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THE MARQUISE is a rarely performed Noël Coward play from 1927 (follow link to the review). Rare? Barely even heard of. This is its first outing in 22 years. Noël Coward wrote it as an 18th century costume drama, and admitted it was really just a 1920s play with costumes added. This production sets it in the 1930s and removes the wigs and long skirts and does the underlying play it always…

Review of the play 45 YEARS at Chichester Minerva Theatre (follow link). Small cast of three, short (80 minutes). Geraldine James and Gabriel Byrne as the couple awaiting their 45th wedding anniversary are 90% of the play. Gillian Bevan is their old friend. It’s a play about age, sand a long suppressed secret.

I’ve just added a page in memory of Leo Jones. Readers from ELT will know him as a great innovator. We knew him as a colleague and friend for 55 years, and I met Leo before I met Karen. These are my memories and some photos. RIP, Leo. LINK TO THE PAGE FOR LEO JONES HERE

Follow the link to my review of the stage version of Ian McEwan’s ATONEMENT at Chichester Festival Theatre. The play is scripted by Christopher Hampton who scripted the film. It got mixed reviews inevitably when a novel is so treasured. I’m highly positive though.

A short review of DISCLOSURE DAY (follow link). Short because I don’t want to disclose too much. So it’s a Stephen Spielberg story, directed by Stephen Spielberg. John Williams did the music. Brits dominate the cast- Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth. It is as you’d expect, classic Spielberg. Go and see it!

Review of THE TEMPEST at the Royal Shakespeare Company (follow link), featuring Kenneth Branagh as Prospero. It’s sold out, not surprisingly, but it will count as a major production of the play. It’s Branagh’s retirn to the RSC in thirty years. It’s Richard Eye’s first RSC production at age 83. Have a look:

Follow the link to my review of Eclipse by John Morton at Chichester Minerva Theatre, directed by John Morton as well as written. It’s hard to describe. A family gather for the end of their dying father (we never see him) and it manages to be funny as well as poignant. It’s apparently nearly sold out for the last week, but given Chichester’s success at moving productions on there’s a good chance…

Review added of THE UNTHANKS at POOLE LIGHTHOUSE. Follow link to review. We never miss them. As ever a music of sublime singing and superb piano and violin. They veered to the poetic side tonight … Emily Brontë, Siegfried Sassoon, Molly Drake and the Songs From The Shipyards. The set is different every time we see them. This was the more somber end of their catalogue.

Follow the link to my review of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM at Shakespeare’s Globe, 2026. This is the 25th review I’ve done of the Dream. It’s my favourite play. This did it justice in a rollicking audience-participation version which was perfect for the day. I want to see it again! Directed by Emily Lin.

My rant on Eurovision 2022 has been updated with a section on 2026,

Review of MAGIC by David Haig, (FOLLOW LINK TO REVIEW) currently in its worlds premiere at Chichester Festival Theatre. David Haig plays Sir Athur Conan Doyle, convinced totally by spiritualism, and Hadley Fraser plays Harry Houdini, the escapologist, who becomes determined to disprove it. Stellar performances from a fine cast with direction by Lucy Bailey. It’s on for another couple of weeks. A…

Review of DRIFTWOOD by Martina Laird (follow link to review) at the RSC’s third theatre, The Other Place. Directed by Justin Audibert. It’s an exciting new play set in Trinidad in 1956, a society with soon to depart British colonial types and newly arrived American ‘chancers.’