Tag Archives: York

Twelfth Night at Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre: clowns in love

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If Hamlet is the prince of the domestic Scandi thriller, Twelfth Night is the king and queen of the upper-class rom-com. Finishing off Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre press run with a bang, the Gala night performance of this classic comedy of mistaken identities plays to a house full of bodies, beer and hormones. Following a heartfelt speech about the project in its entirety from originator James Cundall MBE, the evening sets off on its raucous voyage. Continue reading →

Henry V at Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre: we happy few

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Directed by Gemma Fairlie (New Vic, Circomedia, Lyric Hammersmith) and starring Maggie Bain (Black Mirror, The End of the F*****g World), the third press performance at Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre is famous history play Henry V. Fairlie quotes of Jonathan Bate in her director’s note: “national identity is shaped by defining moments, usually involving bloodshed.” And it is our complicated relationship to patriotism that defines this simple, potent retelling. Continue reading →

The Tempest at Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre: Do you love me, master?

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Directed by Philip Franks (The Darling Buds of May), The Tempest at Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre is a bright, blustery pageant in which playful spectacle is winds ahead of the meandering story. Surrounding the incredibly dark and uncomfortable anti-hero of the abusive slave-master Prospero (played surprisingly by the soft-eyed Sam Callis) is a flurry of soft-dappled light affecting romantic underwater magic, (designed by Paul Pyant) and rousing punk folk music that Gogol Bordello would enjoy (composition by Christopher Madin). Completed with colourful costume by Adrian Linford and movement direction by Simeon John-Wake, the production serves as a showcase for its delightfully talented ensemble cast. Continue reading →

Hamlet at Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre: One may smile, and smile, and be a villain

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We all know this solemn tale of revenge guest starring the skull of “Poor Yorick” back to front, right? And yet somehow, the production team behind Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre manage to bring fresh mischief and flair to the most quoted and studied play ever written. It’s so easy to misread Hamlet as a dry, drawn tale of woe and dwelling, to stuff these clever “words, words, words” into a dusty artefact in your mind’s eye and leave them there for academics to fuss over. But that would be doing yourself, and the play, a great disservice. Continue reading →

Photons and Phantoms: A York Tour

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ot-off-the-press Science Communication company Theatre of Science presents their debut production, Photons and Phantoms: A York Tour. A perfectly paced promenade between several spots in the city centre – “where possible, avoiding both tourists and the smell of wee” – company founder and teacher-performer Lara Stafford leads a growing crowd of curious minds of all ages through the streets, illuminating secret historical facts and anecdotes to delight and inspire the whole family. Continue reading →

The Rocky Horror Show: Car trouble? Make a pit stop at Frankenstein’s Place

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Since its first appearance at The Royal Court Theatre in June 1973, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show has become the world’s favourite rock ‘n’ roll musical. It has been performed worldwide in over thirty countries in every continent and has been translated into more than twenty languages. To celebrate the fortieth anniversary, Director Christopher Luscombe created a brand new production for a year-long UK National Tour. Continue reading →

The Alchemist: a raucous romp

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No, The Alchemist isn’t that obscure Shakespeare play you forgot existed. Bronzehead Theatre’s wild and funny contribution to 2019’s York International Shakespeare Festival is a comedy from Shakespeare contemporary Ben Jonson. Continue reading →

Bronzehead Theatre launches York International Shakespeare Festival with The Alchemist

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Hijacking York International Shakespeare Festival (10-19 May) with a contraband classic Ben Jonson farce, Bronzehead Theatre present rambunctious conman romp The Alchemist. Continue reading →

Say Owt Slam comes of age

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It seems like a strange concept – competitive poetry. But as Say Owt demonstrate, with a capacity audience for their twenty-first, coming-of-age, Slam – it is a hugely popular one. The company comprises Henry Raby and Stu Freestone, who have burgeoned from humble beginnings into York’s prominent purveyors and promoters of performance poetry and Spoken Word. Not that they don’t still flaunt that humble start; their signature backdrop, a banner home-made from an old single bed sheet, proudly holds the signatures of all the poets that have performed in its shadow. Continue reading →

Grease is the Word: musical review

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Grease needs no introduction. Those expecting to see the 1978 film adaptation acted on stage may be surprised by York Light’s latest production, which more closely follows the lesser known original stage show. Never fear, however – cheesy songs, lovable characters and the happy ending we all know (and perhaps question) are still the staples, with just the right sprinkling of comedy to boot. Continue reading →