Berlin Cabaret

If you imagine the setting where Sally Bowles performs in ‘Cabaret’ then you get the premise of this decadent German club scenario.

Tales of debauchery, androgenous characters, scantily clad women and men abounded, interspersed with some basic songs (there was … Read More

Revolution! The Musical

3 stars ***

This was billed as “Britain’s next big musical” – unfortunately it isn’t.

Set in Bosnia over a number of years we were told stories of revolution, romance and war. But it all got confusing – there was … Read More

Bereavement: The Musical

4 stars ****

This song cycle gave us a variety of scenes based around bereavement and grieving and the different ways of coping.

There was nothing morbid here though, just a collection of clever and witty writing which put a … Read More

Dr Quimpugh’s Compendium of Peculiar Afflictions

4 stars ****

Very interesting to see a professional opera on the Fringe and such a change from the usual musical fayre.

The three singers were excellent and played a multitude of roles. They coped very well with their parts … Read More

The Mikado

*****

Usually for a production of an established work, say Shakespeare or Gilbert and Sullivan, an abbreviated version is devised for the Fringe. This is not the case with Happy Go Lucky’s production of The Mikado. Here we have a … Read More

Newland

4 stars ****

A western musical for modern times by a professional cast, this is great fun. The story is typical western-fayre (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing) and moves along at pace, although sometimes it gets slightly confusing by … Read More

Zambezi Express

4 stars ****

I’m not really sure what this was about but it was brilliant! Essentially a tale of a boy’s dream of becoming a professional footballer with something about trains and mining at the start and gangsters later on. … Read More

13

3 stars ***

A competent production of Jason Robert Brown’s fun ’13’ from these Staffordshire youngsters.

Evan and Patrice do a good job in their lead roles with fine voices and characters but the whole show is let down by … Read More

Company

5 stars *****

Sondheim’s classic is in fine form here with One Academy’s excellent production and they make it look and sound so easy.

The production, as you would expect, is as professional as you can get on the Fringe. … Read More

The Drowsy Chaperone

4 stars ****

‘Drowsy’ is one of those shows which is so hard to describe other than telling people to “Just go see it!” – the name doesn’t inspire and neither does the synopsis really, but it is an absolutely … Read More