Author Archives: garylongden

“Invincible”, by Torben Betts, the Original Theatre Company, Derby Theatre

**** Derby Theatre is to be commended on bringing this relatively new play (2014) by the highly acclaimed playwright Torben Betts, produced by the Original Theatre Company, to the city. A strong first night house augurs well for the rest … Continue reading

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North Birmingham Amdram Preview – What’s Hot, and What’s Not! Spring 2017

Many theatregoers, and play Directors, have mentioned to me that although productions are well covered at the time of performance, previews are confined to often cursory summaries in brief advance publicity material. As a consequence, punters can find themselves making … Continue reading

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2016 A Year of Reviews in Review

The pace of reviewing is such that one year can blend into the next. But January provides the occasion to reflect back on the previous twelve months and reflect on a year of Midlands theatre. The Midlands continues to be … Continue reading

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The Vortex – Sutton Arts Theatre

  **** This rarely produced play was a shrewd, but challenging choice by Director Stuart Goodwin. Written by Noel Coward, and first staged in 1924, it titillated, outraged and divided opinion at the time, almost a century later I regard … Continue reading

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A Letter on America

  I have always felt a relationship with America. As a child I lived in the USA, as an adult I have holidayed there. As an Englishman living in the United Kingdom, the effect of America culturally and politically has … Continue reading

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Holmes for the Holidays – Grange Players, Grange Playhouse, Walsall

****  Holmes for the Holidays, aka The Games Afoot, is written by Ken Ludwig, an American anglophile whose education takes in both Harvard , and Trinity College Cambridge. Ludwig likes English literature. He has written  about Shakespeare,  Gilbert and Sullivan, … Continue reading

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The 40th Anniversary of David Bowie’s “Low”

  Today is the 40th anniversary of the release of an album now regarded as being seminal in the popular music cannon, but which was divided opinion on its release. I thought it deserved a reflection.  I remember well purchasing … Continue reading

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Poems 2017

  Skinhead   Ben Sherman’s, buttoned down Levi’s turned up, braces locked tight Doc Martins laced high Harrington’s for fight, or flight.   Heads bristling Legs loping Fists clenching   Richard Allen Pulp fiction Barely 200 pages   Finished in … Continue reading

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Planet Earth

Run Iguana run, Dance the tango with devils Over hot sand, Sprint with lightning Bolt speed, Swerve and sway like Ronaldo, Keep ballerina balance As death slithers and slides In awful choreographed symmetry, Wrestle and writhe, Strive against  mortal foes … Continue reading

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Holding Baby – Birmingham University

This production, on the afternoon of 15th October, was part of the University of Birmingham’s, “Book to the future” festival. Its milieu, the swathe of middle aged, and pensionable aged, folk, increasingly responsible for raising children cross-generationally. Ostensibly, that  might … Continue reading

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