Chris Poppe
@chrispoppe.bsky.social
AKA The Real Chrisparkle, where I review theatre, comedy and a lot more - check out therealchrisparkle.com. See pinned post for my Agatha Christie Challenge! Eurovision, travel, and the odd literary challenge.
Pinned
Chris Poppe
@chrispoppe.bsky.social
· Nov 11
https://amazon.co.uk/Agatha-Christi…
Very proud that my #AgathaChristieChallenge is now available on Amazon in two volumes - would make a great gift to the Christie fan in your family! amazon.co.uk/Agatha-Christi…
Despite all its excellent and positive attributes, the new production of Coward's #FallenAngels at the Menier Chocolate Factory never really comes to life. Solid but unremarkable. wp.me/pKXAt-cXj ⭐⭐⭐ from me!
Review – Fallen Angels, Menier Chocolate Factory, London, 14th December 2025 - The Real Chrisparkle
Noel Coward's 100 year old comedy Fallen Angels is perhaps starting to feel its age; this production is simply not as funny as it should be!
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December 15, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Despite all its excellent and positive attributes, the new production of Coward's #FallenAngels at the Menier Chocolate Factory never really comes to life. Solid but unremarkable. wp.me/pKXAt-cXj ⭐⭐⭐ from me!
A true delight from start to finish, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s new production of #TheBFG in Stratford brings out everyone's inner child and is simply magical. wp.me/pKXAt-cX4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me!
Review – Roald Dahl’s The BFG, RSC at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 9th December 2025 - The Real Chrisparkle
Daniel Evans' BFG for the RSC is a triumph of the magical, entrancing and surprisingly funny, Reconnect with your inner child!
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December 10, 2025 at 12:09 PM
A true delight from start to finish, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s new production of #TheBFG in Stratford brings out everyone's inner child and is simply magical. wp.me/pKXAt-cX4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me!
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 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.
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December 7, 2025 at 5:29 PM
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!
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!
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.
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December 6, 2025 at 2:43 PM
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!
Reposted by Chris Poppe
"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?"
The barman said, Hello Nigel, same as usual?"
December 5, 2025 at 2:21 PM
"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?"
The barman said, Hello Nigel, same as usual?"
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!
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!
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December 4, 2025 at 2:32 PM
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!
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
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
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December 3, 2025 at 9:50 AM
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
Reposted by Chris Poppe
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.
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.
December 1, 2025 at 7:25 AM
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.
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.
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 – 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!
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November 27, 2025 at 2:08 PM
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!
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 – 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.
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November 22, 2025 at 2:13 PM
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!
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 – 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.
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November 21, 2025 at 11:38 AM
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!
#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!
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
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November 19, 2025 at 2:03 PM
#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!
Had a fantastic day at Huntingdon Racecourse last week - read all about it! wp.me/pKXAt-cS0
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!
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November 16, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Had a fantastic day at Huntingdon Racecourse last week - read all about it! wp.me/pKXAt-cS0
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 – 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.
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November 8, 2025 at 2:37 PM
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!
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!
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!
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November 5, 2025 at 12:16 PM
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!
Reposted by Chris Poppe
🤝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.
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.
November 4, 2025 at 8:15 AM
🤝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.
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.
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
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!
wp.me
November 3, 2025 at 4:44 PM
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
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 – 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.
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October 26, 2025 at 11:22 AM
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
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 – 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.
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October 25, 2025 at 2:26 PM
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!
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 – 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.
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October 18, 2025 at 1:05 PM
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
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 – 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!
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October 16, 2025 at 3:36 PM
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!
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 – 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
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October 8, 2025 at 12:47 PM
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!
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 – 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!
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September 19, 2025 at 10:35 AM
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
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!
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.
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September 17, 2025 at 12:54 PM
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!
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September 16, 2025 at 2:23 PM
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!