Press Quotes

Horrible Histories: The Vile Victorians and The Terrible Tudors

“Yet another historical hit…”
British Theatre Guide

“Head choppingly brilliant...a great piece of theatre”
Public Reviews, The Curve Leicester

“It comes as no surprise that history can be horrible, but it is rarely this much fun”
Culture of Northern Ireland, Belfast

 

 

Write Me A Murder

“Every summer season needs at least one good murder. This is it…Director Phil Clark keeps the pace of twists and turns going and the final comeuppance is satisfying and timed perfectly”
Eastern Daily Press

“Knott’s ingeniously devised play is full of unexpected twists and turns and in the hands of director Phil Clark, grips the attention throughout”
East Anglian Daily Times

 

Horrible Histories: The Awful Egyptians and The Ruthless Romans

"This is live entertainment at its best"
Back Stage Pass

"At times it does look like you are watching a 3D film, with the actors engaging with the film, and it looked stunning"
Back Stage Pass

 

And A Nightingale Sang

"This was flawless theatre - impeccably acted,beautifully lit, perfectly paced"
The Stage

"Phil Clarks staging for the opening production in Jill Freuds annual summer theatre season in Suffolk is with compassion and affection"
What's On Stage

 

Skellig by David Almond, Broadway NY

Magnificent
New York Times

This is magical realism at its best. Director Phil Clark has created moments of lyrical transcendence side by side with utter naturalism. A perfectly wonderful production
Woman Around Town, New York

A skilfully cohesive production......Phil Clarks' wonderfully fluid direction.....absolutely astounding.
Backstage.com, New York

Phil Clark directs with fluidity and imagination
Forbes on Film & Footlights, New York

 

The Firework-Maker's Daughter

"Phil Clark's production finds an ingenious way to stage the final firework competition"
The Guardian

"ingenious"
The Stage

"directed by Phil Clark it sparkles, fizzes and explodes. The audience...were transfixed "
Primary Times

"The whole family will love this production. It has everything"
Explore Gloucestershire

 

Dangerous Obsession

"fully deserved the roaring ovation from a first night audience"
East Anglian Daily Times

"uniformly terrific....fast paced production....."
East Anglian Daily Times

 

Danny the Champion of the World by Roal Dahl

Main Stage and No 1 National tour

"Phil Clark's production must be the most enjoyable children's play currently on tour. Not only that but adults will find that it's one of the most enjoyable productions for any age currently on tour"
The Stage

"...as fine a piece of theatre of young peoples theatre as one could hope to see"
www.theatre-wales.co.uk

"...theatrical colour, real emotional depth and good old-fashioned fun....watching an audience of young people respond positively to a piece of live theatre is always a joy"
South Wales Evening Post

"Phil Clark's production is touching without being twee, moral without being priggish, magical yet earthy; and it's genuinely suspenseful too"
The Times

"...stirring, exciting and refreshingly unsentimental"
The Times

 

Educating Rita by Willy Russell

Main Stage

"...a particulary first class production"
Metro

"An outstanding production of a modern classic. Popular theatre at its best"
Western Mail

"A great play given a great production. A fine achievement for Phil Clark"
www.theatre-wales.co.uk

 

The Stories of Hans Christian Anderson by Mike Kenny

Main Stage

"The imagination of this nineteenth century writer combined with the modern writing talents of Mike Kenny and the pitch-perfect direction of Phil Clark make this a performance that the whole family will enjoy"
South Wales Echo

"The cast of eight's ensemble playing under the skiful direction of Phil Clark is admirable"
The Stage

"Watching the performance is to witness a kaleidoscope of song, speech, dance, and music at a pace that maintains interest and excitement"
The Western Mail

"They bring a tremendous energy to the production and successfully create worlds within worlds"
The Guardian

Voted one of the top five theatre shows in Britain. Xmas 2006
Benedict Nightingale, The Times

Voted in the top 50 things to do at Xmas 2006
The Observer

"Mike Kenny's The Stories of Hans Christian Andersen brilliantly directed by Phil Clark was an absolute delight to see. In all respects it deserves an excellent rating...The production was an unqualified success which deserves the highest praise possible"
Arts Council of Wales

 

The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde, adapted by Phil Clark

Studio Theatre and National Tour

"This hour long play, adapted for the stage by Phil Clark, has everything that a three to six-year-old child could need in an introductory visit to the theatre"
South Wales Argus

"Celebrated director Phil Clark has successfully adapted The Happy Prince"
Buzz Magazine

"What a happy show. Adapted from the Oscar Wilde fairytale by director Phil Clark, this staging is aimed at three to six-year-olds. Without even a hint of playing down, it scores a direct hit"
The Stage

 

Skellig by David Almond

Birmingham Stage Company, National Tour and Broadway NY

Magnificent
New York Times

This is magical realism at its best. Director Phil Clark has created moments of lyrical transcendence side by side with utter naturalism. A perfectly wonderful production
Woman Around Town, New York

A skilfully cohesive production......Phil Clarks' wonderfully fluid direction.....absolutely astounding.
Backstage.com, New York

Phil Clark directs with fluidity and imagination
Forbes on Film & Footlights, New York

"Phil Clark's brand new production of this wondrous and multi-layered story is riveting"
The Stage

"It's seamless sophisticated theatre"
Birmingham Post

"Let's cut to the chase - this is simply an amazing piece of theatre"
Solihull Times

 

Horrible History of World War One and Two

Birmingham Stage Company National Tour

"Clark's skilful adaptation and direction makes this an informative and enjoyable experience for adults and children alike"
The Stage

"A show that is quite unlike anything kids get at school - but must be worth a fortnight of history lessons"
Manchester City Life

"A startling, haunting, beautifully staged production"
Bradford Telegraph and Argus

"Horrible, yes, but thankfully not trivialised theatre"
The Times

 

Aladdin

Cheltenham Everyman Theatre

"...this excellent show, which is expertly directed by Phil Clark"
The Oxford Times

"Phil Clark's effervescent seasonal offering scores strongly in the opinion polls"
The Stage

"Aladdin , directed by Phil Clark is sheer joy. As slick and colourful and exuberent as the best of today...The essence of Pantomime is fun personalities projecting and connecting over the footlights, and this show has them in droves"
Cheltenham Echo

 

The BFG by Roald Dahl

Royal and Derngate Theatres Northampton with Firey Light National No1 Tour

"This production of THE BFG sees the words on the page electrifyingly brought to life on the stage, totally captivating the audience"
The Stage

"Big, Friendly and a Giant success..."
Birmingham Post

"You won't see a better family show this year..."
Birmingham Post

"Another great achievement from a director with a fantastic track record..."
Birmingham Post

"...a fine example of theatre for young people"
The British Theatre Guide

 

Dick Whittington

"The Everymans' Dick Whittington had them enthralled....it was a screaming success"
The Gloucestershire Echo

"....as stylish as any regional pantomime could desire"
The Stage

"voted number one top theatre"
Benedict Nightingale. The Times

 

Sleeping Beauty

"....this production gets the balance just right....a top performance"
The North Wales Visitor

"The show effortlessly combines charm, heart and humour, with high production values....What marked this pantomime out from others was the relationship between the cast and the feeling that each character was as important as the other - there was no star just performers wanting to entertain"
North Wales News

"This beauty of a pantomime is as polished and funny as the very best"
STROUD NEWS AND JOURNAL

"Family-friendly pantomime is back bigger,better and funnier than ever"
CHELTONIAN

"Sophisticated sets,magical happenings and familiar,well performed songs, this show was a real beauty"
PRIMARY TIMES

 

Horrible Science

" In a special effects tour-de-force, bacteria, electricity, body functions and gravity came spectacularly to life as a giant screen and 3D 'boggle glasses’ had you diving to avoid a hail of disgusting creatures and objects sallying forth into the theatre. It had to be seen to be believed"
Blackpool Gazette

 

George's Marvellous Medicine

"Clark's staging enters into the quirky, fantasy world of the story with aplomb and an enormous sense of glee"
The Times

"An example of how to engage an audience's attention and keep it right to the end of the show. And beyond the theatre's doors"
Whats On Stage

"Gets the ear-splitting, roof-raising response it deserves"
The Stage

"It's absolutely wicked and not just for the children"
The Stage

"Phil Clark's amusing, entertaining, exciting and magical show goes from strength to strength"
York Press

 

Cinderella

"one would not have wanted it a moment shorter. Well done to director Phil Clark and his whole team"
OXFORD TIMES

"This is good old fashioned panto"
THE STAGE

"Cinderella is one long joyfull party......Phil Clark's attractive production"
CHELTENHAM ECHO

 

Everything Must Go by Patrick Jones

Main Stage,Tour, 4 weeks Lyric Hammersmith

"Voices the feelings of a whole generation…Jones’ prose poetry can have a mantra-like power and musical rhythms that Phil Clark’s actors handle with charismatic assurance"
Daily Telegraph

"Remarkable"
The Stage

"Director Phil Clark and designer Jane Linz Roberts have collaborated to create a bleak, macabre anti-wonderland in which the set pieces are meticulously staged"
The Independent

"Phil Clark’s production has moments of breathtaking beauty and coal black humour"
Independent on Sunday

 

Mental by Jo Brand and Helen Griffin

Assembly Rooms Edinburgh, Tour

"Director and writers transform the chair bound action into a dynamic virtue…...
Definitely one of the musts"
The Stage

 

Caitlin by Mike Kenny

Edinburgh Festival, New York, Tour

"Director Phil Clark and writer Mike Kenny wore a spellbinding, absorbing piece of work, both electrifying and illuminating"
Edinburgh Evening News

 

The Laramie Project by Moises Kaufman Studio

"Truly memorable, avoiding potential melodrama. Clark always at his best"
Western Mail

 

Flesh and Blood by Helen Griffin

Main Stage, Tour, Hampstead Theatre

"The play is never for a moment didactic, and Phil Clark directs the four actors with a sense of blistering precision and excellence"
The Sunday Times

"Phil Clark’s production has a boisterous energy"
London Evening Standard

"Phil Clark’s confident production with a first rate cast"
Western Mail

 

The Borrowers adapted by Charles Way

Main Stage

"Sharp, uncompromising direction by Phil Clark this is a multi-layered theatrical delight"
Western Mail

"Phil Clark’s new production...is in another league. It’s sensational, a brilliant incorporation of highly theatrical style with moving, human - scale storytelling"
ReviewsGate.com

"An exquisite theatre achievement, a perfect combination of the skills of a wonderful original idea"
Theatre in Wales Web site

 

Merlin and the Cave of Dreams by Charles Way

Main Stage

"Pure Theatre"
Western Mail

"Outstanding triumph"
South Wales Echo

"Warmth, charm and excitement in Artistic Director Phil Clark’s production…a top of the tree production"

 

One Dark Night by Mike Kenny

Studio and National Tour

"Phil Clark’s admirable production - itself an invitation to an imaginative voyage in theatre - is first-rate young peoples theatre"
ReviewsGate.com