Most of us all know the story of the Nativity; for many, it's a staple of Christmastime in Britain, along with mince pies, selection boxes, Wizzard and tinsel. We've all known the thrill of being picked to play Mary or Joseph, and the crushing disappointment – or relief! – of being the tree, or one of a whole flock of sheep.
Andrew Scott seems very much the man of the moment, both on screen and on stage. Before he was the Hot Priest in Fleabag, he was the unnervingly charming-yet-sinister Moriarty in Sherlock. You may also have spotted him in Black Mirror, Pride and His Dark Materials. But enough of me listing his filmography; I'm not IMDB.
This month I had the absolute joy of being invited to run two workshops for the Mayflower Young Writers on how to write theatre reviews.
Last weekend I had four shows in a row; this means four late nights, four ways of saying a show was good (or bad!), and four more programmes to add to my collection. It was intense, and tiring, but so, so worth it!
It's incredible how one woman on a bar stool can captivate an audience for almost two hours solid with just pure and simple storytelling, no props and minimal sound effects. It's a testament to Waller-Bridge's performance, which has the audience in limbo somewhere between heartbreak and hilarity.
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.
Jo Fisher Writes 