REVIEWS

Spend Spend Spend - Watermill, Newbury

"Craig Revel Horwood's production of this glorious account of one woman's inglorious career is a belter, bursting with energy, appetite and coarse humour." The Times ****, 15 July 2009

"Gobsmackingly good." The Times ****, 15 July 2009

"Horwood's sassy choreography comes into its own in the outrageous climax to the first half." The Sunday Times ***

"Craig Revel Horwood (who choreographed Jeremy Sams' original production) has taken Brown and Greene's wonderfully funny, moving tragic-comedy and fashioned a gloriously warm, in-yer-face revival that fits the intimate Watermill like a glove." What's On Stage *****, 17 July 2009

"The Watermill's trademark actor/singer/musicians perform with passion, wit and commitment." What's On Stage *****, 17 July 2009

"Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood has directed an admirable revival of Spend Spend Spend." Daily Telegraph ***, 20 July 2009

"I admired this revival, directed with compact flair by Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood and arranged by Sarah Travis." Daily Telegraph ***, 20 July 2009

"With such a fantastic cast of actor musicians contributing equally to the success of the production, everyone has specific talents that are played to the fore." The Stage, 15 July 2009

"Written from the heart by the lead character herself, this touching story is as relevant today as it was in 1961 when Viv Nicholson won the Pools." The Stage, 15 July 2009

"This summer's winner." Newbury Weekly News, 16 July 2009

"The combination of another intricate, clever set, the superb cast of actor/musicians, a pulsating exciting score and the story, far meatier than many a more frothy musical, make Spend Spend Spend! a must see." Newbury Weekly News, 16 July 2009

"The top-notch partnership of Craig Revel Horwood in charge of direction and choreography, with musical arranger Sarah Travis, turn the highs and lows of Viv's life into an entertainment which is funny, bawdy and moving in equal measure." Newbury Weekly News, 16 July 2009

"Always involving, and frequently very funny, the show is moving as well." The Oxford Times, 16 July 2009

"For this production has done something very rare: it has turned a not enormously memorable musical into something special, without losing any of the show's grit and bawdiness." The Oxford Times, 16 July 2009

"The 12-strong ensemble cast is uniformly excellent, but Kirsty Hoiles is exceptional as Young Viv...it's a performance that should make her career." The Oxford Times, 16 July 2009

"Craig Revel Horwood has now directed and choreographed three shows for The Watermill...each one better than the last. This production eclipses them all." Theatre World, 15 July 2009

"This was the sort of experience the West End is supposed to deliver - and so rarely does. A really, really good night out." Theatre World, 15 July 2009

"The razor edged choreography is a wonder to behold" Theatre World, 15 July 2009

"Craig Revel Horwood and Sarah Travers (sic) are doing something rather wonderful at The Watermill." Theatre World, 15 July 2009

"This is one of the theatrical "must sees" of the summer." Broadway World.Com, 21 July 2009

"This world is masterfully revealed by Diego Pietarch's starkly stunning and cleverly functional set, Sarah Travis's beautiful musical arrangements and Craig Revel Horwood's brilliantly choreographed direction." Broadway World.Com, 21 July 2009

"Horwood not only paints a striking visual tableau on stage that allows the story to flow at the perfect pace but also his eye for detail is so precise that there are individual moments of quite intimate magic - and every moment rings with absolute truth." Broadway World.Com, 21 July 2009

"Sarah Travis's arrangements of Brown's jolly show tunes are superb; tight, witty and effectively using actor/musician resources for power and depth." Reviewsgate, 15 July 2009

"The level of skill of the performers is exceptional." Reviewsgate, 15 July 2009

"The Watermill Theatre's current musical, Spend Spend Spend , relays one of the oldest wisdoms of all time in an outstandingly entertaining two and a half hours." Marlborough People Website, 14 July 2009

"I cannot recommend this show highly enough." Marlborough People Website, 14 July 2009

"The combination of this excellent writing, the small space and the use of musical performers who can actually act, means you genuinely care about the characters in their lower and more emotional moments." Marlborough People Website, 14 July 2009