Production Reviews
5 Guys Chillin'
- One of "Ten Plays That Shaped Queer Theatre History" Evening Standard
- "Peter Darney is the Larry Kramer of his generation" New York Theatre
"Best LGBT+ Play 2017 Award" The Scottish Sun
"Brighton Fringe Award for Best LGBT+ Play 2016"
- One of "Ten Plays That Shaped Queer Theatre History" Evening Standard
- "Peter Darney is the Larry Kramer of his generation" New York Theatre
"Best LGBT+ Play 2017 Award" The Scottish Sun
"Brighton Fringe Award for Best LGBT+ Play 2016"
Signal Failure
-" A triumph" **** NYC News
- "Peter Darney's staging is tremendously forceful, fluid and acutely visual" **** Theatre Pizzazz
**** Scotsman **** Broadway Baby **** Edinburgh Guide
-" A triumph" **** NYC News
- "Peter Darney's staging is tremendously forceful, fluid and acutely visual" **** Theatre Pizzazz
**** Scotsman **** Broadway Baby **** Edinburgh Guide
Frank Sent Me
-"It’s rare to see a gangster play that is this original and this funny, full of life and humour, artfully directed by Peter Darney" **** The Scotsman
-"A warm, funny and emotional production that really makes you feel" **** The Skinny
***** New Current **** Scotsgay ****Three weeks
-"It’s rare to see a gangster play that is this original and this funny, full of life and humour, artfully directed by Peter Darney" **** The Scotsman
-"A warm, funny and emotional production that really makes you feel" **** The Skinny
***** New Current **** Scotsgay ****Three weeks
Kindness
- "Pick of the week" The Telegraph & The Stage
- "Compelling, excellent phycological drama" ***** Daily Mail
- "Pick of the day" Radio Times
- "Pick of the week" The Telegraph & The Stage
- "Compelling, excellent phycological drama" ***** Daily Mail
- "Pick of the day" Radio Times
Githa
- "Peter Darney's direction effortlessly moves scenes forward...What art should be" **** The Scotsman
- "See the fine revival of Githa" Lynn Gardner (Guardian Blog)
- "Simple, stylish and intelligently done" What's on Stage
- "A richness of detail yet an economy of theatricality in Peter Darney's Production" York Press
- "Skilful and unshowy craft is evidenced in both the writing and Peter Darney's Direction" The British Theatre Guide
- "Peter Darney's direction effortlessly moves scenes forward...What art should be" **** The Scotsman
- "See the fine revival of Githa" Lynn Gardner (Guardian Blog)
- "Simple, stylish and intelligently done" What's on Stage
- "A richness of detail yet an economy of theatricality in Peter Darney's Production" York Press
- "Skilful and unshowy craft is evidenced in both the writing and Peter Darney's Direction" The British Theatre Guide
Edward II
- "Director Peter Darney underlines the carnality and violence of Marlowe's play... The use of stage blood, filthy brown water and a severed head creates a grotesque atmosphere that would have engaged the Rose's original audience as much as it does today." The Stage
- "More graphic and more terrifying than any on-stage murder I have ever seen. A brilliant coup de theâtre. Peter Darney has directed a tight, exciting play" British Theatre Guide
-"Rich, textured and subtle...A deft and revealing production" Journal of the British Shakespeare Association
- "By the denouement you're likely to be straining forward in your seat with tense absorption, fist in mouth." Extra Extra
- "Director Peter Darney underlines the carnality and violence of Marlowe's play... The use of stage blood, filthy brown water and a severed head creates a grotesque atmosphere that would have engaged the Rose's original audience as much as it does today." The Stage
- "More graphic and more terrifying than any on-stage murder I have ever seen. A brilliant coup de theâtre. Peter Darney has directed a tight, exciting play" British Theatre Guide
-"Rich, textured and subtle...A deft and revealing production" Journal of the British Shakespeare Association
- "By the denouement you're likely to be straining forward in your seat with tense absorption, fist in mouth." Extra Extra
Mysterious Skin
Broadway Baby ***** Fringe Review ***** Freshair ***** Allthefestivals.com ***** The New Current *****
Fringe Guru ***** The List **** Scotsgay **** Hairline **** Remote Goat **** ScreenGRAB ****
- "Devastatingly simple..played perfectly under Peter Darney's nuanced direction. One of the best Pieces of writing on the fringe. This is theatre for grown ups. Stunning" Broadway Baby *****
- "In style Director and Actors have struck exactly the right note for this highly sensitive subject: the extremes of sensationalism at one end of the scale or mawkish sentimentalisation at the other have been skilfully avoided both in the direction and in the performances restraint and understatement, combined with raw but minimal clarity as the text demanded, exhibited the best of British Theatre style. Outstanding Show" Reviewer's choice: Fringe Review*****
- "Mysterious Skin is a powerful story that is both horrifying and beautiful Skilfully produced and directed Peter Darney (Dir.) handled this with respect.. You have to see this play, there are few productions of this quality" The New Current*****
- Scotsgay top 10 pick of the fringe ****
- "The cast directed by Peter Darney are profoundly affecting. The performances are excellent" Out UK
- "With a lesser director it could have easily have slipped into a straight-tale about the effects of traumatic life-changing events, but this play brilliantly lets its story and characters come alive and gently brings its themes into the tale, leaving key characters history open to interpretation. This is a brilliant piece of theatre, bold and thought provoking. Make sure you experience being part of it" Hairline ****
- "The denouement is shocking and totally unexpected; this is complemented by faultless acting from an undoubtedly talented cast." 3 weeks
- 'Excelently directed and produced Darney never shies away from the tougher aspects of Gomolvilas play ..Mysterious Skin' is also darkly funny, a trait that adds to its humanity. Remote Goat ****
- "Grippingly emotional moments..the play is absolutely absorbing." Scotsman
- "Powerful adaptation of bestselling novel"
The List ****
- "Masterful performances" Fest Magazine
- "Mysterious Skin' is an amazing piece of absorbing drama that is causing quite a stir at this years Fringe. The direction is well thought out... Every one of the performances works in synchronicity with the others, drawing the whole thing together to create a totally successful creative whole."
AlltheFestivals.com *****
- "Controversial and brave I have to applaud this production for daring to bring this play to the stage It is compelling to watch, and the standard of performance outstanding visceral and powerfully realistic Altogether an excellent production, and highly recommended."
Fringe Guru *****
- "Well produced and directed, this production really did capture the audiences imagination this stage production really does capture the emotional force of the tale, and is hugely successful at addressing the difficult and sometimes upsetting issues raised." ScreenGRAB ****
Broadway Baby ***** Fringe Review ***** Freshair ***** Allthefestivals.com ***** The New Current *****
Fringe Guru ***** The List **** Scotsgay **** Hairline **** Remote Goat **** ScreenGRAB ****
- "Devastatingly simple..played perfectly under Peter Darney's nuanced direction. One of the best Pieces of writing on the fringe. This is theatre for grown ups. Stunning" Broadway Baby *****
- "In style Director and Actors have struck exactly the right note for this highly sensitive subject: the extremes of sensationalism at one end of the scale or mawkish sentimentalisation at the other have been skilfully avoided both in the direction and in the performances restraint and understatement, combined with raw but minimal clarity as the text demanded, exhibited the best of British Theatre style. Outstanding Show" Reviewer's choice: Fringe Review*****
- "Mysterious Skin is a powerful story that is both horrifying and beautiful Skilfully produced and directed Peter Darney (Dir.) handled this with respect.. You have to see this play, there are few productions of this quality" The New Current*****
- Scotsgay top 10 pick of the fringe ****
- "The cast directed by Peter Darney are profoundly affecting. The performances are excellent" Out UK
- "With a lesser director it could have easily have slipped into a straight-tale about the effects of traumatic life-changing events, but this play brilliantly lets its story and characters come alive and gently brings its themes into the tale, leaving key characters history open to interpretation. This is a brilliant piece of theatre, bold and thought provoking. Make sure you experience being part of it" Hairline ****
- "The denouement is shocking and totally unexpected; this is complemented by faultless acting from an undoubtedly talented cast." 3 weeks
- 'Excelently directed and produced Darney never shies away from the tougher aspects of Gomolvilas play ..Mysterious Skin' is also darkly funny, a trait that adds to its humanity. Remote Goat ****
- "Grippingly emotional moments..the play is absolutely absorbing." Scotsman
- "Powerful adaptation of bestselling novel"
The List ****
- "Masterful performances" Fest Magazine
- "Mysterious Skin' is an amazing piece of absorbing drama that is causing quite a stir at this years Fringe. The direction is well thought out... Every one of the performances works in synchronicity with the others, drawing the whole thing together to create a totally successful creative whole."
AlltheFestivals.com *****
- "Controversial and brave I have to applaud this production for daring to bring this play to the stage It is compelling to watch, and the standard of performance outstanding visceral and powerfully realistic Altogether an excellent production, and highly recommended."
Fringe Guru *****
- "Well produced and directed, this production really did capture the audiences imagination this stage production really does capture the emotional force of the tale, and is hugely successful at addressing the difficult and sometimes upsetting issues raised." ScreenGRAB ****
Arden of Faversham
- "Peter Darney's direction is fresh, inventive and enjoyable" Remote Goat *****
- "Strong ensemble .., sharp direction and good storytelling. This is a little gem" UK Theatre Network
- "Arden of Faversham is and excellent production" The British Theatre Guide
- "Peter Darney's production thoroughly embraced the possibilities of the comic action to a degree I wouldn't have expected, without sacrificing the power and shock of the play's ultimately tragic conclusion" The Bardathon (Peter Kirwan)
- "Peter Darney's direction is fresh, inventive and enjoyable" Remote Goat *****
- "Strong ensemble .., sharp direction and good storytelling. This is a little gem" UK Theatre Network
- "Arden of Faversham is and excellent production" The British Theatre Guide
- "Peter Darney's production thoroughly embraced the possibilities of the comic action to a degree I wouldn't have expected, without sacrificing the power and shock of the play's ultimately tragic conclusion" The Bardathon (Peter Kirwan)
