Garth Marenghi’s TerrorTome: Book tour review

It’s a wet evening in York and Vikings are prowling the streets. For some men they might be a threat, but for Garth Marenghi, doom scriber and master of the macabre, they are but bearded weirdos. Why, dear reader is this review written in a manner of which the man himself might approve? Let me explicate. Continue reading

Treasure Island: Swashbuckling Bouffonnery

Le Navet Bete bring a cast of four to their hilarious, audacious twist on Robert Louis Stevenson’s legendary tale, featuring an unusual, motley crew of south-west-accented pirates, a parrot called Alexa (straight from ‘the’ Amazon), a certain white-bearded fish finger tycoon and a mermaid you’ll never forget. Signature joyful chaos ensues. Continue reading

Ten Times Table: a fête worse than death

Directed by Robin Herford, Ten Times Table is the inaugural production of the Classic Comedy theatre company, produced by Bill Kenwright and his team behind other sister compaies: the Agatha Christie, the Classic Thriller, and the Classic Screen to Stage theatre companies – which between them have enjoyed over 15 years of theatrical success across the UK. Somehow, this relic script has long outlived its bedtime and appears to be reaping similar attention. Continue reading

John Shuttleworth’s Back!: comedy preview

When John Shuttleworth last toured in 2017, he was on the brink of retirement. 2016 had wreaked its deathly toll on major celebrities (Rickman, Bowie, Wogan et al.) and Shuttleworth was feeling grimly vulnerable to the reaper’s scythe. We all thought he was packing it all in, that the superstardom he’d always imagined was tantalisingly just out of reach would never be his. Continue reading

Monster Makers: “give ’em something that they won’t expect”

Stephen Dolginoff (Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story) serves up a jolly, camp romp in his new triple-feature musical Monster Makers, which celebrates the colourful talents behind the most (in)famous classic horror films. Continue reading

Billy Shakes – Wonderboy!: weaning onto the bard

Leeds-based company Wrongsemble turn their trademark aesthetic panache to the imagined creative awakening of William Shakespeare, on a pop-up stage in the groundlings pit of Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre in York. The formidable collective of Director Elvi Piper, Designer Antony Jones, Musical Director Rosie Fox and Costumier Julie Ashworth makes for another rich, eye-catching set piece and, for the most part, the story holds the attention of their dutiful audience of very mixed ages, who have ventured out despite the ominously changeable weather. Continue reading

It Just So Happened: an alternative history show

The audience at 41 Monkgate are excited for the show, and there’s a decent mix – parents with teenagers, couples on dates, and a few flying solo. They all give a hearty cheer as Richard Pulsworth and his crew of comedians take to the stage for this Great Yorkshire Fringe debut. Continue reading

Great Yorkshire Fringe – The New Comedian of the Year Final: review

On the final Saturday of the Great Yorkshire Fringe, a crowd begins to shuffle into the Grand Opera House. Their clothes might be damp from the torrential rain, but their spirits are decidedly not as they take their seats for the final of The New Comedian of the Year. Continue reading