Some reviews for recent shows...
Henry VIII & The Royal Wedding Planner (2011/12)
Listed -VenueTop 3 shows of 2011
*****"Julia Gwynne and director Andy Burden have created a small masterpiece.... a nerveless, lightning-quick, hugely entertaining portrait... brilliantly witty, constantly absorbing and, by the end, increasingly emotional"Venue
"This inventive, plucky one-woman show.... is immediate and engaging from the start. It's funny too, with running gags and some witty asides...yet the content is deadly serious... she's enthralling" The Guardian
The Meaning Of Riff (Eamonn Fleming 11)
**** "delicious tales... hysterical demonstrations... and wry comments... enlivened with plenty of musical interludes... and the passion that music, any music, can arouse. And the endless search for the perfect power chord" Venue
I Remember Green (Theatre West 11)
Listed Venue highlights of 2011
**** "Theatre West yet again bring something new and high quality to the Bristol stage. With director Andy Burden, Heather Lister and the cast have spun a sensitive, funny and delicate web... this is one to catch while you can." What's On Stage
"I believe this is among the best new work I have seen in some time, well performed by all three actors, powerful, moving and deeply human. Please make plans to see it" Guide2Bristol
Seasoned (City Chameleon 2011)
**** "Andy Burden cleverly allows what he calls the 'choreography of words' to move us around worlds....The density of the language drips like the rich fruit... seasoned with heart & soul" Remotegoat
"great physical energy and clear-eyed intensity...a charged, febrile, arresting and by turns sombre and exuberant account of the Afro-Caribbean story - and, under top-director-for-hire Andy Burden's crisp, pacy direction, a nicely physical rendering of Burton's rich lyrical world" Venue
The Adventures Of Pinocchio (Tobacco Factory 10/11)
***** "Andy Burden's wonderfully spirited production... a hugely charismatic couple of hours... I have never laughed so much at a Christmas show... This is a terrific new telling of the tale,
played with an exhilarating energy but brimful of wit and warmth." The Guardian
***** "a stunning new production....exhilarating and enchanting by turns, you won't find a better Christmas show around." What's On Stage
"energetic and lively direction, Pinocchio is a show that is all heart, and will be enjoyed by children and adults alike." Guide 2 Bristol
"sparkling comic touches from start to finish, with director Andy Burden sprinkling his own bit of magic... a spellbinding treat" Bristol Culture
"Andy Burden does a fantastic job presenting the thrilling yet funny adventures.... it's a brilliant show full of fun and pizzazz... a must-see... genius" Bristol Listings
9/10 "a comic treat that will delight audiences young and old" Bristol Evening Post
Henry V (Company Boudin 10/11)
Listed- Venue highlights of 2011
**** "playful ingenuity and great spirit" Guardian
***** "it works perfectly... a fascinating reimagining... a vibrant introduction for those who think Shakespeare might not be for them" Venue
**** "a lesson of how to create a full scale battle between two armies, with just four actors at your disposal" Evening Post
Foot/Mouth (Soho Theatre 09)
**** "Brimming with action... With excellent direction from Andy Burden the ensemble's skills come into their own." What's On Stage
"this pulsating, manic, madcap wonder, which never pauses to rest and could hardly be richer in colour or bigger in imaginative scope...inspired and funny... Brilliant" Camden New Journal
A Christmas Carol (Tobacco Factory Bristol 08/09)
Listed: The Top Six best Christmas shows in Britain 2008 The Week
"Fresh
as new paint... original and heartwarming, with the surprise opening to
the second half worth the price of admission alone... splendid"
The Stage
**** "true to the spirit of Dickens... but fresh and reinvented for a new audience. ... so moving and joyful that you practically skip out of the theatre. Fabulously festive" Metro
**** "Andy Burden's fast moving production is another Christmas winner" Bristol Evening Post Photo Toby Farrow
"Gimmick-free and highly sensual... nightmarishly terrifying... an engaging, charming production" The Guardian
"the perfect blend of Dickensian and modern... bursting with fantastic ensemble acting, a brimful of imagination and a cracking feel-good tale" British Theatre Guide
****
"another classy classic... Andy Burden gets his cast to rise to the occasion with spirit . A tricky one to stage... but this team pulls it off in spades. Get your tickets fast" Venue
"Fantastic... sometimes hysterically funny, sometimes with genuine tinges of sadness... another Christmas Cracker. Do not miss" Copysbaby
Cave (Alma Theatre 08)
***** "Punchy satire and a sure touch... Cave, which benefits from Andy Burden's sensitive direction, is a marvel" Bristol Evening Post
"Fresh and raunchy... Andy Burden directed some confident performances" Venue Magazine
I Shot Dirty Den
(Edinburgh 08)
***** "Stunning... A masterful gem of a performance"Broadway Baby
***** "This was sparkling entertainment, stuffed full
of hilarity, pathos and, above all, humanity and fragility. Wonderful" Venue Magazine
"Honest and savagely funny... a winning combination of dramatic tension and comic release" The Stage
Alice Through The Looking Glass
(Tobacco Factory Bristol 07/08)
***** "In this mesmerising production, director Andy Burden proves that you do not need fairy godmothers, chart hits, catchphrases, or well-known faces to keep children enthralled... Magical...a thrillingly dreamlike world"The Guardian
***** "full of quirky charm and visual humour… a joy to watch" Venue Magazine
***** "a wonderful and memorable production"Bristol Evening Post
"There are too many magical moments in this production to do credit to them all… Not to be missed!"British Theatre Guide
Old World (London Courtyard Autumn 07)
The Independent
**** "a sustainedly affecting, unsentimental piece of drama" Time Out
Diary Of A Madman (Tour 07/08)
"Meticulously acted and directed, a beautifully understated portrayal of the lowly clerk's descent into insanity in which every move and gesture counted. Outstanding." Venue Magazine
"an absolute gem of a theatrical night out...an incomparable pleasure. When this subtle, surreal and stupendous show comes to an end you will wish it was only the interval and leave with your mind literally boggling with delight." British Theatre Guide