Jackstage

🌟 Jersey Boys 🌟 6 May 2023 at 2:15pm at Leicester Curve ★★★★★ Jersey Boys whirls through the story of the rising talents that came to be known as the Four Seasons, with sensation Frankie Valli leading the group through their turbulent stardom. The thing that was most pleasing about this biographical production was its precision to detail and how well they honour the stories of the boys, without misbalancing any of the central 4's importance in the group. With a story that began very fast-paced, the production very quickly found it's feet, and for me just got stronger and stronger as it progressed. The structure of the show itself is very clever, gifting each of the four members an element of narration, one per 'season' as their career's face highs and hurdles. Opening the 'spring' season was Dalton Wood as Tommy DeVito, gifting the role a very charismatic attitude, which really solidified Tommy's role as a leader of the morphing group. Though perhaps t...

 🌟 Demo 🌟 21 April 2023 at 8:00pm at Lincoln Arts Centre, Lincoln We invited local reviewer, Jack Davey to our very first Demo night. We're so happy the event was a success, and we look forward to many more Demo nights! I thoroughly enjoyed this Demo event, a wonderful representation of the Lincoln Arts Centre’s relaunch to celebrate a new generation of rising talent, and brand new artistic ideas. It was a pleasure to be returning once more to the LAC, so a huge thank you to the team for having me along! Firstly, what I find particularly charming about this venue is the very contemporary feel, and a clear willingness to adapt and welcome emerging artists. We were seated in Studio 2 for Demo, and I really loved the intimacy of this space, because I feel that it gave a more personal connection with the artists in the way we could interact with them, and be invited into their snippets of performance. As audience members, between these sections, we were invited to fill in feedback fo...

🌟 Bonnie & Clyde 🌟 7 April 2023 at 7:30pm at Garrick Theatre, London ★★★★★ Bonnie & Clyde really is a masterpiece and beautiful representation of what modern musicals can do. This was my second visit to the Barrow gang, following a show at the Arts Theatre in July '22. First seeing the show, I was absolutely amazed at the production, just how fearless and refined it was, paying brilliant homage to the recklessness of these small-town criminals. It would seem impossible, but returning to the Garrick, it just won't stop getting better each time, really out-doing itself with revised moments, to make the best of it's first run. I'm very lucky that I managed to get front row of the stalls for the both of these runs, which really heightens the intensity of the show in certain moments, dragged into the world of the famous outlaws.  This show was the first time I'd seen Frances Mayli McCann and Jordan Luke Gage as the titular characters, and I'd seen much prai...

🌟 Cabaret 🌟 6 April 2023 at 7:30pm at Kit Kat Club / Playhouse Theatre, London ★★★★★ Wow. Like, wow. Like, WOW. It will be near impossible to reflect the experience I had at the infamous Kit Kat Club for the Playhouse Theatre's immersive production of Kander & Ebb's Cabaret. This doesn't feel like a regular trip to the theatre, but a life experience that you can never shake off, because you aren't just a passive spectator, you are IN the Kit Kat Club, and you belong from the second you walk in. Cabaret is such a quirky and frantic musical, but this production really took it by the reigns and handled every element perfectly, without losing itself in the flashing lights and hilarity of the plot. Honestly it's difficult to know where to begin, to cover everything good about the experience would probably take me all week, so I'll just share some of the highlights.  First of all, I really want to commend the Kit Kat Club's staff throughout. The idea of a se...

🌟 A Streetcar Named Desire 🌟 5 April 2023 at 7:30pm at Phoenix Theatre, London ★★★★ ☆ A Streetcar Named Desire is such a mammoth play for Rebecca Frecknall and the creative team to take on, though it was handled with just the right amount of disturbed passion in a way that reflected Blanche's tormented reality. Set on a wooden platform, we see this small area transformed into Stella and Stanley's Elysian Fields flat, through simplistic scenic changes. But going deeper into the psychological aspects of Williams' play, the lone 'stage within a stage' creates a separated world Blanche finds herself immersed in. Having very recently studied Streetcar for university, I had a lot of expectations ahead of the show. I really like how the original stage directions and conventions of the play were shattered to create a much more flowing and representational piece, though certain elements, for me, left a little to be desire(d). It absolutely has to be commended how the team ...

 🌟 Unexpected Twist 🌟 25 March 2023 at 2:30pm at Nottingham Theatre Royal ★★★★★ Unexpected Twist, adapted for stage from Michael Rosen’s novel, sees a clear inspiration from Dickens’ Oliver Twist, combining the sordid 19th century of the original story with a 21st century representation of poverty on the streets of east London. There are so many reasons as to why this play excels in this fusion, as we often see the traditional characters of Nancy, Sikes and Fagin (in period costumes) confined to the upstage balcony, however throughout certain scenes, we see their influence and characteristics invade the modern world, where they join the main stage space and parallels can be drawn amongst the Dickensian and contemporary worlds. The common theme is the tragedy of poverty, and alike Oliver, we follow protagonist Shona’s struggle of being groomed into the world of gang culture, though as the piece was directorially set to be a family show, these themes were dealt with sensitively, b...

 🌟 Rock Of Ages 🌟 11 March 2023 at 2:30pm at Alhambra Theatre, Bradford ★★ First of all, I just want to commend the whole team on the Rock Of Ages farewell tour, an incredibly talented team, and it’s so clear to see the hard work that went into the making of the show. To reiterate, my star rating does not reflect upon the actor’s individual performances, rather my personal take on the production itself. A big theme for the show was the essence of nostalgia (definitely a show for the dads), and this is what really lets the show thrive. However only being 18 and watching this show, many of the references and knockout songs followed a generation or two behind my own, so that hype was missing for me. Although, it’s impossible to deny the true rocker’s spirit felt throughout the audience, able to get everyone up on their feet during the final number, it was certainly a very special moment to share. The first character we are greeted by is the charming and wildly brassy Lonny, played...

🌟 Fatherhood 🌟 9 March 2023 at 7:30pm at Lincoln Arts Centre, Lincoln Local reviewer Jack Davey came to watch Fatherhood at LPAC on Thursday. Below, you can read his review of the wonderful show. For more reviews from Jack, follow his Twitter and Instagram, @jackdavxy. Fatherhood, presented by transcultural physical theatre company Altered Skin, was a phenomenally evocative show which I thoroughly enjoyed, combining moments of humour with the brutal realities of ethnic prejudice, and how it is deemed ‘appropriate’ to respond to this. Devised and performed by the enthralling Shane Shambhu, there aren’t enough words to describe how poignant yet phenomenally important these stories are to tell, encapsulating 3 contrasting stories of migrant fathers, but also a joining between them, the internal voices that they share, the lived experience, and ultimately what it means to be human. During the opening scenes of the performance, we are greeted by the first of the fathers. With toys thrown ...

 🌟 The Myth Of Serial Killer Profiling: With Professor Jackson 🌟 3 February 2023 at 8:00pm at The Drill, Lincoln We invited local reviewer Jack Davey to The Drill to watch Professor Craig Jackson - check out his piece below! I’ve never been one for true crime documentaries, hiding behind a blanket as the gruesome tales unfold. Though I might have to rethink this, because Professor Craig Jackson’s ‘The Myth of Serial Killer Profiling’ was sensationally captivating; Jackson’s breadth of knowledge just outstanding. There was certainly a buzz that filled The Drill’s bar, yet also a timidity because none of us knew what to expect from the evening. Across the venue, from serving drinks to showing us our seats, The Drill staff were very accommodating and helped me to feel comfortable in the space. Immediately upon walking into the auditorium, the red backdrop gave a very eerie and mysterious feel to set the tone of the night. I was courteously offered a seat in the fourth row from the s...

 🌟 Death Drop: Back In The Habit 🌟 14 January 2023 at 8:00pm at Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield Death Drop: Back In The Habit is certainly a force to be reckoned with! The Queens are back, and they are raunchier and riskier than we have ever seen them! The first instalment of the Death Drop saga is set within the walls of a grand, illustrious manor, whereas this indirect sequel transforms the typical murder mystery into a quirky horror show that parodies some of our most loved horror films, from It to Scary Movie. Some pop culture references (such as Mr Blobby and Byker Grove) went slightly over my head, due to my age, but it didn’t affect my enjoyment any less, all ages have plenty to love (advised probably 16+ though!). Set in the dingy confides of St Babs’ convent, the nuns are enslaved by the spirits that haunt their grounds. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of horror, very easily scared! But apart from the occasional scene that sets your heart racing, there aren’t many jump scares, ...

  🌟 Chess: The Musical 🌟 13 August 2022 at 2:30pm at Curve Theatre Studio, Leicester Presented by the National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT) organisation, this modernised interpretation of ‘Chess: The Musical’ revived the cult classic within such an intimate performance space, inviting audiences onto the stage to feel immersed within the tensions of the 1980s Cold War conflicts of Soviets and Americans, though sometimes closer than audiences bargained for. Directed by Alex Sutton, the abstraction of the staging served successfully as to draw audiences out of a mundane reality of the Chess competition. Sequences of the board game were presented with intricate physical theatre/ballet movement work in the essence that every movement could make or break the situation, with very withdrawn underscore from the live orchestra, beautifully crafted to celebrate the art of chess. It cannot go without being mentioned that the breakthrough leading lady Tilly Ducker, as her sensational vocal abil...

  🌟 Lloyd Griffith: One Tonne Of Fun 🌟 28 January 2023 at 8:00pm at The Drill, Lincoln We invited local reviewer Jack Davey to The Drill to watch the fabulous Lloyd Griffith – check out his piece below! Lloyd Griffith and Frank Sinatra. A self-comparison made by Lloyd. Well, the fact that they both have eyes anyway. However there might be more similarities than first meets the eye, as Lloyd commands the stage with a presence that leaves viewers in awe of his talents. A triple threat of a performer, with comedy, acting and singing, we were in for a delight. Being a Lincolnshire comedian, this gig gave an added personal flavour to the night. Lloyd began by asking for a cheer for audience members from Lincoln, and those not. Greeted with a large round of noise for those from Lincoln meant that I really felt a vibrant feel for the community. Though upon Lloyd announcing his home lies in Grimsby, raucous audience members in the back gave playful heckles which served a local reminder o...