Welcome to the News and Reviews section of our website. Here you can find out the latest information about what is happening at the theatre as well as our formal press releases for events and reviews of our shows. We also produce a newsletter called Open House and you can find PDF copies of this online by clicking here.
We are always keen to hear from our patrons if you have any feedback or stories about the theatre that you would like to share. Please email
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to let us know your stories.
The Nottingham Arts Theatre is proud to be presenting a youth performance of The Boy Friend which will be performed on our main stage from 14th to 19th May 2012. We are now looking for young performers to take part and are holding auditions from 10am-2pm on Sunday 5th February. See below for more details or call the director Georgia Munnion on 07884 330 771.
Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp - Nottingham Arts Theatre - 10th to 18th December 2011
Directed and Choreographed by Ed Stirland-Jones
Musically Directed by David Hails
This was a very good traditional pantomime. Ed Stirland-Jones made full use of the facilities and storyline to produce a great visual presentation (including the proscenium arch), with plenty of good positioning and movement.
David Hails provided a good choice of musical moments all well prepared and performed in the pit and on the stage.
The very talented cast were led with a great performance from Tom Keeling (Aladdin) and a super all round performance from Kimberly Brook (Princess So-Shi), she was acting every moment on stage.
Plenty of comedy as expected, especially from Chris Bailey-Stonall and Michael Pearson, very well cast as Widow Twankey and Wishee Washee and also fine performances from the Slaves of the lamp, Sophie Jude, Victoria Shaw and Joanna Hayes.
All the remaining cast and chorus performed well and added to the success of the production. There was lovely choreography and dance, and that certainly includes the younger members of the cast. Nice sets, costumes and lighting all helped the presentation, and good back stage work kept the show momentum. The diction was excellent, well done the voice coaches. It was good to see plenty in the audience and they certainly enjoyed the evening from their response at the end.
Nottingham Arts Theatre, George Street Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp Saturday 10th - Sunday 18th December 2011
Who needs big names and technical wizadry to pull in the punters when all you need is an enigmatic cast, acted well with plenty of gusto; throw in a handful of well known songs to get the kids singing and clapping and you have The People's Theatre Company offering for 2011.
Written by Peter Denyer, every member of the cast give 110%, even in the smallest part. And the casting is genius. Tom Keeling takes the title role of Aladdin and turns the character into a cheeky, slightly camp hero of the moment and if TV special effects could be applied to the stage i am sure there would be a twinkle from his broad smile appear every time he grinned at the audience. Princess So Shi (pronounced So Shy) is played slightly more street wise than I have seen in some other Aladdins by the lovely Kimberley Brook. Chris Bailey-Stonall is born to wear high heels in a more traditional Widow Twankey and is a real joy to watch. Of course all pantos have to have a baddie the audience love to hate, and I thought that last year's King Rat was evil but Philip Roberts really riles the audience as Abanazar. One nice touch with the writing for Abanazar is that he has a "catchphrase" if you like. When he is about to exit he throws out " Don't you just love me" which lets the audience know that this is their time to show their depreciation of their favourite baddie.
This cast of regular faces and newbies kept the party rocking with hits like CeeLo Green's "Forget You", Lady Gaga's "Born This Way", Beyonce's "Single Ladies", Dolly Parton's "9 To 5" and Jessie J's "Price Tag". Three pantos in Nottingham City Centre and the The People's Theatre Company definitely held their own in what I think is their best to date.
Ref: Blink – New Play By Acclaimed Nottingham Playwright Hits Arts Theatre
The People’s Theatre Company’s exciting inaugural season at Nottingham Arts Theatre continues with the eagerly-anticipated world premiere production of Blink by acclaimed local playwright Simon Carter.
Simon Carter is familiar to audiences as the author of Phys Ed, which received critical acclaim at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe and previously at Manchester’s 24-7 Theatre Festival. Productions of other plays by Simon have won awards at both the 2010 and 2011 Nottingham One Act Play Festivals and a film script based on the Calverton Plough Play – pitched as morris dancing meets The Cannonball Run – is now being developed by Simon in conjunction with Nottingham’s Television Workshop.
Blink tells the poignant and powerful story of Thomas, a locked-in syndrome patient, whose only means of communication, the blinking of an eye, has deserted him. Concerned only for the wellbeing of his daughter Sylvia, Thomas’ life takes a sinister turn when he discovers that the neurologist treating him has a terrifying past, an unhealthy obsession with Sylvia and a most disturbing idea of what's best for Thomas. Fully aware and regaining limited mobility, can Thomas warn his daughter in time and save her from a monster?
Compelling and intense, Blink explores one man’s tragic struggle to communicate, for the love of his daughter, against overwhelming odds.
‘Brilliant … one of the UK’s finest new writers’ – Manchester City Life
Ends – 223 words
Contact details
Michael Pearson, People’s Theatre Company, c/o Nottingham Arts Theatre, George Street, Nottingham, NG1 3BE. Email
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