That day finally came this week when I went to see the stage adaptation of The Woman in Black at Nuffield Southampton Theatres, as a reviewer for Broadway World UK. I took my seat and settled down (with my hands almost over my eyes) ready to be thrilled and chilled.
Ladies, gentlemen, and those who haven’t made their mind up yet…you are in for one hell of a ride! This is a production with both soul and sole.
Many of us grew up watching puppets on screen who helped us to navigate the world and learn our ABCs. Now that we're adults, we're still learning, but there are seemingly no friendly, furry friends to offer advice and amusement. Except...there are. And they live on Avenue Q!
It's been a few years since I read Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns; but I remember being so incredibly moved by the story. So when the stage adaptation arrived at Nuffield Southampton Theatres at the end of its UK tour, I was very keen to see it – and, I'll admit, I had to remind myself of the plot a little beforehand too.
Directed by Michelle Smith, Silent Mind is an informative and emotional production that follows four different strangers whose paths cross at one train station, all embarking on journeys of self-discovery and change.
The classic story has come to life, leaping from the page and onto the stage and bringing all the magic of Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake with it, and a few new treats to boot.
You can imagine my joy when the writer of The Crown created a new show for my local theatre, Nuffield Southampton Theatres. Peter Morgan, along with director Samuel Hodges, have brought the Queen's most intimate conversations to life in The Audience.
Would you expect the opening scene of an opera to feature an enormous, monstrous lobster? Neither would I; but my latest trip to the theatre proved that there's a first time for everything!
The titular dead dog in this show is just one small part of a production which flips a classic opera on its head and turns it into a mixtape that covers the entire emotional spectrum.
Annie whisks you back to a time of uncertainty and hardship during America's Great Depression, but shares a story of hope, resilience, and optimism. You're bound to be grinning by the end: after all...you're never fully dressed without a smile.
