Category Archives: Behind the Arras Reviews

F Scott Fitzgerald’s novel is a literary classic, one which transferred well to the cinema but which rarely appears on stage. Blackeyed Theatre have sought to put that right with an adaptation by Stephen Sharkey which incorporates song, dance and … Continue reading →

  This play forms part of an Ayckbourn trilogy , the Norman Conquests, written in 1973. There are only six parts, and each play depicts the same six characters, over the same weekend, in a different part of a house. … Continue reading →

The pantomime season traditionally draws to an end as January closes. Mulberry Players squeezed their Mother Goose run in with hours to spare in this amateur, village hall production. Pantomime is unique to Great Britain and performs a number of … Continue reading →

*** 1/2 Sutton Arts produce several productions a year. Inevitably that swallows up the well- known plays at a rate of knots. So a pleasing by-product of their prolific performance schedule is that they have to unearth lesser known plays … Continue reading →

This is a welcome revival of a less well known, but very funny, farce written by Phillip King. King was serving as conscripted aircrew based in London when See How They Run made its West End debut in 1945. The … Continue reading →

**** This lovely little Christmas production is inspired by the Grimm fairy tale written just over a hundred years ago in 1806. Performed in the intimate 100 seater studio, it is aimed at 3-7 year olds but particularly suits pre-school … Continue reading →

*** Cinderella is one of the strongest pantomimes, and RWP have assembled a strong team to deliver it. A big turn- out for the opening night augured well, and from the opening curtain, the cast threw themselves into the evening’s … Continue reading →

The Derby Theatre once again eschews the predictable seasonal appeal of pantomime by putting on Mike Kenny’s adaptation of Grimm’s fairy tale “Cinderella” ,following last year’s hugely successful production of “ A Christmas Carol”.   Director Sarah Brigham likes her … Continue reading →

  Aladdin is one of the best traditional pantomimes, and the most popular, as a full house on the opening performance, a Saturday matinee, demonstrated. Panto is as integral a part of the festive season as Father Christmas, turkey and … Continue reading →