Handbagged

Review by Paul Towers, 25/3/25

Handbagged by Moira Buffini

Directed by Alex Thorpe

Produced by Queens Theatre & National Theatre

At Curve til Saturday 29^th March 2025

Handbagged is the imagined story of the meetings between Magaret Thatcher during her Prime Ministership and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Traditionally these meetings are completely confidential and are never recorded. So Moira Buffini has mischievously imagined how they went. The result is an hilarious interaction between the two most powerful and influential women of the time.

Cleverly each of the women is played by two actresses, one the younger woman and the other the older and wiser one. This allows for internal dialogue. The Queens are played by Sarah Moyle and Helen Reuben while the Maggies are played by Morag Cross and Emma Ernest. Additionally there are two male actors (Cassius Konneh and Dennis Herdman) who play a myriad of characters, and not always male! There are also two ensemble actors, Tiajna Amayo & Jane Quinn, performing various roles.

The set is a simple dais above which is a large gold coin with a queen’s head embossed on it.

So, the stage is set for the historic confrontations over 11 years and much national and international turmoil. While there is much to bemoan in that era writer Buffini has found lots of laughs as well. All of the characters break the fourth wall constantly, which makes for much hilarity.

How close to the truth this production comes, we will never know, but I like to think that much of the gist of the various characters is fairly accurate. It is known that Thatcher was unsure how to interact with the Queen as she was used to Handbagging her male colleagues (hence the title). Whereas HM, with decades of experience, probably just treated Maggie the way she would treat any of her ministers.

With lots of laughs Handbagging is at Curve until Saturday 29^th March before it continues touring

www.curveonline.co.uk

https://ptheatre.blogspot.com/  

The Vicar of Dibley

 

Review by Paul Towers, 24/3/25

The Vicar of Dibley by Richard Curtis & Paul Mayhew-Archer, adapted by Ian Gower and Paul Carpenter

Directed by Nikki Favell

Produced by Leicester Drama Society

At The Little Theatre til Saturday 29th March 2025

TV’s much loved sitcom about the Clerical Comedy, The Vicar of Dibley, comes to The Little Theatre for a week. Starring all the regular characters this is an evening of Holy Humour and Dibley Drama. OK enough of the Ecclesiastical puns.

Dibley is an amalgam of some of the best bits from across all three series. Although I imagine it was tough selecting just a couple of hours’ worth of gems. The story goes from Geraldine Grainger’s (Kat Seddon) arrival in Dibley through to her transfer to Liverpool. Along the way we are witness to the blossoming romance and ultimate wedding between verger Alice Tinker (Kathryn Lenthall) and Hugo Horton (Keir Watson), much to the horror of Hugo’s father autocratic David Horton (David Lovell).

Sat at the head of the Parish Council, David Horton rules with a iron fist over fellow councillors Jim Trott (Ian Carr), Owen Newitt (Jordan Handford), Frank Pickle (John Bale) and Letitia Cropley (Elizabeth Spendlove).

There is also a tiny cameo form Tabitha Fogg, but I won’t spoil it by saying what she plays.

It has to be said that every single actor nails their character’s idiosyncrasies with aplomb. Their vocal mimicry is spot on and won’t disappoint regular viewers of the series.

The set, designed by Tristan Knowles, is a versatile depiction of three separate areas; the council meeting room, Geraldine’s parlour and the inimitable study where Alice fails to understand any of the Vicar’s jokes.

Director Nikki Favell has created a joyous show that will be loved by anyone who has watched the TV series. Grab one of the last tickets and revel in an evening of almost continuous laughter.

The Vicar of Dibley is at The Little Theatre until Saturday 29^th March 2025

Pics: Dave Morris

The Little Theatre

https://ptheatre.blogspot.com/ 

Upcoming at Curve

 Review by: Paul Towers, 14/10/20

 “At last some good news!”

 Curve has announced its reopening schedule to give us all some festive cheer thanks to the recent grant from the  government’s Culture Recovery Fund and the ongoing support from Arts Council England and Leicester City Council. Credit should also go to the management of Curve who have successfully steered Leicester’s flagship theatre through these unprecedented times.

The season will officially launch with a special, exclusive live-streamed event on 12 November.

From 23 Nov to 3 Dec The Color Purple will return to Curve in a concert production reimagined by the original  creative team of director Tinuke Craig, musical director Alan Parker and choreographer Mark Smith. Original cast members T’Shan Williams (Celie) and Danielle Flamanya (Nettie) will return. Other cast member will be announced when confirmed.

Christmas will see the return of Sunset Boulevard from 14 Dec to 3 Jan. Staged as a concert performance it will be directed by our own Nikolai Foster with original cast members Ria Jones and Danny Mac. There will also be a 16 piece orchestra.

Continuing into the New Year there is the return of Memoirs of an Asian Football Casual. Director Nikolai Foster will helm this story of local boy Riaz Khan’s life from 25 Jan to 6 Feb

All three shows are award winning productions and full castings will be announced in due course.

Continuing Curves very popular community led events there will be a socially distanced Family and Community Day on Sat 14 Nov which will include a selection of low cost and free workshops, performances and activities for all ages from Midlands artists and theatre companies. All events will be ticketed and MUST be booked in advance.

The reopening of Curve to the public has been made possible because of the unique design of Leicester’s award winning theatre. By raising the wall between the two theatre spaces (I bet you didn’t realise they could do that!) to create one huge space they can accommodate 533 seats in a socially distanced way. Add into this the incredibly generous donation by Sir Cameron Mackintosh of a triple revolve and Curve once again has a world beating performance space which will be the envy of  theatres everywhere.

To ensure the safety of both artists and audiences there will be a one way system in the building, additional cleaning and temperature checks before you are allowed to enter the building. Further information can be found on the website.

Tickets for all shows and events go on sale on Thursday 15 October for Friends of Curve, Mon 19^th October for Members and on General sale at noon on Weds 21 October.

Curve https://www.curveonline.co.uk/
http://ptheatre.blogspot.co.uk/

 

Inside No9/Fright Night

 

Review by Paul Towers, 11/3/25

Inside No 9/Fright Night by Steve Pemberton & Reece Shearsmith

Directed by Simon Evans

Produced by Phil McIntyre Live

At Wyndham’s Theatre til Wednesday 2^nd April 2025

The first thing that has to be said about Inside No 9/Fright Night is that you have to be a fan of, or at least have watched the various works of Messrs Pemberton & Shearsmith. Otherwise you will miss so much of the fun and horror of this stage version of Inside No 9.

Without giving too much away the stage opens on a set of theatre seats where Shearsmith is trying to watch a performance of Hamlet. As so many of us can testify there are always annoying audience members that we would wish to berate. But, being British, all we do is tut. In P&S’s alternative universe dire revenge is taken on these annoying patrons, much to the approbation of the (real) audience. Stepping out of character our two author/performers issue a not always tongue in cheek warning of what would happen to disruptive audience members to thunderous applause.

Playing to an appreciative audience a lot of the time the ‘sketches’ get darker and darker with some elements lifted almost wholesale from the TV series, while others are completely new. Of especial note has to be the almost entire sketch of Bernie Clifton’s Dressing Room and, in the second half, an horrific visit to an insane asylum.

Not only do we have the authors in starring roles but there is also a very talented ensemble who back them up and, each night, a surprise special guest. This means that new material has to be written every night to accommodate them. My visit coincided with Chris MacCausland’s  appearance which, of course, had to reference his win on Strictly and his blindness.

Along the way the pair poke fun at some of theatreland’s peccadillos. The current trend of onstage live video feeds is sent up and used to good effect when it goes on a backstage tour of the supposedly haunted Wyndham’s Theatre. Some good natured tail tweaking of theatre managements, artist agents and method actors ensures the laughs continue alongside the cries of horror.

All in all this is everything and more that you would expect from the team behind Inside No 9. Five stars all the way. A shame it is sold out, but you have to get in quick for these popular limited run shows.

 

https://www.wyndhamstheatre.co.uk/

https://ptheatre.blogspot.com/ 

A taste of honey

 

Review by Paul Towers, 3/3/25

A Taste of Honey by Shelagh Delaney

Directed by Russell Hughes

Produced by Leicester Drama Society

At The Little Theatre til Saturday 8^th March 2025

Shelagh Delaney’s 1958 play set in poverty stricken Salford highlighted issues of class, race, age of sexual consent, gender, sexual orientation and illegitimacy at the time. Not a huge lot has changed in the interim.

Jo (Celester Walton), a teenager, is dragged into yet another unsuitable lodging by her wayward mother, Helen (Holly Matusiewicz). It suddenly dawns on Jo that her mother is close to being a prostitute, living off the handouts of her various lovers. Their relationship is tempestuous, to say the least, partly due to Helen’s drinking. Her latest boyfriend’s sudden proposal of marriage throws their relationship askew. Meanwhile Jo is being courted by a black ship’s cook, Jimmy (Abdullah Henly) who ultimately gets her pregnant. When Helen waltzes off to get married to Peter (Freddie Dobrijevic) Jo is left alone to cope with her pregnancy. It is at this point that Geoff (Thom Jones) enters her life. A lonely gay lad from art college the two form a mutually beneficial friendship.

As always with LDS productions the acting is superb and the set is imaginative. Special mention has to go to Holly Matusiewicz’s Helen who has to constantly switch moods as the drink takes hold.

A Taste Of Honey is at The Little Theatre until Saturday 8^th March

Pics: Jenny Harding

https://thelittletheatre.co.uk/

https://ptheatre.blogspot.com/