Reviews

SUSU Theatre Group  Annex Theatre, University Of Southampton, Southampton David A Putley 29 January 2025 If the sins of the father are visited upon the sons, then Arthur Miller’s classic “All My Sons” is the ethical conundrum for our time. In this precursor to his signature piece, “Death of a Salesman,” Miller tackles the father-son conflict revealing what happens when the patriarch of the family is revealed to be just another imperfect man whose tragic errors in judgment bring down all he knows and loves. Ripped from a small newspaper article in which a woman informed on her own father

Highcliffe Charity Players  Regent Centre, Christchurch Becki Dawson 24 January 2025   Highcliffe Charity Players have been performing pantomimes and shows since 1971. This is their last January pantomime at The Regent in Christchurch… but they’ve promised to come back at Easter instead! This year, Director Pete Whitaker, Choreographer Shannon Cook and Musical Director Stuart Darling have worked together to put on Goldilocks And The Three Bears. And what an enthusiastic show! I have never seen so many excited faces up on a stage enjoying every minute of what they are doing like I saw this evening. The big stage at

Bishopstoke Players  Durley Memorial Hall, Durley Anne Waggott 23 January 2025 Villainous Hades, god of the Underworld, is scheming to take over the Universe – and the only one who can stop him is Hercules, son of Zeus, king of the gods. Trouble is, Hercules doesn’t realise he’s a demigod, rather believing he’s a misfit living in a tiny village with his mother and brother… until he receives a message from Zeus, which sets him on a quest to fulfil his destiny to become immortal and defeat the monstrous Hades. Well… what an unexpected little gem of a pantomime! Who

Chesil Theatre  Chesil Theatre, Winchester Mark Ponsford 19 January 2025 Take a small group of well-off (and faintly entitled) characters, give them a simple elegant interior setting, put some nibbles on the table, throw in some escalating tensions and arguments… It’s a pretty safe bet that you’ve alighted on yet another play by Yasmina Reza, and anyone familiar with either Art or the more savage God Of Carnage will already have an idea of what to expect. In Art, the catalyst was the ludicrous canvas; in God Of Carnage, a child’s pet (I have an abiding memory of Matthew Kelly, in

All Saints Dramatic Society  Bournemouth Life Centre, Moordown, Bournemouth Caroline Burr 16 January 2025 Knight Fever by Trasler, Lovesy and Clark has King Arthur, his knights and the magician Merlin, pitted against the evil Black Knight. The hero of the piece, Justin Thyme (!), a humble stable boy, is in love with Princess Anna but cannot marry her until he becomes a Knight of the Round Table. An opportunity for heroism arises when the Black Knight and his accomplice Chardonnay Le Fay kidnap the Princess. Can the hapless Justin, Dame Doris and Lester the Jester rescue her and re-establish peace

Broadstone Pantomime Productions  Broadstone War Memorial Hall, Broadstone Carole Gadsby 10 January 2025 OH YES IT WAS – Absolutely fabulous. This is the first time I have reviewed this Pantomime Company so had no idea what to expect. Boy, was I in for a treat, pure fun, laughter, hilarity and warmth. The intimate space at the Broadstone Memorial Hall was perfect for this beloved tale which was given a fresh, lively and quirky twist thanks to an original script penned by David Gigg. It was brimming with sharp, topical humour and clever local references that had the audience laughing throughout,