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If it were in my remit I would give this ten stars, five for the dance and five for the brilliant music performed live by A Filetta. The piece is so clearly thought through that nothing seems indulgent or superfluous, from the exacting physical demands of the choreography and beautiful polyphonic Corsican choir, to the use of a mannequin which they pull off without it looking hackneyed. The pen is mightier than the sword, or is it. In the hands of religion the pen can be as destructive as any sword, as we all know. Faith is irredeemably bound to war and conflict and to death and even if we have faith and are devout the heaven we are promised may not be the paradise that we long for. Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui has created a masterpiece that combines the very best of dance and theatre and music. When you get to the bottom and see my five stars double it.

Concert Hall, Brighton Dome, 18 May
Rating:
Andrew Kay

Carol Ann Duffy has a wonderful sense of humour. Of course you would expect the Poet Laureate to be entertaining, touching and sincere, and she brought with her a wonderful stage presence. Keeping the audience entertained, whether that be laughing at her humorous take on subjects from all aspects of life, or thinking about the deeper meaning, such as the poem about her mother’s death. Her poems touched on emotion: loss, love and laughter, and through the use of powerful imagery and hyperbole, she had the audience silenced, thinking and importantly, laughing. It was a joy to hear her read from a collection of her books, old and new, including her new book of poems, The Bees, to be published in September.

Corn Exchange, Brighton Dome, 18 May
Rating:
Laura Hayward

Edward Rapley’s 45 minute show was part performance, part lecture and part therapy, as he opened, then re-opened within the show, and repeatedly said he wanted to stop the show! It took a while to be clear that this disjointed display was purposefully the sum of his fears. Perhaps being obscure should have been another of his fears as the sum of his jolting episodes was not easy to fathom for some time. A nifty crescendo, a few well timed laughs and repeated random self-dousings was not the exploration into physical comedy and storytelling we were promised. It was, however, a glimpse of a palette with some splendid colours on it. If only the final picture had been easier to see.

The Basement, 18 May
Rating:
Victoria Nangle

A mosaic of a show, with pockets of improvisation, song and dance, dubbing, Brecht homage, Dario Fo comical hysteria, and a special visit to an Austrian Are You Being Served? (for the most part with surtitles). Together they made up a whole but looking too closely at any one particular part could lose you from the bigger picture. A metaphor it might seem. Combining an anarchist plot, a European revolution, and a student’s determination to demonstrate with utter conviction, these were explosive stories that tripped between humour, drama and tragedy with real moments of shock – specifically one involving a dog in a department store. Not like anything else you’ll see around, this talented cast and production company, Told By An Idiot, have created something absolutely unique and thought-provoking that runs the gamut of genres and captivates throughout.

Pavilion Theatre, Brighton Dome, 17 May
Rating:
Victoria Nangle