Stigmata
“When
exposing the church’s gay taboos and lampooning
the establishment, you really have to think your
attack out with care, especially if it’s
in the form of a farce. Stigmata’s creator,
Billy Cowan, has taken the task by its broad shoulders.”
“the
audience cracked with laughter”
“Cowan
has instilled a huge dose of controversy in his
work.”
“an
act of antagonism”
“Yet
as with Orton’s plays, you have to suspend
any sense of offence and absorb the sentiments
rationally because taboos need animating before
they are tackled.”
The
Stage Nov 2006
"a
strong authorial voice"
"Cowan
cranks up an infectious comedy momentum that’s
hard to resist"
"Full
marks to the plucky cast and director Natalie
Wilson"
Gay.com
Phil Wilmott Nov 7th 2006
"We’re
supposed to find our heroine, who has a shrine
to Susan Sarandon and angry right-on views, clever
and endearing. She lies, she manipulates and she
bosses, but that’s okay because she’s
doing it in the name of women to reform a religion
she doesn’t believe in anyway. Personally
I found her the kind of hectoring militant who
sounds good until you take her out of the student
common room"
Time
Out Emma John, Nov 6th 2006
Smilin'
Through
"Gillian
Hanna's alcoholic Peggy commands the stage"
"Unflinchingly
ambitious"
Metro
11 May 2005 * * * * *
"It's
not subtle but Smilin' Through has real energy
and anger along with the jokes"
Manchester
Evening News 10 May 2005 * * *
*
"A
hard hitting play with a strong message and is
at times exhilaratingly surreal"
"The
excellent cast live up to the script making it
their own"
"The
raucous and hardened Peggy is so well interpreted
by Gillian Hanna that it is difficult to imagine
anyone else in the role"
"The
dialogues between Peggy and Kyle are the highlights
of the play."
"Thought
provoking and mostly very funny"
The
Stage 1 May 2005
"Cowan's
writing has a gleeful abandon that is beguiling"
"The
play's main conceit is neat and effective"
"The
production has verve and passion"
"Natalie
Wilson, the Director, draws excellent performances
from Gillian Hanna and Marty Rea"
The
Times 21 April 2005 * * *
"Smilin'
Through is a piece that persuades you to hike
your belt in an extra couple of notches"
"Gillian
Hanna's portrayal of this wild-haired, domestic
medusa is the evening's star turn"
"You
have to admire Cowan's ambition"
The
Guardian 23 April 2005 * * *
"The
kind of challenging work from the regions the
National should be showcasing"
"The
punch in Cowan's writing is evident from the first
scene"
"The
play is far too interesting to be pigeon-holed
under a gay theatre label"
"Cowan's
bold writing gets acting to match"
"The
magnificent Gillian Hanna as Peggy - surely one
of the performances of the year"
"Captivating
new spin on perenial divisions"
"Cowan
cleverly explores the way that gay-versus-straight
might become another fault line in Northern Ireland
sectarianism"
The
Birmingham Post 21 April 2005
"Cowan's
sharp dialogue and Hanna's glorious portrayal
of foul mouthed Peggy hold the attention, making
this a funny play that still manages to touch
the emotions"
"The
play revels in its campness"
"Kyle's
domestic hunger strike and his encounter with
a gay terrorist splinter group feel like fresh
approaches to familir issues"
The
Metro 21 April 2005 * * *
"Cowan's
play is lively, vigorous, witty and his debate
important"
"Marty
Rea gives a spirited performance as young Kyle;
his late scene with his father is just lovely"
"A
serious and funny first play, I look forward to
the next"
Reviews
Gate 21 April 2005
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Heart is a Lonely Hunter
24:7 Festival July
2004
"Nothing
should be taken for granted in this unpredictable
drama"
City
Life Issue 545 July 2004
"...the
most interesting play of the festival..."
"...the
performance made a major dramatic achievement
…"
"...a
very significant and assured piece of stagecraft..."
"…a
very significant addition to Manchester’s
theatrical resources..."
A
Year in the Theatre 2003-2004 Greater Manchester
by Giles Haworth published by Broadfield Publishing
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Daddy
Fierce Festival May 2003
"Billy
Cowan’s Daddy packs digital animation and
a one-man show into one uncompromising fifteen
mibute punch"
Ben
Payne Associate Director B’ham Rep.
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Smilin’
Through
Winning script in the 2002 Writing Out
Award
"Daring,
audacious and completely unpredictable, this script
impressed the judges for its skill and absolute
originality. "
London
Theatre Guide 19 Feb 03
