Theatre Reviews

Our theatre reviews aim to bring you the latest and best performances of plays, dance and music. Ink Pellet celebrates the country’s vibrant regional theatres – from performances of the classics and set texts, to new plays that will inspire and support you.

Once again, we have a merry band of discerning teachers who visit plays in their town (sometimes earning themselves a free programme and interval drink)to review for the magazine.

We’ll also review something you might like – just for sheer pleasure! If you would like to join our panel of reviewers, please join in or email the editor john@inkpellet.co.uk.

  1. Grandad Anansi  – Half Moon Theatre

    Grandad Anansi  – Half Moon Theatre  

    Predicated partly on Black History Month, Elayne Ogbeta’s muliti-layered play presents Grandad (Marcus Hercules) and his primary school age granddaughter, Abi (Jazmine Wilkinson) in his garden. Like everything else in this show, the garden designed by Sorcha Corcoran, is beautiful with lots of colour, light and plants that Grandad knows by name and talks to. […]

  2. Woman in Mind  – Chichester Festival Theatre

    Woman in Mind  – Chichester Festival Theatre  

    Woman in Mind (1985) is a searing tragedy whose many comic moments only highlight the plight of the central character. Susan (Jenna Russell) is a middle class, middle-aged vicar’s wife losing her mind. The reason doesn’t matter much. What we’re watching is a mind being taken over by dementia. Her delusions take the form of […]

  3. Theatre Review – The King of Nothing – Little Angel Theatre

    Theatre Review – The King of Nothing – Little Angel Theatre  

    Ben Glasstone’s charming, witty account of The Emperor Who Has No Clothes works well for two main reasons. First it is one of the most perceptive stories ever written, dealing as it does with vanity, self delusion, conformity and truth. It’s both topical and timeless. Second, we have a cost of living crisis and the […]

  4. Theatre Review – Crazy For You – Chichester Festival Theatre

    Theatre Review – Crazy For You – Chichester Festival Theatre  

    This is a magnificent show. Chichester has a strong track record of productions, particularly musicals, which then transfer into the West End. I shall be very surprised if this one doesn’t soon join the list. It pounds along with very familiar Gershwin numbers, such as Embraceable You and Naughty Baby. Bobby Child (the ever-fabulous Charlie […]

  5. Theatre Review – Identical – Nottingham Playhouse

    Theatre Review – Identical – Nottingham Playhouse  

    Perhaps we need an occasional, unashamedly populist show with catchy melodies to cut through the tuneless intensity and darkness of most 21st Century musicals? Identical is based on Erich Kastner’s 1949 novel, The Parent Trap. Identical twins Lottie and Lisa were separated in infancy and brought up by their divorced parents. Neither knows of the other’s existence […]

  6. Theatre Review – Barriers – Dorfman Theatre

    Theatre Review – Barriers – Dorfman Theatre  

    Two young women meet and gradually fall in love. Katie (Erin Siobhan Hutching) is profoundly deaf and a user of signing. Alana (Lara Steward) gradually learns it. As they get to know each other better they shift between oral language and signing because Katie can speak a little. The issues come thick and fast. One […]

  7. Theatre Review – The Pirate, the Princess and the Platypus – Polka Theatre

    Theatre Review – The Pirate, the Princess and the Platypus – Polka Theatre  

    Written and directed by Potted Panto/Potted Potter duo, Daniel Clarkson and Richard Hurst, The Pirate the Princess and the Platypus is a witty, song-strewn send up of fairy tale conventions with a feminist twist – complete with a frog puppet demanding to be kissed. A Princess (Teegan Hurley – strong) does not need to sit […]

  8. Theatre Review – We Started to Sing – Arcola Theatre

    Theatre Review – We Started to Sing – Arcola Theatre  

    This is a play firmly rooted in real life. Overtly about the playwright’s parents and grandparents, even the names are unchanged. As one long dead character says just before the end “Then am I here in someone’s dream? Someone doesn’t want me to have gone” to which the rueful reply is “My son is writing […]

  9. Theatre Review – My Fair Lady – English National Opera

    Theatre Review – My Fair Lady – English National Opera  

    It’s an enjoyable show which bubbles along but never quite comes to the boil. Given the huge cast and the high production values it feels oddly understated in places. Nonetheless, Amara Okereke is a star turn as a splendid Eliza. She has a wonderful knack with long howls and shrieks suspended on slow dipthongs – […]

  10. Theatre Review – Much Ado About Nothing – Half Cut Theatre Company

    Theatre Review – Much Ado About Nothing – Half Cut Theatre Company  

    This sparky, funny, beautifully acted, 80-minute open air version of Much Ado makes the chemistry between Beatrice and Benedick clear long before the play opens. Why else do they keep singling each other out for verbal abuse, mockery and word play? Verity Kirk’s Beatrice, “born to speak all mirth and no matter” is feisty, cross, […]