Modern Theatre Reviews (2008)

I enjoy the good fortune of living in an area which is well blessed for good quality theatre. In less than a twenty minute journey from my home I can reach the Bradford Alhambra Theatre, Leeds Grand Theatre, and the West Yorkshire Playhouse (with two auditoria, based in Leeds City Centre). Extend that journey to forty minutes and I can also take in the Halifax Victoria Theatre, Huddersfield Lawrence Batley Theatre and the Wakefield Royal Opera House. Consequently, I visit one or other of these theatres fairly regularly and I thought it would be good to share my impressions from these outings with visitors to this website.

The scores given below are intended to reflect my own overall level of satisfaction with, and/or enjoyment of, the show concerned (based of course upon my own personal tastes). They are not intended to be necessarily indicative of the technical and/or artistic merits of the particular production concerned. I am not a professional critic or reviewer, and pay full price to see all of these shows for my own entertainment. Consequently, I have no vested interest nor any axe to grind, but neither do I pay to see shows which prima facie do not have a good reputation or do not appeal to me. These then are my own honest opinions. Note that only shows scoring 60% or less do I consider a disappointment, and 50% or less not worth seeing.

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Dance
Variety
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Production Genre Date / Venue / Principal Cast Members Score Verdict
Click on the production title for a detailed review
And Then There Were None 11th July 2008
Grand Theatre, Leeds
Will be posted after performance.
Mela 4th July 2008
WY Playhouse, Leeds
WY Playhouse

45%
Fails to fulfill the promise of its material. One, unfortunately, to miss.
Monkey 27th June 2008
WY Playhouse, Leeds
WY Playhouse

75%
A moderately enjoyable piece of hokum.
Ballet Central 25th June 2008
Royal Opera House, Wakefield
Central School of Ballet

85%
Overall, a grand show, well worth catching if it comes near you, featuring some of the dance stars of the future.
Where's Vietnam? 20th June 2008
WY Playhouse, Leeds
Red Ladder Theatre Company

82%
A colourful and musical black comedy telling a vivid story of love and violence.
South Pacific 6th June 2008
Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
UK Productions

87%
A lively show with some fine performances and memorable musical numbers.
The English Game 30th May 2008
WY Playhouse (Quarry Theatre), Leeds
Headlong Theatre

85%
A very funny examination of the English way of life.
Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker 23rd May 2008
Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
New Adventures

90%
A wondefully camped up version of the traditional Christmas classic overflowing with Bourne's trademark wit and theatrical flair.
A Midsummer Night's Dream 16th May 2008
Grand Theatre, Leeds
Opera North

78%
An excellent performance of an opera that unfortunately does not do proper justice to its source material.
Hapgood 9th May 2008
WY Playhouse, Leeds
WY Playhouse and Birmingham Rep.

75%
Intriguing and witty with some good moments of action but few real surprises.
Fast Labour 2nd May 2008
WY Playhouse, Leeds
WY Playhouse and Hampstead Theatre

72%
An interesting and topical play but curiously unsatisfying at its conclusion.
The Big Ballet 11th April 2008
Victoria Theatre, Halifax
The Big Ballet and Fight Club

85%
A combination of unquestionable skill, comedy and athleticism providing a fun evening of highly enjoyable entertainment.
Swan Lake 4th April 2008
Grand Theatre Leeds
English National Ballet

97%
Sumptuous costumes, first-class sets, and superb performances from the prinicpals and a large and talented corps de ballet. A rare treat.
Swan Lake 2nd April 2008
The Lowry, Salford Quays
Birmingham Royal Ballet

90%
A colourful and above average rendition of the classic ballet.
Beauty and the Beast on Ice 28th March 2008
Victoria Theatre, Halifax
The Russian Ice Stars

87%
An enchanting story illustrated through creative and dazzling action to form an unforgettable experience.
Romeo and Juliet 26th March 2008
The Coliseum, London
Stuttgart Ballet

90%
Visually and technically superb with some stunning choreography.
Wicked 26th March 2008 (matinee)
Apollo Victoria, London
Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone

92%
A kaleidoscope of great music and magical sensations for the whole family. Immensely enjoyable or, to quote the vernacular, Wicked!
Year of the Rat 20th March 2008
WY Playhouse, Leeds
WY Playhouse, Michael Codron Plays and CMP Ltd

87%
Historically inaccurate but hauntingly evocative and true to the spirit of Orwell's legacy. Equally a treat for the mind, the eye, and the ear.
Brainiac Live 14th March 2008
WY Playhouse, Leeds
Brainiac

72%
A good show to take the kids along to but not a great deal to offer for unaccompanied discerning adults.
Doctor Doolittle 7th March 2008
Grand Theatre, Leeds
Presented by Bill Kenwright

95%
A spectacular, big-budget, feel-good musical that is a vast amount of fun for all the family.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 29th February 2008
Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
Produced by Chitty (UK) Ltd

92%
A fantasmagorical epic of a musical. Great performances, lively music and stunning visuals make this a treat for all the family.
The Grouch 15th February 2008
WY Playhouse, Leeds
Produced by WY Playhouse

80%
Witty, poignant, engrossing and, at times, very funny. An excellent new play from a talented writer.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat 8th February 2008
Grand Theatre, Leeds
Presented by Bill Kenwright and Really Useful Group

90%
A great uplifting musical, combining a wide variation of song styles into an exuberant and fast paced story with enough humour and emotive elements to please most people.
The Nutcracker 7th February 2008
St George's Hall, Bradford
Russian State Ballet of Siberia

82%
A well staged and beautifully designed production of the classic ballet.
Peter Grimes 25th January 2008
Grand Theatre, Leeds
Opera North

77%
A powerful and evocative production of the great English masterpiece.
Salonika 18th January 2008
WY Playhouse, Leeds
WY Playhouse Production

60%
An interesting, emotional play but one which is too drawn out and ultimately unsatisfying.

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