Robin & Jane take a look back at the best theatre moments of 2025!

Plus who will Robin & Jane award Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Musical & Best Overall Theatre Production to??

Robin & Jane In The Stalls – A Christmas Carol (Lyric Theatre, Belfast) Review Robin & Jane are feeling festive as they head to the opening night of A Christmas Carol at Belfast’s Lyric Theatre, and they’re back in the stalls to share their thoughts on this much-loved seasonal favourite. Back by popular demand, Marie Jones’ joyful reimagining of Charles Dickens’ timeless classic returns after enchanting audiences and earning rave reviews in 2024. Running until 10th January, this production promises warmth, wonder and plenty of Christmas cheer. Nobody loathes Christmas more than the infamous miser Ebenezer Scrooge — but on a frosty Christmas Eve, he’s swept on a thrilling journey through past, present and future, offering him one final chance to change his fate before it’s too late. Under Marie Jones’ masterful hand, this big-hearted tale bursts with wit, music and merriment. From the chilling arrival of the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come, to the joyful spirit of redemption and goodwill, every moment sparkles with theatrical magic. With an incredible ensemble cast, the production uses the pure magic of live theatre to conjure the sounds, characters and settings of Victorian Belfast, creating a rich and imaginative festive world on stage. In this episode, Robin & Jane discuss: The festive atmosphere on opening night Standout performances and ghostly moments Music, storytelling and Marie Jones’ distinctive touch Whether this production lives up to its glowing reputation Whether this is your first Christmas theatre trip or a much-loved Lyric family tradition, A Christmas Carol aims to make magical memories — and Robin & Jane are here to tell you if it delivers. A Christmas Carol runs at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast until 10th January.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe and share Robin & Jane In The Stalls for more theatre reviews, opening-night reactions and all things stage-related. #RobinAndJaneInTheStalls #AChristmasCarol #LyricTheatre #BelfastTheatre #TheatrePodcast #ChristmasTheatre #MarieJones #Dickens

🎭 Robin & Jane In The Stalls — Episode: Faust-ish at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast 🎭

This week on Theatre Review Podcast: Robin & Jane In The Stalls, our reviewers head to Belfast’s Lyric Theatre to experience Faust-ish — Big Telly’s wickedly inventive reimagining of the Faust legend, running until 9th November as part of this year’s Belfast International Arts Festival.

🔥 Fresh from Off Broadway, where Big Telly picked up Best Production for Granny Jackson’s Dead, the company is back on home turf — and this time, the devil’s got a Northern Irish accent.

💬 Join Robin and Jane as they unpack this devilishly funny, fast-paced, and fabulously farcical new production. Expect talk of torchlit search parties, political satire, sharp humour, and that trademark Big Telly mix of mischief and heart.

Can Faith Hughes — a 45-year-old MLA trying to fix the world — bargain her way back to her lost soul? Or has Lucifer already won? Tune in for insights, laughter, and plenty of craic from the stalls!

🎧 Listen now for their full review, behind-the-scenes chat, and all the theatrical gossip you love.

📍 Faust-ish runs at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast, until 9th November — don’t miss your chance to see it!

👇 Subscribe, like, and drop a comment if you’ve seen the show — we’d love to hear your thoughts!

#TheatreReviewPodcast #RobinAndJaneInTheStalls #BigTelly #Faustish #LyricTheatreBelfast #BelfastInternationalArtsFestival #NITheatre #TheatreReview #Podcast #BelfastArts #FaustReimagined #IrishTheatre

🎭 Robin & Jane In The Stalls | Episode: Blood Brothers (UK Tour – Belfast Grand Opera House)

🎭 This week, Robin and Jane are back In The Stalls for one of the most iconic British musicals of all time — Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers. Currently touring the UK, the show is playing at Belfast’s Grand Opera House until 8th November.

It’s a special episode: this is Jane’s very first time seeing Blood Brothers — and Robin’s 15th (!!). Expect laughs, nostalgia, a few tears, and a deep dive into why this show continues to captivate audiences decades after its debut.

They’ll be chatting about the timeless story of the Johnstone twins, the emotional power of Russell’s writing, and the unforgettable performances from Vivienne Carlyle (Mrs Johnstone), Kristofer Harding (Narrator), Sean Jones (Mickey), Joe Sleight (Eddie), and Gemma Brodrick (Linda).

🎶 Featuring classic numbers like Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe, and the tear-jerking Tell Me It’s Not True, Blood Brothers truly earns its nickname — The Standing Ovation Musical.

👉 Tune in for: Robin’s seasoned take vs. Jane’s first impressions Discussion on why Blood Brothers still hits home today Favourite moments, performances, and production highlights 📍

Blood Brothers – UK Tour

🗓️ Belfast Grand Opera House | Running until 8th November

🎟️ Visit goh.co.uk for tickets

💬 Join the conversation: Have you seen Blood Brothers? Was your reaction as emotional as ours? Let us know in the comments!

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it really helps us keep the theatre chat alive!

#BloodBrothers #TheatreReview #WillyRussell #UKTour #BelfastTheatre #MusicalTheatre #RobinAndJaneInTheStalls #TheatrePodcast #WestEndClassic #BillKenwright

🎭 Robin & Jane In The Stalls | Episode 50 – Denouement at Belfast’s Lyric Theatre 🎭

This week, Robin & Jane step into the near future – or maybe the end of it – as they review John Morton’s Denouement, now running at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast until 15th November.

It’s 2048, Armageddon is on the horizon, and Edel and Liam are spending their final hours together in a remote Irish farmhouse. As the world crumbles outside, they cling to memories, bicker over everything and nothing, and reveal what it really means to love — and to live — when time is running out.

In this episode, Robin & Jane dive deep into:

• The darkly comic tone of Morton’s writing

• The powerful performances by Anna Healy and Patrick O’Kane

• The haunting, absurd humour that makes Denouement both heartbreaking and hilarious

• Why this world premiere might be one of the Lyric’s boldest productions yet

💬 Plenty of debate about whether some things are better left unsaid… even at the end.

👉 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your theatre fix!

🎟️ Denouement runs at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast until 15th November – don’t miss this extraordinary new play.

#TheatreReview #Podcast #Denouement #LyricTheatreBelfast #JohnMorton #RobinAndJaneInTheStalls #IrishTheatre #TheatrePodcast #NewWriting #ApocalypticDrama

🎭 Robin & Jane In The Stalls | Theatre Review Podcast 🎭

Episode Title: The Upside Down House – Tinderbox Theatre Company @ The MAC, Belfast

This week, Robin & Jane are back in Belfast at The MAC to see Tinderbox Theatre Company’s brand-new production The Upside Down House — running until 2nd November.

💔 A first love story, one last time. Heartfelt, hilarious, and wildly imaginative, The Upside Down House takes audiences on a time-bending journey through love, memory, and the struggle to let go.

When OLDER returns to the abandoned house of his youth, he comes face-to-face with the memory of his first love — vivid, funny, and impossible to ignore. As the house begins to collapse, so does the line between past and present, pulling him into a dreamlike maze of nostalgia, heartbreak, and what might have been.

Join Robin & Jane as they share their thoughts on this striking piece of new writing — from its inventive staging and emotional performances to the powerful storytelling that stays with you long after the curtain falls.

🎧 Tune in, subscribe, and step In The Stalls with us!

📍 The Upside Down House

🕰️ Running until 2nd November

🏠 Presented by Tinderbox Theatre Company at The MAC, Belfast 👇 Listen now and join the conversation:

#TheatreReview #TheUpsideDownHouse #TinderboxTheatre #TheMACBelfast #RobinAndJane #InTheStallsPodcast #IrishTheatre #BelfastArts #TheatrePodcast

The Belfast International Arts Festival is in full swing, and Robin & Jane are back In The Stalls with a brand new episode you won’t want to miss.

This week, they shine the spotlight on “Ottilie” – the international premiere of a powerful one-woman show from Rathmore Productions, running at the Grand Opera House until 24th October.

🎤 Who was Ottilie Patterson? Blues trailblazer, international star, and the voice that brought the Deep South to Northern Ireland. Written by Richard Clements, directed by Matthew McElhinney, and starring the brilliant Jolene O’Hara, Ottilie is a poetic and passionate reimagining of the life of Northern Ireland’s greatest blues singer, with live music arranged and performed by Zak Irvine.

🎶 From childhood blues discoveries, to touring with Chris Barber and sharing stages with icons like Muddy Waters and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Ottilie’s story is as rich and soulful as her voice.

In this episode, Robin & Jane explore:

The emotional core of the production

Jolene O’Hara’s powerhouse performance

The role of live music in storytelling

Why Ottilie is a must-see at this year’s festival

🎧 Whether you're a theatre lover, a music enthusiast, or just looking for something unforgettable this October – this is the episode for you.

👉 Hit play now and take your seat In The Stalls!

#Ottilie #BIAF2025 #InTheStalls #TheatrePodcast #NorthernIrishTheatre #OttiliePatterson #JoleneOHara #ZakIrvine #BluesLegend #BelfastTheatre #GrandOperaHouse #RathmoreProductions #LiveTheatre #FestivalHighlights

Robin & Jane are back in the stalls — and this week, they’re sleuthing their way through a gripping night at the theatre with Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts, now haunting Belfast’s Grand Opera House until Saturday! 👻

🕵️‍♂️ This first-ever stage adaptation of the legendary detective series brings a brand-new mystery to life: a young actress collapses mid-performance, and what begins as a routine investigation spirals into something far darker, dredging up ghosts from Morse’s own past…

⭐ Starring Tom Chambers (Father Brown, Strictly Come Dancing) as the iconic Inspector Morse

✍️ Written exclusively for the stage – with all the twists, turns, and tension you'd expect But the real mystery? What did Jane — a lifelong Morse devotee — make of the stage version? And can Robin, be won over by the brooding Oxford detective?

🎧 Tune in now to this week’s episode of Robin & Jane In The Stalls for their take on: The atmosphere & adaptation Tom Chambers’ take on Morse Whether the story holds up for die-hard fans and first-timers

👀 Don’t miss it — especially if you're thinking of catching the show before it closes this Saturday!

🎙️ Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & wherever you get your theatre fix. 📍Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts is playing at the Grand Opera House, Belfast — until 𝙎𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮!

#InspectorMorse #TheatreReview #RobinAndJane #HouseOfGhosts #GrandOperaHouse #TomChambers #StageMystery #TheatrePodcast #BelfastTheatre #MorseFans #InTheStalls