Review: War Horse
An astonishing spectacle that still moves and will forever craze the idiocy of war on the retina like an iced-over No-Man’s Land.
Genre: Puppetry 0
Review: Jane Eyre
Polly Teale has released the daemons, but Nettie Sheridan’s ensemble has delivered Jane Eyre’s feeling to a pitch remarkable even for BLT.
Review: The BFG
Evans and his team have transported the magic so completely it’s taken up residence. Both outstanding and a delight
Review: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
This is a virtuoso production like no other you’ll see in one twice as big with a stage twenty times as huge.
Review: Ballet Shoes
A winter paean to wonder and possibility, Kendall Feaver’s and Katy Rudd’s Ballet Shoes has proved as evergreen as the book itself. Outstanding.
Review: David Copperfield
An outstanding production, a seasonal offering more satisfying than most pantos.
Review: The Lightning Thief
There’s talents you’ll want to see and hear. And a stunning set whose production values spring surprises for the audience too. Highly recommended.
Review: Deaf Republic
Its claustrophobia overwhelms and moves, whilst leaving Dead Centre room for yet another slant on Ilya Kaminsky’s imaginary.
Review: Providence
An engaging performance where object theatre mixes with physical theatre to create a profound visual storytelling experience endowed with strong archetypal symbolism
Review: UnTethered
UnTethered could be outstanding and groundbreaking. What Tara Sirois does next could, and should, unnerve everyone; including herself.
Review: The Rubbish Puppets!
Trash Transformed! Getting out of bed can be uneventful but not for this teenager - prepare to see trash become treasure...Introducing 'The Rubbish Puppets.'
Review: The Magic Lady
An action-packed, hugely entertaining hour in the company of a disillusioned illusionist.
Review: The Secret Garden/Bleak Expectations
Deliciously wholesome satire, this is a deliriously-paced, superbly-acted production.
Review: Jane Upton (the) Woman
A ground-breaking play, fully deserving of its London run. Catch it there.
Review: Teatro dei Gordi: Pandora
It begs questions: what couldn’t we do, if placed outside our own comfort station in life? Essential theatre. essential questions. A gem.
Review: Dan O’Brien The Voyage of the Carcass; Emily Jenkins Bobby & Amy
Dan O’Brien’s piece is for dedicated farceurs. By itself outstanding, it’s hoped by several Emily Jenkins’ Bobby & Amy have a postlude of its own, with this team and these two young actors pitched at this moment in their careers.
Review: Zinnie Harris, Douglas Hodge, Johnny McKnight 101 Dalmatians The Musical
A perennial tale in essence makes this a Christmas must and New Year resolution: for all of us under ten in the holidays.
Review: The Box of Delights
The finest Christmas box imaginable, and the go-to for a seasonal show. If you can get in.
Review: Salomé
Dramatically this is the most creative response I’ve seen live. Here, a director’s reach should exceed their grasp, or what’s a production for.
Review: Greenhouse Festival LAMDA Festival New Directors in association with Orange Tree
Every one of these productions could enjoy a run at the Orange Tree: they’re exciting and accomplished.
Review: The Gummy Bear’s Great War
An absurd, imaginative, and superb performance on a new level involving Gummy Bears for Peace.
Review: Breathe
A beautifully designed and performed story that is delightful, meaningful and entertaining.
Review: Miss English’s Holiday by Action Theatre (Italy)
A charming, engaging show that lights up the eyes of the children and grown ups in the audience.
Review: Bark Bark
Imaginative and creative show with gravitas, heart and a slightly mysterious edge - totally engrossing!
Review: The Sex Lives of Puppets
A unique take on puppetry that is very entertaining and extremely funny!
Review: Lobster Bisque
Go and see this innovative traditional farce of clown, puppetry, burlesque and so much more, you will not be disappointed!
Review: Mnemonic
Mnemonic is treasurable, eloquent, a rare passport. It remembers what hope, connectedness and peace smelt like. It’s worth remembering that.
Review: Tom’s Midnight Garden
An absolutely first-rate ensemble and they tell the story with all the wide-eyed wonder of a real enchantment, beyond Christmas, beyond, perhaps time. A gem.
Review: Men Talking
The end, as it inevitably must be, is a way of recollecting emotion with emotion. An inspiring act of witness, before others, and beyond ourselves.
Review: Taiwan Season: The Way Back
Interesting well-performed physical theatre with object puppetry
Review: JM Coetzee’s Life & Times of Michael K
Beautifully adapted, directed, performed and designed - masterful puppetry, poignant and meaningful.
Review: La Petite Gerda
Imaginative retelling of Snow Queen story with beautifully sung songs, excellent acting and creative storytelling.
Review: Casting the Runes
It is difficult not to be hooked by Box Tale Soup’s charming vision of M.R. James’ work.
Review: Moby Dick
It's hard to distinguish puppet from human in a spectacular retelling of Moby Dick.
Review: Manic
A new solo show that combines puppetry, spoken word and theatre to bring an honest look at sex and trauma to Brighton Fringe 2023
Review: No I.D.
The celebration of acceptance and being wholly comfortable in your own body for the first time in your life transmits to everyone. It should make you more comfortable, knowing how Tatenda Shamiso radiates the joy of his, bestowing a kind of benediction. A quietly groundbreaking show.
Review: Quality Street
Don’t miss this exquisite confection. After this production, there’s possibly no return to the original. It’s a rethinking paying homage to both the sentiment, which it never upstages, and the brand and its factory-workers the comedy gave its name to.
Review: Django in Pain
Poignant, charming and meaningful play that is imaginative and vibrant in vision and message.
Review: James and the Giant Peach
With memorable music and ensemble singing added to a first-rate BLT production, there’s no better Christmas show in town.
Review: Mother Goose
This is more than panto: it’s an affirmation of something that panto here welcomes in, in our time uniquely invoking layers as only Elizabethan/Jacobean drama can.
Review: Space Hippo
Blockbuster shadow puppetry show that is full of fun and has a hippo sized heart
Review: The Man Who Planted Trees
Charming story, masterful storytelling, entertaining and enlightening show imaginatively brought to life with beautiful sets, props and puppets.
Review: Will Tell and the Big Bad Baron
A great family show: energetic, pacey with plenty of opportunity to join in and let off steam.
Review: Famous Puppet Death Scenes
"A visually appealing and brilliantly creative massacre of tiny people."
Review: Move Fast and Break Things
Intriguing impactful story, characters and fascinating video and puppetry!
Review: A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings
Imaginative production of a magical realism story with intrigue, drama and subtle humour that people of all ages can enjoy together.
Review: Mary, Chris, Mars
Imaginative - and will appeal to families with an interest in space, astronauts and object/shadow puppetry.
Review: Finding Grace
A fascinating "tragi-comic solo performance about a writer who is looking for ‘Grace’.
Review: The Adventures of Sleepyhead
A charming theatrical performance of someone who thinks that by becoming a grown up, they lose their dreams.
Review: The Man Who Planted Trees
A must-see performance of a moving and timely story told by two men and a dog- an inventive treat for adults as well as kids
Review: The Twits
A summer must-see to charge you up for the autumn, and taking on the real twits ahead.
Review: More Grimm Tales
A rollicking production with razored timing, musical cues and ad-libs worked in to half-second slots. A must-see.
Review: A Feast for the Senses! Creative, Imaginative and Heartfelt – Christmas Carol by Manual Cinema
Creative Imaginative and Heartfelt visual storytelling - theatre, shadow puppets, original live music!
Review: Frankenstein
Imaginative, Exquisitely Haunting and Moving - Visual Storytelling at its best!
Review: Beauty and the Beast
Nothing so convincing has been done with this legend. It deserves many revivals.
Review: Shoe Lady
Katherine Parkinson inhabits that breaking through the office crust asphyxiating us
Review: As You Like It
For Lucy Phelps and Sophie Khan Levy above all, this is a joyful As You Like It.
Review: Celeste’s Circus
A quant and lovely trip to the circus for little ones that take big ones along for the ride
Review: My Love Lies Frozen In The Ice
A visual feast of physical theatre, gorgeous stagecraft, clowning and puppetry
