Not for the masses, but from the masses
Ian Parks grew up in a South Yorkshire mining family - as his new volume of poetry The Exile House hits the shelves, Jody Porter finds out his sources of inspiration.
The Fall
Will Stone was left pondering an incoherent outing
The Economics Of Killing
An expose of the military-industrial complex shows how its actions grease the transfer of resources from the poorest to the richest globally
On the stage
Much ado about not much
Wednesday 20 December 2006
SHAKESPEARE'S merry war between Beatrice and Benedict has been going on now for over 400 years. Their popularity is such that they have always upstaged the main plot which concerns a groom accusing his bride of adultery at the altar just as they are about to take their vows.
Enchanting adventure for the little ones
Wednesday 20 December 2006
BRISTOL Old Vic's production of Michael Rosen's much-loved young children's book about a family's exploits while hunting for a bear is a beautifully paced, colourful and tuneful stage adaptation.
All-star RSC cast carry limp score in Shakespeare musical
Wednesday 20 December 2006
IN ACTUAL fact, this is The Merry Wives of Windsor the musical. Director Gregory Doran, composer Paul Englishby and, greatly assisting Shakespeare, lyricist Ranjit Bolt have attempted to put some Christmas icing on the RSC Complete Works Festival with the aid of an all-star cast. And why not?
The nose has it
Wednesday 13 December 2006
PAUL FOLEY watches a mercifully saccharine-free adaptation of the classic French comedy love story Cyrano de Bergerac.
Ifans charms them
Wednesday 13 December 2006
PATRICK Marber's 21st century take on Moliere's Don Juan doesn't shock as much Moliere's original play most certainly did in 1665, when people really believed in God, damnation and hell.
Rice proves his point to the West End
Wednesday 13 December 2006
WHEN Tim Rice launched his spectacularly acerbic and long overdue attack on the rehashed, repackaged and barely reheated rubbish that is being served up in the West End, he must have known that he was laying himself open to harsh scrutiny of his own work.
Warming family fun to escape winter chill
Wednesday 13 December 2006
RAYMOND Briggs's The Snowman has become an institution in Britain since the book was published in 1978. The short animation is well known for its signature tune Walking in the Air.
A great way to beat the winter blues
Tuesday 12 December 2006
Tired of short days and cold nights? Cheer up and enjoy the second slice of our annual festive theatre guide.
Crammed with witty lines
Tuesday 12 December 2006
DICK Whittington and his true love Alice are standing at the helm of the good ship Senopod as they journey to Morocco in search of riches.
Keep it traditional
Tuesday 12 December 2006
BUNGLING bobbies, performing budgies and the usual mixture of goodies and baddies make up this year's loud, brash, funny and colourful panto at the Albert Halls in Bolton.