All stories by Catherine Love on BroadwayStars

Friday, July 12, 2024

Chariots of Fire review – breathless staging of classic Olympic dash by Catherine Love

Crucible, SheffieldThe perseverance of runners Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell is well conveyed with stage and auditorium becoming training ground and racetrack Sheffield Theatres has reviv…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:48AM
Wednesday, June 12, 2024

Dramas in a crisis: England’s theatres commit to new plays at perilous time for arts by Catherine Love

In an industry often focused on young debut talent, companies are using creative methods to nurture playwrights of all ages and experiences ‘It is really, really awful for playwrights at t…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:02PM
Friday, May 3, 2024

42 Balloons review – charming musical about reaching for the sky by Catherine Love

Lowry, SalfordJack Godfrey’s witty show is about a lovable dreamer who took flight in a garden chair attached to helium balloons ‘What makes a man try to fly in a lawn chair?” sing the…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:06AM
Friday, March 29, 2024

Jungle Book review – Kipling’s man-cub tale as you’ve never seen it before by Catherine Love

Aviva Studios, ManchesterAvant garde director Robert Wilson’s adaptation of the classic tale prioritises surreal setups and atmosphere over family friendly narrative What does it look like…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:02AM
Friday, October 27, 2023

Mycelial review – underground community of sex workers fight for change by Catherine Love

Northern Stage, NewcastleStories from across the world intertwine through activism in an ambitious production, but the delicate threads never quite mesh The title of Open Clasp’s new show …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:19AM
Monday, October 16, 2023

Transform festival in Leeds: little orphan Annie’s gang do group therapy by Catherine Love

The international theatre jamboree in Yorkshire kicks off with confessions from hundreds of young people and a fancy dress party about grief International festivals can easily feel detached …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:04AM
Thursday, July 20, 2023

Sovereign review – CJ Sansom’s historical doorstopper comes home to York by Catherine Love

King’s Manor, YorkLarge-scale community play has Henry VIII cancelling the city’s beloved Mystery Plays as a clever framing device in a striking adaptation There’s more than one kind o…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:55AM
Thursday, July 13, 2023

In Dreams review – margaritas and mortality in Roy Orbison musical by Catherine Love

Leeds PlayhouseDavid West Read’s jukebox show brings Orbison’s hits together around an earnest but charmingly performed story of grief Jukebox musicals tend to be all about the feelgood …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:04AM
Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Mayflies review – online dating waiting game crashes IRL by Catherine Love

York Theatre RoyalA long-gestating app romance fails to sync offline in this innovative musical with songs that outshine the dialogue Mayflies famously live for just a day. But before that t…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:18AM
Friday, March 24, 2023

Lord of the Flies review – school staple is bang up to date for world on the brink by Catherine Love

Leeds PlayhouseAmy Leach’s production evokes a very current crop of anxieties with the castaways excellently played by a young cast In many ways, Lord of the Flies is safe programming, cer…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:42AM
Monday, February 27, 2023

Macbeth review – neon-tinted remix plays like a cinematic thriller by Catherine Love

Harrogate theatreAdding their own flashbacks, narration and expletive-laced modern language, Imitating the Dog reimagine the Macbeths as damaged teens killing their way to the top of a crimi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:00AM
Monday, February 6, 2023

Blow Down review – damning portrait of a town demolished by neglect by Catherine Love

Bramall Rock Void, Leeds Playhouse Garry Lyons gives voice to Knottingley locals in this fierce indictment of how the government has failed our once-thriving industrial communities Blow Down…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:24AM
Friday, December 9, 2022

Betty! A Sort of Musical review – Maxine Peake brings Boothroyd’s story to the stage by Catherine Love

Royal Exchange theatre, ManchesterA slightly wonky meta structure involving a team of amdram actors muddles this show about the former MP but it has abundant charm Politics is a kind of perf…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:12AM
Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical review – a burst of colour in a junk-filled world by Catherine Love

Leeds Playhouse The rags-to-riches roots of the Roald Dahl story are emphasised in this family show, but video effects blunt the rough magic There’s something of the fairytale about Charli…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:48AM
Monday, November 28, 2022

The Cherry Orchard review – Katie Mitchell presents the view from the trees by Catherine Love

Deutsches Schauspielhaus, HamburgThe director’s latest eco-theatre production gives us fragments of Chekhov’s dialogue and a searing reading of our relationship with nature The orchard o…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:42AM
Friday, November 4, 2022

Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World review – a theatrical revelation by Catherine Love

Home, ManchesterJavaad Alipoor’s meditation on the grim fate of Iranian singer Fereydoun Farrokhzad develops into a thrilling investigation of the internet You may not have heard of Ferey…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:48AM
Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Guy Fawkes review – mild comedy needs some satirical gunpowder by Catherine Love

York Theatre RoyalDespite some strong performances, this production is undone by flip-flopping between the serious and the silly Guy Fawkes is not an obvious subject for a comedy – he’s …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:18PM
Sunday, October 30, 2022

Let the Right One In review – bittersweet production brings out the terrors of adolescence by Catherine Love

Royal Exchange theatre, ManchesterThere are some scares, but Jack Thorne’s adaptation of the Swedish vampire novel focuses more on the compelling bond between two troubled teens Though it …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:03AM
Sunday, October 23, 2022

The Contingency Plan review – climate-crisis dramas on a human scale by Catherine Love

Crucible theatre, Sheffield Updated 13 years after their first showing, Steve Waters’ double bill of plays feels more urgent than before – while their personal dynamics hint at challenge…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:33PM
Friday, October 7, 2022

Nine Night review – worlds collide at a wake to remember by Catherine Love

Leeds PlayhouseAmanda Huxtable directs the regional premiere of Natasha Gordon’s multigenerational play filled with conflict and grief Natasha Gordon’s multigenerational family drama cap…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:13PM
Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Half-Empty Glasses review – activism in all its messy complexities by Catherine Love

Roundabout @ Summerhall, EdinburghThe problems facing 16-year-old Toye when he resolves to include Black voices in his school curriculum are brought to compelling life How do you change the …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:37AM
Monday, August 15, 2022

You’re Safe Til 2024: Deep History review – gripping crisis talks by Catherine Love

Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghAustralia’s 2019 wildfires are the focal point of this contemplative look at what theatre can do in the face of environmental collapse Theatre-maker David Fin…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:07PM
Sunday, August 14, 2022

Learning to Fly review – a riveting, remarkable hour of theatre by Catherine Love

Summerhall, Edinburgh Consummate storyteller James Rowland revisits his childhood friendship with an elderly neighbour and shares heart-tugging experiences As theatre recovers from the pande…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:42PM

Still Floating review – poignant and troubling return to an island adrift by Catherine Love

Summerhall, Edinburgh Shôn Dale-Jones once imagined his childhood home Anglesey separating from the UK. Now he revisits the Welsh island in a Brexit Britain where belonging has become a vex…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:33PM
Saturday, August 13, 2022

Head Set review – a backstage tour of standup comedy by Catherine Love

Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghVictoria Melody uses theatre to unpick the mechanics of the comedy world – with some fascinating discoveries about neurodivergence along the way Victoria Melo…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:48AM
Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Edinburgh fringe 2022: 20 theatre, comedy and dance shows you shouldn’t miss by Brian Logan, Catherine Love, Mark Fisher, Anya Ryan, Rachael Healy, Kate Wyver, Claire Armitstead, Arifa Akbar and Lyndsey Winship

In the first of our festival previews, we round up some of the best offerings we’ve already reviewed – including Tim Key, Liz Kingsman, La Clique and Hungry This searing, sweaty disco is…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:48AM
Monday, May 23, 2022

Oh Mother review – clever collage on the messy truth of parenting by Catherine Love

Home, ManchesterCombining music, dance and drama, RashDash’s latest show attempts to find meaning in the mayhem of birth and family RashDash’s new show opens with mess. Nappies and toys…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:06AM
Friday, April 29, 2022

Electric Rosary review – spooky cyber-sister spurs startling visions by Catherine Love

Royal Exchange theatre, ManchesterIs a council-funded robot nun the answer to prayers at a convent in crisis? Tim Foley’s prize-winning play proves ingenious and thrilling Startling and au…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:37AM
Friday, March 4, 2022

Macbeth review – a wicked thriller this way comes by Catherine Love

Leeds PlayhouseWith striking design and compelling leads, Amy Leach directs a triumphant version of Shakespeare’s tale of murderous deeds The first time we meet the Macbeths in Amy Leach�…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:54AM
Thursday, March 3, 2022

The Bone Sparrow review – a child refugee’s escape into imagination by Catherine Love

York Theatre RoyalThe story of Rohingya ‘limbo kid’ Subhi, born in an Australian detention centre, is powerful but awkwardly adapted from Zana Fraillon’s book Stories are powerful. Tha…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:48AM
Thursday, December 9, 2021

The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart review – devilishly fun festive folklore by Catherine Love

Royal Exchange theatre, ManchesterDavid Grieg’s rowdy, informal yarn makes a pleasingly oddball antidote to the classic Christmas show Devils may not seem very festive but David Greig’s …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:18AM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 01, 2025: Glengarry Glen Ross
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre
TBA: Titanic
TBA: Ragtime