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Bangla Bard: Tara Arts fuse the work of Shakespeare with Bengali Poetry in their new production People’s Romeo, writes Andrew Kay

Bangladeshi theatre meets classic Western culture in the latest production from Tara Arts, coming to The Hawth Studio in September. People’s Romeo breathes new life into the greatest love story ever told: Shakespeare’s Romeo And Juliet.

Combining Shakespeare’s verse with Bengali poetry, this new production is a powerful cross-cultural performance made for modern audiences. Five performers use Pala Gaan – a highly engaging theatre style combining music, dance, and storytelling – to reinvent this classic piece of English theatre. Pala Gaan was originally performed in the market squares of Bangladesh in the 16th century – the same time as Shakespeare was writing and staging his dramas before crowds at the Globe Theatre in London.
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The UK is going dance crazy and fiery show Tango Pasión will kindle a passion for tango

Strictly Come Dancing has much to answer for. It has given Bruce Forsyth yet another renaissance for sure. But more than that, it has kindled a passion for dance the like of which the UK has not seen since the demise of the great dance halls.

With almost every one of the Strictly… pros staging or dancing in a show somewhere, there is plenty of choice. They’re all out there strutting their stuff from Viennese waltz and jive to the very sexy Argentine tango.
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Andrew Kay finds the saddest musical ever now has a happy ending as Chichester’s Love Story is confirmed for the West End

There’s great news for anyone who didn’t manage to catch Love Story this summer at Chichester Festival Theatre. Doubters said it could not be done, but with a score by Howard Goodall, Chichester not only pulled it off, they created a gem – one that is now set to grace the West End.

Erich Segal’s book was always relentlessly romantic, the film was equally tear jerking and, for many, those cherished memories were too precious to risk spoiling with this new version, especially one set to music.
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Andrew Kay previews Theatre Royal Brighton’s sensational autumn season

The Country Girl

Year on year and season upon season, the Ambassador Group provides a great menu of tasty theatre for Brighton audiences. Totally independent of any kind of funding, this is no mean feat. With people watching their pennies it must be tough to come up with a programme that offers artistic balance and still makes good commercial sense. The historic Theatre Royal does both, offering a diverse audience everything from ballet and opera to stand-up comedy and contemporary music, as well as good old fashioned drama and cutting-edge theatre.
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