THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES (2008)
"A masterpiece of a 'whodunnit' – involving an ancient curse, whimsical humour, and even a glimpse of the horrifying hound in the darkness. All this was provided by just four actors, who brilliantly played more than 20 characters, cleverly changing costume and set as if by magic."
Banffshire Journal
"Their Sherlock Holmes caper has a typically larky undertone but
also makes for a gripping evening out."
The Independent
"Retains a sense of great playfulness throughout, whilst also achieving a suitably spooky atmosphere as the two intrepid detectives are out on the moors and finally face the notorious hound."
British Theatre Guide
"In days when in order to hold our attention the movie makers have to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on special effects and super stars, it has been a very gratifying thing to see some absolutely wonderful theatre involving a few chairs, some costumes, a few false moustaches plus amazing skill, timing and trickery, and then wonder where the heck two and a half hours and a picnic went to! If you do nothing else for entertainment for the rest of this year you’d be as well to invest an evening and an al fresco supper on this lot! Catch them at the Edinburgh Fringe or anywhere else in the UK! Superb!"
WorldzEnd.wordpress.com
"'The Hound of the Baskervilles' is pure entertainment, written and performed for laughs, without undermining its source. Amongst deerhunters, fake moustaches and forgotten canes, the 'whodunnit' element propels the plot along. Recreating the population of this well-known mystery meant each actor was required to play an array of characters, switching voices, mannerisms and costumes at breakneck speed. They made each snappy change seem effortless, imbuing the show with great energy. A show to enjoy."
Three Weeks
"Remains faithful to the original and extracts as much humour as possible from the plot, situations and characters, without making it totally barking or unacceptably silly. Full marks to all four players who shared a score or more of characters and whose re-cap of the somewhat convoluted plot was hilarious... A champion show."
The Cornishman
THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR (2008)
"Brilliant and imaginative... these performances are not to be missed."
Lakeland Echo
"They had tremendous energy and kept up a hilarious and polished performance throughout. Don't miss Illyria."
Shields Gazette
"Illyria have got this farce game licked. While 'Carry On Courting' might be a little wide of the mark, the quintet of broad-backed players, flamboyant costumes, timely bursts of song and Oliver Gray's just-so, micro-precise direction are idealy suited The Merry Wives, one of Will's most comical, surreal and gallivanting web of plotlines. The intervening subplots, costume changes, character switching, voice throwing and quite brilliantly choreographed song 'n' dance routines dispelled any thoughts of rain stopping play, making quite simply one of the most deliciously English theatrical experiences you could ever wish for. Unlikely, unrelenting, unforgettable.
Venue Magazine
"It moves at a cracking pace, the plotting is neat, the characters are strong and well-differentiated. Every actor squeezes the potential out of his or her part, and there are many touches of directorial excellence from Oliver Gray." Nottingham Evening Post
" What's undeniable is the sheer heroism of the cast. They rush, dive, prattle, scene-change and cross-dress like the team of total professionals they are, giving the audience a fine time in the process. And if this is finally a production more about their ingenuity than about the play itself – well, Shakespeare only wrote this play to entertain on a bright summer's night and that's exactly what it does."
The Scotsman
"Illyria captivated the audience with extravagant and comical costumes and contemporary references throughout the play — which has a staggering nine sub-plots. What may have seemed like madness on stage at any other time, unfolded as sheer comedy with impressive acting."
Ross-shire Journal
"Performed at speed in the customary style of this company, the five members of the cast leapt and lunged, fenced and fooled, sang and danced their way in and out of the plot with alacrity and astonishing ability. This was Illyria at is cuckoo and comical best."
The Cornishman
PINOCCHIO (2008)
"The energetic and multi-talented cast, who change costume and character faster than Pinocchio's nose grows, are simply splendid. Then, too, there is Bernard, as if one could possibly ignore him. Without spoiling the surprise, it is safe to say if you forget Disney and think Spielberg you'll have an inkling of the magnificent part he plays."
The Cornishman
"The lively and inventive Illyria actors last night played to a large audience of assorted ages. Carlo Collodi’s “Pinocchio" takes place in a circus setting of vivid colours and adroit costume and character changes, sustained at breakneck speed by five talented actors. There are songs, slapstick routines, stilts, prat-falls, dancing, a wonderful 35ft blue shark and some deft comic routines between a “blind" cat and a fox in a wheelchair. The more violent and macabre parts of the tale are well handled... Illyria’s skill and evident enjoyment continue to create happy audiences."
Blackpool Gazette
THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES (2007)
"As darkness fell, a spectacular and frightening surprise, a veritable coup de theatre, drew gasps from the audience during a scene lit only by handheld torches. Accessible, pacy, entertaining, yet without any sense of dumbing down."
The Independent
"The twists and turns of its Agatha Christie style plot about murder, a mystic moor and a horrifying hound, were gripping. Imaginative...Dramatic..."
Manchester Evening News
ROBIN HOOD (2007)
"With this production Illyria has come home again, and all hail to that. There's only one word for them - Amazing."
The Cornishman
"An incredibly slick show. There's a bit of slapstick, plenty of water sloshing around and astute audience participation, with children joyfully throwing sponges at the sheriff while he's in the stocks. "
British Theatre Guide
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (2007)
"There's a real joy in seeing the ingenuity with which this tightly drilled and amiable ensemble sketch the characters and rattle through the plot. And, remarkably, the text emerges reasonably unscathed."
The Scotsman
"Illyria stick to their word: no cancellation unless there’s a hurricane. And there was a hurricane as the day’s hot sunshine drew to a close under an overcast sky - the one unleashed onstage. The fun was fast and furious. "
bbc.co.uk
MACBETH (2006)
"Good fight scenes, a clear storyline, lots of gore, lots of laughs - what else do you want?"
Western Mail
"This was a terrific production with strong, solid performances from the whole cast, adding up to an exceptionally enjoyable evening. They could keep an audience hanging on their every word with what appeared to be very little effort."
The Scotsman
The Merry Wives of Windsor, 2008
Venue Magazine
Manchester Evening News
The Hound of the Baskervilles (2007)
The Independent
Much Ado About Nothing (2007)
The Scotsman
The List
Macbeth (2006)
Manchester Evening News
The Tempest (2004)
British Theatre Guide
Three Weeks
Pride and Prejudice (2003)
Three Weeks
The Importance of Being Earnest (2001)
Three Weeks
Edinburgh Fringe
Romeo and Juliet (2000)
Westender, VANCOUVER
Glasgow Herald
Orlando Sentinel
The Emperor's New Clothes (2000)
Daily Mail
Glasgow Herald
Twelfth Night (1999)
The Scotsman
Vancouver Sun
Vancouver Fringe
The Taming of the Shrew (1998)
The Scotsman
Nomination, Orlando Fringe
Orlando Sentinel
The Tempest (1997)
The Scotsman
Macbeth (1996)
The Scotsman
