i couldn't help feeling a little jilted as i left the theatre with
a rather bad taste in my mouth. I must agree that the story itself is a wonderful
tale about friendship and how we allow fate to govern our lives, but in this production
i felt that Mrs. Johnstone was cast incorrectly as her vocals both spoken and
whilst singing were unclear and awfully piecing, the Narrator spoke as if he had
a serious speech problem, luckily the brothers themselves pulled off a top class
performance to save a large proportion of the audience leaving at the interval.
Cate Williamson, Nottingham |
Ethel and Ernest
Ethel and Ernest is a bittersweet story of life. A truely captivating blend of
humour, pathos and thought-provoking moments. The detailed set brings the audience
into Ethel and Ernest's home, sharing with them their life together. Wonderful.
Phil - Nottingham |
|
|
|
|
