REVIEW: “Piaf” at The Watermill Theatre (Newbury)

Piaf Review - Fairy Powered Productions

The Watermill Mill, Newbury – until 17 May 2025 Reviewed by Marcia Spiers 5***** Whilst I had heard of Edith Piaf and knew a couple of her songs, I can honestly say I did not know much about her life. So, I came to this production with an open heart and mind. Directed by Kimberley Sykes and written by Pam Gems this play tells the story of one of the 20th century’s most vibrant and beloved singers. Born into poverty in Paris, rising to global st…

REVIEW: “Piaf” at The Watermill Theatre (Newbury)

What makes for a good biopic?   Many a writer opts for a comprehensive overview of the subject’s life, with early events shaping the decisions or actions that same subject later becomes famous for. The approach has yielded some highly-rated results – “Ghandi” and “Oppenheimer” not least amongst them – but as those two films’ epic runtimes can attest, it can also make for an exhaustive (and potentially exhausting) experience.  “Piaf” – The Waterm…

PIAF review by thespyinthestalls at Watermill Theatre

PIAF Watermill Theatre ★★★★ “Audrey Brisson’s portrayal of Piaf is magnificent” Piaf is a play by Pam Gems that focuses on the life and career of French chanteuse Edith Piaf, revered as much for her exceptional voice as for her extraordinary life. It is a biographical drama with music and has previously portrayed the singer as a self destructive, promiscuous alcoholic. Born Edith Giovanna Gassion in the slums of Paris to an acrobatic street per…