by Joy McKay. Agatha Christie’s classic ‘WhoDunit’ was originally written in 1947 as a radio sketch named ‘Three Blind Mice’ for the birthday of Queen Mary, but first opened as ‘The Mousetrap’ we know today in 1952. It is famously the world’s longest running play having a continuous run...
Entertainment Reviews
Review: February Words at Whiskey poetry evening, featuring Benjin
by Andy Buchanan This is a relatively new monthly poetry night held at the Whiskey Blue bar in London Road, Southampton but it is organised by local poet Issa Loyaan Farrah-Kelly (pictured top). You may know Issa as the face of Southampton City of Culture’s bid, but Issa has...
Review: Tuto Tribe, Whiskey Blue, Southampton, February 24
words and photos by Peter Nicholson. I wondered what the collective noun for saxophones was. A quick Google search revealed that it might be a “hornucopia”, but there were lots of other suggestions… “a wall”, “a lush”, “a blossom”, and others. I’d like to add “Tribe” of saxophones to...
Review: Charlie and Stan at MAST Mayflower Studios, February 21
by Martin Brisland. This show is genius! A truly original and unique tale of two men that revolutionised comedy in the early 20th century. A ‘Told By An Idiot’ production, Charlie and Stan premièred in early 2020 for the London International Mime Festival. It is written and directed by...
Review: Strictly Ballroom: The Musical, Mayflower Theatre, February 20
by Tessa Hurst. Strictly Ballroom: The Musical has been adapted from the 1992 Baz Luhrmann film of the same name, set in the Australian ballroom dancing scene in the early nineties. This show has been directed and co-choreographed by well-known Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood, and his...
Literary homes and haunts – from Haworth to Hampshire
by Carolyn Thomas. Every year thousands of people travel to places associated with the authors they love. The link can be that it’s the place where a writer was born, lived, died, or set their novels. But does seeing a writing desk or following the route taken by a...
Review: Fisherman’s Friends: The Musical, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton – February 15
by Martin Brisland. In these hard times audiences want a little escapism with story that reinforces the best of the human spirit. Fisherman’s Friends delivers just that. This amazing true story has been told in two films, an ITV documentary and a book and now in this feel-good musical. ...
Review: Rambert Dance’s Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
by Joy McKay. I’ve been a fan of the Rambert dance company and their future-feeling take on contemporary ballet since I was a teenager in the 90s studying the choreography of Christopher Bruce and Richard Alston. I never miss a show when Rambert come to Southampton but when I...
Review: Rob Clamp – The Joiners, Southampton
words and pictures by Peter Nicholson. When one of our local talents sells out the iconic Joiners at his first attempt, it has to be a gig worth attending! So I did exactly that. Hailing from Romsey, Rob Clamp, is now busier than he’s ever been through his music...
Review: Sherlock Holmes, The Valley of Fear, MAST Mayflower Studios February 2
by Chris Richards. It is always a pleasure to visit the MAST in Southampton city centre. It has an intimate, simple and beautiful set up and the staff are always a friendly guide to theatre goers. This particular performance was no exception. Each of the five actors in Sherlock...