Reviews

The old theatre saying is, ‘Don’t act with children or dogs,’ and both are key elements in this story. Not simply a one-hander, Director/Writer Michael Mills powerfully uses the voices of Mary Anning, from three stages of her life, and rather than a predictable chronology, they appear together, performing both separately, and as one. Adele Binns as Mary aged 11 is a vocal and character powerhouse. She is one to watch. Equally, Mia Ferraretto, as 24-year-old Mary, moves confidently, and sings and acts with passion.

Deadlines is a piece of apocalyptic theatre, that doesn’t take itself terribly seriously, pointing out that “the end of the world” is a popular premise for amateur theatre productions. Clever, fresh and very funny, we follow two mismatched co-workers as they count down the minutes until their ultimate demise.

This musical literally is a scream. If you can stomach it, see it up close in the splatter-zone. That is the two front rows.

We were assigned seats A9 and A10. During interval ponchos were provided to repel the fake blood. You think you are safe if someone is being stabbed on stage left – but no there are little squirters coming in all directions. (Ruth and David Spicer, pictured right.)

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, often shortened to Hamlet is Shakespeare’s longest play, a tragedy written sometime between 1599 and 1601. Set in Denmark, the play depicts Prince Hamlet and his attempts to exact revenge against his uncle, Claudius, who has murdered Hamlet's father in order to seize his throne and marry Hamlet's mother.