Alice Rose, Author at North West End UK

26Nov

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

Yes So I Said Yes – Finborough Theatre

David Ireland is known for his particularly absurd, political and wildly unpredictable pieces. This new play does not fail to reach and exceed the marks he has set for himself. David was commissioned, along with Robert Anthony Welch to write in response to the 100th anniversary of the Partition and what was created was an utter shock from start to end. Starting with only tiptoeing into dark territory to then diving head first to the end of the dark comedy spectrum. This piece does push buttons and people- but that is the intention. The piece follows ‘Snuffy’ (Daragh O’Malley) a Northern Irish protestant who begins in a Doctors office asking for advice on his neighbour’s dog who is constantly barking, so much so that he cannot sleep at night. Although he asks the neighbour to keep his do...

24Nov

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

Rumi: The Musical – London Coliseum

Such a spectacular piece can only be matched with the grand space of the London Coliseum; however, I feel this musical may have struggled to reach to the far edges due to its complexity and subtlety. Rumi is a world-famous poet, many know him without knowing they know him, and this piece does an excellent re-telling played by the talented Nadim Naaman who voice, like many of the cast, has no problem with reaching the heights of the theatre. Matched with Ramin Karimloo who plays his guide and equal in learning, with a 28-piece orchestra, this musical experience is no less than magic. The style and intention, however, was quite unclear. Knowing that this is an idea come to life in lockdown and has been a work in progress for a while I feel slightly forgiving to the unclear moments howe...

13Nov

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

Sessions – Soho Theatre

In a small upstairs theatre, we meet a man- Tunde and he’s about to turn 30. We are welcomed in by him in the small corners of his room, filled with cardboard boxes and an atmosphere consumed with music. We begin as he begins his first therapy session which he thought right to attend so he can start going to the gym again, wanting to look good for his upcoming birthday. However, through the excessive laughter and narration of his running thoughts during these sessions, we hear and see him break down into something a lot more fragile. Within this time, we watch Tunde bounce back and forth through stability and never-ending deep waters, learning a lot more about what he has lost in avoiding the most vulnerable parts of himself. Ifeyinwa Frederick (the writer) has an incredible ability to ...

11Nov

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

The Boy Out The City – Turbine Theatre

Welcome back, to a time quickly forgotten but deep rooted- the pandemic, 2020. Oh yes, lurking in the corner is a time most of us dread to think about just yet but in Declan Bennett’s one-man piece exploring his 3 lockdown special, we move through time, through cities and through all the alcohol in the house. Immediately we are thrown into an underground theatre, blasting 90’s house and the scheduled timing of the overground tube. Declan enters the stage, Guinness in hand and face mask on- which he proceeds to take off with great difficulty once attached around his mic, as a glasses owner- I understand this. This was an honest re-telling of his time alone in a countryside home during Christmas, as we know, possibly the hardest lockdown for a lot of people. As his boyfriend’s success all...

10Nov

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

Milk and Gall – Theatre 503

2016, a woman giving birth and an election. This play follows Vera, (MyAnna Buring) trying to understand being a mother in a very hopeless climate, one she certainly didn’t wish for and one she may have even decided to not have a child in- if she could start again. We are with Vera as she experiences the first year of her child’s life, a very honest and open experience of what new mothers may experience with all the sharp edges and hidden corners. The struggles matched with the consistent worry of the outside world, the wanting to do more and fighting politics with her husband’s mother. Photograph © Jane Hobson. I thought this writing was fantastic, Mathilde Dratwa led us through this year beautifully well and never fell short to surprise us. Their view on this world is abstract a...

The Girl Who Was Very Good at Lying – Omnibus Theatre

5Nov

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

The Girl Who Was Very Good at Lying – Omnibus Theatre

The Girl Who Was Very good at Lying written by Eoin McAndrew is a quick, intelligent piece dipping into a moment of a young woman’s daily life but today was different- today she met an American man. Catorina lives in a small Irish town where she must come home every day and tell her mum everything that she’s done, listing the most mundane of tasks. She works in a pub; she likes watching TV and she likes to light matches. When this mysterious man walks in, very aware of the accent she forms a plan to guide him around the town- as she is obviously very interested in History and knows the story of everything in this place, or at least she’s very very good at lying about it. We follow the pair throughout the day, each lie getting more bizarre although you wouldn’t know with her confidence i...

Pride and Prejudice (sort of) – Criterion Theatre

4Nov

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

Pride and Prejudice (sort of) – Criterion Theatre

I don’t know what I was expecting walking into an all-female Pride and Prejudice, but I left with ready for a complete re-write of literature and Isobel McArthur to lead the revolution. The energy, commitment, enjoyment they had to be there was streamed through this theatre, it felt like a gift to witness. Isobel McArthur, writer and performer was commissioned to write a stage production of Pride and Prejudice for Tron Theatre four years ago after having never read the book. Since then she has been developing this play to finally land at the Criterion Theatre in London where 5 actors enter the stage as we enter our seats only to assure us that it hasn’t started yet- they just need to grab their rubber glove from the chandelier. Everything is very much in their gloved hands, as they r...

The Body Remembers – Battersea Arts Centre

24Oct

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

The Body Remembers – Battersea Arts Centre

‘The Body Remembers’ created and performed by Heather Agyepong in collaboration with Fuel, creates a space to view ‘The Mover’ realising and releasing from their trauma. This piece opens a conversation in how the body has memory of trauma where the mind may forget, how the body will create physical responses which may not have any explanation other than the trauma of its experience. Focusing particularly on the experience of Black British women in trauma recovery we watch The Mover express through ‘Authentic Movement’ whilst her shadow follows her lead through a large projector, bold beautiful colours combined with simplistic images and quotes from women playing overhead, which seem planted at just the right moments. Knowing that the Mover is reacting through improvisation seems all the...

17Oct

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

Yellowfin – Southwark Playhouse

Yellowfin: Marek Horn’s second play and hilarious dive into the mindset of a life in a possible near future? Set in one room, we watch Calantini (Joshua James) interrogated by three senators: Marianne (Nancy Crane), Stephen (Beruce Khan) and the very sweet Roy (Nicholas Day) who reminds us all of our favourite family elder who cannot help but share their favourite memories of a time before. This play tackles a theme of which we are all apart of but also touches on something only a few may admit too: responsibility of the outcome. Calantini is questioned harshly about the death of his brother in relation to the disappearance of fish. He floats through their attacks skilfully with humour and pace, something this cast excelled at. Although this runs straight through with no interval, the a...