Press clippings Page 13
The Philanthropist review
The Philanthropist was written when Christopher Hampton was only 23 - and here gets a revival that for once casts actors in their late-twenties, early-thirties, as intended. But it's not revelatory: these academics act like old fogeys who sleep about a bit.
Holly Williams, What's On Stage, 21st April 2017The Philanthropist review
The Philanthropist veers wildly between comedy, tragedy and tragi-comedy. The audience never knows where a pithy line, death, infidelity and betrayal will spring from next. It might be a comedy, but don't expect big laughs.
Frances Taylor, Radio Times, 21st April 2017The Philanthropist, theatre review
TV stars look ill at ease in this woeful dud. This pricey West End play feels like a misconceived venture.
Henry Hitchins, Evening Standard, 21st April 2017The Philanthropist review
Simon Bird and Lily Cole are a treat in this pungent tragi-comedy.
Dominic Cavendish, The Telegraph, 20th April 2017The Philanthropist review
While there's a measure of wit to Christopher Hampton's 1969 play The Philanthropist, Simon Callow's production conspires to hide it.
Natasha Tripney, The Stage, 20th April 2017Top cast announced for The Philanthropist comedy play
Matt Berry, Simon Bird, Lily Cole, Charlotte Ritchie and Tom Rosenthal will star in a new version of The Philanthropist at Trafalgar Studios, directed by Simon Callow.
British Comedy Guide, 22nd February 2017Live Review: Ricky Whittington & His Cat
The result is a clever up-to-the-minute adult version of a traditional theatrical form with lots of good knowing lines, good subversive humour and good catchy tunes.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 6th January 2017Capital panto: Ricky Whittington surveys modern London
A crack cast of millennial comics deliver social satire amid the poo jokes and spoof songs in an alt-panto created by Liam Williams and Daran Johnson.
Brian Logan, The Guardian, 30th December 2016Top 40 TV Shows of 2016: #29 Fresh Meat
As usual, these six episodes were wince-inducingly familiar for anyone who's every sat through a terrible job interview, thrown a half-arsed party or embarked on an ill-advised relationship, touched with moments of real pathos as the gang said one final farewell to their student home.
Huw Fullerton, Radio Times, 25th December 2016Ricky Whittington & His Cat review
Ricky Whittington is a modern-day panto that's got everything, not least a sense of raucous fun with intelligent lines mixed with the nonsense, a social astuteness to underpin the big-and-daft comedy, and a tightly directed cast of talented people.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 16th December 2016