Sticking to his roots as a knob-joke connoisseur, Frank Skinner excelled in illuminating the Manchester Opera House with laughter in his show 30 Years of Dirt
Kara Hardie’s debut play The Exterminator is an anarchic and poignant two-hander, tackling personal space, occupation and power in a refreshingly funny and domestic manner
Boasting stellar performances and a story that spans several centuries, UMDS’ Autumn Fringe performance of Wild Swimming shifts delightfully between being a comedic period piece and a serious, thoughtful drama
Moments by Theatre Re expresses the difficulties and joys of theatre in a single, metatheatrical performance, exploring the medium in a variety of methods
Giles Croft’s adaptation of Khalid Hosseini’s novel movingly explores friendship, betrayal, and redemption while also educating and enlightening audiences on the tumultuous political and cultural history of Afghanistan. It is an innovative and immersive piece of theatre that remains poignant and important in today’s climate
Pretty Woman the Musical was a disappointing adaption of a problematic rom-com that showed glimpses of how much better it could have been if a bolder and more imaginative approach had been taken
In production with Wise Children theatre company, Emma Rice’s new adaptation of Blue Beard uses circus tricks, smoke, and mirrors to dance around the genuine issues it is trying to tackle
The Commitments, a jukebox musical based on the film of the same name, is filled with great music, energetic acting, talented musicians, and great laughs
Ellen Kent’s breathtaking take on Verdi’s Aida was let down by a series of small issues, leading our reviewer to wonder if the inaccessibility of opera will lead to its demise
