Two men on an exploratory voyage to the frozen North spot a figure running through the fog. Afraid of him at first, they debate whether to help him. They soon realise that he is nothing to fear and take him onboard. Then, the story unfolds. We are introduced to author Mary Shelley, and to the…
As the audience file into Malvern Theatres, a projection on the back of the stage shows a train window whizzing past the landscape outside. With the audience in and the lights dimmed, Rachel becomes visible in the window. The scene cuts to alcoholic Rachel in her grubby kitchen. Her ex-husband Tom tells her that someone…
From Charlotte Brontë’s decision to publish the book under a male pseudonym to the strong, female lead character, Jane Eyre is a feminist masterpiece. In contrast to many novels at the time, Brontë’s heroine fought for her own rights and freedoms. The pen name Currer Bell allowed readers to judge the book on its merits, rather…
Since its premier in 1957, the Entertainer has become an iconic play. Now set in 1982 with a backdrop of the Falklands war, Archie Rice finds his showbiz career going down the pan. His profession is outdated. His best jokes are no longer considered funny. So where does he go from here? The brand new…
A trip to the theatre is always a leap of faith. Often, the show doesn’t turn out quite the way you imagined. It’s rare though, for the production to be so different from the one you expected that you spend the first couple of minutes wondering if you’re in the right theatre. About the UK…
Mildred Hubble stumbled into the magical Cackle’s Academy school for witches quite by mistake. Yet it was one of the most captivating mistakes ever made. Since Jill Murphy wrote her Worst Witch stories, they’ve sold over five million copies and been made into films and television series. My little Worst Witch fans were delighted when…