22/03/2026 by Peter Viney
Review of THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND (follow link) at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Swan Theatre. This is a musical version of the true story of a 13 year old boy in Malawi who buily a wind turbine and saved his village from drought. First there was his autobiographical book, then the film. It makes a fine musical, full of exuberant dance and music. It’s going to London for the summer. One to see.
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22/03/2026 by Peter Viney
Follow the link to the review of HENRY V at the Royal Shakespeare Company (follow link). This is a major large cast production with Alfred Enoch as Henry V. It should be a play for our times. We saw it before reviews came in, and I might be right out on a limb with my opinions iof it. Which are strong. See the review.
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15/03/2026 by Peter Viney
Review of Terence Rattigan’s MAN AND BOY at the National Theatre’s Dorfman Theatre. This is late Rattigan and very different from his best known style. It was also just about fully booked. The powerful performance of Ben Daniels as the multi-millionaire swindling financier is outstanding. It is set in a financial crisus in 1934. The play is most known because the financier tries to pimp his own son toa gay business rival.
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13/03/2026 by Peter Viney
Review added of Thornton Wilder’s OUR TOWN (follow link), considered by some to be the masterpiece of 20th century American theatre. This is the first production of the new National Theatre of Wales, and stars its artistic director, Michael Sheen. It’s a triumph, as it is so full of movement, and handles the play;s shifts from comedy to tragedy. It’s at the Rose Theatre, Kingston-on-Thames, one of the UK’ds best theatrical spaces.
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10/03/2026 by Peter Viney
Review added of DEEP AZURE by Chadwick Boseman, (follow link). This is a contemporary American play performed in the last place tou’d expect, the candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe. None of the online photos reveal the creativity and originality of the chorus. You gave to go and see it. Instant standing ovation too.
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10/03/2026 by Peter Viney
The Bridge Theatre production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s musical INTO THE WOODS (follow link) is reviewed. This is said to be the five star unmissable production of the early part of this year with stunning production, singing and performance. Five stars everywhere.I’m not sure why it didn’t get to us as strongly! Read the review.
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06/03/2026 by Peter Viney
Review of Spiers & Boden at Poole Lighthouse (follow link). John Spiers and Jon Boden were founder members of Bellowhead. We have seen them several times as a duo, and they perform an unmissable night of folk, and sound like a larger band than you can imagine from a duo. They’re still touring.
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05/03/2026 by Peter Viney
The National Theatre are streaming the Theatre Royal Haymarket OTHELLO to cinemas (follow link). It was an all star 2025-26 West Enfd production with David Harwood, Toby Jones and Caitlin Fitzgerald. Having read some somewhat sniffy reviews, we thought the filming with close ups of so much subtle acting probably enhances it. We thought David Harewood the best Othello we’ve seen but they are all great. It will eventually be added to NT At Home.
Picture: Iago (Toby Jones) watches Desdemona (Caitlin Fitzgerald) and Othello (David Harewood) with seething resentment.
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26/02/2026 by Peter Viney
Review of Irish singer-songwriter Lisa O’Neill at Poole Lighthouse added. Follow the link. She has a very unusual instrumental line up, and tends to preach to the audience at times. She is still on tour.
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18/02/2026 by Peter Viney
Review of the 2026 film of Wuthering Heights (follow link). The director, Emerald Fennell, thinks the quotation marks around the title, allows her a fantasy distance. It stars Margo Robbie and Jacob Elordi as Cathy & Heathcliff, but to us Martin Clunes as Cathy’s father and Alison Oliver as Isabella Linton steal the show. It’s extremely controversial. Reviews range from one star to five stars. Have a read. The original is my favourite 19th century British novel. Do comment.
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