The Studio at Festival Theatre
Poggle
★★★★★ Disarmingly charming:
There is real delight for pre-school kids to be had at the Studio of the Festival Theatre this Christmas, as the clever and playful Poggle is revived by Barrowland Ballet.
Oh! What A Lovely War
★★★★☆ Powerful:
Brutal yet hilarious, Captivate Theatre’s production of Oh! What A Lovely War at the Festival Theatre Studio feels relevant beyond its obvious significance to Sunday’s centenary of the WW1 Armistice.
Ludus: Playful Love
★★★☆☆ Diverting:
Ludus: Playful Love, Theatre Broad’s production of two contrasting plays by early 20th century poet and playwright Clifford Bax provides an evening that is high on period charm but never really stakes its claim to contemporary relevance.
Spring Awakening
★★★★☆ Spring in the step:
Dark and bruising in many parts, TBC Productions has created a properly adult production of alt rock musical Spring Awakening, which is at the Festival Studio to Saturday.
The Homecoming
★★★☆☆ Reverent:
Fidelity to the text characterises Leitheatre’s The Homecoming at the Festival Theatre Studio. The result is a well-crafted production that could probably do with showing a little less respect.
The Sunshine Ghost
★★★☆☆ Reassuring:
Spirited and melodic, the first small-scale run of The Sunshine Ghost is not yet the finished article but shows signs of developing into something popular.
Little Shop of Horrors
★★★☆☆ Midsummer fun:
There’s bundles of fun and bonkers B-movie mayhem in Little Shop of Horrors, the debut musical from TBC Productions, which is at the Studio on Potterrow to Saturday.
Bouncers
★★★★☆ Well observed:
Crisp in its delivery and twisting in its purpose, Leitheatre’s production of John Godber’s Bouncers hits many of its marks in a strong production at the Festival Theatre Studio
Heroine
★★★★☆ Raw
Hilarious and chilling by turns, Heroine – Mary Jane Wells’ one-woman show at the Studio of Festival Theatre – tells a compelling story while digging deep into subjects so raw they are still taboo.
Too Many Penguins?
★★★★★ Not too many:
Clever, intriguing and thoroughly engaging for its target audience of pre-school toddlers, Too Many Penguins? returns in a form that is even better than before.
