Category Archives: Behind the Arras Reviews

Little Venice, St Nicholas St, Worcester THIS monthly event has been attracting an increasing level of interest in recent months. A combination of a strong bill, curiosity, and a personal invitation from organiser Lisa Ventura moved me to check it … Continue reading →

  Patrick Kavanagh Public House, Moseley NEW theatre company, Don’t Go Into the Cellar specialise in Period theatre. This show, a sister to “Gothicana”, has a bawdy theme, as the show title suggests, but is still presented in a Victorian … Continue reading →

 Shakespeare Memorial Room, Birmingham Central Library DON’T Go Into the Cellar is a new Theatre Company with a growing reputation for period performance. The creative invention of Jonathan Goodwin and Rachel Green, tonight’s presentation was of Gothic horror with “Gothicana”. … Continue reading →

The  hall of this famous, landmark Church is now a fine venue in its own right with excellent public address and lighting  as well as a bar, cafe, formal and informal seating. Compere  Penny Hewlett, leader of Smart Poets did … Continue reading →

Spoken Worlds, Rangemore House,Burton-on-Trent  THIS was a valedictory occasion for the last “Spoken Worlds” to be held at this venue. The unavailability of Rangemore House going forwards has prompted a move to the Old Cottage Tavern, just a few hundred metres … Continue reading →

  Rhymes Out of Town NationalSouth Birmingham CollegeDigbeth This event represented a bold departure for “Rhymes” organisers, Rogue Play, who had imported  non-Midlands poets to entertain, rather than concentrating on local talent. Artistically it paid off with four very different … Continue reading →

  Spoken Worlds Rangemore House, Burton upon Trent Conventional wisdom is that Spoken Word events are not held on Friday nights as people  have more attractive options at the end of the week. “Spoken Worlds” organiser Gary Carr, neatly turns that … Continue reading →

  Espresso Theatre  Margaret rose Abri, Digbeth This now well established quarterly event aims to provide a showcase for short plays, around 15 minutes long, with minimal props, costuming and sets. Once again it delivered in spades with variety, and … Continue reading →

Rhymes Annual Slam 2011  Old Crown, Digbeth An eclectic mix of the best of Poetic talent assembled once again to vie for the title of Rhyme’s Slam Champion, previously held by Spoz. A mark of the increasing prestige of the … Continue reading →

  Bilston Voices Cafe Metro, Bilston Thursday 25th November The final meeting of Bilston Voices for 2010 was “Black County Night” where the cream of local talent was scooped up and ladled in one gastronomic delight at Cafe Metro. This … Continue reading →