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Shakespeare can be terribly hammy. It can give the assumption that The Bard is inaccessible, something that needs to be studied to be truly enjoyed and understood. This open-air production proved that is RUBBISH!!! ‘The Tempest’ begins in a storm and perhaps Mother Nature is a fan because she provided an almighty downpour to kick things off. Mercifully the rain subsided, umbrellas went down and spirits (on stage metaphorically by Prospero and Ariel, and literally in the audience) were raised. The cast were strong, even with the occasionally fluffed line. But this did not detract from a most enjoyable, accessible and professional production.

Highdown Gardens, Worthing, 19 July
Rating:
Lee Stevens

Director: John Lasseter and Brad Lewis

What is your ultimate dream if you’re a car in America? Difficult, but
go with us here. It would seem that a golden opportunity for such a automobile might be to head out into the big wide world overseas to compete in the first ever World Grand Prix. Coo. Lucky old Lightning McQueen and Mater as that’s just what they’re up to, having a whole new adventure and meeting a score of new friends and not-so-friends along the way.
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Victoria Nangle talks to comedy coach and the brains behind Comic Boom Jill Edwards about this top night

“Here’s what’s standing out for me about Comic Boom at the moment,” starts comedy coach Jill Edwards, whose previous students have included Jimmy Carr, Shappi Khorsandi, Shazia Mirza, and Hal Cruttenden. “Newer acts we’re developing are breaking through, getting nominated for awards or triumphing in high-profile competitions.” The name most recently that jumps out under that category is Angela Barnes, recent winner of the revived BBC Comedy Award, but she’s not the only one.
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The Gene genie has returned and is keen to play

Gene: they sold over a million records, enjoyed numerous hit singles, and were cover stars and indie darlings for a few years at the back end of the ’90s. But their fortunes declined rapidly after Polydor dropped them; their fourth studio album only just scraped the top 100, and by 2004 they had decided to call it a day…
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