Jackstage

 🌟 Romeo + Juliet 🌟 12 September 2023 at 7:30pm at the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford ★★★★ Matthew Bourne's New Adventures presents a revival of their critically acclaimed Romeo + Juliet, a contemporary, passionate and gritty take on the Shakespearian tale of forbidden love. This becomes the first time I have seen a performance told wholly through the medium of dance, and this show surpassed my expectations of what a movement piece can be, and how much can be crafted from classical scores. I haven't encountered any productions of Romeo and Juliet before, with this adaptation feeling incredibly fresh, and modern societal themes present. The well-known tragedies of the story have been altered, which is a surprise for audiences to deliver more heartfelt and surprising moments. The setting largely stays within Verona Institute, a deliberately vague establishment of incarceration and control against young people. We are introduced to Juliet (Monique Jonas) within the Institute, ...

 🌟 Life Of Pi 🌟 09 September 2023 at 7:45pm at the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield ★★★★ It is an absolute pleasure to be able to return to this invigorating performance of Max Webster's Life Of Pi, previously watching this stage adaptation last year at the Wyndham's Theatre, London. Although this remains the same production, minor changes are noticeable between the runs, whether to benefit the tour's staging, or enhance the visuals of stage magic. It allows me to question at times whether this play is suited to the touring style. Nevertheless, I really appreciate seeing Life Of Pi showcasing it's talents and poignant story across the country. This play really embodies the spirit of a tiger, roaring onto stage with a tension to hold the auditorium in awe. A triumph that will easily take every single venue by storm. Adapted from the novel by Yann Martel, the story follows a teenage boy from Pondicherry, India, who is forced to relocate with his family to Canada. After a tempe...

🌟 Oklahoma! 🌟 02 September 2023 at 7:30pm at the Wyndham's Theatre, London ★★★★★ I was extremely privileged to be able to attend the final performance of Oklahoma!'s 2023 West End season, and I cannot put into words how incredibly dynamic and electric this evening was! With songs including Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin' and Kansas City , Daniel Fish's reimagining of the 1943 classic entirely flips what is known about Oklahoma! on it's head, ramping up the sexiness and sizzling relationships between the characters. Whilst presenting a country, rock-n-roll concert like experience, it really hones in on a creepingly unsettled American landscape, that cradles life with such fragility. A perfect balance between paradise and fear brews, Fish's adaptation takes some major risks, which pay off in this emotionally investing piece. It immediately amazed me as a thunder of applause welcomed the cast onstage. This is the first time I have ever seen this, but it is instantan...

🌟 Operation Mincemeat 🌟 02 September 2023 at 3:00pm at the Fortune Theatre, London ★★★ As it starts to get comfortable in the heart of the West End, Operation Mincemeat was perhaps my most anticipated show of the summer. With constant sell outs and around sixty 5* reviews, there was certainly a high level of expectations. The trailblazing new musical has gained a revolution of fans unlike I have ever seen. As a comedy, this version of the story diverts far from the seriousness that the 2021 film exudes, whereby the comical aspects didn't entirely land for me in this musical adaptation by SpitLip. It is impossible to deny the overall tone is often very light, and many jokes did make me laugh or slightly chuckle, though not to the extent of laughing out loud as the majority of the audience does. It is important for me to mention that I enjoyed the show, and really admired it's consistency to it's quirky style, but unfortunately not falling head over heels for it. One really...

 🌟 Crazy For You 🌟 01 September 2023 at 7:30pm at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, London ★★★★★ Crazy For You, currently playing at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, is an absolute triumph that marvels in the classics of theatrical wonderment. This has been my first experience of a George and Ira Gershwin musical, and the romantic comedy stylings of the script truly blows me away. It exceeds my expectations to the point where it is impossible to wipe the smile from my face. This also saw my first trip to the Gillian Lynne Theatre, and it perhaps became my favourite theatre space of all time, with a very charming modern design, wonderful merchandise, next level friendly staff and a tremendously impressive stage. Does it get any better than this? I certainly don't think so! This musical follows the character of Bobby Child, a Harvard graduate who dreams of leaving his banking job behind to become a professional dancer, and revive Deadrock's neglected theatre. Love and romance is the warmest...