second age ---- What the papers said ----
KING LEAR 2009 WEXFORD OPERA HOUSE & NATIONAL TOUR
"Second Age Theatre's latest production is a stylish, energetic & unconventional King Lear".IRISH TIMES
"Second Age Theatre Company's sexed up production of King Lear certainly got the thumbs up from Leaving Certificate students - and rightly so". METRO
MERCHANT OF VENICE 2008 hELIX THEATRE & NATIONAL TOUR
"A riveting performance". IRISH TIMES
"Stunning production design". METRO
Macbeth 2008 HELIX THEATRE & NATIONAL TOUR
“West End star David Shannon is excellent as Macbeth… Enda Oates makes for a compelling Macduff… Alan Stanford’s direction served Carol Betera’s portable set well”. METRO
PHILADELPHIA, HERE I COME! 2007 HELIX THEATRE & NATIONAL TOUR
“excellent production…the fine set by Eileen Diss is typical of the attention to detail that goes into these Second Age productions” . IRISH MAIL ON SUNDAY
“it is to Stanford’s credit that he manages to find a raw edge to the play, largely through his performers…superb...spot on” SUNDAY BUSINESS POST
“close to being superb…extremely good”. SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
OTHELLO 2007 HELIX THEATRE & NATIONAL TOUR
"One hell of an Othello...Alan Stanford's new solid Othello ...is a considerable pleasure"
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
"...young audiences getting their first experiences of Shakespeare will find it hard not to begin a lifetime love affair with the Bard"
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
"Accomplished to the point where he can afford to invest the Moor's tragedy with some deftly observed comics..."
IRISH TIMES
"Second Age has passed with an A1 grade in this production of Othello...Stanford's Othello allow's the plays glorious poetry to take centre stage, while remaining... fresh, invigorating and lavish"
IRISH EXAMINER
"This dramatically powerful Othello is directed with intelligent detail by Alan Stanford...a first class production" IRISH MAIL on SUNDAY
MACBETH 2006 HELIX THEATRE & NATIONAL TOUR
"Alan Stanford's direction of Macbeth...is a thriller with jewelled dialogue.. a hugely impressive performance...a terrific cast has been assembled to deliver this riveting interpretation"
IRISH TIMES
"like a seasoned repertory company in top form ... the result is hypnotic" IRISH TIMES
"Alan Stanford's latest production of Macbeth is extremely well concieved"
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
"Alan Stanford's Macbeth is a rollicking physical production that breathes fresh vitality into the ever popular tale of the Scottish tyrant" DAILY IRELAND
HOW MANY MILES TO BABYLON 2005 HELIX THEATRE & NATIONAL TOUR
"Greatly helped by the clear focus of the performances & by highly intelligent visual style...executed with such good taste that it creates an atmosphere of dignified wistfulness"
IRISH TIMES
"...Sabine Dargent's set is wonderfully evocative... Sinéad Cuthbert's costumes are also splendid"
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
"How Many Miles to Babylon is a book about memory, and the theme of memory is marvellously evoked on stage" SUNDAY TRIBUNE
KING LEAR 2005 SFX THEATRE
"If any King Lear is to be a success, the title role has to draw the audience's sympathy and Alan Stanford succeeds in this production" IRELAND on SUNDAY
"...the moments in which the principles dominate are gripping"
SUNDAY TIMES
"Symth's Edmund is as impressive and fully rounded as one could wish". SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
HAMLET 2004, SFX THEATRE
"Stanford plays both the ghost and the king with aplomb...Rory Keenan's Hamlet comes close to soaring at times"
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
"Barry McGovern almost steals theshow as the slithering Polonius" SUNDAY TRIBUNE
"Their audience... is particularly spoiled this year" THE DUBLINER
I Press Releases I What the Papers Said I What Our Audience Said I
