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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15/02/2026 by Peter Viney
Follow the link to the review of The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s “Smooth Valentines Classics” at Poole Lighthouse. The interest may be in the choices they made. I’ve commented on them and the performances. The striking thing was a young conductor, Enyi Okpara, and an even younger phenomenal solo pianist. Thomas Luke.
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23/01/2026 by Peter Viney
The National Theatre production of Hamlet from last autumn (FOLLOW LINK TO REVIEW) was streamed yesterday to cinemas. It may be repeated (though it wasn’t full at Poole), but if not it will eventually appear on NT At Home. It’s very different, though it was the FIFTH major Hamlet production of last year and might have had higher ratings in a different year. Read the review. (Plot spiler: most die at the end.)
Below: Hamlet with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Then Laertes, Polonius and Ophelia.
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22/01/2026 by Peter Viney
Deutsche Grammophon (follow link) added to the Philips /Phonogram section at AROUND AND AROUND. The world’s oldest record label. The one that inspired the article below too. Always distinctive, but strangely rarely commanding high prices from collectors of classical.
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