TRADGE THE THEATRE GEEK

New folk musical strikes profound chord but, unlike the proverbial ballad, lacks flow ----- Though times and attitudes may well change unequivocally throughout the centuries, one perpetual source of connectivity to the past is the musical and verbal tradition passed down the generations from mothers to daughters, aunts to nieces, as if it flows down family trees like a waterfall. One way or another, traditional music has had a way of surviving beyond the limited technological

Chaotic comedic murder mystery is marvellously mad ----- Blending comedy with crime has often been a winning formula in the past, be that on the screen with modern picks like " Knives Out ", or theatrical exponents such as Ira Levin 's classic " Deathtrap ", or Mischief 's modern farce " The Play That Goes Wrong ". Add to that pile Torbin Betts ' new madcap mystery " Murder at Midnight ", mixing all the pandemonium and disarray of a farce with the suspense, intrigue and enigm

Energetic eco-cabaret has plenty of heart, but lacks fluidity ----- I think it's fair to say that, as far as the most pressing global hot topics go, protection of the environment, for many of us, would top that list without a second thought. This is certainly true of independent eco-theatre company Tenderfoot , as they present an inventive, highly eccentric, albeit rough and ready homage to the diminishing English greenery, with particular focus on more urban and built up are

In the wake of the movie sequel, stage musical of the original is nice...but little else ----- Anyone with even the slightest theatrical acumen will be able to tell you that there is no shortage of musicals based on our favourite movies, dating back to the 1955 adaptation of " Silk Stockings ", the silver screen has lent itself to new theatre for decades now. And though many of these have become all time greats, classics and record breakers, there will undoubtedly always be a

Surplus of silliness and satire dominate this hare-brained movie mashup ----- Everyone loves a Christmas movie, be it the relatability and interconnectivity of Richard Curtis ' modern favourite " Love Actually ", or maybe a golden age classic like " White Christmas ", jam packed full of warmth, sentimentality, and timeless tunes. But then, once in a while, we have one come along completely out of left field, with zero links to the festive period whatsoever, to become the most

Camp, kitsch, and utter filth, this Disney parody will have you floundering ----- There is always a fine balance to be hit when parodying any previously well established and loved commercial property, but especially when it's one of Disney's most beloved films from their late 80s/early 90s renaissance. In this comedic tribute to " The Little Mermaid " we see the villainous Ursula the octopus take centre stage, as we see the story retold from her perspective, but with a queer

Cast of mice lead this adorable, family-friendly reframing of Hoffmann's classic story ----- We all know the Nutcracker by now, even if it's by means of casually having noticed that the famous Pyotr Tchaikovsky ballet is performing at your local theatre. You are unlikely, however, to have ever seen the Alexandre Dumas  retelling of E. T. A. Hoffman 's original story performed in such a way as we've experienced from this co-production between Little Bulb and Polka Theatre .

Murder, manipulation, mistrust, this riveting yet rushed revival just about has it all ----- Love is a fickle mistress, it can blind us, drive us mad, and the paranoia it can elicit has been known to lead one to commit rash, even devastating, acts of wickedness; enter the general Othello, a man deeply in love, but wildly naïve and, as it turns out, easily emotionally exploited. In one of William Shakespeare 's greatest tragedies, director Tom Morris has kept an almost laser

Reimagined classic dazzles 'em and makes 'em laugh ----- This musical theatre staple has reached such a status of iconicity, one could be easily forgiven for not realising that it actually took over 30 years before the original movie musical, produced by MGM studios in 1952, was adapted to the stage. It is however fair to say that, certainly in this country, we have more than made up for lost time, with no fewer than five separate, subsequent London productions having been st

Confused, stagnant re-staging of Dickens classic tale misses the mark ----- We have tentatively crossed the threshold into the hotly anticipated festive season, so naturally our focus turns to the plethora of holiday themed productions that descend on us like the trio of Christmas spirits with which one Ebeneezer Scrooge comes into contact, and I’m not talking about your the standard glass of mulled wine, brandy or eggnog. Such is the popularity of arguably Charles Dickens ’

Bold, barmy and marvellously macabre, the Cyclone is a wild ride you can't miss! ----- A rollercoaster is different things to different people, to some it's a fun, adrenaline-fuelled thrill ride, for others a terrifying, scream-inducing death trap, though for the six ill-fated members of the St. Cassian High School Chamber Choir, one would not be remiss in stating that both are easily applicable; that's the situation in which we find ourselves, every single character in a mus

Encores revival is gloriously gruesome ----- Before giving us the musical theatre juggernauts that are " Legally Blonde " and " Heathers ", composer Laurence O'Keefe emerged with a bang onto the scene in the 90s with his surrealist piece that tells of a half bat, half human hybrid child found in a cave in Hope Falls, West Virginia. Based on a fictional 1992 story from the satirical tabloid paper Weekly World News , known for its largely made up media based on the supernatura

Muddled but meaningful new musical challenges our perceptions of sexuality and psychology ----- It is remarkable, and thoroughly disheartening, to know that in this day and age, there still exists such stigma regarding being your most authentic self, without fear of condemnation or ridicule; this is especially true when it comes to getting by in school, an environment where conforming to the status quo and trying to fit in are seen as being of paramount importance, and then o

Though the art of physical letter-writing is something of an archaic practice in this day and age, having largely been replaced by instant messengers, wifi calling and video chats, the basic fundamentals of forming bonds and maintaining a friendship have not changed, and however you choose to keep in contact, you both need to maintain an open line of communication. Perhaps it's the lengthy gaps in between correspondences that make the age old act of writing letters to one ano

Wyld by name, wyld by nature, Isabel Renner is an effervescent treat ----- We all know that traversing adult life can be an absolute minefield of potential stress-inducing triggers, with many of us making it up as we go along, be it workplace politics, trying to make friends, or tackling modern dating. Enter: social anxiety, the enemy of many a millennial and Gen Z just trying to make it from day to day in the world, though perhaps few to quite the same degree as Isabel Renne

University Challenge musical proves funny, albeit formulaic and cliched ----- Since its first TV broadcast in 1962, University Challenge has become nothing short of a British institution, having now run for over six decades and 54 series, spawning various spin-offs, a 2003 novel by David Nicholls , its subsequent film adaptation starring James McEvoy and Benedict Cumberbatch , and now, finally, a stage musical. First premiering in Bristol last year, this joint project betwe

English National Opera kick off their debut Salford season with a bang ----- Almost 50 years after his death, it's fair to say that Benjamin Britten is firmly cemented as one of the foremost 20th century British composers, especially when it comes to his operatic exploits, as well as his work with his two closest collaborators, the tenor Peter Pears , and librettist Eric Crozier , the latter with whom he teamed up to write the three-act comic opera " Albert Herring " in the

Winston-directed revival of Mel Brooks' second symphony is electrifying! ----- Following up from a gargantuan hit like The Producers is enough to send any writer for the stage or screen into a frenzied panic, and much like when the musical first premiered in 2008, we are in a similar situation in the present, with an enormously successful London revival of Mel Brooks ' magnum opus having preceded this major return of his second musical " Young Frankenstein ", and inevitably t

Latest Old Joint Stock production takes us on a rocky yet riveting joy ride The folly of youth, in many cases, provides ample opportunity...

Latest in-house production brilliantly reimagines beloved Shakespeare comedy It has arguably become one of the greatest challenges in...