Preview of The Play That Goes Wrong at Milton Keynes Theatre

From a group that first performed in front of an audience more diminutive than the cast, and a show that later became known as The Play That Goes Wrong being performed above a pub nine years ago, the phenomenal theatre group Mischief Theatre has achieved remarkable things.

Co-written by Mischief company members Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, The Play That Goes Wrong, is landing this week at Milton Keynes Theatre as part of its fifth UK tour, which sees The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society put on a 1920s murder mystery. However, the title says it all, and in the end, everything that can go wrong… does!

The Play That Goes Wrong was awarded the 2014 WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Comedy, the 2015 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy and a Tony Award for the Broadway transfer, the production is directed by Mark Bell. and this new UK tour is set to thrill audiences until August including this week length stay at Milton Keynes Theatre.

This touring cast includes new and returning performers: Kazeem Tosin Amore as Robert, Colin Burnicle as Chris, Damien James as Dennis, Beth Lilly as Annie, Edi De Melo as Max, Aisha Numah as Sandra, Gabriel Paul as Trevor and Steven Rostance as Jonathan and hopefully a dog. However, as is often the case, it is unlikely to star Tom Cruise.

The Play That Goes Wrong is on at Milton Keynes Theatre from Tuesday 25 to Saturday 30 July. Tickets are available from ATGTICKETS.COM/MiltonKeynes

Production photos: Robert Day

Review of Frankenstein at Royal & Derngate (Royal), Northampton

Over 200 years since its first publication it is remarkable to think that what is, in essence, a scientific novel such as Frankenstein is still so relevant in content today. However, as science evolves endlessly, and now with AI becoming so dominant and controversial, the difference between right and wrong, good and evil in science, and what is too inhuman is as current as ever. Tilted Wig's production, now at the end of its UK tour at Royal & Derngate and written and directed by Sean Aydon takes the original story and sets it about halfway between the first publication and modern day, around the time leading up to the Second World War. Aydon's adaptation works really well in placing the story within this degenerating world, a place where true horror is around the corner, and veiled ideas of their (Germany's) interest in Frankenstein's work are gently developed. However, while Aydon clearly had this idea in his head and his pen when scripting this version, the polit

Review of Hacktivists by Ben Ockrent performed by R&D Youth Theatre at Royal & Derngate (Underground), Northampton

The National Theatres Connections series of plays had been one of my highlights of my trips to R&D during 2014. Their short and snappy single act style kept them all interesting and never overstaying their welcome. So I was more than ready for my first encounter with one of this years Connections plays ahead of the main week of performances at R&D later in the year. Hacktivists is written by Ben Ockrent, whose slightly wacky but socially relevant play Breeders I had seen at St James Theatre last year. Hacktivists is less surreal, but does have a fair selection of what some people would call odd. Myself of the other hand would very much be home with them. So we are presented with thirteen nerdy "friends" who meet to hack, very much in what is termed the white hat variety. This being for good, as we join them they appear to have done very little more than hacked and created some LED light device. Crashing in to spoil the party however comes Beth (Emma-Ann Cranston)

Review of Flashdance - The Musical at Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes

For the second week running, the Milton Keynes Theatre is overrun by a wave of eighties nostalgia as Selladoor's production of Flashdance The Musical follows hot on the heels of An Officer and a Gentlemen. However, is it nice to have more of that classic decade upon the stage? The answer mostly is yes, despite the fact that the story driving Flashdance is that light and flimsy at times, you just have to sit back and watch the dancing and the bright colours to get you through. Welding genius, Alex Owens, has her sights set for a bigger thing beyond this tired and struggling factory in Pittsburgh. Hoping to take her dancing beyond Harry's bar, she plans to make big, via Shipley Dance Academy. Then, also drifting into her life comes Nick Hurley, who initially unknown to her, happens to be the factory bosses son, the scene is set for romance. Flashdance has a generally excellent cast led with a tremendously good performance from Joanne Clifton as Alex Owens. Those famili

A Small Mind At The Theatre

Search This Blog