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reviews
Helen Hawkins |

What can you do with lots of big sheets of white paper, three rolls of Sellotape and a couple of torches? These are items from the “props incident room”, as he would call it, of Phelim McDermott’s workshop. With them, and the other workshop that is his fertile imagination, he has conjured up a very special show.

Gary Naylor |

Attending the tale of Sweeney Todd was my introduction to musical theatre. I was in my early 20s and a friend of mine had invited me to the summer show at Guildford School of Acting and Dance. Reluctantly, I went along, fearing jazz hands, happy talk and an overdose of The Kids From Fame.

Adam Sweeting
Is this the near-future? The premise of Ann Droid is that in place of our over-stretched social services, before long we may find ourselves being…
Kieron Tyler
The only break in the flow comes just before the last song, “Toppling.” There’s a need to tune the guitar, so what – until this point – is an…
Helen Hawkins
It’s a sobering thought that had Marianela Nuñez joined the Paris Opéra Ballet at 16 instead of the Royal Ballet, she would have been compulsorily…

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Aleks Sierz
Disappointingly literal version of Sarah Kane’s classic account of love tested to extremes
Florence Hallett
Four artist's films and a computer game speculate on societal collapse
James Saynor
Life is sweet and sour in a closely observed film about Luton youth
Sarah Kent
A wild imagination outlined in miniature
johncarvill
David Thomson explores the dark side of cinema, but still offers a flicker of hope
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Two decades on from Patti Smith and the original pink sheep, the anniversary edition proved again that Latitude's real headliners are rarely at the top of the bill
Thomas H. Green
From Korean bluegrass to gigantic Ugandan xylophones, the global diversity of musical life is here
David Nice
Natural scenes with birdsong fill a varied programme
Gary Naylor
Emily White’s new play is important, but too often tells where it could show
David Nice
The bigger the chorus, the harder to catch the words of great poetry
Kieron Tyler
The return of a punk-era landmark of British art rock
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A test of stamina for the audience as well as the dancers
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Introspection in Walton's Cello Concerto between Italian fireworks
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The pioneering journalist E Jean Carroll's story is heartening, funny and troubling
Helen Hawkins
A surprise Thai hit combines deadpan-dry humour with sharp-toothed social commentary
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The Estonian Festival Orchestra rules supreme, but other aspects just got even better
Adam Sweeting
You saw the movie and you read the book...
David Nice
Laurent Pelly's production proves you can have a great cast yet fail them as characters
Adam Sweeting
Brilliant cast powers gripping con-artist drama
Gary Naylor
Curious show struggles to find the right tone
David Nice
A magnificent cast manages to master Gerald Barry's Wilde and act their crazy socks off
Nick Hasted
School shootings and social media alienation queasily satirised
Aleks Sierz
New play about love and loneliness in London has terrific gender and genre fluidity
Kieron Tyler
Andy Dragazis’ musical alter-ego offers nods to legendary arranger and producer Charles Stepney

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