A Small Mind At The Theatre

The title My Mother's Funeral: The Show is perhaps not the most attractive title for a theatre show, however, this show had great success at the Edinburgh Fringe and now arriving at Royal & Derngate, one of its co-producing theatres, so, let's look beyond the unusual title and see what lies beneath. Abigail is a theatre dramatist pursuing plays that the theatres no longer want. Her "gay bugs in space" saga falls foul of being fiction for a start, something a theatre director states audiences no longer want stating they want gritty, real experiences, theatre with painful truths. So, after Abigail devastatingly loses her mother and finds no money to pay the funeral fees, she pursues the creation of a very personal theatre show. My Mother's Funeral: The Show is gritty and sad, but, also in many ways very funny, if in a dark way. Writer Kelly Jones digs deep into the world of poverty in Dagenham and countless estates across the country. A world of people born in

Dodie Smith's novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians has been a staple for many a child's upbringing ever since it was first published back in 1956. Perhaps Disney's 1961 film 101 Dalmatians went the way of bringing the tale of Perdi and Pongo's adventure into even more family homes and here this musical adaptation brings the show to a new, highly appreciative audience, currently playing at Milton Keynes Theatre. For those unfamiliar with the tail, 101 Dalmatians tells the tale of a burgeoning relationship between Tom and Danielle, owners of dalmatians Pongo and Perdi, their puppies, and the devilish actions of a certain Cruella De Vil, interested in more than the work of fashion designer Tom. First staged at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in 2022, this re-imagined touring version from director Bill Buckfast has taken the show on a UK tour since June and perhaps adds more of a touch of pantomime style to the production. Adapted by Johnny McKnight, with music and lyr

It is a truth universally acknowledged... No Stop! That is too obvious an opening line to a review of any Pride & Prejudice . Let us begin anew... Of all the classic regency novels from the 19th century, perhaps, one of the most famous is that of P ride & Prejudice by Jane Austen. The novel of manners telling the story of the Elizabeth Bennet her development and her family is maybe more famous now for the many adaptations the novel itself has had, including a certain wet-shirted Colin Firth edition from the nineties. Due to this, it is ripe for many a reworking and with a guaranteed audience waiting for it. Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) is one of the more bold of those adaptations. However, for all its boldness, does this new version work, or in truth, is it one step too far? The answer is a clear yes, as this dynamic and brilliant reworking by writer and director Isobel McArthur has proven since first taking to the stage back in 2018 and now into this second UK tour, reachin