The Tower Archive

Reaction to our shows
 
The Tower Archive

Reaction to our shows


Here's a selection of comments we received on our productions during 2024 ...


The Chimes The Chimes
The Tower Theatre once again enchants its audience with a stirring adaptation of The Chimes, a poignant tale by Charles Dickens ... The staging is a triumph of evocative design—dark, gritty set elements juxtaposed with subtle, ethereal chimes that encapsulate the spiritual and moral undertones so central to Dickens' work ... This production is a vivid reminder of the timeless power of Dickensian storytelling.
(Mary Bevan for Noises Off)
Lovely little theatre and we had a most enjoyable time there watching The Chimes. Friendly staff and the cast were A1*. All lines and vocals were delivered brilliantly. Bravo. I recommend a visit. These local theatres need to be supported."
(Google reviews)


How To Disappear Completely and Never Be Found How To Disappear Completely and Never Be Found
Congratulations on the lighting ...which was excellent. Congratulations to Nick Instey for this. The scenery was, as is usual at the Tower, simple but very effective, so well done, Angelika Michitsch. Feiyang Yang is also to be congratulated on both the sound design and the direction of the play. Not the lightest of entertainment, this play was very well acted. Apart from Patrick Lally’s Charlie/Adam and Simone La Martina’s Sophia, the remaining cast members took on several parts each.
(Maria Way for Noises Off)


The Worst Witch The Worst Witch
... it’s in good hands with Ruth Sullivan and her fine cast of eleven along with a live five piece band, led by Adam Pennington ... Of course Hecate Hardbroom is a gift of a part and Janet South does it beautifully ...The warm, slightly dappy headmistress (Miranda Cheeseman) all sweetness and light while her fearsome deputy actually runs the place and does the dirty work. Cheeseman gives us a fine performance too especially when she has to double as her dastardly twin sister ... The new kid on the block at Miss Cackle’s Academy is Mildred Hubble in whom, as required in all the best school stories, Laura Fleming finds delightful naivety, decency and ultimately the strength to triumph ... The really outstanding work, however, comes from Abi Cody as the sneering, bitchy Ethel Hallow. She never stops being visibly disdainful even when she’s singing or dancing ... the children were thrilled to be invited on stage to help with the action at the end so it was resounding, rather moving, end ... in short this was as good a piece of community theatre as I’ve seen in a while and perfect for half term.
(Susan Elkin Reviews. Awarded ⭐⭐⭐⭐)


Cock Cock
... it's all down to skilful acting and, directed by Nick Edwards, this quartet makes a pretty good fist of it ... John (Harry Apps) is outstanding as John. He has a terrific way of speaking with every muscle in his body, including a face tremor when he’s especially distressed ... Also excellent is Meher Baluch, whose stage debut – astonishingly – this is ... Mickey Gibbons probably has the most challenging role because his character is calm and collected and, in a sense, cold even when he’s hurt. His self control mirrors the control he tries to force on John ... Dave Wainwright’s is really only a support role, but he’s convincing ... There is a lot of humour in this play which often unpicks itself as it goes along. Someone will say something laden with subtext only for someone else to throw it back at them in unequivocally graphic English which can be very funny.
(Susan Elkin Reviews)


Aint I A Woman? Aint I A Woman?
Ain't I a Woman? is a needed and noteworthy theatrical experience with powerful moments of acting and thought-provoking subject matter.
(Jonathan Buckingham for Noises Off)
This innovative and much needed production has been created by black women ... directed with sensitivity and insight throughout by Landé Belo, Sara Amanda and Beverly Andrews.
(FORM-idea magazine)
It was a pleasure to be in the company of so much positive energy, and I can only commend all those involved.
(Afridiziak Theatre news)


Out of Sorts Out of Sorts
If you’re around north London in the next two weeks and are keen to explore some intriguing, high-quality fringe production, Out of Sorts would be a great choice. Whether you’re an immigrant, a refugee, or just a person completely overwhelmed by the crazy London lifestyle and can’t find a place for yourself, you will find this show very real and relatable.
(West End Evenings reviews - awarded 4 stars)
This is a very well-acted play which has great moments of humour throughout the serious thought-provoking discussions ... This is a show most definitely well worth experiencing, which will leave you with a greater understanding of the issues faced by those living in two cultures.
(Everything Theatre - awarded 4 stars)
Özlem Taş has directed a beautiful play that took me on a journey of heartbreak and family conflict.
(Lucy Moss for Noises Off)


Measure for Measure Measure for Measure
... the verse speaking is impressive and the diction admirably clear which means that the story telling works. It’s a refreshing, thoughtful “straight” account of an intriguing play. It’s also pretty uncompromising at nearly three hours with interval – but none the worse for that.
(Susan Elkin reviews - awarded 4 stars)
Very professional and thoroughly enjoyable amateur production of Measure for Measure. Community theatre at its best.
(Audience Member P.M. - awarded 5 stars)
... congratulations to the cast, crew and director of Measure for Measure. I've never seen, read or studied this play so I read a short synopsis before seeing it and thought "Oh no, there's so many key characters I'm going to get confused". But the clarity of this production meant that I understood everything that was going on throughout. Thank you M4M crew for a wonderful and entertaining show. It's a heck of a play and will definitely go on my like list.
(Audience Member C.T.)


The Fan The Fan
I can’t think of many community companies who would be brave enough to take on eighteenth century Commedia, in a sometimes creaky translation, and run with it as cheerfully as the Tower Theatre does with The Fan. It is, literally, incomparable ... this productione seems freshly novel and it has an unusual charm which stems, I think, from an Italian-Argentinian director working with a gloriously diverse cast of fourteen whose backgrounds range across several continents ... this show is an imaginatively original take on a tradition not likely to be very familiar to modern audiences – and it makes a quirkily jolly evening’s theatre.
(Susan Elkin reviews - awarded 4 stars)


The Real Inspector Hound The Real Inspector Hound
This is a slick, entertaining production that hits every beat it sets out to ... a great evening out.
(Lucy Carter for Everything Theatre blog. Awarded 4 stars.)
Maeve Curry ... excellent as melodramatic black widow Cynthia ... Daniel Watson has great fun charging around in a wheelchair as the somewhat demented Major Magnus ... Micky Gibbons and Emily Hassan play the juve leads with verve and precision ... Sheila Burbidge as Mrs Drudge more or less steals the show ... it’s an absolute gift of a part and this interpretation was among the very best I’ve seen. David Miller and Matthew Vickers made a fine double act of the pen pushing pundits ... The play is extremely well served by a first rate team of creatives (Max Maxwell, Lynda Twidale, Stephen Ley and Stanley Piper) whose design skills immediately place the action within a highly recognisable genre. Rob Ellis’s very able direction, which includes plenty of well pointed moments to keep several balls in the air and a number of plates spinning all at the same time, is full of telling detail which was a pleasure to encounter.
(John Chapman for 2nd from Bottom blog.)