A Night of Victorian Murder!
19th Century true crime. A spooky night is promised at the Anglican Chapel set in the London Road Cemetery on the new date of Saturday, 28 February at 7pm. Presented by Don’t Go Into The Cellar – the theatre company that brings new adaptations of 19 th century literature’s greatest ghost and horror stories to modern day audiences. If you dare, you’ll see how Scotland Yard Investigates infamous true-life crimes. During the course of this macabre performance, you’ll encount
ann-evans
7 hours ago2 min read
Strong performances enhance this Brontë classic
Olivia Cunningham as Jane Eyre. Photo courtesy of Steve Vent. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, performed at The Priory Theatre, Kenilworth, from 14 – 21 February 2026. Directors: Ashley Hirons and Emma Marshall. Review by Charles Essex. The full house for the opening night reflects the enduring popularity of this story of female vulnerability in Victorian England. It follows the journey of Jane (Olivia Cunningham) from being a 10-year-old orphan ungraciously taken in by an a
Charles Essex
9 hours ago2 min read
The Saints present Pantonia!
l-r: Charlotte Ellingham (Aladdin), Jason Riley (Prince Charming), Ken Simpson (Barista Hardup), Shannon Lee (Cinderella) and Alyssa Swiney (Jasmine). Photo courtesy of Paul Bovey. Pantonia! Co-written and directed by Paul Bovey and Geoff Manns. A report from Paul Bovey After a busy but enjoyable run this week, Saturday 14 February saw the final and matinee performance of the Saints Drama Society’s latest production, Pantonia! Co-written and directed by Paul Bovey and Geoff M
ann-evans
11 hours ago2 min read
Wonderful singing enriched this medley of Shakespeare’s love scenes
Tim Raistrick and Adam Schumacher. Photo courtesy of Second Thoughts. Shakespeare on Love Performed by Second Thoughts Productions at The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Saturday 14 February 2026. Review by Charles Essex. In a novel format, two narrators (Nic Walsh and Gill Hines) took us on a tour of a medley of Shakespeare’s love scenes featured in both his comedies and tragedies. The scenes were acted out as short vignettes, either from the original script or m
Charles Essex
13 hours ago2 min read
The Improvesarios create a new Valentine's opera – the Unveiling!
Rebecca Chandler and Stephen Brown. Photo courtesy of the artists. The fabulous Improvesarios were back at the Loft Studio Theatre on Valentine's Night for another of their hilarious improvised operas. With suggestions from the audience they come up with the setting for a new opera, then instantly, on the spot, make up the story, the music and the songs' lyrics. With Saturday being Valentine's Day, there couldn’t have been anything more appropriate than a wedding themed ope
ann-evans
1 day ago3 min read
Clever one-man performance of popular thriller
Jonathan Goodwin. Photo courtesy of the artist. The 39 Steps. Performed by Jonathan Goodwin at The Cidermill Theatre, Chipping Camden, Friday 13 February 2026. Written and directed by Jonathan Goodwin. Review by Charles Essex Although published as a thriller in 1915, John Buchan’s The 39 Steps has become much better known to audiences as a highly successful comedic play, with four actors playing numerous parts. It was refreshing, and brave, of Jonathan Goodwin to perform
Charles Essex
1 day ago2 min read
Candide's Crazy Life!
Leonard Bernstein's Candide. Leonard Bernstein’s Candide based on Voltaire’s satirical novel performed by the Student Society Opera Warwick at Warwick Arts Centre from 12 to 13 February 2026. Directed by Millie Jeffries and conducted by Michał Matusz. Review by Ann Cee Open Opera did a terrific job last night of bringing the chaos and confusion of Candide's crazy life to the Warwickshire stage. With precious few props but plenty of creativity and panache, a huge cast took
Ann Cee
2 days ago2 min read
Playbox celebrates the start of its 40th Anniversary Season with Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Romeo (Sam Almond) and Juliet (Sophie Rhodes). Photo by Lucy Barriball. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare marks the start of Playbox Theatre’s 40 th Anniversary Season at The Dream Factory, Warwick from 12 to 14 February 2026. Directed by Mary King. Review by Ann Evans. Playbox Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is the first in their 40th Anniversary Season. This ever popular Shakespearean tragedy bringing us a love story that goes terribly wrong, h
ann-evans
2 days ago3 min read
Nipplegate sets stage for quirky and irreverent show
Paula Varjack. Photo by Christa Holka. Nine Sixteenths at Warwick Arts Centre, on Thursday 12 February. Review by Amanda Burden Pale, male stale meets loud, proud, unbowed: Nipplegate sets stage for quirky and irreverent show. Everyone loves an unexpected guest star. Who can forget Brad Pitt popping into Friends ? Or Sir Ian McKellen propping up the bar at the Rovers Return? Or - and here I’m showing my vintage - 90s beat combo The Farm on Brookside? (Incidentally, I miss th
Amanda Burden
3 days ago3 min read
Placebo and the RSC join forces for The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui
Photographer Gillian Hyland. Art Director Louise Richardson. Premiering in the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from Saturday 11 April – Saturday 30 May 2026. Preview Placebo are to compose new music for landmark stage play satirising Hitler’s ascent to power in their first major theatre collaboration to date. Starring double Olivier award-winning actor Mark Gatiss in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui; based on the 1941 ‘gangster spectacle’ by Bertolt Brecht in a new version
ann-evans
3 days ago3 min read
The Man Who Would Be King – Bold new take on Macbeth has lessons for Sky Blues
Kehinde bankole and Deyemi Okanwalo. Credit Diva Creative Crown of Blood, Belgrade Theatre, 11 Feb Review By Amanda Burden Hubristic horoscopes, ambition thwarted, good intentions gone astray… no! It’s not the story of Coventry City Football Club’s current promotion campaign, silly. This is Crown of Blood, Mojisola Kareem’s striking new take on Macbeth at the Belgrade Theatre. That said, there are parallels between the Sky Blues’ spiky trajectory of late and the fortunes of S
Amanda Burden
4 days ago3 min read
Warwick Folk Festival 2025 brought in £1million!
The beer tent, Warwick Festival 2025. Photo John Wright Photography. The 2025 Warwick Folk Festival brought in just under £1million to the town in terms of additional economic benefit which has been revealed in an ‘Economic Impact Analysis’ report. It has also been revealed that the festival days in 2023, 2024 and 2025 averaged a footfall uplift of +46% in the town centre, compared to the average footfall on the same non-festival days. Data also showed that 2025 had the large
Tanya Aspinwall
6 days ago3 min read
The Unfriend a sell out at The Talisman
Mark Plastow as Peter and Esther Riggs as Debbie. Photo by Robert Warner. The Unfriend by Steven Moffat, at the Talisman Theatre and Arts Centre, from Monday 9 February - Saturday 14 February 2026. Directed by Vanessa Comer, Assistant to Director Connor Bailey. Review by Ashley Hayward. This play has been accurately described as a cross between a farce and a sitcom and it was certainly given a massive thumbs up by the first night audience as they collectively rose to give
Ashley Hayward
6 days ago3 min read
Crown of Blood at The Belgrade
Kehinde bankole and Deyemi Okanwalo. Photo credit Diva Creative. Crown of Blood, a new Yoruba adaptation of Macbeth. At the Belgrade Theatre from Wednesday 11 to Saturday 14 February. Written by: Oladipo Agboluaje. Directed by: Mojisola Kareem. Crown of Blood was developed with the support of the National Theatre’s Generate programme. Preview ‘Of what use is a good man without ambition?’ Following on from the success of Death and The King’s Horseman (February 2025), Utopia
ann-evans
Feb 91 min read
Nostalgic evening of a bygone era
Oliver on piano and Samuel standing. Photo courtesy of Oliver Hancock. An evening of Flanders and Swann performed at St Mary’s Church Warwick, on Saturday 7 February 2026. Review by Charles Essex Brothers Samuel and Oliver Hancock treated a very knowledgeable audience to a wonderfully nostalgic evening of the songs of Flanders and Swann at St Mary’s Church in Warwick. Although the demographic of the audience reflected that this appealed to a particular generation who recal
Charles Essex
Feb 82 min read
York Ice Trail this weekend
Follow the York Ice Trail. Photo courtesy of Make It York. York Ice Trail returned this morning with the Enchanted City theme bringing 36 mystical and magical ice sculptures, interactive experiences and photo opportunities leading you across the city. The York Ice Trail is a free event open to all from 10.30am to 4pm over the weekend on 7 and 8 February. Pick up the official trail map from the Visit York Visitor Information Centre to tick off all the sculptures and, upon
ann-evans
Feb 71 min read
Shakespeare on Love at The Bear Pit
Some rehearsal pictures courtesy of Second Thoughts Drama Group. Second Thoughts Drama Group present Shakespeare on Love, at the Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, from 11-14 February 2026. Preview From A Midsummer Night’s Dream to Twelfth Night, Shakespeare’s plays are filled with love, lust and longing. The bickering Beatrice and Benedict, the star-crossed Romeo and Juliet, the controversial Kate and Petruchio: Shakespeare explores love in all its many forms, some ideal
ann-evans
Feb 71 min read
Full casting announced for the RSC's Henry V
Full casting has been announced for the RSC’s forthcoming production of Henry V, Shakespeare’s great history play, directed by RSC Co-Artistic Director, Tamara Harvey. The production runs in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon between Saturday 14 March and Saturday 25 April 2026. Preview Henry V will be the first play Tamara has directed in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre since becoming Co-Artistic Director and follows her critically acclaimed productions of Pe
ann-evans
Feb 62 min read
Nine Sixteenths at Warwick Arts Centre
Nine Sixteenths cast. Photo by Christa Holka. Nine Sixteenths: Inspired by Janet Jackson, created by Paula Varjack, a fast, fun, multimedia examination of iconic black female role models featuring the rise, fall and rise again of Janet Jackson. Runs 60 mins. At Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry on Thursday 12 February 2026 at 7.45pm. Preview At the 2004 Superbowl, Justin Timberlake exposed Janet Jackson’s breast and nipple to a huge live TV audience for n
Dave Freak
Feb 53 min read
