Culture Theatre: Mixed Blessings for a Slave of the Theatre ; Stratford Continued On a Roll, the Belgrade Returned Like a Breath of Fresh Air and Malvern Remained As Dependable As Ever. Terry Grimley Reviews the Year in the Region's Theatres

Birmingham Post › December 27, 2007

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Summary

Did you hear the one about the critic in 2007 who dreamed he was reviewing a show about the abolition of slavery? He woke up and found he was.

That was how 2007 felt at times, particularly at Birmingham Rep, where two slavery-related shows, Motherland and Rough Crossings, appeared within a short space of time on the main stage this autumn. Both were long on spectacle and good intentions, but sadly lacking in compelling drama.

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Extract

Culture Theatre: Mixed Blessings for a Slave of the Theatre ; Stratford Continued On a Roll, the Belgrade Returned Like a Breath of Fresh Air and Malvern Remained As Dependable As Ever. Terry Grimley Reviews the Year in the Region's Theatres

It helped make the Rep's main house the most problematic venue in the region. While its success in attracting diverse audiences is to be applauded (and will presumably shield it from the Arts Council's latest round of cuts) it delivered far more than its share of misfiring shows.

Artistic director Rachel Kavanaugh's programming got off to the worst possible start when, with...

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