Karen Bussell

Theater Critic at British Theatre Guide

Employment lawyer; theatre critic; lecturer

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Articles

Little Women from Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Belgrade Coventry and Blackpool Grand Theatre at The Lyric, Theatre Royal Plymouth

6 days ago | britishtheatreguide.info | Karen Bussell

Louisa May Alcott’s iconic coming-of-age story of the March sisters, set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, is given a gentle, somewhat pedestrian, treatment in Anne-Marie Casey’s adaptation. Based, in part, on Alcott’s own family and upbringing, Casey’s cuts create a Reader’s Digest-esque abridged version with the girls’ journeys unimpeded by any subplot or burdened by anyone unessential to the pared-back story.
Quadrophenia A Mod Ballet

3 weeks ago | britishtheatreguide.info | Karen Bussell

Absolutely thrilling. The emotive, iconic Who 1970s rock opera has found an unlikely but exciting new lease of life thanks to writer Pete Townshend’s collaboration with award-winning choreographer Paul Roberts, Sadler’s Wells and Universal Music. The—at the time groundbreaking—concept album was released in 1973 in a bid to reengage with the band’s Mod fanbase and became a cult film starring Phil Daniels and Sting in 1979.
The Farmer and The Clown

4 weeks ago | britishtheatreguide.info | Karen Bussell

The gentle and sweet story of an unlikely friendship—between a grumpy old farmer and a cheerful young clown—is brought to the stage as a wordless play, full of humour, puppetry, imagination and music. Devon actress Ruby De Ville Morel (making a strong professional debut) is charming as the buoyant clown who tumbles from a passing circus train onto the farmer’s field.
Only Fools and Horses The Hit Musical

1 month ago | britishtheatreguide.info | Karen Bussell

Why re-invent the wheel when it ain’t broke? Get set for a huge dose of nostalgia.
Theatre review: Bat Out Of Hell from Michael Cohl, Tony Smith and David Sonenberg at The Lyric, Theatre Royal Plymouth

1 month ago | britishtheatreguide.info | Karen Bussell

‘Father of the Power Ballad’, sublime athematic songwriter (“Total Eclipse of the Heart”, “Holding Out For A Hero”, “Falling Into You”, most of Meat Loaf’s catalogue) Jim Steinman’s 50-year-old dystopian Peter Pan rock opera vision, shelved to instead become the theatrical and unique Bat Out Of Hell album, finally came to fruition in 2017 snatching awards galore and is already back around on a sell-out tour.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

1 month ago | britishtheatreguide.info | Karen Bussell

Supremely spectaculous and downright bonkers, the latest reworking of Bond creator Ian Fleming’s 1964 children’s story is fun and flighty. With the classic film firmly embedded in most of our minds, director Thom Southerland’s revamp is vibrant and pacy (at least after the rather lengthy buoyant overture and somewhat drawn-out introduction to the famed grand prix winner and Vulgarian skulduggery) and doesn’t disappoint.
In Search of Goldoni

1 month ago | britishtheatreguide.info | Karen Bussell

Saikat Ahamed packs (and unpacks) a torrent of emotion and humour in a very personal 95 uninterrupted minutes as he drags his family around a damp Venice in search of a prolific 18th century playwright. Aldo Vaxquez’s simple set—a metal bridge and shiny floor—and Rajiv Pattani’s lighting transports the tale from Venetian gondola and watery streets to Romford hospital and a mosque by way of a chair, box or book.
Kinky Boots The Musical

2 months ago | britishtheatreguide.info | Karen Bussell

Heart, heels and honesty abound in the brand-new Made at Curve production of the Olivier, Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical (based on a real story) Kinky Boots The Musical, currently touring the UK and Ireland.
Dear Evan Hansen

2 months ago | britishtheatreguide.info | Karen Bussell

Hugely complex, beautifully engaging and rather unsatisfactory, the 10-year-old Olivier and Tony Award-winning emotional rollercoaster Dear Evan Hansen continues to provoke difficult conversations. Dealing with the big, dark issues of teenage angst, tenuous friendships, exploitation of tragedy, mental health, the desperation to belong and fractured relationships magnified and skewed by social media, Steven Leverson somehow manages to still make the piece entertaining.
Cinderella from Birmingham Royal Ballet at The Lyric, Theatre Royal Plymouth

2 months ago | britishtheatreguide.info | Karen Bussell

A family-friendly fairy tale. Gone are the staging reductions and performer bubble constraints seen last time out hot on the heels of the COVID lockdown, and instead, all is opulent and bursting at the seams with sparkly sumptuousness. Carlos Acosta is now established at the BRB helm, and he masterfully directs the revival of Sir David Bintley’s award-winning three-act classic resplendent with sparkly corps de ballet pieces, ghastly and garish stepsisters, magicked animals and glittering coach.