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...
Entertainment Reviews
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...
Review: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, 9 January 2024
By Catherine Collins Everybody’s talking about Jamie, and if they aren’t… they should be, after the phenomenal show opened at Mayflower Theatre last night. Inspired by the 2011 BBC documentary, Jamie: Drag Queen at 16, the musical is based on the true-life story of Jamie New, a teenager from...
Review: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, 12 December 2023
By Sally Churchward. Images by Stuart Martin. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was as brilliant and bonkers a Christmas pantomime as you could hope for. It was a step back to a more traditional show after last year’s Goldilocks and the Three Bears, starring Jason Donovan, and featured...
Review: Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas, Berry Theatre, Hedge End
By Melanie Adams. It’s a charming festive tale that has stood the test of time – 50 years to be exact! And as Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas takes to the Berry Theatre stage to celebrate the major milestone, it is easy to see why. Sat with my very excited...
Review: Skinny Lister at The Engine Rooms, Southampton, December 8, 2023
By Graham Hiley If Shane MacGowan had been a pirate instead of a Pogue, he might have come up with something like Skinny Lister. On the day of the Irish singer’s funeral, his influence was clear as the Greenwich band took Southampton’s Engine Rooms by storm with their own...
Review: Cinderella, Theatre Royal Winchester. 5th December 2023.
By Chris Richards. These are two hours I hope to remember always. Since a young age, I have marvelled at the high energy, bright colours and joyous humour of pantomimes. They are not everyone’s cup of tea but, honestly, to me, nothing is more festive than going along to...
Review: English National Ballet – The Nutcracker, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, November 29
By Joy McKay. It really felt like Christmas as I arrived at The Mayflower, it was frosty and dark outside but the foyer was particularly warm and welcoming festooned with Christmas trees (29/11/23). I very much of the opinion decorations in November are too early but on this occasion,...