All stories by John Murphy on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Europe review at Leeds Playhouse – ‘frighteningly relevant’ by John Murphy

  Leeds Playhouse’s pop-up season opened last month with Jim Cartwright’s Road, and the theme of community continues on a more global

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:09AM
Friday, October 12, 2018

Mother Courage and Her Children review at Albion Electrical Warehouse, Leeds – ‘an evocative promenade staging’ by John Murphy

Rather like the proverbial shark, Mother Courage and her children have to keep moving, or they’ll die. In Red Ladder’s production the

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:29AM
Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Steel review at Crucible Studio, Sheffield – ‘sharp, witty and angry look at women in politics’ by John Murphy

Steel is what defines Sheffield as a city, but it’s also a city identified by left-wing politics – it was once known,

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:30AM
Saturday, September 8, 2018

Road review at Leeds Playhouse – ‘an undercurrent of rage’ by John Murphy

Things are changing in West Yorkshire. As well as a rebrand of the theatre to Leeds Playhouse, it’s also undergoing a major

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:14AM
Thursday, July 19, 2018

Songs from the Seven Hills review at Crucible Theatre, Sheffield – ‘heartfelt and witty’ by John Murphy

A bereaved daughter fights to keep her local community centre open. A vicar finds the strength to leave her abusive husband. A

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:39AM
Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Love and Information review at Crucible Studio, Sheffield – ‘dazzling, disorientating, haunting’ by John Murphy

Love and Information leaves you feeling punch-drunk. Caryl Churchill’s play, receiving its regional premiere after its 2012 debut at the Royal Court

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:30AM
Tuesday, June 19, 2018

On Behalf of the People review at Crucible Theatre, Sheffield – ‘poignant and moving’ by John Murphy

  Coal mining is obviously a subject close to South Yorkshire hearts, but Ray Castleton hasn’t taken the easy option of writing

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 11:56AM
Thursday, June 14, 2018

Review: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest at Crucible, Sheffield by John Murphy

Pertinent and unsettling: John Murphy reviews a stage adaptation of Ken Kesey's novel. The post Review: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest at Crucible, Sheffield appeared first on Exeun…

SOURCE: exeuntmagazine.com at 03:50AM
Friday, April 27, 2018

Sunshine on Leith review at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds – ‘uplifting and joyous’ by John Murphy

James Brining and Stephen Greenhorn’s musical, featuring the songs of The Proclaimers, has taken on a life of its own since its

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 09:02AM
Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Chicken Soup review at Crucible Studio, Sheffield – ‘warmth, wit and quiet anger’ by John Murphy

Although the music on the radio may change over the years, the song remains very much the same. That’s the message to

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:50PM
Saturday, December 16, 2017

Review: The Wizard of Oz at the Sheffield Crucible by John Murphy

We're not in Sheffield anymore: Robert Hastie's first Christmas musical in Sheffield whisks audiences off to Oz. The post Review: The Wizard of Oz at the Sheffield Crucible appeared first on…

SOURCE: exeuntmagazine.com at 05:46AM
Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Mother Goose review at Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield – ‘fresh and fun’ by John Murphy

Despite hailing from Essex, Damien Williams has become as much a part of Sheffield as Henderson’s Relish and Jarvis Cocker. This year

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:49AM

Beauty and the Beast review at Cast, Doncaster – ‘professional and competent’ by John Murphy

It may be a tale as old as time, but Tobias Oliver and Matthew Bugg’s version of Beauty and the Beast is

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:01AM
Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Neverland review at Theatre Deli, Sheffield – ‘an immersive adventure’ by John Murphy

You enter by climbing over a child’s bed through a hole in the wall, to find yourself playing cricket in Edwardian England.

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 11:51AM
Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Review: Desire Under The Elms at the Crucible, Sheffield by John Murphy

"It's impossible not to be drawn into the atmosphere": John Murphy reviews Sam Yates' revival of Eugene O'Neill's classic tragedy at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre. The post Review: Desire Und…

SOURCE: exeuntmagazine.com at 10:48AM
Thursday, September 21, 2017

The Ruck review at Cast, Doncaster – ‘a charming coming of age story’ by John Murphy

Like all the best sports drama, The Ruck isn’t just about sport. Kevin Fegan uses his tale of a teenage girls’ rugby

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 11:40AM
Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Of Kith and Kin review at Crucible Studio, Sheffield – ‘funny and biting’ by John Murphy

Chris Thompson’s Of Kith and Kin starts off as comedy about a gay couple, Daniel and Oliver, who are on the cusp

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:03AM
Thursday, September 14, 2017

Queen of Chapeltown review at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds – ‘affectionate and celebratory’ by John Murphy

Notting Hill may receive all the media attention, but there’s another equally long-running August Bank Holiday carnival celebrating Caribbean culture held in

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 09:43AM
Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Robin Hood: The Arrow of Destiny review at Theatre Royal, York – ‘panto fun for the summer’ by John Murphy

York Theatre Royal’s big summer show may have his name in the title, but Robin Hood is hardly the star of this

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:16AM
Friday, July 21, 2017

What We Wished For review at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield – ‘joyous and inspiring’ by John Murphy

The summer collaboration with Sheffield Peoples Theatre has become almost as much a staple of the Crucible Theatre’s year as its big

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:56AM
Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Review: Tribes at the Sheffield Crucible Studio by John Murphy

Communication breakdown: John Murphy reviews Sheffield Crucible's revival of Nina Raine's Olivier-nominated 2010 play. The post Review: Tribes at the Sheffield Crucible Studio appeared first…

SOURCE: exeuntmagazine.com at 06:21AM
Thursday, June 15, 2017

Ode to Leeds review at West Yorkshire Playhouse – ‘a celebration’ by John Murphy

Zodwa Nyoni’s third production for West Yorkshire Playhouse may be entitled Ode to Leeds but it’s also a celebration of adolescence. It’s

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:44AM
Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Review: Julius Caesar at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield by John Murphy

The best sort of Shakespeare production: Robert Hastie's debut production as artistic director of Sheffield Theatres gives off all the right signals, says an excited John Murphy. The post Re…

SOURCE: exeuntmagazine.com at 09:02PM
Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs review at Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield – ‘a joy’ by John Murphy

  2016 marks Paul Hendy’s 10th anniversary as the writer, director and producer of the annual Christmas pantomime at Sheffield’s Lyceum. Over

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:46AM
Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves review at Civic Theatre, Rotherham – ‘beautifully designed’ by John Murphy

The work of Shone Productions is a regular sight in this part of the world at Christmas time. Snow White and the

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:28AM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards