By Martin Brisland. The Wind in the Willows – Toad’s BIG Musical Adventure, is at MAST Mayflower Studios until 31 December. Superbly directed by Jacquelyn Ockwell, this festive musical comedy version is a triumph and an absolute must see! This was the ultimate feel-good family-friendly show full of energy,...
Applause Reviews
Review: Murder in the Citizens’ Jury, Maskers Theatre Company
By Martin Brisland. Bravo to the Maskers Studio Theatre for giving the premier performances of Murder in the Citizens’ Jury. Climate change is refuted by some and ignored by many. Some activists are dismissed as being prophets of doom. It is a difficult subject to engage people with, but...
Ni Maxine comes to Southampton’s Turner Sims as part of Summer Festival
The award-winning neo-jazz artist Ni Maxine has returned with a new single, a reimagining of ‘God Bless The Child’ and a slew of live performance dates off the back of sold-out live shows in London and Liverpool last month. The London-born, Bristol-raised and Liverpool-based artist is set to make...
Applause review: Murder in the Studio, Maskers Studio Theatre, Southampton
By Martin Brisland. And now for something completely different! The Maskers, founded in 1968, have performed many types of drama from traditional to modern, from comic to tragic but surely simulating a radio play is a first? It worked brilliantly and provided a most enjoyable evening of entertainment. Reading...
Applause review: Maskers Theatre Company – Cash on Delivery
By Lewis Maclean. The Drama flew thick and fast on Saturday night in Shirley. The location; the Maskers Theatre. The “Amateur company with professional standards” is being politely modest, as their latest show proved. Even the mere feat of walking onto the stage impressed. The stage design was quite...
Review: FASAT Pantomime: Hail Caesar, Freemantle Community Centre, Southampton
HAIL CAESAR! All credit to Freemantle and Shirley Amateur Theatrical Society (F.A.S.A.T.S.) for presenting a pantomime with a real difference. This is not your usual Cinderella, Dick Whittington and the like. This was a mad story set in 55 BC (Before Covid!). It combined the ladies of the WI...
Applause review: Wilde: Scenes of love and power, BBV Theatre Company, November 2
By amateur dramatics editor Martin Brisland. An all male group of five actors perform some of the ‘greatest hits’ of Oscar Wilde without scenery, costume, make up, lighting, sound effects or props other than a couple of chairs. Sounds like a tall order? Well not for the excellent BBV...
Applause review: Blithe Spirit, Maskers Theatre Company, Southampton
By amateur dramatics editor Martin Brisland. The Maskers maintain their usual high standards with their latest production. Blithe Spirit is a 1941 comic play by Noel Coward, described by the author as “an improbable farce” which imagines what may happen if we could contact the spiritual world. This experiment...
Little Man Tate come to Southampton in October
Sheffield indie-rockers Little Man Tate have shared details of their first studio album in over a decade, ‘Welcome To The Rest Of Your Life’ (out 17 November 2023), ahead of a UK tour which brings them to Southampton’s Engine Rooms this October. The announcement follows the release of the...
Applause review: Time and Tide, Maskers Theatre Company
By amateur theatre editor Martin Brisland. Some may think that the history of Southampton is boring but not when presented like this! Time and Tide is an excellent evening of stories, songs and sea shanties presented by the Maskers Theatre Company with the help of the Southampton Salty Sea...