Tim Sheader

"British director Tim Sheader, whose debut in France is here, has scrupulously respected the instructions which consisted of making people dream while remaining part of a contemporary outlook. He visibly complied with these constraints with delight, offering us a cheerful, fresh and sparkling show; the infectious enthusiasm of the singers who held it high with gusto, the priceless choirs in bewildered pink elves and an orchestra with sounds full of effects of delicacies and delight finished dazzling an audience totally won over at the end of these farcical adventures colorful.." Forum Opera
"This is done with the direction of the British Tim Sheader, better known across the Channel in the world of musicals, whose codes and techniques adapt perfectly here. He directs the space with ease, constantly varying the entrances, interactions and perspectives without ever getting boring. The direction of the actors is sufficiently careful to give precision and character to each of the characters and clarify the situations, the comedy of which is well rendered without heaviness or intrusive gags. And he never fails to “put on a show” as in the choir’s interventions choreographed with simplicity and taste. In the end, Norina will appear as a free woman, setting her sights on whoever she pleases (even Malatesta is taken in) but not bonding with anyone. In short, we smile wholeheartedly at this consensual show, easy to access, very entertaining and which visibly delights the audience, young and old, to the point of generating some applause from the curtain rise of the third act." ResMusica
"Don Pasquale delights the Nancy public with a production which offers an original rereading of Donizetti's opera buffa, without upsetting the codes of comedy. No one will complain about it, and even less so when, in addition to the quality and originality of the production, there is a cast made up of talented and promising young singers gathered around a reliable veteran. The direction by Tim Sheader, allows the work to be reinterpreted without upsetting comic codes or audience expectations. The plot, intended here to evoke the television series Succession, is thus built around the thorny question of the succession of the commercial empire built by Don Pasquale. If this decidedly unromantic vision of the opera obviously differs from the original libretto, it nonetheless delivers an infinitely funny and colorful spectacle, which the audience knows how to enjoy firsthand. . In this entirely recontextualized, funny and coherent universe, impeccably directed actors evolve and are visibly committed to the general concept of the production. The public gave a very warm welcome to this eminently entertaining show, sparkling from the first note to the last and infinitely refreshing." Olyrix
"This is the sort of show that makes my job simultaneously a total pleasure and a bit of a challenge. It’s pleasurable because this is a well nigh perfect rendering of a superbly crafted musical (as well as a glorious coda to Tim Sheader’s tenure as artistic director of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), and challenging because…well, how many superlatives can one use without sounding like a broken record?!" WhatsOnStage
"Forty years on the plot has lost some of its shock value, but Jerry Herman’s musical version of the tale of two gay men who run a drag club in St Tropez gives Tim Sheader the chance to bow out in style as artistic director of Regent’s Park. With luck he’ll be able to bring the same verve to the Donmar Warehouse, an institution that needs an injection of va-va-voom." The Times
"Sheader has made a success of his 16-year tenure as Artistic Director of the Open Air Theatre. La Cage aux Folles marks his grand finale before he sets off to the Donmar – and what a show to bow out on!" The Daily Telegraph
"That friction between glamour and hard reality, between public face and private pain, is central to Tim Sheader’s glorious production, which turns the 1983 musical l into a terrific statement of joy and defiance. At its heart it’s about love — belonging, acceptance and finding your own family. This is Sheader’s final production as artistic director here — and what a sensational swan song it is." Financial Times
"So, let’s start by answering the question in the opening paragraph. Is Tim Sheader going out with a bang or a whimper? Well, Tim has delivered not just a bang, but a stiletto-wearing, sequin-encrusted nuclear explosion of a bang." London Theatre 1
"Tim Sheader's 16 year tenure as Artistic Director of Regents Park's Open Air Theatre ends with a blaze of colour and a timely punch in the air. His production of Harvey Fierstein and Jerry Herman's musical La Cage aux Folles lights up the sky!" Timeout
"Tim Sheader’s revival of the 1983 musical about a gay nightclub owner and his drag queen partner is a total joy... Yet what is most striking about this memorable production, led by an all-queer creative team, is how authentic and truthful it feels. This is a show that has taken Herman’s astute lyric “what we are is an illusion” utterly to heart." The Guardian
"Tim Sheader’s production is prestigious from the get-go... La Cage aux Folles is a blistering hit, two-and-a-half hours of raucous cabaret that conveys the punkish energy of the artform while also feeling utterly polished... This is the hit of the summer – book before the rest of London beats you to La Cage aux Folles, by way of Regent’s Park." CityAM
"Directed by Tim Sheader, La Cage aux Folles is a beautiful celebration of life, love, and being yourself, and that’s something we all need to make more time for." Theatre Weekly