Words and pictures by Anita Foxall. Main image: Pegasuses. It has been 13 years of Bursfest and this year’s was another fantastic one. Rob Swallow and Ron May work relentlessly to make it happen every year supported by an incredible, warm, welcoming group of volunteers. Both the Village Stage...
Entertainment Reviews
Review: Shrek, Mayflower Theatre
By Graham Hiley. It was bright, beautiful and ogre-the-top! Shrek The Musical stank the place out – in the best possible way. With enough fart, burp and body odour jokes to stink a battleship, this slick new production of the animated classic left the Mayflower audience… swamped! This is...
Review: São Paulo Dance Company, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
By Katie Isham. Imagine a world where the government founds a dance company. Stop laughing. It really happened. In 2008, the Brazilian government did just that and since then, the São Paulo Dance Company has been going from strength to strength. Talking of strength, the muscles and power wielded on...
Review: Birmingham Royal Ballet: Sleeping Beauty, Mayflower Theatre, 8 February 2024
By Joy McKay. This year is the 40th anniversary of Sir Peter Wright’s retelling of The Sleeping Beauty, which opened at Mayflower Theatre last night. Based on the original 1890 collaboration between composer Tchaikovsky with choreographers Marius Pepita and Lev Ivanov it is a true classic of classical ballet....
Review: Interesting Wallpaper, Heartbreakers, Southampton
By Anita Foxall Interesting Wallpaper had their headliner show at Heartbreakers on the 26 January. They were joined by 2 local bands, Sturmey Archers and Watching the Buzzards, for a complete Sofa City Bands Collective celebration. A full venue filled with support for local music. Who said we are not...
Review: Oh What a Lovely War, MAST Mayflower Studios, 29 January 2024
By Martin Brisland. More than sixty years on from its debut, this classic satire about war still has power to shock and to thoroughly entertain. Blackeyed Theatre’s first-rate production of Oh What A Lovely War set in World War 1 is highly relevant today given the threats to world...
Review: I Should Be So Lucky: The Musical, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, 23 January 2024
By Catherine Collins. If you’re a fan of some of the biggest hits Stock, Aitken and Waterman were responsible for in the 80s and 90s, then you will love I Should Be So Lucky, which opened at Mayflower Theatre last night. The plot revolves around Ella and Nathan, a...
Review: 1923 Prohibition Party, The Engine Rooms, Southampton
By Sam Wise. Saturday night saw the arrival in Southampton of a show born out of time, 1923 Prohibition Party, and I was privileged to speak to one of its stars, Martin Jarl, trumpeter, singer and manager of the band Swing’It in advance. Martin is, unconventionally for a swing...
Review: The Importance of Being Earnest, MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton
By Lewis Maclean. Go and see this show! Your life will be richer for it. I know mine was when I left Southampton’s flagship MAST Mayflower Studios theatre last night. The works of Oscar Wilde are often known for the intense ludicrous drama and sharp wit. Often his work...
Review: The Wizard of Oz, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, January 17, 2024
By Graham Hiley, So, you think you’ve seen the Wizard of Oz? Not like this you haven’t! I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t too sure about going to see a musical I have watched plenty of times, usually through beer goggles at Christmas. You know the drill… you...