Category Archives: Behind the Arras Reviews

New Jersey Nights – Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

Posted on November 19, 2013 by garylongden

New Jersey Nights is an interesting new phenomena. The fifties, sixties and seventies spawned a slew of memorable popular music, the originators of which are now largely either dead, or in their dotage. First, tribute bands came along to keep … Continue reading →

Posted in Behind the Arras Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spoken Worlds, 5th Anniversary, Burton upon Trent

Posted on November 17, 2013 by garylongden

The poetic community overwhelmingly features good people doing good things. Spoken Worlds celebrated its 5th birthday on 15th November, hosted and curated by Gary Carr. The Old Cottage Tavern is the third home for this event and has proved a … Continue reading →

Posted in Behind the Arras Reviews | Leave a comment

Aida, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

Posted on November 12, 2013 by garylongden

This was the second night of opera presented by Ellen Kent , La Boheme having been successfully played the night before. Many of that cast assumed new principle roles and many in the audience had come for a second helping … Continue reading →

Posted in Behind the Arras Reviews | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

La Boheme, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

Posted on November 11, 2013 by garylongden

It is quite a couple of days for opera fans at the Grand, with La Boheme last night, and Aida tonight, both by Ellen Kent . Puccini’s La Boheme demands proper staging, and this production delivers that. It is a traditional … Continue reading →

Posted in Behind the Arras Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Cork Poets – Midlands Tour

Posted on November 8, 2013 by garylongden

Each year Cork and Coventry act as a staging point for a poetry exchange, swapping poets, poetry, experience and humanity. This year Rab Urquhart and Julie Field (aka Julie Goo) were Cork’s representatives for an itinerary that now includes three … Continue reading →

Posted in Behind the Arras Reviews, Blog | Leave a comment

Rocky Horror Show, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

Posted on October 29, 2013 by garylongden

This is the 40th anniversary of the show which has toured worldwide since its inception by author Richard O’Brien. On the opening night of the Wolverhampton run it was not difficult to see why it has enjoyed such longevity. Brash, … Continue reading →

Posted in Behind the Arras Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ghost Train- Sutton Arts Theatre, Sutton Coldfield

Posted on October 25, 2013 by garylongden

Written in 1923, Ghost Train enjoyed significant commercial success playing to packed houses at St Martin’s Theatre London from November 1925 to March 1927, and has been reworked several times for the cinema. The author, Arnold Ridley, is better known … Continue reading →

Posted in Behind the Arras Reviews | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Bilston Voices – September 2013

Posted on September 29, 2013 by garylongden

This was the final time that Bilston Voices was to gather at the Metro Café. It was an evening of valediction and celebration. By chance, not only did it represent the swansong for the event, it also coincided with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Behind the Arras Reviews | 2 Comments

Dreamboats and Petticoats – Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

Posted on September 12, 2013 by garylongden

Dreamboats and Petticoats revels in nostalgia, swirling skirts, slicked hair and great music. A jukebox musical, the song and dance are linked by a narrative set in 1961, at St Mungo’s youth club in Essex. Song writing hopefuls Bobby and … Continue reading →

Posted in Behind the Arras Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Gigi, Sutton Arts Theatre, Sutton Coldfield

Posted on August 31, 2013 by garylongden

Gigi the stage play is based on the 1944 novella by Colette , adapted by Anita Loos. The plot follows a young Parisian girl being groomed for a career as a courtesan, and her relationship with the wealthy ,cultured , … Continue reading →

Posted in Behind the Arras Reviews | Leave a comment