by Laura Kressly
Stories always have monsters. They may not be literal monsters, but anything that’s scary, or an obstacle, or destabilising, or otherwise threatens the story’s hero.
Stories also always have choices. Usually a lot of them, made by the hero, that determine his or her fate.
by Laura Kressly
What’s a woman to do when she wants to have filthy, degrading sex that directly opposes her feminist principles?
Find the most degenerate, weasel of a man in the hopes that fucking him will purge her of deep-seated desires to be used, of course.
by guest critic Lara Alier
Smaller scale musicals are on the rise at the moment. They’re performed in smaller venues that, as well as being kinder on production costs, also offer an intimacy between performers and the audience that we really value. Lock and Key’s cast is also small, with only two performers on stage, and a live quartet including a cello, violin, piano, and a cajón.
by Laura Kressly
A woman is chained up in a damp cell. Alone, she is watched by an unseen group of men, afraid of her power. She rants, lectures and mocks them, gradually exposing the real reason she is imprisoned. It’s a pretty horrible thing, but her story of abuse, sexual power and society’s fear of strong women echoes like the howl of a wolf.
by guest critic Alex Dowding
You wake up every day, stumble bleary-eyed into the kitchen, pour yourself a bowl of cereal, gaze at that oh-so-cheery character on the box and wonder what the hell they could be so happy about. Sound familiar? Well, All Boxed Up is what happens when writer Sammy Kissin stares at the lifeless eyes on the box until they start staring back.
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by guest critic Joanna Trainor
“Why have you stopped eating?” Viv asks Tom at the nursing home. “Why have you developed an entirely different accent in your old age?” Tom could reasonably respond.
This is a slightly harsh opener; Old Fools is one of those productions that has a few things to pick at but is redeemed by its ending. From their first meeting to a cold garden in a nursing room, this is the story of Tim and Viv and Alzheimer’s.
by Laura Kressly
Ruffrino is a revolutionary. With a rucksack full of equipment and signs, he’s ready to wake up the sleeping masses to the plight of black people in America.
by guest critic Lara Alier
A woman, a screen projector and a young audience who has already been in the bar. Sweet high school memories. This evening though, I am taken on a journey where horror and comedy flip as fast as a coin.
by guest critic Lara Alier
Willow is a 35-year-old chemist who works at Boots and is writing a scientific journal. Liz is an older woman who takes care of her sick husband and spends half of her time walking in the woods. They both become curious about the other, and eventually care for each other. The non-judgmental writing creates really round characters with many different layers.
by guest critic Alex Dowding
So what really happens when the fat lady sings? If it’s anything like Red Belly Black’s accomplished take on on the exquisitely human experience of grief and letting go, expect laughter, tears and harsh truths served with a glittering side of live music.
The Play's The Thing UK 