Arts BOOK REVIEW: Jerusalem Ablaze: Orlando Ortega-Medin There’s a touch of humour in these stories but overall the tone is dark, aggressive, full of shadow and unexpected finds, like a beach during a storm. He explores themes of loneliness and escape of facing demons and finding lost loves but his over aching theme is the unpredictability of death and it By Eric Page • 2 min read
Arts REVIEW: Actually Gay Men’s Chorus – Bring on the Men@St Andrews Church After working with the same musical director for more than 10 years, Actually Gay Men’s Chorus appointed a new MD last summer as Jason Pimblett passed the baton on to Samuel Cousins. By Besi • 2 min read
Arts Review: The Miser@Garrick Theatre, London Moliere’s classic satirical farce about the folly of greed returns to London’s West End with a rousing new adaptation by Sean Foley and Phil Porter. The play stars double Olivier award winning Griff Rhys Jones in the title role, alongside TV comedy star, Lee Mack, making his West End acting debut. By Paul Gustafson • 2 min read
Arts REVIEW: A Chorus Line@ The Old Market This 1970s’ take on the putting-on-a-musical musical has a central premise fitting for its time: the audition as therapy. Seventeen would-be hoofers are trying for a part in a big Broadway show whose director (Louis Livesey-Clare) seems as interested in their souls as their dancing skills. If the da By Michael Hootman • 2 min read
Arts REVIEW: Thoroughly Modern Millie@Theatre Royal Based on the 1967 film, Thoroughly Modern Millie is a frothy, souffle-light musical comedy about sex trafficking. Having written that sentence I’m beginning to doubt my sanity but yes, it centres on an evil hotel owner (Lucas Rush) who kidnaps young women to sell them into the ‘depravity and licenti By Michael Hootman • 2 min read
Arts REVIEW: Noel & Gertie@Devonshire Park Theatre Mtp’s new production of Noel & Gertie, based on the playwright’s 54 year friendship with Gertrude Lawrence is a perfectly charming night out. The love story, devised by Sheridan Morley from the couple’s letters and diaries, is told with all the Master’s flair and wit. Featuring song and scenes from By Eric Page • 3 min read
Arts REVIEW: Invincible@Theatre Royal It’s a tragic ending, hard, savage and all the more real for it and although it appears to be a play about social froth it’s a more incisive play looking at the modern struggle for a significant identity and the desperate need for people to have some meaning, some intelligent direction to their live By Eric Page • 3 min read
Arts BOOK REVIEW: Warwick Rowers Signature Edition These lads are huge in all sorts of ways and this massive hefty well stuffed and high quality book reflects the hard work and dedication that these handsome lads put into their bodies and their campaigning for equality and against homophobia in all sports with equal passion. By Eric Page • 2 min read
Arts BOOK REVIEW: An Odd Sock Story: Rose & Jan Hart, Elvira Grassia, This charming and fun children’s story uses its engaging narrative to respectfully addresses some of the most challenging social issues of today, while its imaginative, vibrant illustrations bring a never-before-seen Sockland to life. An Odd Sock Story as a fun and informative way to help children l By Eric Page • 2 min read
Arts REVIEW: Out of Order@Theatre Royal Ray Cooney’s 1990 comedy is standard issue farce: it’s basically ladies in negligees being shoved into cupboards. Not that there’s anything intrinsically wrong with this, it’s just that Out of Order doesn’t have the charm of a Boeing Boeing, the wit of a Relatively Speaking or the genius plotting of By Michael Hootman • 2 min read
Arts REVIEW: Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf@Harold Pinter Theatre, London Staunton continues to wow the West End in this stunning production. Given the calibre of casting and of writing, could director James Macdonald have gone wrong with this new production of the classic Edward Albee 1962 play of that oh so thin line between love and hate? Well, I suppose he could, but By Kat Pope • 3 min read
Arts BOOK REVIEW: Difficult Women: Roxane Gay Gay takes us on a rollercoaster of lives, each seemingly dark but bursting with the light of strength, endurance and passion that allow the protagonists to rise above their circumstance and triumph, on their own terms, but their own rules. The protagonists are as wild and as wide ranging as the subj By Eric Page • 1 min read
