Category: Features

Posted by : TimothyRamsden on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 - 09:54 AM

Posted by : TimothyRamsden on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 01:50 AM

It wasn’t hard to estimate the Saturday night stalls crowd at Northampton’s Royal Theatre for the final performance there of Arthur Schnitzler’s Liebelei in a production by Luc Bondy of David Harrower’s English version, called Sweet Nothings.

Posted by : TimothyRamsden on Thursday, October 22, 2009 - 02:01 AM

Northampton expands the repertory with O’Neill’s long journey and Tennessee Williams on the unkindness of families.

Posted by : TimothyRamsden on Monday, October 05, 2009 - 01:05 AM

London.

AN INSPECTOR CALLS
by J B Priestley.

Transfer to
Wyndhams Theatre.
Tue-Sat 7.30pm Mat Wed, Thu 2.30pm Sat 3pm.
Runs 1hr 50min No interval.

TICKETS: 0844 482 5120.
Review: Timothy Ramsden 30 September at Novello Theatre.

Seemingly imperishable play and production.

Posted by : TimothyRamsden on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 - 05:20 AM

Hazel Kyte shows all aboard needn't be bored.

Posted by : RodDungate on Sunday, September 06, 2009 - 02:23 PM

Playwrights - and what they get up to in private.

I have just finished reviewing David Edgar’s excellent book on How Plays Work. Reviewing this book has focused my thinking on a word - the noun that describes the activity of writing plays.

Rod Dungate explores a linguistic anomaly in the world of writing plays . . .

Posted by : TimothyRamsden on Monday, August 31, 2009 - 10:40 PM

Rupert Bridgewater takes on the challenge of unnatural selection for the short-term Fringe visitor.

Posted by : TimothyRamsden on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 - 03:59 PM

“Just Between Ourselves,,,”, “Man of the Moment…” and “Private Fears in Public Places” – the titles of the Alan Ayckbourn plays being performed this summer in Northampton somehow express the playwright’s diverse worlds: intimate conversation, headline declaration and a sociological thesis-heading. All come, of course, with laughs but they have their darker sides too. As the season reaches its climax Timothy Ramsden meets Laurie Sansom, Artistic Director at Northampton’s Royal & Derngate Theatre and former Ayckbourn associate, who put the season together.

Read on . . .

Posted by : TimothyRamsden on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 - 12:51 AM

Hazel Kyte in the USA and Canada.

Posted by : TimothyRamsden on Monday, May 25, 2009 - 11:32 AM

The Cut Halesworth Suffolk 27 April-10 May 2009.

Posted by : TimothyRamsden on Sunday, April 12, 2009 - 07:54 PM

NEW YORK ROUND UP; Spring 2009

Hazel Kyte’s further bites into Big Apple theatre.

Posted by : TimothyRamsden on Sunday, November 16, 2008 - 08:45 PM

Hazel Kyte rounds up old and new.

Cabaret world.

My principle reason for visiting a Big Apple filled with pre-election buzz and Hallowe’en was the Mabel Mercer Foundation’s l9th annual Cabaret Convention. Taking place over four nights at the Rose Theatre, home of Jazz at Lincoln Centre, this is a superb venue with prices from $25 to $100 per evening, fantastic value for two and a half hours of the best cabaret stars strutting their stuff.

Posted by : TimothyRamsden on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - 01:57 AM

Between 3-6 April fourteen companies came together in the small Northumberland town of Alnwick to present and debate examples of the work they tour, mostly to rural settings. Timothy Ramsden reports.

Posted by : RodDungate on Friday, July 18, 2008 - 08:53 AM

Music and Lyrics balance in the theatre.

Posted by : TimothyRamsden on Wednesday, July 09, 2008 - 11:23 AM

Hazel Kyte on and beyond the Great White Way.

Posted by : TimothyRamsden on Sunday, November 11, 2007 - 11:22 AM

When a theatre does like the Royal in Northampton, and revives a forgotten play, it becomes clear how stiflingly limited is so much of what’s seen on stage these days.

Posted by : Geoff on Sunday, April 29, 2007 - 09:48 PM

About to open at The Kings Head, Islington, Geoff Ambler spends a day watching this new production in rehearsals.

Posted by : RodDungate on Friday, November 17, 2006 - 10:14 AM

RSC actor Harriet Walter puts together an intriguing photographic exhibition in the RSC Theatre, Stratford.

Harriet Walter is starring in Antony and Cleopatra with Patrick Stewart - sold out in Stratford and moving to the Novello Theatre, Aldwych in January. Here's information about a photographic exhibition she has put together - celebrating the beauty of the ageing face. It will run from 2 December till February 2007.

‘Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite variety’ Antony and Cleopatra

Posted by : RodDungate on Friday, November 03, 2006 - 10:35 AM

Geoff Ambler completes his account of rehearsals for Follies at the Royal Theatre, Northampton.

He starts with the 'tech stuff' and completes his account with a note about the Press Night. Which is where Timothy Ramsden takes over - as ReviewsGate co-editor, he attended the press night to review the show.

Read on . . .

Posted by : RodDungate on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - 07:17 PM

Geoff continues with his account of Follies Rehearsals at the Royal Theatre, Northampton.

Here he is from days 19 - 22. Run throughs and first visits to the stage . . .

Posted by : RodDungate on Monday, October 16, 2006 - 10:48 AM

Geoff Ambler continues his Fly-on-the-wall's eye view of the Follies Rehearsals at the Royal Theatre, Northampton . . . he has two more weeks to go.

His observations are in three parts. They are all held in the Features area of Reviewsgate.com; a unique record of a rehearsal process.

Posted by : RodDungate on Monday, October 09, 2006 - 10:20 AM

Les Misérables – Twenty-one years on and you can still hear the people sing.

ReviewsGate team member, Geoff Ambler, reports back on a very special theatre event. Read on . . .

Posted by : RodDungate on Friday, October 06, 2006 - 10:55 AM

Geoff Ambler continues his observations of Follies rehearsals at the Royal Theatre, Northampton

Geoff, our Musical theatre man, is sitting in on rehearsals. He's giving us a unique step-by-step account.

Posted by : RodDungate on Friday, October 06, 2006 - 10:05 AM

A new gem in the West Midlands theatre landscape

Rod Dungate attends the opening of a new Birmingham theatre space.

Posted by : RodDungate on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 07:15 PM

Geoff Ambler FOLLIES Days 1 - 3

Geoff has been invited to attend all rehearsals in Northampton for the show. His fly-on-the-wall account gives an intriguing insight into preparations. Here's the start: days 1 - 3

Posted by : RodDungate on Thursday, March 02, 2006 - 10:30 AM

Stewart McGill looks back over the achievements of the Watermill's Jill Fraser and contemplates her lasting legacy.

Posted by : Rod Dungate on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 11:32 AM

Posted by : Rod Dungate on Wednesday, July 13, 2005 - 10:20 AM

RSC HOSTS THE FIRST EVER FESTIVAL OF SHAKESPEARE'S COMPLETE WORKS IN
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON

For more details of this enormous undertaking, read on . . .

Posted by : Rod Dungate on Wednesday, July 13, 2005 - 09:52 AM

Birmingham Rep inform us that they're going to produce a new musical featuring the songs of Birmingham based UB40. It's called PROMISES AND LIES and till be performed in 2006. The musical is the result of a collaboration with young writer, Jess Walters.

Posted by : Rod Dungate on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 12:01 PM

Maureen Lipman is going to Birmingham Rep in September to play the worst singer in the world! Peter Quilter's play about Florence Foster Jenkins premiers at the Rep 2nd September.