Equus

Equus, Cambridge Arts Theatre, 2008

Cast: Simon Callow, Fiz Marcus, Linda Thorson, Alfie Allen, Colin Hurley, Helen Anderson, Michael Taibi, Andrew McDonald, Laura O'Toole, Alex Cowie, Julius Augustin Ebreo, Robert Eugene, Nouska Hanly, John Trindle.

Writer: Peter Shaffer

Director: Thea Sharrock

This production was notable because the West End run of it starred Daniel Radcliffe and people were very excited about the chance to see his cock. He didn't do the tour so instead I got to see Alfie Allen's cock although I have no memory of it. Was there a film version I might have seen? Why do I feel some connection between this and school? I don't suppose it was a fun evening out. 

Starlight Express

Starlight Express, Norwich Theatre Royal, 2013

Cast: Kristopher Harding, Amanda Coutts, Mykal Rand, Jamie Capewell, Lothair Eaton, Ruthie Stevens, Kelsey Cobban, Camilla Hardy, Robert Nurse, Lex Milczarek, Ben Harrold, Stuart Armfield, Gavin Ashbarry, James Marshall, Nick Bower, Kris Manuel, Andy Barke, Tristan Adams, Matt King, Adam Illsley, Lisa Dahmane, Louise Lenihan, Sarah Riches, Georgina Hagen, Tony Andrade, Samantha Foker, Aaron Piper, Darryl Paul Saunders, Kerry Stammers.

Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber

Lyrics: Richard Stilgoe

Additional lyrics: David Yazbek

Director & Choreographer: Arlene Phillips 

I was going to marvel at how unlikely this all is but then I started thinking about all the other shows Andrew Lloyd Webber has written and how unlikely some of them are: Cats, Joseph, Evita, spring to mind - and perhaps it all just makes sense to him. I never saw the original production where, if I've understood thigs correctly, there was skating around the auditorium which you didn't get in the touring production. It was a bit cheap and silly. And astonishingly it's being revived again this year. I won't be going.

What the Butler Saw

What the Butler Saw, Cambridge Arts Theatre, 2001

Cast: Michael Pennington, Kate Alderton, Jane Asher, Edward Clarke, Benjamin Whitrow, David Cardy.

Writer: Joe Orton

Director: Jeremy Sams

I have no recollection off this which might be for the best. Every production of this I see will fail to live up to the TV version I saw starring Timothy West and Prunella Scales. It's not a competition but Jane Asher is not Prunella Scales.

Entertaining Mr Sloane

Entertaining Mr Sloane, Trafalgar Studios, 2009

Cast: Imelda Staunton, Matthew Horne, Richard Bremmer, Simon Paisley Day

Writer: Joe Orton

Director: Nick Bagnall

Another example of why it will be a very long time before I ever go near another Orton play. Imedla Staunton is a very good actor, Matthew Horne simply isn't. They shouldn't have been allowed on the same stage together. Less of this kind of shit please.

Waiting for Godot

Waiting for Godot, Norwich Theatre Royal, 2009

Cast: Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Simon Callow, Ronald Pickup, Kane Allen, Charlie Keable.

Writer: Samuel Beckett

Director: Sean Mathias

This must have been the first time I saw Sir Ian on stage and would have been the reason for going. It seems slightly extraordinary now that he came to Norwich with it when he could have just spent three months in the West End.

I was fearful of the play before I saw it and that can't have just been from its difficult reputation. Perhaps we studied it at school or saw a production, but that can't be right - who'd inflict that on teenagers? As for this, I remember it making a lot more sense than I'd expected and was surprisingly funny, which just goes to show that anything is possible with very good actors.