Darlington Hippodrome – until 11 March 2025

5*****

The joy of being a reviewer is you get to see some amazing shows, but every so often one comes along that has you spending the interval wondering where and when you can see it again

…Earnest by the theatre company Say It Again, Sorry? is one such show.  If you are an Oscar Wilde purist, then this might not be your thing.  But if you are fan of The Play That Goes Wrong, then this one’s for you

Entering the auditorium, the music should give it away, modern day songs played by a chamber orchestra very Bridgerton style.  And the show begins with Algernon aka Terry (Guido Garcia Lueches) playing “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk on the piano.  Algernon and Butler Lane aka Graham (Rhys Tees) proudly project the arrival of Jack Worthing (our hero Ernest) but George (Ashley Cavender), the actor playing him, is missing and so are the actors playing Miss Prism and Reverend Chasuble. Director Simon Slough (Josh Haberfield) jumps on stage to try and explain what is happening and so begins just under two hours of perfect madness

Lady Bracknell aka Eleanor (Judith Amsenga) loses her voice, Gwendoline aka Jennifer (Trynity Silk) gets hammered on real whisky and the actress playing Cecily gets another offer to play Hermione in Harry Potter on Ice, fresh from her triumph in Celebrity Dancing on Ice South Africa.

All of the parts slowly get recast with members of the audience, tonight (and I apologise if I missed your name, but I was too busy laughing) but we had the wonderful Marta as our Ernest for the night.  Most of the roles were gender swapped, with men now playing Gwendoline, Cecily, Lady Bracknell and Miss Prism and women playing Ernest, the Reverend and, after a bike accident, Algernon.

The second part of the show is played almost entirely by the brave and wonderful audience members.

The star of the show, undoubtedly is Stagehand Josh (Ben Mann), who must be exhausted keeping on top of all the prompts, movements, props and selling his wares in the interval (thank you for my wonderful tote bag – I love it).

I can not tell you how hilariously funny this show is.  And you are guaranteed a different show every single night.  But don’t take my word for it – get along to see one of the shows on tour and then thank me later

Dominion Theatre, London – 9 March 2025

Reviewed by Phil Brown

3***

Well, I didn’t see any Mohawk hairdos in the Dominion Theatre on Sunday evening, but many of what looked like a full house were sporting their allegiance to punk through such things as Never Mind the Bollocks T-shirts, dye jobs and/or studded leather.  Considering we’re approaching the 50th anniversary of the punk era (it surfaced around 1976), first hand aficionados will be in their 60s now, so it was mildly surprising to see a substantial portion of an enthusiastic audience from a younger demographic.  An encouraging sign for the future of this full throttle jukebox musical which covers the cream of punk and new wave output in 40 songs split evenly over 2 one hour parts.

The seismic explosion of youth culture and ‘swinging London’ in the previous decade was running out of steam by the mid 70s.  The socio-economic backdrop was deteriorating, and non chart popular music was perceived as having entered a progressive cul-de-sac of overblown and boring virtuosity.  The punk movement was simply a natural reaction to boredom and a disconnect with the status quo.  Its key “have a go, DIY, never mind the shambles” amateurism corrected the course of popular music and reinvigorated the arts and fashion in ways that live on in the mainstream.  

Punk Off: The Sounds of Punk & New Wave tells this story.  The irony is, it tells it through one of the slickest, most professional and well rehearsed musicals I’ve ever seen.  Not surprising, since it has been honed on the road, the Dominion being the last show of this tour.  (For the sake of closet punks everywhere, lets hope it gets back on the road again soon).  

I have to say, the marvellously versatile performers excel at everything they do (dancing, singing, musicianship).  Kevin Kennedy (Curly Watts in Corrie) is a good choice as narrator and also takes the lead on a number of songs in Part 2.  The narration gives useful context and is generally well scripted (GED Graham) although seems pitched towards an audience completely new to punk/new wave at times or unnecessary audience flattery at others.  It does provide effective periodic relief from some frantic thrash punk music, especially in Part 1.  The narrative does factor in a few well judged recurring comic moments around busking that a responsive audience is quick to build on.

Given the vast catalogue of music produced in the name of punk, music director and singer/guitarist Adam Evans has tackled the unenviable job of assembling 40 quality songs well.  One could argue with the choices/omissions, and the dominance of male UK artists, but, hey, Se7ven Productions and Prestige Productions have got a show to sell and this selection certainly passed audience approval.  And I was pleased to be introduced to a couple of previously unheard numbers. 

The core band of Reece Davies (guitar, vocals), Phil Sherlock (bass, vocals) and Ric Yarborough (drums, vocals) are awesome, whilst Lazy Violet covers the relatively few female vocal leads (Siouxsie, Deborah Harry, Chrissie Hynde) to perfection.  The range of sounds produced by just a three piece band had me checking for additional musicians in the cast list! 

Having started with what looked like random pogoing, the choreography (Louisa Clark) gets progressively more interesting and imaginative as the show progresses.  Dance routines involving most of the cast not actively playing instruments, are fluently executed and the featured dancers (Louisa Clark and Joshua Fowler) stand out.  This turned out to be a very enjoyable element of the show.  Along with some great costumery throughout.

By my reckoning, the Sex Pistols, the Clash, Sham 69 and Ian Dury are the most featured original artists, followed by the Boomtown Rats, the Buzzcocks and the Stranglers.  For the most part, the songs follow the established template fairly closely, but with one exception –  probably the music highlight of the evening – a slowed down arrangement introducing the Stranglers’ “No More Heroes”.

The stage set featuring the famous “Camden Lock” design railway bridge in Camden (painted in the 1980s apparently!) (Se7ven Productions), whilst evocative, is perhaps necessarily basic to allow for touring.  And the sound seemed a touch murky to my ears – possibly affected by the venue – the Dominion is a 2,000 capacity auditorium.

This brilliantly executed show packs a real punch – all killer, no filler as they say.

Part 1 feels like an unrelenting assault of urgent, high tempo, quite uniform sounding, “pure” punk rock.  There is a reason Part 2 seems easier on the senses – it mainly covers the post punk new wave of songs with developing song craft and more light and shade in tempo and style. 

Overall, it is a remarkably comprehensive overview of UK punk and new wave, that will nostalgically chime with many of a certain age.   However, it is not a show for everyone.  You probably need a personal connection with the subject to truly appreciate and enjoy this spectacle on offer.

THE NATIONAL THEATRE’S SOLD-OUT PRODUCTION OF

TILL THE STARS COME DOWN

TO TRANSFER TO THE THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET THIS SUMMER FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED RUN

The National Theatre announces today that its sold-out production Till the Stars Come Down will transfer to London’s West End this summer for a strictly limited run.  Co-produced with Eleanor Lloyd Productions, Fiery Angel, Short Street Productions and Access Entertainment, this ‘beautifully observed and bruisingly hilarious play’ (★★★★ Time Out) will be staged at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 1 July until 27 September 2025. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Thursday 20 March at 12pm from £20.  On-stage seating will be available throughout the run.  Details will be released at a later date.

Till the Stars Come Down is a passionate, heartbreaking and hilarious portrayal of a larger-than-life family struggling to come to terms with a changing world.  Written by former National Theatre writer-in-residence, Beth Steel, this critically acclaimed production ‘fizzes with sharp comic observation’ (★★★★ Financial Times) and is ‘deliriously funny’ (★★★★★ Daily Telegraph).  Other credits include The House of Shades (Almeida Theatre), Wonderland (Hampstead Theatre) and Ditch (HighTide Festival and Old Vic Tunnels).  She has also previously won the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Most Promising Playwright (2014).

Till the Stars Come Down is ‘full of pain, joy and laughter in a deft production by Bijan Sheibani’ (★★★★★ The Guardian). This Olivier Award-winning director was previously Artistic Director of the Actors Touring Company and is a former associate director of the National Theatre.  Other credits include Barber Shop Chronicles, A Taste of Honey (National Theatre) and The Arrival (Bush Theatre).

Rufus Norris, Director and Co-Chief Executive of the National Theatre said:

“I am delighted that Beth Steel’s brilliant debut play at the National Theatre is transferring into the West End.  Audiences adored Till the Stars Come Down when it was staged in the Dorfman last year and we are all incredibly proud and pleased that this wonderful production by Bijan Sheibani will get to be shared with many more people.  We are deeply appreciative and excited, to be working with our co-producers to make this possible.”

Beth Steel, playwright said:

“I couldn’t be more excited for Till the Stars Come Down to move into its new home in the Theatre Royal Haymarket this summer.  Having a play staged at the National Theatre in 2024 was a dream come true, to be bringing it to the West End is nothing short of a fever dream!  It was a privilege for the play to be nominated for ‘Best New Play’ at last year’s Olivier Awards and I’m just so thrilled that this glorious ensemble of characters gets to connect, with all their life force, to a wider audience.  I began the play as writer-in-residence at the National Theatre’s New Work Department, a career changing attachment that gave me the space and support needed to bring it into being and it was an honour to watch Bijan Sheibani and the wider team unleash it!  I can’t wait to see them do it again.”

It’s Sylvia and Marek’s wedding and you’re all invited.  Over the course of a hot summer’s day, a family gathers to welcome a newcomer into their midst.  But as the vodka flows and dances are shared, passions boil over and the limits of love are tested.  What happens when the happiest day of your life opens the door to a new and uncertain future?

Audience members will be given the opportunity to sit up close and immerse themselves in this ‘break-out hit of 2024’ (★★★★★ WhatsOnStage).  On-stage seating will be available throughout the run.  Details will be released at a later date. 

Sheibani is joined by set and costume designer, Samal Blak; lighting designer, Paule Constable; choreographer and movement director, Aline David; sound designer, Gareth Fry; revival director, Elin Schofield;original casting director, Alistair Coomer CDG; casting director, Juliet Horsely CDG; dialect coach, Charmian Hoare; intimacy director, Asha Jennings-Grant and fight director, Kev McCurdy.

Casting is to be announced.

Till the Stars Come Down was originally commissioned by the National Theatre and developed with the theatre’s New Work department whilst Steel was writer-in-residence (2019-2021).  It had its world premiere on 31 January 2024 in the Dorfman Theatre and was Steel’s debut play at the National Theatre running until 16 March.  Following a sold-out run, Till the Stars Come Down was nominated for ‘Best New Play’ at the 2024 Olivier Awards. 

Till the Stars Come Down in the West End is supported by American Express, the National Theatre’s Official Payment Partner.

KING’S HEAD THEATRE ANNOUNCES
SECOND ANNUAL PANTOMIME

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY ANDREW POLLARD, AND FEATURING BOTH FAMILY SHOWS AND ADULTS ONLY PERFORMANCES, WITH CELEBRITY GUEST STARS

TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR PERFORMANCES FROM 23 NOVEMBER 2025 – 4 JANUARY 2026

https://kingsheadtheatre.com/whats-on/23/by-andrew-pollard/jack-and-the-beanstalk

[Friday 7 March 2025] King’s Head Theatre have announced today that their 2025 Christmas pantomime will be Jack and the Beanstalk. Following the success of their inaugural traditional family pantomime Cinderella last year, this marks a new tradition for the venue in its new building. The Angel Islington venue’s holiday offering will run from 23 November 2025 until 4 January 2026, uniquely with both traditional performances fun for the whole family and additional Adults Only performances with very special guest stars each week.

Returning to write and direct King’s Head Theatre’s second annual pantomime is Andrew Pollard, who created last year’s Cinderella. Receiving several 5 star reviews and selling out many performances, Cinderella starred Drag Race UK finalist Ella Vaday and featured the voices of Dame Judi Dench, Miriam Margolyes, and Su Pollard.

Andrew Pollardis a 2023 and 2019 OFFIE Winner and 2023 British Panto Award winner, known for CBeebies’ Robin Hood. Andrew has written pantomime for Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Lawrence Batley Huddersfield, Imagine Theatre at Swan Wycombe, Watford Palace, Salisbury Playhouse, Mercury Theatre Colchester, Theatre Royal Richmond, Norwich Theatre Royal, CAST Doncaster and Chipping Norton Theatre. Andrew also wrote, directed and starred as the Dame in Greenwich Theatre’s pantomime for 15 years. Last year,  Andrew was also a finalist in the Victoria Wood Comedy Writing Award at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

The majority of performances for Jack and the Beanstalk will be a traditional family pantomime with a fun North London twist. We join young milkman Jack Trott on a quest to save his mother’s dairy farm Angel Delight on Udder Street and rescue his Moosical Theatre-loving bovine best friend Cowpatti Lupone from the giant.

Alongside the family show through most of the week, on Thursday and Saturday nights, there will be selected Adults Only performances, each featuring a different special guest star. Last year for Cinderella, these guest stars included John Owen-Jones, Cassidy Janson, Danielle Steers, Vinegar Strokes, and Christina Bianco. The adult version of the show will be a no holds barred, naughty version, making it the perfect event for a festive friends’ night out and King’s Head Theatre have added even more of these performances this year due to popular demand.

Jack and the Beanstalk will also have Schools Performances, priced at a special group rate. These will take place on Tuesday 25 November at 1.30pm, and on Dec 2nd, 3rd, 9th and 10th at 10am, and are available to book now. For more information about Schools Performances, please see here.

Sofi Berenger, Executive Producer and Acting CEO of King’s Head Theatre said:

“Last year’s Cinderella exceeded all of our expectations so we can’t wait to build on that this year with Jack and the Beanstalk. It truly was incredible to work alongside so many partners last year and really make an incredible show with and for the whole community – including Little Angel Theatre, Almeida Theatre, St Mary’s Church, Angel Central, Angel BID, Timpsons, Dame Judi Dench and many local businesses, restaurants and other members of the community in Islington all supporting us. It truly was a North London team effort. And we can’t wait to do just that and more this year.

We have so much more to announce, both some exciting returns from our first year and new collaborations to make this year really incredible. And due to the overwhelming demand of last year we’ve extended by a week, doubled our unique adult performances, and added a Pay What You Can performance.”

Tickets are on sale today, starting at £10.

The theatre is offering Pay What You Can on Wednesday 26th November at 6pm. Additionally, if you book before Easter (April 20th) with the code EARLYBIRD, you can purchase £20 Off Peak and £25 Peak tickets on any Band B or D seats for the family show.

Family tickets (2x adults and 2 x children) are also available for £85 for Off Peak Performances and £95 for Peak Performances on all Band B or D seats.

Family Show Tickets
https://kingsheadtheatre.com/whats-on/23/by-andrew-pollard/jack-and-the-beanstalk

Adults Only Tickets
https://kingsheadtheatre.com/whats-on/24/by-andrew-pollard/jack-and-the-beanstalk-adults-only

WILTSHIRE CREATIVE ANNOUNCES
FULL PROGRAMMING FOR
SALISBURY INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL 2025

Wiltshire Creative today announces full programming for Salisbury International Arts Festival 2025. The annual arts festival will return this year on Saturday 24 May and runs until Sunday 8 June.

Artistic Director of Wiltshire Creative Gareth Machin said today: “A Festival is an opportunity to let imaginations soar and this year we are definitely looking skyward with a programme full of creativity and originality. This year’s festival is designed to warm spirits, lighten hearts and inspire us all to lift our heads above the challenges of the current moment. We’re excited to be welcoming a wealth of outstanding artists and local voices to bring communities together in a spirit of hope and optimism.”

Highlights of this year’s Salisbury International Arts Festival include:

• UNITY, a large-scale outdoor production combining immersive theatre, circus, and community stories, will transform Salisbury’s Market Square from 24 May to 26 May.
• A Beautiful Thread: Thomas Hardy in Words and Music, a performance blending Hardy’s life, poetry, and novels with a musical programme of West Gallery music, Holst, Warlock, and contemporary folk, will be staged in front of the iconic Stonehenge on 28 May.
• FLIGHT, a thrilling 30-minute experience set inside a 40-ft shipping container, will explore the Many-Worlds Interpretation of quantum mechanics taking audiences through two realities and two possible outcomes. The experience will be staged in Guildhall Square from 24 May to 1 June.
• Festival favourites The Lord Chamberlain’s Men return in their outdoor production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night at Rack Close on 6 and 7 June
• Eagles, Birdsongs and Bach, presented by La Folia, features music by Bach and Vivaldi, and will be performed alongside the world premiere of Howard Moody’s Eagle Concerto, played by Piers Adams on the ‘Eagle’ recorder on 4 June at St Thomas’ Church.

Other musical and dance events at the festival will include An Evening with Jacqui Dankworth, who will showcase her incredible range across jazz, soul, and blues; Evensong, a time-honoured service celebrating the tradition of daily prayer and music at Salisbury Arts Centre and Songs of the Bulbul, a captivating solo dance performance by Aakash Odedra inspired by Sufi mythology coming to Salisbury Playhouse.

The festival offers a range of family friendly events including Family Fiesta – a free afternoon offering an array of events ranging from craft activities and workshops to live music at Salisbury Arts Centre on 31 May. Out Of The Box, a delightful outdoor family comedy show filled with surprises, will take place on 8 June.

Tickets for the Salisbury International Arts Festival are now on sale, please see here:

https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/salisbury-international-arts-festival.

EVENSONG

Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin St, Salisbury SP1 3UT

Saturday 24 May at 5pm

Evensong has for generations provided a daily form of prayer, and a rich repertoire of music has developed to enhance the beauty of this well-loved act of worship, often now delivered with a homily, hymns and prayers.

This service, led by those who keep the tradition and observance alive at the parish church of St Thomas’s, marks the fiftieth anniversary of the transformation of St Edmund’s Church into Salisbury Arts Centre. After the service, the choir will make their way to St Thomas’s Church and all ticket holders are welcome to join them there for refreshments.

Gorilla Circus in association with Wiltshire Creative presents

UNITY

Salisbury Market Square, Market Walk, Salisbury SP1 1TL

Saturday 24 May 9:30pm

Sunday 25 May at 4pm & 9:30pm

Monday 26 May at 1pm

UNITY is a reflection on community, an act of protest, a call for change and a dream for the future. A large-scale production that merges immersive theatre, circus and community stories in a powerful but intimate way. Local artist Louise Jordan has gathered reflections and responses from the local community that will be woven into the soundtrack of the performance. Salisbury Market Square will come alive night and day on this opening weekend to remember.

DARKFIELD presents

FLIGHT

Guildhall Square, Salisbury SP1 1JH

Saturday 24 May – Sunday 1 June at various times

FLIGHT takes place in total darkness inside a 40ft shipping container, resembling an Airbus 320 cabin. Over 30 minutes, it explores the Many-Worlds Interpretation of quantum mechanics, taking audiences through two worlds, two realities and two possible outcomes. There are many worlds where this plane lands safely. Think Escape Rooms meets Immersive Simulator. Bring a group to experience this exhilarating, once-in-a-lifetime show that is soon to be the talk of the City.

Hambletts and Wiltshire Creative in association with English Heritage present

A BEAUTIFUL THREAD: THOMAS HARDY IN WORDS AND MUSIC

Stonehenge, Salisbury SP4 7DE

Wednesday 28 May at 8pm

Join us for a unique event at an iconic site. Performed in front of the Stone Circle, A Beautiful Thread weaves Hardy’s life with his beautiful poetry and great novels. Hardy put more music into his work than any other writer, and Orchestra of the Swan’s Artistic Director, David Le Page, has devised a musical programme that combines West Gallery music with Holst, Warlock and contemporary folk, which the audience will be given headphones to enjoy.

Adapted by Deirdre Shields, Hardy’s writing shines bright as ever. Anton Lesser and Lucia Bonbright bring a hugely varied cast to dazzling life: from Hardy and his mother to George Bernard Shaw and Virginia Woolf, along with characters from his novels. The show also highlights Hardy’s humour, his modernity, the time span he lived through and his global reach, from Hollywood to Japan. Please bring a picnic blanket and a picnic to enjoy.

Aakash Odedra Company in association with Manchester Camerata present

SONGS OF THE BULBUL

Salisbury Playhouse, Malthouse Ln, Salisbury SP2 7RA
Thursday 29 May at 7.30pm

Birdsong is ephemeral – like dance, it exists only in the moment – sung once, then lost to time.

Songs of the Bulbul, a new solo dance work by Aakash Odedra, choreographed by Rani Khanam with music by Rushil Ranjan, is inspired by the Sufi myth of a bulbul bird in captivity. The nightingale’s song symbolizes a spiritual seeker yearning for union with the divine. Combining Kathak’s physicality with Sufism’s spiritual journey, this performance explores the fleeting beauty of dance and an artist’s life, rooted in the traditions of Sufi music, dance and poetry.

AN AUDIENCE WITH POLLY TOYNBEE

The Salberg, Salisbury Playhouse, Malthouse Ln, Salisbury SP2 7RA

Thursday 29 May at 7pm

Join Polly Toynbee, Guardian columnist, former BBC social affairs editor and author, in conversation with broadcaster Matthew Stadlen. Her recent books include An Uneasy Inheritance: My Family and Other Radicals and The Only Way Is Up: How to Take Britain from Austerity to Prosperity, a post-election book co-authored with David Walker.

Avalon Promotions presents

ELEANOR TIERNAN AND CHLOE PETTS: WORK IN PROGRESS

Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin St, Salisbury SP1 3UT

Thursday 29 May at 7.30pm

Eleanor Tiernan has appeared on Stand Up For Live Comedy (BBC3), and as a panellist on BBC Radio 4’s News Quiz. Known for her acerbic wit, her style is “deceptively sharp” (Fest Mag).

Chloe Petts, called “one of the most compelling young comics” by The Guardian, is a rising star. Her debut show Transience received rave reviews, with The i praising it as a “barnstormer of a Fringe debut.”

Swansea City Opera in association with Wiltshire Creative and Arts Council Wales present

SHOULDER TO SHOULDER

Salisbury Playhouse Main House, Malthouse Ln, Salisbury SP2 7RA

Friday 30 May at 7.30pm

How do you beat loneliness? How do you learn to laugh again? Swansea City Opera collected stories from members of the UK charity Men’s Shed who have experienced life’s adversities and isolation to create a contemporary and uplifting opera that explores life’s ups and downs. Wiltshire Creative are delighted that Local Men’s Shed groups from Salisbury and Wilton will also play their part on stage. Sung beautifully, Shoulder to Shoulder features singers who’ve worked at major opera houses, including the Royal Opera House and Glyndebourne. The company features soprano Jessica Robinson, a finalist in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World in 2023.

Soap Soup Theatre presents

MINNY STYNKER

The Salberg Salisbury Playhouse, Malthouse Ln, Salisbury SP2 7RA

Friday 30 May at 11am & 2pm

What would you do if you moved to a strange city? Your friends are far away, your new house smells weird and it rains all the time?! Kit’s adventure begins when his drawings come to life, leading to a wild and colourful journey! Join Soap Soup Theatre for a riotous tale where bedrooms turn into forests, schools become solar systems and drawings take on a life of their own.

Many Hands Circus presents

OBSCURE DESIRES

Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin St, Salisbury SP1 3UT

Friday 30 May at 7.30pm

Acrobatics company Many Hands Circus delves into the depths of human connection in a show that masterfully combines circus artistry and theatrical storytelling. Obscure Desires weaves together spectacular acrobatics and original live music to explore the landscape of human longing.

JBA Concerts presents

AN EVENING WITH JACQUI DANKWORTH: IN CONCERT

Salisbury Playhouse Main House, Malthouse Ln, Salisbury SP2 7RA

Saturday 31 May at 7.30pm

Established as one of the country’s leading vocalists, Jacqui Dankworth’s live concerts showcase her mastery of a spectrum of genres, drawing on jazz, folk, soul and blues, as well as her sensibility as a songwriter and lyricist.

Audiences will be treated to a sparkling collection of songs drawn from her highly praised studio albums, alongside tracks that have inspired her incredible career.

AN AUDIENCE WITH JOANNE HARRIS

The Salberg Salisbury Playhouse, Malthouse Ln, Salisbury SP2 7RA

Saturday 31 May at 7.45pm

Join Joanne Harris (OBE, FRSL) as she discusses her new novel Vianne, a prequel to Chocolat, set six years before Vianne opens her chocolaterie. Joanne is the author of twenty novels, three cookbooks and many short stories. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, she was awarded an OBE in 2022. Joanne will be joined in conversation by broadcaster Matthew Stadlen.

FAMILY FIESTA

Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin St, Salisbury SP1 3UT

Saturday 31 May at 12pm

Join us for a fabulous Family Fiesta celebrating Salisbury Arts Centre’s 50th birthday. The grounds will be brought to life with an array of activities for all ages. There will be lots on offer including craft activities, workshops, live music, food vendors and ice cream, so bring the whole family along to join the party!

We also need your help to decorate the Arts Centre with beautiful bunting for this special event – keep an eye on our website for how to get involved!

The Central School of Ballet presents

BALLET CENTRAL 2025

Salisbury Playhouse Main House, Malthouse Ln, Salisbury SP2 7RA

Wednesday 4 June at 7.30pm

Ballet Central returns in 2025 with a new programme of classical and contemporary dance. The evening opens with Frederick Ashton’s Foyer de Danse, staged for the first time in over 90 years. Also featured are new commissions from world-renowned Hip Hop dancer Dickson Mbi and award-winning theatre duo Thick and Tight. Kristen McNally’s modern ballet will close the show, highlighting the graduating cohort’s talent.

La Folia presents

EAGLES, BIRDSONGS AND BACH

St Thomas’s Church, St Thomas Square, Salisbury SP1 1BA

Wednesday 4 June at 7.30pm

Alongside the music of Bach and Vivaldi, this concert presents music from La Folia’s Birdsongs project and the world premiere of Howard Moody’s Eagle Concerto performed by international virtuoso recorder player Piers Adams. Designed and built by the late Adriana Breukink, the ‘Eagle’ recorder has created new possibilities for the instrument, allowing it to soar away from its baroque roots.

Ever since first hearing Piers play the ‘Eagle’, Howard Moody has dreamt of writing a concerto for it, combining Bach’s orchestral line up of trumpets, drums, oboes, harpsichord and strings with the more modern sound-worlds of saxophone and percussion.

Tilted presents in association with Somethin’ Else

LIGHT AND DARK: BOURNE HILL GARDENS AND THE GREENCROFT

A Guided Walk with Frogg Moody and Neil Beagrie

Bourne Hill, Salisbury

Thursday 5 June at 7.30pm

This walk will cover the fascinating Saxon, Medieval, Georgian and Post-Modern landscape of the often-overlooked corner of Bourne Hill. The walk will also delve into the plague and the dark history of the Greencroft.  The walk will start in front of Bourne Hill (outside the main entrance into the registry office) and progress to the Greencroft.

RORY CELLAN-JONES

The Salberg Salisbury Playhouse, Malthouse Ln, Salisbury SP2 7RA

Thursday 5 June at 7.45pm

Join former BBC journalist Rory Cellan-Jones in conversation with Matthew Stadlen about his latest book, Sophie from Romania. This heartwarming story chronicles Rory’s journey adopting a shy Romanian rescue dog, Sophie, and how their bond helped him navigate his Parkinson’s diagnosis.

PLAY ON WORDS

Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin St, Salisbury SP1 3UT

Thursday 5 June at 7.30pm 

P.G. Wodehouse once had five musicals on Broadway simultaneously. Today, his step-great grandson Hal Cazalet, with pianist Simon Beck, transports us back to the Golden Age of stage and screen through stories and song. Celebrate the birth of the American musical with highlights from Gershwin, Kern, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Noël Coward, Sondheim, and more.

Hambletts and Orchestra of the Swan in association with Salisbury International Arts Festival present

GEORGE ELIOT IN WORDS AND MUSIC

Salisbury Playhouse Main House, Malthouse Ln, Salisbury SP2 7RA

Friday 6 June at 7.30pm

After their sell-out Red Sky at Sunrise last spring, Hambletts and Orchestra of the Swan return to bring 19th century writer George Eliot to bold and dramatic life. This female-led show tells George Eliot’s story through her great novels, letters, journals, poetry, and journalism. Performed by acclaimed singer-songwriter SuRie and Orchestra of the Swan alongside guest leading actress Hermione Norris (Cold Feet, Spooks).

In tune with Eliot’s radicalism, a dazzling music programme of contemporary female singer-songwriters weaves around Eliot’s immortal words.

THE MISTAKE

The Salberg Salisbury Playhouse, Malthouse Ln, Salisbury SP2 7RA

Friday 6 June at 7.45pm

When the atomic bomb is approved for use on Japan, Leo Szilard, tormented by his role in its creation, strives to prevent the catastrophe. Meanwhile, Shigeko Nomura, a young woman in Hiroshima, survives the bombing and fights to rescue her parents. Two actors, one British and one Japanese, portray the gripping stories of a Hungarian scientist, an American pilot, and a devoted Japanese daughter in this moving drama about the ‘mistake’ that launched the nuclear age.

WILTSHIRE COLLEGE MUSIC SHOWCASE

Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin St, Salisbury SP1 3UT

Friday 6 June at 7pm

Wiltshire College and University Centre Salisbury presents a showcase of emerging talent from the Music Performance and Production Diploma course, featuring a variety of genres including indie-rock, folk, rap and electronic. Expect surprises and special guests, as the event marks the end of the students’ graduating academic year.

HEJIRA: CELEBRATING JONI MITCHELL

Salisbury Playhouse Main House, Malthouse Ln, Salisbury SP2 7RA

Saturday 7 June at 7.30pm

Hejira is a 7-piece band celebrating Joni Mitchell’s masterpieces, mostly from the late ‘70s. Fronted by the talented Hattie Whitehead, who channels Joni’s vocal poise and guitar style, the band performs iconic songs like Amelia, Woodstock, Hejira, and A Case of You, offering an unforgettable tribute to Mitchell’s legacy.

WHO’S NEXT: WITH THE WHO

Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin St, Salisbury SP1 3UT

Saturday 7 June at 7.30pm

Following last year’s celebration of The Rolling Stones’ 1964 Salisbury City Hall appearance, Wiltshire Creative and Salisbury History Festival present With The Who.  In 1965, The Who performed to an ecstatic crowd in Salisbury, and now you can enjoy a tribute by the premier live band Who’s Next. Frogg Moody will also present Part 2 of his popular Whistle-Stop Tour, exploring the 1960s music scene in Salisbury.

The Lord Chamberlain’s Men presents

TWELFTH NIGHT

Rack Close, Cathedral Close, Salisbury SP1 2ES

Friday 6 June at 7pm

Saturday 7 June at 2pm & 7pm

Join The Lord Chamberlain’s Men this summer for Shakespeare’s greatest romantic comedy, Twelfth Night, celebrating their 21st year. They present this joyous play as he first saw it – in the open air, with an all-male cast, Elizabethan costumes, music and dance.

“If music be the food of love, play on!”

OUT OF THE BOX

Rack Close, Cathedral Close, Salisbury SP1 2ES

Sunday 8 June at 11am & 2pm

This outdoor family-friendly comedy show is packed with surprises as an unlikely character and his mysterious box take you on a whirlwind of wonder. You’ll never guess what’s coming next!

Every time the box opens, it’s a new adventure: trick shots, mini performances, and laugh-out-loud moments that invite everyone to join in the fun.

With Darryl J Carrington’s gentle, non-verbal clowning, everyday objects transform into the extraordinary. This show is a joyous celebration of play throughout your life, whatever your age, bringing generations together through seriously skilful silliness.

LISTINGS

WILTSHIRE CREATIVE

Box office: 01722 320 333 / [email protected]

SALISBURY INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL:

EVENSONG

Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin St, Salisbury SP1 3UT

Saturday 24 May at 5pm

FREE

UNITY

Salisbury Market Square, Market Walk, Salisbury SP1 1TL

Saturday 24 at May 9:30pm

Sunday 25 May at 4pm & 9:30pm

Monday 26 May at 1pm

FREE

FLIGHT

Guildhall Square, Salisbury SP1 1JH

Saturday 24 May – Sunday 1 June at various times

Tickets: from £10 for adults or £8 for under 25s

A BEAUTIFUL THREAD: THOMAS HARDY IN WORDS AND MUSIC

Stonehenge, Salisbury SP4 7DE

Wednesday 28 May at 8pm

Tickets from £40

ELEANOR TIERNAN AND CHLOE PETTS: WORK IN PROGRESS

Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin St, Salisbury SP1 3UT

Thursday 29 May at 7.30pm

Tickets from £17

SONGS OF THE BULBUL

Salisbury Playhouse, Malthouse Ln, Salisbury SP2 7RA
Thursday 29 May at 7.30pm

Tickets from £23

AN AUDIENCE WITH POLLY TOYNBEE

The Salberg, Salisbury Playhouse, Malthouse Ln, Salisbury SP2 7RA

Friday 9 June at 7:30 pm

Tickets from £16

MINNY STYNKER

The Salberg, Salisbury Playhouse, Malthouse Ln, Salisbury SP2 7RA

Friday 30 May at 11am & 2pm

Tickets from £12 for adults or £10 for children

SHOULDER TO SHOULDER

Salisbury Playhouse Main House, Malthouse Ln, Salisbury SP2 7RA

Friday 30 May at 7.30pm

Tickets from £16

OBSCURE DESIRES

Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin St, Salisbury SP1 3UT

Friday 30 May at 7.30pm

Tickets from £16

AN AUDIENCE WITH JOANNE HARRIS

The Salberg Salisbury Playhouse, Malthouse Ln, Salisbury SP2 7RA

Saturday 31 May at 7.45pm

Tickets from £16

AN EVENING WITH JACQUI DANKWORTH: IN CONCERT

Salisbury Playhouse Main House, Malthouse Ln, Salisbury SP2 7RA

Saturday 31 May at 7.30pm

Tickets from £20

FAMILY FIESTA

Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin St, Salisbury SP1 3UT

Saturday 31 May at 12pm

FREE

EAGLES, BIRDSONGS AND BACH

St Thomas’s Church, St Thomas Square, Salisbury SP1 1BA

Wednesday 4 June at 7.30pm

Tickets from £26

BALLET CENTRAL 2025

Salisbury Playhouse Main House, Malthouse Ln, Salisbury SP2 7RA

Wednesday 4 June at 7.30pm

Tickets from £19

LIGHT AND DARK: BOURNE HILL GARDENS AND THE GREENCROFT

Bourne Hill, Salisbury

Thursday 5 June at 7.30pm

Tickets from £10

RORY CELLAN-JONES

The Salberg Salisbury Playhouse, Malthouse Ln, Salisbury SP2 7RA

Thursday 5 June at 7.45pm

Tickets from £16

JOSH WIDDICOMBE: WORK IN PROGRESS

Salisbury Playhouse Main House, Malthouse Ln, Salisbury SP2 7RA

Thursday 5 June at 7.30pm

Tickets from £22

PLAY ON WORDS

Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin St, Salisbury SP1 3UT

Thursday 5 June at 7.30pm

Tickets from £23

GEORGE ELIOT IN WORDS AND MUSIC

Salisbury Playhouse Main House, Malthouse Ln, Salisbury SP2 7RA

Friday 6 June at 7.30pm

Tickets from £16

THE MISTAKE

The Salberg Salisbury Playhouse, Malthouse Ln, Salisbury SP2 7RA

Friday 6 June at 7.45pm

Tickets from £16

WILTSHIRE COLLEGE MUSIC SHOWCASE

Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin St, Salisbury SP1 3UT

Friday 6 June at 7pm

Tickets from £5

TWELFTH NIGHT

Rack Close, Cathedral Close, Salisbury SP1 2ES

Friday 6 June at 7pm

Saturday 7 June at 2pm & 7pm

Tickets from £24

HEJIRA: CELEBRATING JONI MITCHELL

Salisbury Playhouse Main House, Malthouse Ln, Salisbury SP2 7RA

Saturday 7 June at 7.30pm

Tickets from £18

WHO’S NEXT: WITH THE WHO

Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin St, Salisbury SP1 3UT

Saturday 7 June at 7.30pm

Tickets from £18

OUT OF THE BOX

Rack Close, Cathedral Close, Salisbury SP1 2ES

Sunday 8 June at 11am & 2pm

Tickets from £12 for adults and £10 for children

West End stars Stevie Doc and Tobias Turley
to perform at Cadogan Hall for one off
concert
Saturday 10th May 2025, 7:30pm
Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, London SW1X 9DQ

Champions of the hit ITV series Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream, Stevie Doc and Tobias Turley, will perform in an exclusive concert at Cadogan Hall on Saturday 10th May. Presented by Olivier Award nominated production company Lambert Jackson Productions, rising stars Stevie and Tobias will bring audiences’ favourite musical theatre duets to life for one evening only this spring.

The pair, who rocketed to popularity through the ITV show and their portrayals of Sophie and Sky in the West End production of Mamma Mia, will perform theatre hits from a wide range of shows.

For her role in the smash hit ABBA show, Stevie Doc was nominated for a WhatsOnStage Award for Best Professional Debut Performance. Following his stint as heartthrob Sky, Tobias Turley’s acting credits include Kurt Kelly and Understudy JD in Heathers The Musical (The Other Palace); West Side Story (Ljubljana Festival); Giovanni Pernice: Made In Italy (UK Tour); Sleeping Beauty (Mansfield); The Nutcracker (Birmingham Royal Ballet); Magic of Animation and Carousel in Concert (both West End Does at Cadogan Hall). He is currently appearing in White Rose: The Musical at the Marylebone Theatre.

Lambert Jackson Productions was founded by Jamie Lambert and Eliza Jackson in 2018. Over the past six years, they have rapidly become known for their impressive roster of large-scale concert productions of musicals and innovative approach to bringing exciting shows to audiences across the globe. Notable works include Cruise, which was nominated for an Olivier Award for ‘Best New Play’, the worldwide stage premiere of Brokeback Mountain, and their work online during the pandemic, which created worldwide sensation Leave a Light On! which allowed actors throughout the UK to sell tickets to shows from their own living room, earning Jamie and Eliza a spot in the Stage 100 in 2020.

Lambert Jackson’s CEO, Jamie Lambert, comments, We are so excited to be working with Stevie and Tobias – they are two phenomenal talents and true emerging West End stars.

Swan Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon – until 5th April 2025

Reviewed by Amarjeet Singh

5*****

Edward II is not for the feint hearted. Chock full of fights, feuds, treachery and subterfuge, Christopher Marlowe’s play about a king’s misjudged union and loyalty with ‘minion’ Piers Gaveston, is brutal, and bloody, but also quite touching in the hands of director Daniel Raggett. Liberal cutting back of the original text makes for a 1hr 40-minute viewing with no interval. The action is thick and fast, slick and thriller like. Just when you think you have a grasp on what is happening, another curve ball is thrown in.

There was no shying away from the same sex relationships explored in this rendition, but this is not what seemed to infuriate the nobleman and the monarch’s wife. It was more about the lack of Edwards leadership ability, his care for his country and his concerns for his family. Who the king was having a relationship with was incidental. It was the fact his obsession with Gaveston, a lowborn, and the gifts he bestowed upon him were depleting reserves, unravelling his marriage and destroying England. It was quite refreshing to watch this and not feel like the relationship was being sensationalised.

The RSC’s co-artistic director, Daniel Evans, plays the king magnificently, traversing through a range of emotions effortlessly. The playful, innocent, almost impish love that he shares with Gaveston is wholly believable. Then comes thunderous rage leading to utter heartbreak as he rotates though the 7 stages of grief masterfully. A truly incredible performance. Eloka Ivo presents a self-assured, swaggering Gaveston, tinged with an edge of threat, he balances Evans giddiness wonderfully. Ruta Gedminta is superb as simmering Queen Isabella, bitter and resentful at her husband’s public indiscretions. The Earls, Mortimer, Enzo Cilenti, Pembroke, Emilio Doorgasingh, Warwick, Geoffrey Lumb, and Lancaster, Evan Milton, are cunning conspirators. Machination’s alike but for different purposes, causes and outcomes, they are wonderfully played. Jacob James Beswick as Lightborn is terrifying, for all the right reasons.

Leslie Travers’ set is a muted, movable feast, transforming alongside the action. If you arrive before the play begins you are invited to pay your respects to the late king, which is a lovely bit of audience interaction. A raised stage slides back and forth to become various areas with a murky reveal at the end. There are LED frames and moments flash up as if photographs had been taken by the paparazzi. The costumes range from military to contemporary to juxtapose the nobles and low born. Fight director Kev McCurdy manages to present some violent and vicious scenes in a convincible and credible fashion. Tim Lutkin’s lighting adds much to the atmospheric gloom and ultimate doom of the play.

This rendition of Edward II is a remarkable and relentless assault on the senses. Barbaric, brisk and bewitching throughout, the horror of the final scenes will haunt you for a long time.

Arcola Theatre – until 29 March 2025

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

The decision to confront the man who has been having a steamy correspondence with your wife when that man is locked up in a high-security psychiatric hospital may not be the wisest thing to do, but Dave tends to follow his heart rather than his head.

Dave (Ben Simpson) starts writing to Martin (Alex Mugnaioni), and goes to visit him in the hospital, Clearpoint, described by a fellow visitor as looking “like Hogwarts, but with more locks.” Martin, obviously bored with the fellow inmates and staff, listens to Dave listing his wife’s other affairs and agrees to stop writing to Dave’s wife. In return he will help Dave rekindle the sparks in his marriage and become a stronger man. Martin’s toying with Dave, and his willingness to appear amiable, is puzzling until it is revealed that his review is approaching and having a friend who visits and could perhaps write a positive reference is his new strategy to get transferred out to prison.

Martin’s crimes are never explicitly mentioned, apart from ominous statements about reading the transcripts and a delightful squirm and groan from Dave when he finally finds the correct Martin Miller on Google. Madeleine Brettingham’s hilarious script doesn’t need Martin’s past to be described, as the manipulation and cruelty he displays are enough to make you squirm. What makes him terrifying is the ease with which he can flash a suave smile and turn on the charm.

The odd couple bromance that develops is obviously one-sided at first, and the chemistry between the actors is glorious as hapless and trusting Dave is bamboozled by Martin’s advice laced with barely hidden barbs and insults. Getting relationship advice and life coaching from a psychopath has never been so funny. As Dave’s life turns around and he appears to have found true happiness, Martin’s focus is on getting that statement from him, and when both their worlds implode, their reaching out for each other makes their connection finally feel authentic and allowing Martin a tiny hint of redemption – or could he just be bored again?

Alex Mugnaioni is electric as Martin. Picture every comic, intelligent, suave, slightly psychotic cad character from British film and TV, and that’s what you get in Martin – a mashup of simmering anger and performative patronising intelligence. Just brilliant. Ben Simpson’s Dave is the Penfold to Mugnaioni’s Dangermouse, apologetic and never quite believing that he deserves happiness. The pair deliver a masterclass in physical comedy as they twitch or squirm.

Brettingham has written a fantastically bizarre relationship between the two men, with supporting characters that cast light on their true connection. Edward Judge irritates Martin as both a fellow patient and a potential new “friend” with wide eyed and endearing innocence, and the wonderful Amelia Donkor plays the female characters in the men’s lives, matching Martin’s intellect as the coldly professional psychiatrist.

Wiebke Green directs with a sure touch and Kit Hinchliffe’s stark institutional white set is lit beautifully by Lucia Sánchez Roldán and Julia Starr’s sound design creates an intimate and sometimes claustrophobic atmosphere.

A show about a psychopath manipulating an innocent shouldn’t be this funny, but Madeleine Brettingham’s fantastic dark comedy explores the need for connection and delivers plenty of laugh out loud moments. A show not to be missed.

‘WEIRD’

TO MAKE WORLD PREMIERE AT NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL

Brand new musical from acclaimed producer Michael Harrison

Special initiative also announced today

for 5,000 schoolchildren to see the show for free

Performances in January 2026 | www.theatreroyal.co.uk

Weird, an electrifying pop-powered musical reimagining Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Macbeth, will make its World Premiere at Newcastle Theatre Royal next year.

The show, a brand new British musical, will have a limited run from Wednesday 28 – Saturday 31 January 2026.

Written by Nick Butcher, Kerri Watt and Fraser Watt, Weird will combine witchcraft, mischief and mayhem, with a soundtrack of newly created pop anthems, telling the dramatic tale of the Scottish king through the eyes of three witches.

Further creative team and cast are to be announced.

Nick Butcher, and Scottish siblings Kerri Watt & Fraser Watt, are award-winning songwriters and chart-topping artists at the heart of modern musical storytelling. Their work spans music, theatre, and film, garnering 20+ million streams with their ability to write, record and produce their work to create a unique theatrical pop sound, breathing new life into what theatrical storytelling can be.

Separately, Nick, Kerri & Fraser each enjoy success in their independent ventures. Nick is an Emmy and Olivier Award-nominated songwriter, best known for writing the West End smash hit musical, The Little Big Things.

Kerri Watt, a Top 10 artist and songwriter, has enjoyed commercial success with music placements across television and radio as well as live performances at Glastonbury, Hyde Park and The Royal Albert Hall. Fraser Watt, a Berklee College of Music graduate, is a sought-after writer and producer who has worked with Dolly Parton, dearALICE and media giants like ESPN, Samsung and Universal.

As part of the run in Newcastle, more than 5,000schoolchildren from across the North East will have the opportunity to be the first in the world to see the brand new musical, thanks to a collaboration between producer Michael Harrison and Newcastle Theatre Royal.

As part of an initiative to provide more pathways for young people to be able to access live theatre, Michael and the theatre have joined forces to pledge that the first five weekday performances will completely waive ticket prices for schoolchildren from across the region to be able to attend free of charge. 

Michael Harrison said:

“When I first read Weird and listened to the incredible soundtrack, I knew I wanted the biggest audience possible to see it. I’m well aware there are thousands of school kids who study Macbeth, the source material of this brilliant new musical. It’s fair to say some of us don’t understand Shakespeare – Weird will change that.

“When we decided to try out Weird at Newcastle Theatre Royal, the theatre I grew up in, it felt absolutely right to offer as many school kids as possible the opportunity to see it for free, to support them with their school work and to inspire them, as I was, simply by attending the magnificent Theatre Royal.”

Michael Harrison is one of the country’s leading theatre producers with a string of smash-hit West End musicals to his name including Titanique, Hello, Dolly!, The Little Big Things, The Wizard of Oz, Starlight Express, Young Frankenstein and Bedknobs and Broomsticks, the latter two both debuting at Newcastle Theatre Royal before embarking upon sell-out West End runs and nationwide tours respectively.

As Chief Executive of Crossroads Pantomimes, he is responsible for many major annual festive pantomimes across the UK; he has been at the helm of Newcastle Theatre Royal’s legendary pantomime for the past two decades and recently announced an extended run of Aladdin, his 20^th production at the venue starring father and son double act Clive Webb and Danny Adams.

This October, Newcastle Theatre Royal will open Miss Saigon – Michael’s new production of Boublil and Schönberg’s legendary musical in association with Cameron Mackintosh – with a three-week run before the epic production heads out on major UK tour.

Marianne Locatori, Chief Executive of Newcastle Theatre Royal said:

“I’m thrilled to be collaborating with Michael, one of the most successful and well-respected theatre producers in the UK, to premiere this brand new musical. Working with Michael, hot on the heels of his string of recent national theatre industry awards and hit productions in the West End and on tour, is a fantastic opportunity for our theatre and audiences in the city and region to see an amazing new musical. Not only will we have a never-seen-before production make its debut on our stage, but Michael’s vision will enable us to build on our existing programmes and relationships with schools in the region – particularly those in economically deprived areas – to provide creative pathways, deliver educational and enrichment workshops and support the industry’s future workforce that is right here on our doorstep.”

She continued: “For some audience members, this may be their first time in a theatre to see a live performance; Michael fondly recounts stories of his early visits to this very theatre and how they inspired him. Together, we hold a shared ambition that young people, especially those living outside London, need as many opportunities as possible to engage with the arts; by removing the potential barrier of cost for all the weekday performances, we hope to enable more children to develop a love of theatre that lasts a lifetime.”

Booking for the two performances on Sat 31 Jan 2026 opens on Mon 24 Mar at 10am for Friends Plus members, followed by Friends of the Theatre Royal on Fri 28 Mar, Flexi Priority Pass members on Tue 1 Apr and Public on-sale Fri 4 Apr. For more information, please visit theatreroyal.co.uk

Rose Theatre Kingston – until Saturday 22nd March 2025

Reviewed by C Burlinge

5*****

The Rose Theatre brings you the production of The House Party; the story of two best friends Julie (Synnøve Karlsen) and Christine (Selsey Hope), who both come from very different backgrounds. Julie, whose upbringing is one of privilege and money, feels very alone after losing her mother and having an almost non-existent relationship with her father. She holds a dark personality and comes across as damaged. Whereas, Christines life has been harder, she has been brought up on a council estate and is now caring for her mother, who has mental health problems, making her feel trapped. She is desperately trying to change her future and has an interview at Cambridge University; could this be a way out of her current situation?

It’s the night of Julie’s 18th birthday party and she decides to throw an impromptu party at her father’s lavish town house, in retaliation to him letting her down again for a date with his younger girlfriend! When her secret comes out that her boyfriend won’t be attending because he’s dumped her through text, Christine is left desperately trying to pick up the pieces once again, but at what personal cost? Whilst Julie parties the night away upstairs, Christine and her boyfriend Jon (Tom Lewis) talk about their future together whilst cleaning up the mess. Jon isn’t a fan of Julie’s, and it soon emerges that they have a history together, as Jon’s mum used to clean for the family.  

What is meant to be a happy event leads to secrets unravelling between the three, creating a path of destruction caused by the people they trusted the most. Then with social media playing its part things will truly never be the same again.

Julie and Christine’s parts were played exceptionally well, with an outstanding connection for all to see, making the audience truly believe that you were watching two best friends go through many familiar experiences within life. These had the audience on many occasions laughing out loud, especially watching them getting ready for the party together. Jon played the perfect boyfriend offering much love and care, but with dark undertones showing through.

The production offered some great house music, along with exceptional lighting and choreography, which created the perfect scenes to go alongside the story. Short dance scenes, expertly presented, were used along with strobe lighting and a display of a digital clock to move from one scene to another, and to show the passage of time over the course of the night. There were some funny and heartfelt moments with twists of darkness all making this a fantastic production that is well worth a watch.