All stories by Louise Penn on BroadwayStars

Sunday, September 25, 2022

‘There is a good play somewhere in here’: THE SNAIL HOUSE – Hampstead Theatre by Louise Penn

The set (by Tim Hatley) is absolutely beautiful in the much anticipated, new original play The Snail House from celebrated theatre director Richard Eyre, giving a sense of occasion and opule…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 01:00PM
Thursday, September 22, 2022

‘Dialogue whizzes back & forth like leather on willow’: STUMPED – Original Theatre (Online show) by Louise Penn

When in 1964 Samuel Beckett (Stephen Tompkinson) and Harold Pinter (Andrew Lancel) play in the same cricket match in the Cotswolds, you might expect something out of the ordinary. Filmed liv…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Tuesday, September 13, 2022

‘Read this as an absurdist fantasy & it makes more sense’: HELP! WE ARE STILL ALIVE – Seven Dials Playhouse ★★★ by Louise Penn

Finn (Elijah Ferreira) and Jass (Jade Johnson), who identify as queer, are the last two people left alive by circumstance after a suffocating fog in the charming one-act musical Help! We Are…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Friday, September 9, 2022

‘There’s a fabulous new musical in town’: REHAB THE MUSICAL – Playground Theatre ★★★★ by Louise Penn

There’s a fabulous new musical in town at the Playground Theatre. Several years in the making, Rehab The Musical is written and composed by Grant Black (whose dad Don was in the house on p…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Thursday, September 1, 2022

‘Exhilarating & frustrating’: MUSES – The Space (Online Show) by Louise Penn

Both exhilarating and frustrating, Muses brings something new and innovative to the theatre space. It’s often just beautiful, and sometimes bizarre. I’m interested to see what Puro Caos …

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Monday, August 29, 2022

‘Strong, character-driven piece’: The Brontës: A Musical – The Space (Online Show) by Louise Penn

An epic musical available on-demand from The Space, The Brontës is the latest depiction of the famed Yorkshire family of writers in the 19th century.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Saturday, August 27, 2022

‘A fine evening’s entertainment’: THE OSMONDS – Touring by Louise Penn

In a world heavily populated with jukebox shows The Osmonds is more Jersey Boys or Sunny Afternoon than Tina or The Cher Show. A fine evening’s entertainment.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Wednesday, August 24, 2022

‘Slightly disappointed when the play came to an end’: SOLD BY MAMA – Camden Fringe by Louise Penn

Dominique Izabella Little’s 40-minute show Sold By Mama comes to the Camden Fringe, playing at the Hen & Chickens Theatre. Prior to acting, Little worked as a docu-fiction filmmaker, a…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Monday, August 22, 2022

‘Remarkable work’: JUST AN ORDINARY LAWYER – Edinburgh Festival Fringe (Online Show) ★★★★ by Louise Penn

Just An Ordinary Lawyer is one of two shows which Tayo Aluko and Friends have available both live and online on-demand at the Edinburgh Fringe this year, and this one focuses on Nigerian Tun…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Wednesday, August 17, 2022

‘The state of the climate & mental health are core concerns’: BOILING FROG – Camden Fringe (Online Show) by Louise Penn

Jo Emery Productions brings this show to the digital strand of Camden Fringe. Boiling Frog is a series of interconnecting monologues across 90 minutes.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Sunday, August 14, 2022

‘Captures the heart’: FINDING MAGIC – Edinburgh Festival Fringe (Online Show) by Louise Penn

A Zoom performance by Beverley Bishop, directed by Peter Beck, Finding Magic includes an audience recorded at the time of the livestream, to give a sense of interactivity.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Tuesday, August 9, 2022

‘It’s all rather charming, really’: THE LATE HARNESS REBELLION – Edinburgh Festival Fringe (Online Show) ★★★ by Louise Penn

Tamás Milhofer brings his show The Late Harness Rebellion to the digital strand of the Edinburgh Fringe with the collaboration of Unmuted Participants.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Wednesday, August 3, 2022

‘Your choice, your experience’: TREE CONFESSIONS – Camden Fringe (Online Show) by Louise Penn

Written by Jenny Lyn Bader and narrated by Kathleen Chalfant, Tree Confessions is a 34-minute audio show which most recently streamed as part of the Greater Manchester Fringe.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Sunday, July 31, 2022

‘Quirky & complex piece’: THE FALL – Original Theatre (Online Show) by Louise Penn

New play The Fall, by Drew Hewitt, forms part of the triple bill of readings staged at the Riverside Studios and now available via on-demand streaming.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Sunday, July 24, 2022

‘Gets the audience involved at every turn’: Puncture the Screen: Keep The Lights On (Online Show) by Louise Penn

Kill The Cat’s live-stream of Keep The Lights On comes to YouTube on-demand in a 40-minute work in progress piece as part of Puncture the Screen which is a matrix based game to “turn off…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Sunday, July 17, 2022

‘Taut but puzzling tale of revenge’: RETRIBUTION DAY (Online Show) by Louise Penn

In advance of its appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe, this film version of Retribution Day, described to me by its creators as “a marmite piece” is a taut but puzzling tale of revenge.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Thursday, July 7, 2022

‘Clever, sharp & heavily detailed’: THE END OF THE NIGHT (Online Show) by Louise Penn

A tight 80-minute three-hander (two other minor characters appear briefly), Original Theatre’s The End of the Night is not an easy watch but it is quite brilliant, and lends itself perfect…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Saturday, July 2, 2022

‘A show to lift your spirits’: SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN – Touring by Louise Penn

Based on the iconic 1952 musical film featuring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O’Connor, Singin’ in the Rain has both a great pedigree and a lot to live up to. Now touring after…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Thursday, June 30, 2022

‘Lovely hybrid between audiobook & theatre experience’: KISSES ON A POSTCARD (Online Show) by Louise Penn

Streaming in two versions, a concept album at two hours available for free, and a four hour one for purchase, Kisses on a Postcard is an episodic piece which can be enjoyed in short bursts b…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Tuesday, June 7, 2022

‘A fingernail under the surface of a world which only exists online’: THE COLLAB – The Space (Online Show) ★★★★ by Louise Penn

In The Collab writer Lauren Morley has created a piece totally on the pulse of the young people who live by their likes and engagements. Ella seeks that million followers and the validation …

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:00AM
Tuesday, May 31, 2022

‘Fluid, flowing & fierce’: PRACTICE OF ZEN – Brighton Fringe (Online Show) by Louise Penn

Practice of Zen considers the traditions, practicality, sensuality and strength of swordplay and resilience. Performed in Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles, this piece by Theatre …

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Friday, May 27, 2022

‘Chatty, open & brave’: SHATTERED – Brighton Fringe (Online Show) ★★★★ by Louise Penn

Diana Varco brings her own experiences to this one-woman show, now streaming at the Brighton Fringe. The topics of abuse and sexual assault may not be an obvious choice for comedy, but Varco…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Friday, May 20, 2022

‘Grab your inflatable banana & you’ll have a ball’: ALRIGHT BITCHES! – Above the Stag Theatre by Louise Penn

We’re in Gran Canaria, where the paint is peeling on the chalets over at Los Hombres. Chatty guide Thabian (Kane Verrall) tells us over the tannoy we’re there to have a good time. This i…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Monday, May 9, 2022

‘Intimate & immediate’: LA BOHEME – King’s Head Theatre ★★★ by Louise Penn

Mark Ravenhill’s production of La Boheme is pared down to 90 minutes and four on-stage characters, with a piano taking the place of an orchestra. This makes it intimate and immediate.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Thursday, April 28, 2022

‘An intriguing piece of historical drama set in the wilds of Scotland’: THE STRAW CHAIR – Finborough Theatre by Louise Penn

Sue Glover’s play is set on Hirta, the largest island on St Kilda, and takes inspiration from the story of Rachel Erskine, Lady Grange, in the eighteenth century.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Monday, April 25, 2022

‘A little cheesy, a little heart-rending, a little bit spectacular, but always fun’: BONNIE & CLYDE – Arts Theatre by Louise Penn

Composed by Frank Wildhorn with lyrics by Don Black, the story of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow’s road to infamy is perhaps best known from Arthur Penn’s classic 1967 film. Compo…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Friday, April 22, 2022

‘Everything is heightened’: ANYONE CAN WHISTLE – Southwark Playhouse ★★★★ by Louise Penn

Even a minor Sondheim has something to recommend it, and ticking this one off leaves just two of his shows left for me to see live. My knowledge of Anyone Can Whistle was confined to…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Wednesday, April 20, 2022

‘Who is the user & who is being used?’: DIRTY HEARTS – Old Red Lion Theatre by Louise Penn

Dirty Hearts, a new play by Paul Murphy, looks at relationships, friendships, ethics, secrets and morals close to home.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Friday, April 15, 2022

‘What makes this a really good show is its ability to connect with its audience without taking itself too seriously’: &JULIET – West End by Louise Penn

My first visit to this flashy jukebox musical inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet was in December 2019, so it was great fun to revisit recently.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Sunday, March 27, 2022

‘A heartfelt piece of drama with a magical realism frost’: FRIDGE – Hope Theatre by Louise Penn

Emma Zadow’s new play, Fridge, is a three-hander set in 21st century rural Norfolk as two sisters and a schoolfriend reunite seven years after a catastrophic event.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Friday, March 25, 2022

‘A bottle & two men, but also much more’: THE RED – Original Theatre (Online show) by Louise Penn

A father and son meet in a wine cellar. The son is a recovering alcoholic, and his dad (a ghost, who left the son a nice bottle of red wine in his will) doesn’t seem to understand the harm…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 08:00AM

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