... Exposure Oval House/Touring Cath Kilcoyne's new play for Twisted Stocking is set in a glacial hinterland north of Reykjavik, where two female detectives are in pursuit of a missing woman. That, at least, is the Hitchcockian MacGuffin. In fact, Henry and her half-sister Lou, bruised by life and divorce, are about to unlock the secret hates and jealousies that tore them apart as teenagers. ...

... A Brief Affair Bridewell Not many young, aspiring composers have the opportunity to showcase their work at a London fringe venue, featuring a high class cast, but it is not all luck where l9-year-old Leighton James House is concerned. Okay, so I did not leave A Brief Affair part of the Bride well's Lunch-Hour Rush-Hour sea son overwhelmed by excitement, but there is no doubt that this prolific ...

... Shooting Star Chester Chester Gateway's artistic director Deborah Shaw found Basil Thomas' Shooting Star in Frith Banbury's library. He directed it in 1949, since when it has lain forgotten. Since it is about football, and it being a World Cup year, she thought it a good idea to stage it and invite Banbury to direct. I am glad she did. It proves to be a quietly charming comedy, fascinating ...

... Elton John's Glasses Bromley/Touring Following his successes in the West End musicals Jolson and Me and My Girl, Brian Conley makes his debut in a straight acting role at the Churchill. As Bill, fervent Watford FC supporter, for whom life ended with his side's defeat in the 1984 Cup unai, ne is uncannily iiKe a young Tommy Cooper in face, size and voice. The title of David Farr's com edy ...

... Ruthless Kenilworth Producer/director Stephen Duckham has secured this witty, small- scale musical (originally produced by Musical Theatre Works Inc) for the Talisman, after seeing it in California, making this amateur production its European premiere. Though there is still room for some judicious cuts, particularly in Act II, the show proves worth his enthusiasm. With book and lyrics by Joel ...

... Therese Raquin Edinburgh Stuart Paterson has filleted Emile Zola's tale of lust and a lovers' triangle to create a stark play of repressed sexuality. And, under Jennifer Black's direction at the Royal Lyceum, Therese herself is transformed from predatory femme fatale into hapless victim. Indeed, Clare McCarron plays the title role with such a sense of servitude that you think it is she who ...

... Whirl of satire Stratford-upon-Avon The School for Scandal At the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the new RSC season opens with a wonderfully lively production of Sheridan's comedy of gossip and intrigue. Director Declan Donnellan sets the tone of satirical humour from the start, with the characters seemingly playing out their roles to each other the public parade of life in 'Society' which ...

... Gotterdammerung Royal Albert Hall The Royal Opera's performance of Gotterdammerung concluded to thunderous applause, to a frenzy of enthusiasm and delight. Indeed, this Ring has been a singular and awe-inspiring experience, made the more poignant by New Labour's Philistine disregard for the Royal Opera's record of artistic excellence, by the ROH management's pi justifications for ...

... Escape into a magical world Hampstead Fairytaleheart London got its first glimpse of Philip Ridley's new fairytale trilogy at the Olivier last summer when a Belfast youth group showcased Sparkleshark, a tower-block comedy in which disaffected teenagers escaped into the creative magic of princelv derring-do. Again he explores the power of stories to transform troubled lives in this play for ...

... When the Wall Came Down Dublin This first play by Renate Ahrens-Kramer is part of a larger event being held in the Arthouse media centre. The play deals with the forced adoption of children in East Germany, children 'stolen' from their imprisoned parents and then passed on to parents who, in the eyes of the authori ties, were more desirable. Roswitha Berger journeys from West to former East ...

... Friends Like This Bromley/Touring Sex is the buzzword of this new comedy drama directed by Jeremy Meadow. Indeed, the word sex, along with less polite four and five letter words, is used all the time and playwright Rod Beecham is spot on with the line: Sex is overrated. Too much talk and not enough getting on with it. But talk they do, as a celebrated American feminist, sexologist, writer ...

... Bookers left spoilt for choice Church Stretton Paul Bridson Productions Showcase 1998 Bookers attending Paul Bridson's annual showcase at Church Stretton's Denehurst Hotel had more than 40 acts to choose from over a two day period. Opening the show on the first night was attractive songstress Judy Aslrton, whose powerful voice in numoers ime uon i i,ry for Me Argentina and The Rose made ...