Chris Poppe

Review – The All New Adventures of Peter Pan, Royal and Derngate, Northampton 7th December 2025 - The Real Chrisparkle This marvellous traditional pantomime is especially strong in its music and dancing, and is a great show for all the family.

The panto at Northampton’s Royal and Derngate this year is #PeterPan and is a lively, funny and extremely musical production for all the family. The perfect Christmas show! wp.me/pKXAt-cWC ⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me!

Review – The Forsyte Saga, Parts One and Two, Royal Shakespeare Company at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 5th December 2025 - The Real Chrisparkle Glorious production of this still relevant tale of a ruthless, monied family, with a stunning central performance by Joseph Millson as Soames.

A beautifully produced five hour epic of theatre, The RSC at Stratford with their two-part #ForsyteSaga has fantastic performances and brilliant storytelling. The second play can't quite keep up the momentum of the first, but it's still outstanding. wp.me/pKXAt-cW9 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me!

Manning

"There's a racist, a Russian traitor, a conman and a grifting liar walk into a bar.
The barman said, Hello Nigel, same as usual?"

Review – Before the Millennium, The Old Fire Station, Oxford, 3rd December 2025 - The Real Chrisparkle Karim Khan's new play examines the friendship between two women & how it is disrupted when a 3rd joins them - but it's so much more than that!

Karim Khan's new play #BeforeTheMillennium at Oxford's Old Fire Station is an inventive exploration of friendship set in Oxford's Pakistani community - beautifully written and performed, and gets better the more you think about it! wp.me/pKXAt-cVq ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me!

The Real Chrisparkle meets Claire Bramwell-Pearson! - The Real Chrisparkle Enjoy my chat with Claire Bramwell-Pearson about her new children's book, Vitalii Petrenko and the Secret of the Roman Baths

Here's my interview with Claire Bramwell-Pearson, author of the new children's book #VitaliiPetrenko and the Secret of the Roman Baths. Hope you enjoy! wp.me/pKXAt-cUx

Good morning.

Gonna have a pop at multi-millionaire Dicky Tice this morning.

The same Dicky Tice that hates foreigners in our country, hates muslims, is an MP for Boston & Skegness but lives in Dubai under SHARIA LAW!

Having a pop at children wearing ear defenders because he's a class 1 knobhead.

Review – That’ll Be The Day – That’ll Be Christmas, Royal and Derngate, Northampton, 26th November 2025 - The Real Chrisparkle Coming up for 40 years on the road, Trevor Payne's That'll Be The Day brings its That'll Be Christmas show to a huge appreciative fanbase!

Despite some iffy comedy interludes, #ThatllBeChristmas at the Royal and Derngate, Northampton, last night was good fun and really sets you up for the festive season. On tour till Dec 21st! wp.me/pKXAt-cUd ⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ from me!

Review – BIOSPHERE, Genfest 2025, Underground at the Royal and Derngate, Northampton, 21st November 2025 - The Real Chrisparkle Olivia Foan's powerful play examines 4 scientists living & working together for a year in a biodome to help mankind survive beyond the Earth.

As part of the Royal and Derngate Northampton’s GenFest season, Part of the Main's #Biosphere is a fascinating and engrossing account of four scientists locked away together to establish whether mankind can survive beyond Earth. wp.me/pKXAt-cTp ⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me!

Review – Dial 1 for UK, The Place Theatre, Bedford, 20th November 2025 - The Real Chrisparkle Mohit Mathur's masterfully performed one-man play about Indian Uday Kumar, longing to live in the UK, only to discover its harsh realities.

The excellent #Dial1forUK finished its tour in Bedford last night, with a superb performance from Mohit Mathur and a riveting insight into how Indian workers are lured to the UK with the promise of a great life that never materialises. wp.me/pKXAt-cTd ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me!

Review – Fawlty Towers, Royal and Derngate, Northampton, 18th November 2025 - The Real Chrisparkle John Cleese's adaptation of three episodes of his landmark comedy show works extremely well on this UK and Ireland tour

#FawltyTowers at Northampton’s Royal and Derngate this week is an expert adaptation for the stage and boasts a committed cast with brilliant comic timing. wp.me/pKXAt-cSB ⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me!

A Day at Huntingdon Races, 11th November 2025 - The Real Chrisparkle Had a fantastic day out at Huntingdon Racecourse as a guest of the Jockey Club, which meant we could get a really close look at what goes on!

Had a fantastic day at Huntingdon Racecourse last week - read all about it! wp.me/pKXAt-cS0

Review – Emma, Festival Theatre, Chichester, 6th November 2025 - The Real Chrisparkle Smart and fun adaptation of Jane Austen's novel, simply staged and with some good performances. India Shaw-Smith is superb in the title role.

Theatre Royal Bath's touring production of #Emma at Chichester Festival Theatre this week is good fun, with some excellent performances. wp.me/pKXAt-cdi ⭐⭐⭐ from me!

Review – Death on the Nile, Royal and Derngate, Northampton, 4th November 2025 - The Real Chrisparkle Ken Ludwig's adaptation of Christie's classic takes liberties but tells its story clearly and entertainingly - good production & performances!

The current UK tour of #DeathOnTheNile is at the Royal and Derngate, Northampton, this week and is a very entertaining adaptation - a few liberties taken can challenge the purist - but it's a well told and well acted production. wp.me/pKXAt-ccO ⭐⭐⭐ from me!

Text on a light, textured background reads: "Human rights aren't optional. They're universal." Below, in smaller blue text: "EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS 75 YEARS (1950 - 2025)" next to a small image of the EU flag.

A list of fundamental human rights on a light, textured background. The text reads: "Right to life. Prohibition of torture. Prohibition of slavery and forced labour. Right to liberty and security. Right to a fair trial. No punishment without law. Right to respect for private and family life. Freedom of thought, conscience and religion. Freedom of expression. Freedom of assembly and association. Right to marry. Right to an effective remedy. Prohibition of discrimination. Prohibition of abuse of rights." Below, in smaller blue text: "EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS 75 YEARS (1950 - 2025)" next to a small image of the EU flag.

🤝75 years of the European Convention on Human Rights

A landmark treaty that reshaped Europe after the second World War, protecting millions of Europeans and supporting our shared values of human rights, democracy and rule of law.

Because human rights aren’t optional. They’re universal.

Vitalii Petrenko and the Secret of the Roman Baths, a new children's book by Claire Bramwell-Pearson - The Real Chrisparkle An exciting new children's book by Bath author Claire Bramwell-Pearson tells the story of an unlikely friendship across cultures!

Read all about a new children's book, #VitaliiPetrenko and the Secret of the Roman Baths, by Claire Bramwell-Pearson, that links Bath, Somerset with Oleksandriya in Ukraine. wp.me/pKXAt-cc0

Review – Screaming Blue Murder, Underground at the Royal and Derngate, Northampton, 25th October 2025 - The Real Chrisparkle A terrific night of comedy hosted by the inimitable Dan Evans, with Abigoliah Schamaun, Toussaint Douglass and Tony Law all on terrific form.

Fantastic final #ScreamingBlueMurder of 2025 at Northampton’s Royal and Derngate last night, with Dan Evans, Abigoliah Schamaun, Toussaint Douglass and Tony Law all on rip-roaring form. Deservedly a sold out show! wp.me/pKXAt-cbD

Review – Safe Space, Minerva Theatre, Chichester, 23rd October 2025 - The Real Chrisparkle Excellent performances and fascinating themes sadly cannot rescue this unevenly written and frustratingly inconclusive play.

Safe Space at the Minerva Theatre Chichester is a brave stab to cover the fascinating problems when a college is named after someone in favour of slavery. Good performances but sadly the play just isn't good enough to tackle its subjects. wp.me/pKXAt-cbl ⭐⭐ from me!

Review – Kae Kurd, What’s O’Kurd, Underground at the Royal and Derngate, Northampton, 17th October 2025 - The Real Chrisparkle Kae Kurd brings his What's O'Kurd tour to Northampton in this engagingly funny evening of challenging but always good-hearted material.

First time seeing the comedian Kae Kurd in Northampton last night - a very engaging presence with great, hard-hitting material that packs a punch and is always funny. Ably supported by Muhsin Yesilada. Near the end of the tour now but definitely worth catching! wp.me/pKXAt-caD

Review – Entertaining Mr Sloane, Young Vic, London, 15th October 2025 - The Real Chrisparkle Joe Orton's first stage play given a fine revival by Nadia Fall at the Young Vic, still unsettling and challenging, as well as very funny!

Highly entertaining and vivid revival of Joe Orton's Entertaining Mr Sloane at the Young Vic with an excellent stage debut from Jordan Stephens. wp.me/pKXAt-cak ⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me!

Review – Cyrano de Bergerac, Royal Shakespeare Company at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 7th October 2025 - The Real Chrisparkle A smartly emotionally updated adaptation, notable for stunning performances from the entire cast; Adrian Lester & Susannah Fielding are superb

Cracking new adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac at The RSC in Stratford with universally great performances from the entire cast. wp.me/pKXAt-c9t ⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me!

Review – The Comedy Crate presents British Comedian of the Year Northampton Heat, Cheyne Walk Club, Northampton, 18th September 2025 - The Real Chrisparkle Nine acts competed for two places to go forward in the competition, in a very enjoyable evening of fast paced comedy!

Northampton heat of the British Comedian of the Year 2025 competition last night in Northampton, courtesy of those nice people at The Comedy Crate - very entertaining and some excellent acts! wp.me/pKXAt-c7z

Review – Breaking the Code, Royal and Derngate, Northampton, 16th September 2025 - The Real Chrisparkle Hugh Whitemore's 1986 play about Alan Turing given a brilliant, riveting and relevant revival with superb performances and a new epilogue.

Powerful, riveting revival of Hugh Whitemore's #BreakingTheCode at the Royal & Derngate Northampton tells the story of Alan Turing, both the man and the masterful scientist. Fantastic performances and direction, a must-see in Northampton or on tour. wp.me/pKXAt-c6W ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me!

I saw Chichester's new production of Hamlet at an early preview, and my guess is that by now it is a solid and serious show - if very long! wp.me/pKXAt-c6f ⭐⭐⭐ from me!

every time there's political violence discourse i think about how jo cox was assassinated in broad daylight by a fascist who shouted "britain first" as he shot her, and now nine years later her party is dedicating every moment in power to placating the ideology of her murderer

See shocking moment Farage calls Mirror reporter 'disgusting' after tax question Nigel Farage lashed out at questions over his tax affairs and said 'you’re disgusting' when The Mirror asked him about not paying stamp duty on his constituency home

Nigel Farage lashes out and calls Mirror reporter ‘disgusting’ after tax question

www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

#FragileFarage

Review – The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Royal Shakespeare Company at The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon, 30th August 2025 - The Real Chrisparkle A shortened version designed to introduce children to Shakespeare's play, this was sadly hard to follow, poorly staged and dull.

Now closed, the recent production of Two Gentlemen of Verona at the RSC in Stratford was quite the disappointment. Unclear, poor staging, muddy sound quality and, overall, pretty dull. wp.me/pKXAt-c5u ⭐⭐ from me!

Review – Fat Ham, Royal Shakespeare Company at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 30th August 2025 - The Real Chrisparkle James Ijames Pulitzer-Prize winning version of Hamlet with a tremendous cast and a hilarious script in a beautiful, positive production.

Heartwarming and irresistible, Fat Ham at TheRSC in Stratford is a feast of positivity and joy - and a very clever new version of Hamlet. 100% recommended! wp.me/pKXAt-c5i ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me!

Edinburgh Fringe 2025 – It’s a Wrap! - The Real Chrisparkle Here's a run-down of all the shows we awarded five or four stars at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe. Each one a brilliant show!

The Edinburgh Fringe 2025 has finally come to an end - here's a summary of the best shows we saw! wp.me/pKXAt-c4A

Review – Top Hat, Festival Theatre, Chichester, 18th July 2025 - The Real Chrisparkle Great sets, costumes and music but little chemistry between the leads and a really corny dated script - great expectations sadly not met.

Chichester's new production of Top Hat looks and sounds glorious but suffers from a very corny script and comes across as truly dated. I was also unconvinced of the connection between the leads. Still, I'm sure it will do great box office! wp.me/pKXAt-bXK ⭐⭐⭐ from me!

Review – The Winter’s Tale, RSC at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 22nd July 2025 - The Real Chrisparkle Moody and atmospheric version which goes full guns blazing with the Bohemia scene, which unbalances the production. Very good performances.

Some very good performances in the new The Winter's Tale at the RSC in Stratford but one distractingly different scene unbalances the whole production. Good storytelling though. wp.me/pKXAt-bY8 ⭐⭐⭐ from me!