Alan Stuart Malin, Author at North West End UK

Mark Guest: Believe – Calder’s Bookshop and Theatre

31Aug

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Mark Guest: Believe – Calder’s Bookshop and Theatre

Mark Guest’s evening of magic and mentalism promises wonder, laughter and a touch of the inexplicable, all in support of an important cause: raising funds for cancer charities. On that front, it succeeds, the show is engaging, slickly delivered, and full of impressive routines that had much of the audience gasping in delight. Guest himself is a charismatic performer with natural showmanship, blending classic sleight-of-hand with modern psychological trickery in a way that feels fresh and accessible to all. The evening included a variety of complex pieces: card tricks performed with apparent ease, mind-reading demonstrations that seemed uncannily accurate, and larger sequences involving multiple audience members, adding both energy and scale. These moments showcased Guest’s undeniabl...

17Aug

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Collapse – Riverside Studios

Allison Moore’s ‘Collapse’ takes a familiar domestic setup and detonates it in spectacularly funny fashion. Hannah’s carefully maintained and tightly controlled life, already visibly fraying under the strain of infertility, financial uncertainty, threat of unemployment, and a husband adrift, tips into complete chaos when her rebellious (and hilariously funny) sister arrives with a mysterious package she has agreed to deliver to a guy called “Bulldog”. What follows is a darkly comic unravelling where love, fear, and survival collide. Emma Haines delivers a commanding central turn as Hannah, balancing brittle control with flashes of honest vulnerability. She moves seamlessly between sharp, fast-paced exchanges with her co-performers, and quieter solitary moments that land with unexpected ...

17Aug

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Feminine Rage – Courtyard Theatre

Part of this year’s Camden Fringe, Feminine Rage tackles one of the most urgent and devastating issues in modern Europe: the wave of femicides in Greece. Writer Venice Billia weaves a concept of striking potency, imagining victims of male violence gathering in the afterlife to build a fragile sanctuary for themselves. It is an idea that resonates deeply; these women deserve voice, presence, and dignity, and the framing offers a space to mourn and reflect on a crisis too often pushed aside. The script carries weight, particularly when it edges toward naming and acknowledging the silenced women. Yet, the production struggles to match the gravity of its subject. The set is stark to the point of looking unfinished, reminiscent of a school-level staging rather than a professional platfor...

Kaleidoscope Festival 2025 – Alexandra Palace

14Jul

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Kaleidoscope Festival 2025 – Alexandra Palace

Perched high above the city, on a glorious July summer day, with the most breathtaking panoramic views stretching across the city of London, Alexandra Palace once again played host to the Kaleidoscope Festival, a one-day celebration of music, art, food, comedy, and local community that’s as much about the atmosphere and vibe as it is about the on-stage acts. In its sixth edition, the 2025 festival delivered a packed programme and an unmistakable summer spirit. It must be said that very few London venues rival “Ally Pally”, and very few can compete for the perfect festival setting, with the Palace itself presiding over the main stage, while the surrounding green and luscious parkland offered space to relax, stretch out, dance, and soak up the sun. With the city skyline sparkling in the d...

The White Chip – Southwark Playhouse Borough

13Jul

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

The White Chip – Southwark Playhouse Borough

Sean Daniels’ semi-autobiographical play ‘The White Chip’ has arrived in London for its UK premiere at Southwark Playhouse Borough. Having enjoyed a successful 2019 stint Off-Broadway, directed by Matt Ryan, and produced by Danielle Tarento and Tony Award winner Annaleigh Ashford, ‘The White Chip’ is a cleverly constructed play, widely noted for its darkly comic take on painful realities. It chronicles the painful descent and recovery of Steven, a high-functioning alcoholic US theatre director, presented through fast-paced, vignette-driven, and monologue heavy script that, whilst offering insightful clarity to the character’s journey through addiction, at times sacrifices any real depth and dynamic, and as a result this production doesn’t quite land the emotional punch it clearly aims for....

12Jun

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Romeo and Juliet – Wilton’s Music Hall

Flabbergast Theatre have returned to Wilton’s Music Hall, this time with a visceral reimagining of Romeo and Juliet. A thunderous, and unrelenting feat of physical theatre that carries an energy that brings something entirely fresh to Shakespeare’s tragedy. Renowned for rejecting classic Shakespeare, this latest production from Flabbergast is fiercely modern and embraces a raw, and highly expressive way of presenting the story of star-crossed lovers, injecting a whole new level of modern storytelling into the text. From the moment the audience enters the auditorium, it’s clear that something unusual, is about to unfold. The ensemble is already on stage, shifting and murmuring with an unnerving intensity. It’s difficult to tell whether they are intoxicated, possessed, or gripped by some ...

12Apr

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Supersonic Man – Southwark Playhouse

Southwark Playhouse Borough hosted the world premiere of ‘Supersonic Man’ this week, a new musical written and directed by Chris Burgess, which sets out to blend science fiction spectacle with emotional resonance and love within the LGBTQI+ community. It is inspired by the remarkable real-life journey of Peter Scott-Morgan, as seen in Channel 4’s ‘Peter – The Human Cyborg’, and follows Adam, a Brighton-based influencer, who faces a devastating diagnosis and chooses to defy it, not by surrendering, but by exploring an experimental path, exploring transhumanism to reclaim control and live a full life. The production offers up a bold premise, full of potential for both drama and imagination, but unfortunately, it doesn’t quite live up to the ambition of its concept and remains somewhat und...

21Mar

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Sisyphean Quick Fix – Riverside Studios

Few plays handle the quiet complexities of family duty with as much tenderness as ‘Sisyphean Quick Fix’, Bettina Paris’ semi-autobiographical debut now playing at Riverside Studios. Set between London and Malta, the story follows two sisters, Krista and Pip, forced to confront the worsening alcoholism of their father, a man whose reckless behaviour has long been their shared burden. Paris plays Krista, a struggling actor in London juggling auditions and bar shifts, while Tina Rizzo’s character, Pip remains in Malta, holding down a steady job and a seemingly more conventional life. What unfolds is a careful dissection of how physical distance can breed resentment, as the sisters wrestle with uneven responsibilities, and the question of what anyone truly owes a parent who repeatedly hits ...

13Mar

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

The Little Prince – London Coliseum

A dazzling flight of imagination, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s, ‘The Little Prince’ has long enchanted readers with its poetic storytelling and profound themes. In this visually stunning and spellbinding adaptation at the London Coliseum, the tale is reimagined as an immersive blend of dance, aerial acrobatics, haunting audio, and digital projection. The result is a mesmerizing theatrical journey that captures the novella’s heart with elegance and innovation. Following sold-out performances in Paris, Sydney, Dubai, and a season on Broadway, and under the expert direction and choreography of Anne Tournié, the production unfolds in a dreamlike style, relying on movement and imagery rather than traditional dialogue, but accompanied by beautiful storytelling narration. At the centre of this c...

12Dec

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Beauty and the Beast – Richmond Theatre

Richmond Theatre's ‘Beauty and the Beast’ pantomime, penned by Alan McHugh and directed by Paul Robinson, offers a truly delightful seasonal treat, that combines the magic of traditional panto with the timeless tale of a cursed prince and his quest for love. This new production shines brightly with its blend of humour, heart, and magical enchantment, and whilst the pacing occasionally falters, and some routines feel a touch outdated for the modern stage, these moments are few, and do not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment, providing a perfect holiday outing for families and friends alike. The strong cast is exceptionally talented, delivering performances that are both vibrant and engaging. Each performer brings a unique energy to the stage, creating a dynamic ensemble that...