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...
Entertainment Reviews
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,...
Review: La Traviata (Welsh National Opera), Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
By Joy McKay. The opera La Traviata was composed by Giuseppe Verdi with libretto by Francesco Maria Piave and is based on the novel Camille by Alexandre Dumas. It is the most commonly performed, and therefore considered the most popular, opera in the world. The story is set in...
Review: WNO – Aniadamar, the Fountain of Tears, Mayflower, Southampton
By Martin Brisland. It is refreshing to see the Welsh National Opera (WNO) try new or less often performed material. Last year they had a hit with Janacek’s The Makropulos Affair from the 1920s. This season they chose the unique Ainadamar which was only written in 2003 and it...
Photos: Beverley Knight at Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre
Photos by Kate Hunter. Photographer Kate Hunter captured striking photos of singer Beverley Knight at Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre (November 11). The British artist, whose career spans almost three decades, was celebrating turning 50 in style, with a roof-raising concert, performing a selection of her hits alongside new material. Visit...
Review: The Mary Wallopers at Southampton’s Engine Rooms
Words and photos by Isabella Briscoe. Fresh off the plane from their huge North American tour, The Mary Wallopers kicked off their biggest ever UK tour in Southampton. Celebrating their second album Irish Rock N Roll, the band took to the stage at the Engine Rooms on the 8th...
Review – Skindred, The Smile Tour, O2 Guildhall Southampton
By Lewis Maclean. Southampton Guildhall felt very much in high spirits when I walked in (November 11). Skindred are no strangers to the venue, having played here several times before. I noticed it filled up quickly early on. An extra bit special tonight too, because it was sold out....
Review: The Full Monty, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, 7 November 2023
By Catherine Collins I’m not sure how it has been 25 years since smash hit film, The Full Monty, first aired in the UK, but it has. As the stage show opened at Mayflower Theatre last night, we probably should have expected things to have moved on it that...