The Battle: Oscar Lloyd, George Usher. Photo by Helen Murray. The Battle by John Niven, at Birmingham Rep until 7 March 2026. Directed by Matthew Dunster. Touring next in Manchester Opera House until 21 March. Review by Ellie Blackwell Recreating Britpop’s ferocious fight for the chart’s top spot, John Niven’s slick, new play perfectly encapsulates this iconic movement and a cut-throat pop culture where artists had nothing to lose and everything to gain. ‘I’m fine with a war

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rosalie Armstrong and Samuel Koppel. Photo courtesy of the Criterion. The Who’s Tommy, written by Des McAnuff and Pete Townshend, at the Criterion Theatre Earlsdon from 31 January – 7 February. Director Debra Relton Elves, Musical Director Rob Parish, Production Assistant Timothy East. Review by Hilary Hopker There was an excited and busy hubbub in the newly renovated foyer of the Criterion Theatre as show goers explored the renovation changes. There’s now more space and ligh

L-R: Bishop Parry (Jonathan West), John Hall (Tony Homer), Susanna Hall (Hannah McBride), Rafe Smith (Dominic Rose). Photo by Chris Clarke. The Herbal Bed written by Peter Whelan, directed by Danny Masewicz, a Bear Pit Theatre Company Production running from 27 to 31 January 2026. Review by Ann Evans The Herbal Bed is based on the true story of Susanna Hall, the eldest daughter of William Shakespeare who in 1613 was the subject of a public slander case accused of adultery and

Foreground Henry Clark as Snowball and David Bennett as Napoleon. Photo by Richard Smith. Animal Farm by George Orwell adapted by Peter Hall at The Loft Theatre, Leamington from 21 to 31 January. Music by Richard Peaslee, lyrics by Adrian Mitchell.  Directed by Mark Crossley. Review by Ann Evans The Loft Theatre Company tackle the George Orwell classic Animal Farm and make an excellent job of re-telling this satirical dystopian story where the farm animals on Manor Farm reb

Vox Populi The Bells of Paradise. Performed at Holy Trinity Church, Leamington Spa, Saturday 20 December 2025.  Review by Charles Essex   Once again Vox Populi, Harvey Brough’s community choir, ensured a packed Holy Trinity Church in Leamington as they sang a wide selection of Christmas songs old and new.  All 19 songs were arranged by the multitalented Harvey and accompanied by a harp, piano and some of the brass section of the prestigious Orchestra of the Swan, including th

The cast of Robinson Crusoe. Photo by Robert Warner. Robinson Crusoe by Stephen Duckham at The Talisman Theatre and Arts Centre, from Saturday 20 December 2025 to Saturday 3 January 2026. Review by Ashley Hayward. As I set out to watch the Talisman’s annual panto I was intrigued as at how a novel written over 300 years ago about a castaway who spent many years on a remote tropical island could be adapted for Christmas family entertainment. However, I can now reveal that those

Goldilocks and the Four Bears community pantomime presented by The Henley in Arden Drama Society (HADS) at Henley Memorial Hall from 18 – 21 December 2025.  Directed by Laurence Marshall. Review by Ashley Hayward This was my first visit to the annual Henley in Arden pantomime and on arrival you could tell from the warm welcoming atmosphere that it was eagerly awaited by the local community. It was a complete sell out and HADS had even laid on an additional performance to meet

Matt Rousseau and Elysia Sully. Photo by FuzFilmz. Cinderella, performed by Tread the Boards at The Attic Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon. Running from 14 December 2025 until 4 January 2026. Written by John-Robert Partridge. Directed by Andy Woolley. Review by Charles Essex. A humorously painted backdrop of Cinderella’s kitchen is almost the only prop in this familiar pantomime. Being devoid of furniture, director Andy Woolley was able to use the Attic’s relatively small stage a