MOZART’s comic opera, Cosi Fan Tutte, has some of the most glorious music he ever wrote. So many wonderful arias, so much fun – with four of the silliest protagonists you can imagine! Its basic premise that “all women are the same” – that is, incapable of fidelity – jars with a 21st century (female)…
THERE are some roles in opera, drama and on film, which so dominate that you feel sorry for those who have the other leading parts in the story. One such is that of the courtesan Violetta Valery in Alexander Dumas fils’ novel La Dame aux Camelias. Almost every great actress and singer of their generation…
JUST what is actor-writer Oliver Cotton’s new play The Score about? At its centre is Johann Sebastian Bach, mesmerisingly played by big and small screen actor Brian Cox (Logan Roy in Succession), whose presence is packing Bath Theatre Royal until 28th October. Cox has not been seen on stage for 17 years, and The Score…
ONE of the soundest pieces of advice a potential author can receive is “write about something you know”. And theatrically, Bristol Old Vic’s artistic director Nancy Medina has taken that advice in choosing Choir Boy, first seen in 2012 at London’s Royal Court Theatre, for her first outing as a director since taking charge of…
THE first word that comes to mind is “triumph”. If anyone was concerned that Yeovil Amateur Operatic Society would find the transition from its traditional home at the Octagon to the temporary setting of Westlands, built as a sports and social club and promising challenges as great as does Stephen Sondheim’s music, don’t worry about…
MENTION the name Federico Garcia Lorca, and whether it be in connection with his work as a writer, poet , artist, his personal or political life, or even his death and you will be courting controversy. He is in many ways the original “Marmite” playwright, considered by many as a true genius and regarded as…
THIS isn’t really a review – it wouldn’t be fair to the six actors, who still had two rehearsals to go before opening night when I saw Toby Greenfield’s production of Nina Raine’s play Rabbit. Instead it’s an idea of what audiences might expect when they see the show at The Exchange from Thursday 19th…
HOW does a college campus theatre celebrate 60 years of entertaining the community, providing fun, challenges, companionship and education for generations of people and looking from a rich past into the future with determination and excitement? That was the question facing Strode Theatre’s manager Fares Moussa and the committee behind the anniversary showcase, performed twice…
IT may be more than 50 years since Athol Fugard wrote his anti-apartheid play Sizwe Banzi is Dead, but as John Pfumojena, director and performer of the new production at MAST Mayflower studios quickly realised, the play has powerful resonances in the 21st century world we live in. White South African Fugard wrote the play with actor…
IN 1976, Bath and Bristol’s favourite writer, director and pantomime Dame, Chris Harris wrote and played the only role in Kempe’s Jig, a play that followed Shakespeare’s best-known fool as he danced the 125 miles from London to Norwich. A natural clown and tumbler, Chris brought out the physical comedy, dancing and mime talents of…