Author Archives: garylongden

The Rocky Horror show- Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, 14/4/26

Posted on April 26, 2026 by garylongden

**** This was my fifth visit to the show, but my second in four days having previously seen it at the Leicester Curve, a modern theatre. Wolverhampton grand is a traditional theatre- and Grand! Richard O’Brien‘s audacious musical The Rocky Horror … Continue reading →

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Rocky Horror Show- The Curve, Leicester, 11/4/26

Posted on April 26, 2026 by garylongden

**** This was my fourth visit over the years to The Rocky Horror Show and my first to the Curve at Leicester for the final night of the week long run at the venue. over half of the audience were … Continue reading →

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David Bowie and fame

Posted on April 26, 2026 by garylongden

Bowie and fame The short answer is “we don’t know.” – His most explicit pean to fame, the eponymous song, is pretty unattractive lyrically, but driven by an hypnotic Alomar backbeat.  Created at a time when he was drenched in … Continue reading →

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Sunny Afteroon- Regent theatre, Stoke on trent

Posted on April 12, 2026 by garylongden

*****This was the third time I had seen the show on this tour, and the fourth overall. It continues to grow on me. For a detailed review search for the Nottingham Theatre and Alex theatre, Birmingham shows. What stood out … Continue reading →

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Richard Ashcroft- Birmingham Arena

Posted on April 5, 2026 by garylongden

As the Rock era draws to a close, heroes are thinner on the ground. Unusually, Ashcroft has had two bites at the cherry, first as an Indy icon with the Verve, then after a period in the wilderness ,and a … Continue reading →

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Macbeth- Derby theatre

Posted on April 3, 2026 by garylongden

***** The East Midlands has been treated to Shakespeare’s greatest hits just recently. A few weeks  ago the RSC brought Hamlet to  Nottingham. Now Derby theatre in conjunction with Hull Truck Theatre , and Octagon Theatre Bolton, offer us Macbeth … Continue reading →

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Priscilla Queen of the Desert- Birmingham Hippodrome

Posted on March 30, 2026 by garylongden

Priscilla Queen of the desert- Birmingham Hippodrome **** Old sparkling favourite  Priscilla Queen Of The Desert returns to the Birmingham Hippodrome stage with a dazzling, brand new 30th anniversary tour production. An unseasonably cold, drab Tuesday evening in Birmingham , … Continue reading →

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Lad- Brunswick Inn, Derby

Posted on March 26, 2026 by garylongden

Lad- Brunswick Inn- Derby **** Lad is an immersive pop up  play by John Booker, set in a pub, and here, performed in a pub.it tackles masculinity and identity. Coincidentally I saw fellow East Midlands playwright’s James Howard’s production of … Continue reading →

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Midsomer Murders, the Killings at Badgers Drift- Derby Theatre

Posted on March 26, 2026 by garylongden

Midsomer Murders- the Killings at Badgers Drift- Derby theatre *** The television series is something of a cult show now, as a packed Wednesday night demonstrated. All of the ingredients which make this murder mystery so compelling on screen were … Continue reading →

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Punch- Nottingham Playhouse, 21/3/26

Posted on March 21, 2026 by garylongden

 ***** A play about violence, forgiveness and   redemption –  Punch  returns to Nottingham Playhouse, following its remarkable simultaneous openings on Broadway and in the West End.  After its premiere in 2024, this powerful account of Jacob Dunne’s story sparked discussions … Continue reading →

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