Today's idea - Canary, at the Theatre Royal

Today, drama!

"In 1960's Liverpool Tom and Billy hide in the closet, then go their separate ways. As pits close and the dole queues grow, Mikey and Russell escape to find Heaven in 1980's London. But today the paparazzi turn judge and jury over a love story that could tear this family apart. And then there's Ellie, who's lost up a mountain with a vicar.

A deeply moving, funny, uplifting and often magical story about love, honesty and being brave enough to sing out at the top of your voice. With style.

Written by the multi award-winning Jonathon Harvey (Beautiful Thing, Gimme Gimme Gimme, Hushabye Mountain and Coronation Street) and directed by Hettie MacDonald who once again collaborates with Jonathon having directed both the original stage and film versions of his glorious Beautiful Thing. A stellar cast includes Paula Wilcox (Man about the House, The Smoking Room, Emmerdale) and Sean Gallagher (Linda Green, Heartbeat, Coronation Street).

A powerhouse of touring theatre, ETT stages thrilling and ambitious theatre that is vigorous, popular and entertaining. Following their triumphant production of Roger McGough's The Hypochondriac at Theatre Royal Brighton in 2009, ETT again joins forces with Liverpool's Everyman and Playhouse theatres."

It's a new play at the Theatre Royal. Bored of Brighton would quite like to go to see this - we think it sounds very good! It's by Jonathon Harvey, directed by Hettie MacDonald. Find out more information here. It's between £15-£28 depending on whether you're a student, your seat, and other things like that. We apologise for a bit of a PR copy today, Bored of Brighton's real-world meetings have overflowed.

Today's idea - Oscar Wilde's Salome at the Theatre Royal

Today the Theatre Royale brings Oscar Wilde's Salome to life. In keeping with Wilde's dramatic writing, "Salome is a lyrical yet shocking piece of storytelling from one of the greatest writers of the last two hundred years. It is fragile, savage and shimmeringly beautiful, rendered exquisite poetry and unforgettable theatrical images. Headlong and Curve Theatre, Leicester present a vivid contemporary production of this rarely-seen masterpiece."

The plot is thus:

"The brutal power of ancient myth collides with twentieth century decadence in Oscar Wilde's dazzling verse tragedy. Salome, stepdaughter of King Herod, agrees to perform the mysterious dance of the seven veils but demands in return the head of the King's most influential prisoner - John the Baptist."

It comes from director Jamie Lloyd, one of the most critically acclaimed young directors in British theatres, and is performed by Headlong, a fantastic and innovative theatre companies at the moment. The Theatre Royal's responsible for a brilliant standard of production, and this sounds to be no exception.

It's running until 29th June.
Time: 7:45pm (Thurs and Sat matinee 2:30pm)
Website & tickets: here
Cost: £14-28
Map: here

Today's idea - Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution

(Important notice: yesterday's event takes place on Saturday 1st May)

Today, this may stem from an affair with day-time TV at a young age, in which Agatha Christie seemed to be permanently on television, but I'd choose to see Agatha Cristie's 'Witness for the Prosecution'. It's taking place at the Theatre Royal Brighton tonight - and runs until Saturday May 1st, when all the Festival and Fringe events start taking off!

"Emily French, an elderly woman who plans to leave her considerable estate to the charming young Leonard, is found dead. Murdered. Though he protests his innocence, Leonard quickly becomes the prime suspect. His plea hinges on his wife’s testimony, until the sudden appearance of a mysterious young woman, bearing an unexpected clue. Will the truth be revealed in time or will Leonard be declared guilty at the hands of the Witness for the Prosecution?

In a world where everyone seems to be harbouring a dark secret, this gripping courtroom drama will keep you guessing until the final fatal moment."

We like gripping court room things (similarly I'm permanently head-over-heels with 'An Inspector Calls'). What's your favourite kind?

You can find tickets and information here. It costs £15-£28 and is on at 7:45pm (Saturday has a matinee too). Find a map here.

Today's idea - Haunted at Theatre Royal

Today sees the penultimate performance of Haunted at the Theatre Royal. Starring Brenda Blenthyn, Brit actress of the year and Golden Globe collector, the play comes to Brighton before its move to London's West End. Yes, it's somewhat up-market and costs appropriately.

Written specifically for Blenthyn, author Edna O'Brien is a leading figure of Irish Literature:

"An extraordinary play about love and betrayal, HAUNTED tells the story of a captivating young woman, Hazel (Beth Cooke), who enters the life of the quixotic Mr Berry (Niall Buggy). Desperate not to lose her, he starts secretly giving away his wife's clothes in exchange for elocution lessons. But as his wife, (Brenda Blethyn), searches for the reason for her diminishing wardrobe, Mr Berry finds both of his relationships under threat in this poignant and enchanting tale of desire and regret."

The cast sounds award-laded. With Blenthyn twice Oscar-nominated, holding a stream of Cannes Film Festival, Golden FIPA awards, and co-star Buggy heralding from roles in An inspector Call, After Play, The Weir, and assorted others, the play should be fantastic.

It's on at 7:45pm and costs £29.00. Find tickets and info here.

Today's idea - Oscar Wilde's 'Lord Arthur Savile's Crime

Today 'that curly haired bloke' from the Joseph 'Any Dream Will Do' BBC show and other assorted cast members are performing Oscar Wilde's 'Lord Arthur Savile's Crime.' Having seen the Dorian Grey film last night (hmmm) I'd be keen to see more plays by the author. Admittedly the curly haired man is not to all tastes, but the play sounds really rather good.

There's been a couple of very well received performances of Oscar Wilde's plays about Brighton, and today - and until Saturday the 20th February - they're set to continue. By very good, I mean "critically acclaimed."

"Lord Arthur Savile is deliriously happy: a pillar of Victorian society, he’s on the verge of marriage to the lovely Sybil. Then an encounter with a clairvoyant reveals that he is destined to commit murder, and Arthur decides that to protect his future wife, he must commit this bloody deed before he marries. As he sets about deciding which of his family and friends could be most conveniently eliminated, chaos predictably ensues…

This delightfully daffy comedy has a deceptive vein of black humour, sprinkled with Wilde’s inimitable one-liners."

It's at the Theatre Royal, lasts 2hours, has a break for snacks and drinks and intellectual airs and graces, and begins at 7:45. Tickets are £13-28 depending on where you sit and are available from here - and yes, we're keeping our eyes out for cheaper plays about too, although for this much money you do get "all-star cast is led by the legendary Gary Wilmot, (‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’, ‘Me and My Girl’), Kate O'Mara (‘Dynasty’, ‘Bad Girls’), David Ross (‘The Green Green Gras’s). Derren Nesbitt (‘Special Branch’, ‘Where the Eagles Dare’) and Louisa Clein (‘Judge John Deed’)".

Today's idea - See Spike Milligan's "Adolf Hitler: My Part in his Downfall"

Today there's a quite fantastic sounding play by Spike Milligan taking place at the Theatre Royal. Milligan, a comic genius, major influence of Monty Python's Flying Circus, and responsible for The Goon Show which my father likes to play loudly from cassette and walk around the house booming "He's fallen in the wet type water thing" [sic].

Happily entitled, "Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall" the play is a mix of gloriously absurd war memoirs and celebrated hit comedy. It's "critically acclaimed" and makes critics and real people laugh, which in achieving both is brilliant. It's also got a pleasing amount of good jazz including, for people that know jazz far better than me, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Ain’t Misbehavin’, In the Mood, Honeysuckle Rose, Kalamazoo and many more.

(Occasional quotes from the official blurb there, but all points to rather bloody good).

"High comedy and tragedy collide, as we follow Gunner Milligan and his jazz quartet, adrift on the tide of great historic events. Using Spike’s own words, the show joyously fuses comedy, song and dance – showing how humour, music and comradeship enabled a hapless bunch of young men to prevail against the might of the Nazi War machine."

It sounds very good, and the reviews section (can be found here by clicking 'reviews') is full of glorious quotes telling you it's all very funny indeed.

It runs from today, its opening night, until Saturday the 23rd. )This is not too long.) It's on at 7:45pm each day, and you can find tickets here for £26 (not sure if there's student prices but online booking suggests not). It's quite a bit, but it's a fantastic play so I recommend it whole heartedly.

"Warning: contains barrack room humour."