... Billy Bragg Cecil Sharp House Billy Bragg's introduction to Woody Guthrie was an event in more ways than one. Any show that fuses these two great political troubadours is enticing, but it also forms part of a season of shows marking the relaunch of Cecil Sharp House as a regular venue on the mainstream circuit. The place was packed. Complementing his recent TV documentary and radio appear ...

... In need of a new approach Almeida Rob Newman Rob Newman, he of the BBC's Mary Whitehouse Experience, says he has been writing novels for the past few years. It shows. One wonders whether he himself has been ransacking the library shelves in a fruitless search for the How to Bluff Your Way in Stand-Up Comedy guide, such is his irresolute behaviour on stage. When an audience struggles to ...

... Our Lips Shouldn't Touch Drill Hall Nowadays the word 'diva' is bandied about as if great female singers pop up around every corner, but Glaswegian vocalist and songwriter Horse does not quite live up to the comment made in the press information promoting her show, describing her as 'Scotland's greatest diva'. The singer might have had nothing to do with this quote of course, and in a way I ...

... Larry Adler Pizza on the Park It seems a long time since Larry Adler used to dispense miniature mouth organs to selected members of his cabaret audience and then proceed to conduct them in a play-along, but his rapport with music lovers young and old remains absolute. as ever, on the first night of this week-long engagement, he paid loving tribute to the brothers Gershwin, thrilling patrons ...

... The Marriage of Figaro Manchester/Touring Opera and Ballet International is to be congratulated on bringing the full company and orchestra of the Chisinau Opera starring 120 artists from Russia, Romania, Moldava and Latvia on a national to prior to london The second opera in its repertoire, Mozart's comic masterpiece certainly seems more within its scope and once again the orchestra are ...

... Celebration's Management Showcase Wigan Celebration's principal David Bradshaw certainly came up with a novel venue for his first showcase. The Chicago Rock Cafe is an unusual theme pub venue, and its staff are a pretty animated lot. Deadringers for Tony Blair, Princess Margaret and. Peter Stringfellow mingled with the guests. The show was co-presented by Geoff Peters and Trevor Cooke. Peters ...

... Nabucco Manchester The richness and variety of this colourful Verdi score is explored with vigour by the Chisinau National Opera orchestra under the assertive baton of conductor Alexandra Samoila. The Romanian company, which performed at the Palace, has been brought to this country by Opera International, which was responsible for last year's successful Turandot. Nabucco, an ambitious work, ...

... Froggy Style Canal Cafe It seems strange that the art of cabaret is now almost non-existent in Paris, where it was once such a tradition, or so Francois Raffenaud believes. For the last couple of years the French artist has settled in London, where he hopes his work wil be taken a little more seriously. That is not to say that his show of French songs, a com bination of original texts and ...

... Cottle and Austen Electric Circus Caterham/Touring Gerry Cottle and Brian Austen have returned to the mix of pop music, comedy and circus which first gave them success 30 years ago. This show, in a Big Top on Westway Common, is unash amedly aimed at children and involves them whenever possible. A lively atmosphere ensues and although some acts have been on the circuit for a while, it is all ...

... Netherlands National Circus Croydon/Touring Tony Hopkins' fast-moving Netherlands National Circus has received this season's Circus Friends Association Award for Best Non-Animal Circus. Russia's Nine Victors start with an intricate skipping display and return later as the Troupe Manzos, somersaulting from two Russian swings. The crowd at Ashburton Park loved them. Clown Daviss' first spot has ...

... Hippodrome 100 Years Birmingham Theatre director Peter Tod drew on the wide network of contacts he has built up for the Hippodrome to present a birthday show that was both celebration and showcase, slickly staged by Carole Todd. With three spots in the show, permanent resident company Birmingham Royal Ballet left a clear impression of the quality, vibrancy and adventurousness of its work, from ...

... Girl Talk Pizza on the Park It is possible to see many of Britain's best jazz and easy listening vocalists perform at the Music Room, but to witness three such talents on stage at the same time is an added bonus. Indeed, the energy levels are certainly higher than normal when 'three queens of soul, jazz and cabaret', namely Mari Wilson, Claire Martin and Barb Jungr, offer their own ...