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Lots of sketches on one theme – essentially, the movies, with references to the clichés that we all recognise: the cigar chomping producer, the unappreciated writer, the vain actress. That the familiarity didn’t matter was due to a charming trio of performers, and some very cute gags – we were very fond of a scene involving Celia Johnson encountering something new on a railway station, although the scene could have been developed even further. We’d have liked to have seen some of the shorter gags on screen rather than stage, but this was a smart and amusing collection of sketches. Print it!
Cella @ The Sanctuary, 15 May
4/5
Andrew Allen

An energetic, hilarious and clever musical journey, this school shoe-horned any number of pop references in to a vaguely academic theme. With a collection of strong mash-ups (and, yes, that’s the first time we’ve used that phrase in print: we’re so down with it), this took in everything from Kate Bush to Lady Gaga. Oh, and Peter Andre. What was strongest, however, and made this show fly, was the fact the duo dearly love the genre they were ripping apart. Guaranteed to have you leaving the venue happier than when you went in. Oh, and don’t ask which one is which…
Komedia, 16 May
5/5
Andrew Allen

The issue with most issue-based theatre is that it rapidly becomes – well – an issue. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case here: while the main hook might be that each short play of the night was either written or performed by someone with some form of disability, there was no preaching or moralising to the audience. Quite often, the disability was irrelevant, ‘just one of those things’ (occasionally, literally) and variously throughout the evening, this cast of (forgive us) very able actors were funny, witty, moving, silly, and occasionally damn sexy. No positive discrimination required: funny as a crutch – sharp as a tack.
Brighthelm Centre,  12 May
5/5
Andrew Allen

One week into Brighton Festival and Brighton Festival Fringe and there are so many good shows to see and so little time to catch them all! Here’s a chance to see a mixture of new fresh material with bankable comics. Read the rest of this article »