Tag Archives: Menier Chocolate Factory

Walking a casting tightrope: Barnum at the Menier Chocolate Factory

Friday 22nd December 2017 We’ve been wondering for a while why nobody has thought of mounting a small-scale production of ‘Barnum’, and now the Menier Chocolate Factory has finally got round to doing it as their Christmas show this year.  … Continue reading

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The mother of all indigestion: Dinner with Saddam at the Menier Chocolate Factory

Saturday 19th September 2015, matinée It’s not very often that you hear the words ‘Farce’, ‘Saddam Hussein’ and ‘Steven Berkoff’ in the same sentence, but in his new play ‘Dinner with Saddam’, premiering at the Menier Chocolate Factory, that is … Continue reading

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Satire Never Dies: Forbidden Broadway at the Menier Chocolate Factory

Sunday 22nd June 2014, matinée We waited a long five years for Forbidden Broadway to come back to London.  This show, first conceived in 1982 by Gerard Alessandrini is as much an institution on Broadway as the mega-musicals it lampoons. … Continue reading

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The importance of being certain: David Auburn’s Proof at the Menier Chocolate Factory

Saturday 16th March 2013, matinée Families have always been a rich seam for dramatists and audiences alike, perhaps because we all seek to answer the question ‘why are we the way we are?’ or more scarily ‘are we becoming like … Continue reading

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Pippin at the Menier Chocolate Factory: Does it compute?

Sunday 29th January 2012 The Menier Chocolate Factory’s latest production is billed as a ‘radical re-working’ of Stephen Schwartz’s musical ‘Pippin’.  We are not sure if we would go that far.  The original story, such as it is, is a young man’s … Continue reading

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The mysterious disappearance of toto, and other tales of restricted view seating

When it comes to the West End, we have tended to see restricted view seats as a blessing in disguise.  With judicious use of seat opinions on theatremonkey and careful selection of seats, it is possible to sacrifice the view … Continue reading

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The long and winding Road Show: Menier Chocolate Factory fails to strike Sondheim gold

21st August 2011 ‘Road Show’ has been described as ‘Sondheim’s latest musical’ in the publicity material.  How recent does a piece of work need to be before it can be described as ‘latest’, we wonder?  ‘Road Show’ dates from 2008, … Continue reading

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Jack Rosenthal’s SMASH! at the Menier Chocolate Factory: Shattered dreams in Theatreland?

How do you create a hit musical?  Simple: you get a bestselling book from an up and coming author, the best producer around, the best director there is, an award-winning composer and a great lyricist.  Nothing can go wrong, right?  … Continue reading

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