Emteaz Hussain's Blood premiered in the B2 studio space at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry this week. In a collaboration between Tamasha and Belgrade Theatre, this was a beautifully crafted show.

Set in the Midlands Pakistani community, the play looks closely at familial ties and the impact this has on a young couple who are fiercely chasing their own wants and desires. The two-hander saw Krupa Pattani playing Caneze and Adam Samuel-Bal as Sully, and their onstage chemistry brought this heartfelt story to life. You instantly connected to both of their characters and this connection was never lost. The play was sprinkled with humour and, without question, both actors captured the dark and light of the play superbly. 

What at first appeared to be an interesting, yet simple set, turned out to be inspired from Sara Perks. With each scene you were transported to a new place, and through clever use of props and lighting you could instantly identify where you were.   

Filled with twists and turns, it was a compelling piece of theatre and Esther Richardson's dynamic direction brought this searing play to life. 

Blood runs at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry until 11 April and returns to the Midlands in May, when it plays at Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 19 - 23 May.

The Theatre Royal Stratford East production of Oh What A Lovely War, by Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop, opened at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry last night as part of its UK tour. 

This beautifully poignant musical is still as relevant as ever, illustrated last night by a talented ensemble of performers. Summarising the First World War in just over 2 and a half hours, there is an equal mix of humour and tragedy. 

Ian Reddington's comedic narration eased the change of time and place, including a hilarious mix-up with a donkey photo, but the stand-out performance came from Wendi Peters who was utterly brilliant. I'll Make a Man of You and Sister Susie's Sewing Shirts were particular highlights and Peters seamlessly transitioned between a variety of characters expertly. 

Other notable performances came from Mark Prendergast delivering a beautiful rendition of When This Lousy War is Over, Alice Bailey Johnson's Keep the Home Fires Burning packed an emotional punch and Lauren Hood's Belgium Put the Kibosh on the Kaiser elicited many a laugh. 

With 41 songs and numerous scene changes, the direction of this play is no mean feat, but Tony award-winning director Terry Johnson has injected a new lease of life into this revival. The set design from Lez Brotherston was inspired and made for an incredibly touching Christmas Truce scene.

As the number of soldiers died, injured and missing during WW1 scrolled across the screens, the pause in performance made it all the more impactful and was a stark reminder of the horrors of war. 

This really is a gem of a play. With infectious energy, fantastic ensemble numbers and stirring harmonies, it is sure to have a successful run at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, as well as the rest of the tour.

Oh What A Lovely War runs at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry until 4 April and returns to the Midlands in May, when it plays at Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 5 - 9 May.