All stories by Natalie Douglas on BroadwayStars

Monday, March 16, 2020

Absurd Person Singular review at Oldham Coliseum Theatre – ‘confidently performed revival of Alan Ayckbourn’s play’ by Natalie Douglas

Despite Absurd Person Singular being set across three successive Christmases, it takes until the final act of London Classic Theatre’s production for

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 01:08PM
Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Four Minutes Twelve Seconds review at Oldham Coliseum – ‘timely and nuanced revival’ by Natalie Douglas

In a week that has seen the conviction of Harvey Weinstein, James Fritz’s thought-provoking 2014 play about consent, power and the internet’s

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 09:31AM
Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Shirley Valentine review at Library Theatre, Bolton – ‘an engagingly intimate staging’ by Natalie Douglas

With the permission of playwright Willy Russell, Mina Anwar has tweaked the script of his 1986 play Shirley Valentine to re-set the

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:20AM
Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Cuttin’ It review at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester – ‘a resonant revival’ by Natalie Douglas

There’s nothing Muna (Asha Hassan) likes more than chatting with her friends or sitting in front of Judge Rinder with a packet

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:07AM
Monday, December 16, 2019

Sleeping Beauty review at Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield – ‘a sharp-witted pantomime’ by Natalie Douglas

There are several references to familiar children’s characters in Joyce Branagh’s production of Sleeping Beauty. Hayley Russell’s Belladonna Bile channels Maleficent with

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:33AM
Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Treasure Island review at University of Bolton Stadium – ‘a lively production’ by Natalie Douglas

For the staging of Kate Ferguson and Susannah Pearse’s musical adaptation of Treasure Island, the Octagon has moved from the cosy intimacy

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:36AM
Monday, November 25, 2019

The Prince and the Pauper review at New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme – ‘a feast for the senses’ by Natalie Douglas

Like many traditional children’s tales, Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper has dark undertones and serious messages. In adapting the story

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 01:30PM
Thursday, November 21, 2019

Hello and Goodbye review at York Theatre Royal – ‘psychologically astute performances’ by Natalie Douglas

A huge, ugly fissure runs across the back of the set. It’s an early indication that the family who live at 57A

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:06AM
Thursday, October 31, 2019

Seagulls review at Library Theatre, Bolton – ‘lacking in believable dialogue and emotional depth’ by Natalie Douglas

Loosely based on Chekhov’s The Seagull, Beth Hyland’s new musical tells the story of an aspiring band, Seagulls, and their quest for

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:02AM
Friday, October 18, 2019

The D Road review at Spode Works, Stoke-on-Trent – ‘witty and well-performed’ by Natalie Douglas

For a production ostensibly about a major thoroughfare, The D Road is actually about stasis, and the bonds that bind us to

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 12:02PM
Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Beryl review at Library Theatre, Bolton Museum – ‘warm, energetic revival of Maxine Peake’s play’ by Natalie Douglas

“I will make my mark”, vows determined British cyclist Beryl Burton (Vicky Binns), desperate to prove her doctors and teachers wrong when

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:25AM
Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Handbagged review at New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme – ‘a polished revival’ by Natalie Douglas

Fiona Buffini’s revival of her sister Moira’s play about the relationship between the Queen and “that bloody woman” Margaret Thatcher occasionally suffers

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 09:56AM
Thursday, July 4, 2019

Hamlet review at Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre, York – ‘a production of clarity’ by Natalie Douglas

Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre is back in York for the summer, with the central Clifford’s Tower site playing host to this pop-up venue

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:23AM
Wednesday, July 3, 2019

The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart review at New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme – ‘exhilarating’ by Natalie Douglas

David Greig’s 2011 play tells the story of a straight-laced academic whose conference trip to Kelso veers disturbingly into the unknown. Anna

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:36AM
Wednesday, June 12, 2019

The Exonerated review at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester – ‘bold yet distancing’ by Natalie Douglas

Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen’s 2002 play The Exonerated recounts the experiences of six death row prisoners found to have been wrongfully

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:08AM
Tuesday, June 11, 2019

The Importance of Being Earnest review at Albert Halls, Bolton – ‘strong comic performances’ by Natalie Douglas

Most of the characters in Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest are concerned with appearances. Algernon Moncrieff keeps track of current

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:07AM
Monday, June 10, 2019

Brassed Off review at New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme – ‘impressive musical performances’ by Natalie Douglas

Although ostensibly about a colliery band aiming to reach the national brass band championships, Brassed Off is a deeply political piece about

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:11AM
Thursday, May 30, 2019

Yellow Is the Colour of Sunshine review at Astley Cheetham Art Gallery – ‘gentle show about friendship’ by Natalie Douglas

Fittingly for a play about the importance of effective communication, Yellow Is the Colour of Sunshine seamlessly fuses music, movement, sign language

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 11:45AM
Monday, April 15, 2019

Intemperance review at New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme – ‘impressively performed and sensitively directed revival’ by Natalie Douglas

Lizzie Nunnery’s 2007 play Intemperance is set within the Irish community in 1854 Liverpool. A single dour room houses five members of

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 11:23AM
Thursday, April 11, 2019

The Lady Vanishes review at Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent – ‘stylish and atmospheric’ by Natalie Douglas

Though this new touring production from Bill Kenwright’s Classic Thriller Theatre company is unapologetically old-fashioned, it’s also stylishly staged and winningly performed.

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:41AM
Friday, March 15, 2019

The 39 Steps review at New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme – ‘delightfully zany’ by Natalie Douglas

In Patrick Barlow’s Olivier-winning 2005 reworking of the classic John Buchan spy caper, pretty much everything – even death – is a

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 12:50PM
Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Rags review at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester – ‘charming revival of an uninspiring musical’ by Natalie Douglas

Rags first appeared on Broadway in 1986 but closed after only four performances. The writers have since had other musical successes (notably

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:54AM
Thursday, February 28, 2019

A Skull in Connemara review at Oldham Coliseum Theatre – ‘an accomplished revival’ by Natalie Douglas

Martin McDonagh has enjoyed cinematic success of late, most notably with Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, but the dark humour of his

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:18AM
Monday, February 18, 2019

Mydidae review at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester – ‘captivating performances’ by Natalie Douglas

David and Marian’s bathroom is spacious and sumptuous. His and hers sinks and a roll-top bath hint at the couple’s outward prosperity.

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:01AM

Much Ado About Nothing review at New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme – ‘a delicious battle of wits’ by Natalie Douglas

In Much Ado About Nothing, Beatrice and Benedick are at “merry war”. Director Conrad Nelson takes the concept of wartime amusement and

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:44AM
Friday, February 15, 2019

Sparkplug review at Home, Manchester – ‘moving autobiographical monologue’ by Natalie Douglas

Dave has passed on a love of Rod Stewart to son David, but they don’t share a genetic link or even the

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:01AM
Monday, January 28, 2019

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice review at Albert Halls, Bolton – ‘flashes of brilliance but inconsistent’ by Natalie Douglas

Bolton’s Octagon Theatre is on the move again, with the town’s Albert Halls playing host to The Rise and Fall of Little

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:24AM
Monday, January 21, 2019

Club Mex review at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester – ‘funny, innovative and well-cast musical’ by Natalie Douglas

For Club Mex, a new musical penned by comic Tamar Broadbent, Manchester’s ever-versatile Hope Mill warehouse space is transformed into a Mexican

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:09AM
Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Jack and the Beanstalk review at Crewe Lyceum Theatre – ‘chaotic and unconvincing’ by Natalie Douglas

With Cannon and Ball, silly deviation is very much their schtick.  It’s just a shame that their talents are not harnessed to

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:27AM
Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Aladdin review at Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield – ‘clever script and skilfully woven local references’ by Natalie Douglas

The vibrantly-lit magic carpet taking flight above the stalls is a stand-out moment in Lawrence Batley Theatre’s production of Aladdin. A triumph

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:52AM
Monday, November 12, 2018

Cinderella review at Oldham Coliseum – ‘cross-generational appeal’ by Natalie Douglas

The opening of Oldham Coliseum’s Cinderella signals the start of pantomime season. To begin with Cinderella (Shorelle Hepkin) seems to be stepping

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:30AM

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