Piff the Magic Dragon: Last of the Magic Dragons

3 Stars *** Now perhaps I expected too much from this show, the vibe I’ve been getting is that it is one to watch, so although I’m still skeptical about magic acts, I along with many others, went to see if the word was right. Now I have respect for what these guys can do [...]

Hansel And Gretel

**** 4 Stars This was a great little production, the children were instantly put at ease and made to feel special when they were sat at the front on the scatter cushions and blankets, after following a path of candles into the enchanted forest whilst the parents and guardians were sat at the rear on the [...]

The Just So Stories

***** 5 Stars From the minute that you walk into the venue for this show, you are immediately aware that this is a kids show that takes their audience very seriously, the kids are sat at the front on scattered beans bags with soft toys and are quickly settled into their own space whilst the [...]

Dances for Wolves: Class Stage Productions

4 Stars  **** This piece of theatre could easily fit into the comedy or even the musical sections, because it has elements of all in the production. Set in the G Spot gentleman’s club our five ‘entertainers’, posh girl Meredith, welsh school teacher Paella, the older Diane and the bickering pair of Pasha and Melanoma [...]

Multiple Choice

3 stars *** Five actors sit in a line in what is essentially a rehearsed reading, i.e. they all have their scripts with them. What was not clear was if the actors are their characters or if they’re reading the characters’ stories (which would make more sense for having the scripts). Either way a big issue [...]

Improvised Plays from Austin, Texas

3 stars *** Yet another improvised show – while I prefer the improvised musicals for wow factor this is the straight play equivalent. Opinions will differ every night as it is completely made up every night. This evening we had a swimming instructor as the central theme and they did a grand job with it, some [...]

Craig Campbell

4 Stars **** Craig Campbell is a larger than life character in every way you want to look at it. He is a tall, solid, hairy bearded guy and as a personality as large as his frame and his talent is equal to both. Canadian by birth but a UK resident for years now,Campbell still [...]

Blues!

4 stars **** Well, 5 stars for the band, they are simply awesome. Superb music for an hour with genuinely interesting facts and a brief history of blues music and its development. It lost a star because of the sound balance, the guitars (especially ‘Clapton’) are far, FAR too loud. I’m not saying they should [...]

Five Alive! The Musical

2 stars ** In interesting premise but ultimately bland and boring. Two men, rather than the five you might expect, ‘act’ through this piece and sing the bands ‘hits’ which are instantantly forgettable and all so repetitive. The last song is okay but the rest could probably all be sung at the same time, they’re [...]

Jason Cook: In Search of Happiness

5 Stars ***** Jason Cook is a comic who is now reaping the rewards he justly deserves having been a Fringe veteran of a number of years now, and every show I have seen he has certainly brightened up my day with his performance. This year’s version In Search of Happiness basically is what it [...]