Reviews

Bournemouth Little Theatre Bournemouth Little Theatre, Bournemouth JJ 3 September 2024   It was good to be back at Bournemouth Little Theatre for the first show of the group’s 2024/25 season and with such a Noel Coward classic directed by Barry Gray. There was not a spare seat in the house, which was lovely to see. We meet Sybil (Lauren Killham) recently married to Elyot (Topher Lynn), who shortly joins her, on the balcony of a hotel room in the South of France on their honeymoon. Sybil is set on interrogating Elyot about his ex-wife, Amanda. When they retire to

Grass Roots Theatre Company Allendale Centre, Wimborne KD Johnson  15 August 2024 A request came in for one of us to review this show rather too late for it to be actioned but, as I happened to be there on opening night, I have been asked to write something for posterity. Fresh from their debut (?) production of David Tristram’s one‑act Last Tango In Little Grimley at the Allendale Centre at the end of May, the Grass Roots Theatre Company has knocked up this stunning production of Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s A Bunch Of Amateurs in just a few weeks. Most of

Centrestage Productions Youth Theatre [CPYT] The Arch, Chandlers FordDavid A Putley  8 August 2024 Following on the heels of an excellent CPYT production of Sister Act last week, a change of scenery for Mike Mullen and his team with this Junior version of the adult show, later to be seen at The Mayflower Theatre, Southampton. Madagascar Jr, based on the DreamWorks movie, takes us on a musical adventure with Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the Hippo. Marty celebrates his 10th birthday with his friends but is having a bit of a midlife crisis – and

JT Productions and Stockbridge Amateur Dramatic Society [SADS] Stockbridge Town Hall, Stockbridge David Cradduck  2 August 2024 Upstairs in the Grade ll listed, Italianate-styled Stockbridge Town Hall is a hidden gem: a group of eight talented local actors tackling one of the most challenging of plays about one of the least understood developmental disorders. Or rather our inept ability to accept and deal with it. Sold out before the first night, the final dress rehearsal became an extra, fourth performance and that sold out too. Performed by JT and SADS (Stockbridge Amateur Dramatic Society) and comprising performers, many of whom are

Centrestage Productions Youth Theatre [CPYT] The Point, EastleighMark Ponsford  31 July 2024 Having been invited at fairly short notice to review this production, I was delighted to accept. CPYT have given us some mightily impressive treats, not least their spectacular (in every sense) Les Misérables in February of this year, and I was very eager this evening to see their take on Sister Act, the well-established (and well loved) musicalisation of the 1992 film. To go from the sweeping emotion of Les Misérables to a full-on musical comedy is a considerable leap (which is no bad thing whichever way you

Bournemouth and Boscombe Light Opera Company [BBLOC] Bournemouth Pavilion, Bournemouth Jill Richmond  31 July 2024 Truly a spectacular night to remember! There rarely comes around a performance of a show so dazzling that when it does you can only tell people to go and see it for themselves – this is one of them and is as good as any West End performance and certainly for me topped last years’ professional star-studied 42nd Street UK tour, and if the opening night standing ovation and feverish chatter from the almost full house afterwards was anything to go by, I certainly am