Klervi Gavet, Author at North West End UK

24Mar

By Klervi GavetNo Comments

London

SPENT – Old Red Lion Theatre

In this daring one act, Greek Austrian playwright and performer Nikoletta Soumelidis and co-star Charlie Collinson draw us into a corrosive dance of love, power, and self annihilation. Soumelidis’s incisive writing examines the intoxicating pull of a BDSM inflected relationship — not for erotic spectacle, but as a stark metaphor for the emotional bondage we too often mistake for passion. Each night, tables turn, roles swap, and the dominant becomes the submissive. By watching both configurations, audiences confront ingrained assumptions about control, romance, and gender roles—as well as the earliest red flags of abuse. When Collinson dominates, his stripped back charisma evokes the familiar lure of a thrilling yet self-destructive darkness that irresistibly draws in Soumelidis’s naï...

7Mar

By Klervi GavetNo Comments

London

Twice-Born – Sadler’s Wells

Twice-Born, the Scottish Ballet’s triple bill presentation at Sadler’s Wells, was an evening of fearless experimentation and captivating ensemble work. Opening the night was Dive, a short film by choreographer Sophie Laplane—a piece leaving much to the audience’s interpretation. Its abstract visuals and elusive logic prompted questions about the very nature of movement and ballet. While its meaning remained obscure, it set the tone for an evening that, like a study of modern art, shifted the focus from precise execution and adherence to tradition to an open-ended exploration of the viewer’s own role in the production. Next, Schachmatt (“Checkmate”) by Spanish choreographer Cayetano Soto brought a burst of fresh, playful energy to the stage. With a nod to Bob Fosse’s stylised approach...

2Mar

By Klervi GavetNo Comments

London

Where We Meet – The Cockpit

Where We Meet at the Cockpit, produced and presented by Unwired Dance Theatre, is an ambitious interactive and immersive dance theatre performance exploring the nuances of human connexion. Warmly welcomed into a minimalist, darkened space by co-director and Creative Technology Lead Clemence Debaig, participants gather in the center while observers settle along the sides. With an unsettling air of modern anticipation reminiscent of Squid Game and Black Mirror, everyone is equipped with mysterious headsets and pouches. Shortly thereafter, clear instructions are given: these devices will react to the dancers’ proximity, granting telepathic insights into their inner monologues. The dancers—Sara Auguieras, Ryan Naiken, and Livia Massarelli, choreographer and co-director—soon take the ...

28Feb

By Klervi GavetNo Comments

London

Pandora – Coronet Theatre

Under the masterful direction of Riccardo Pippa, PANDORA marks the second coming of the Italian physical theatre company Teatro Dei Gordi at the Coronet, and it’s nothing short of a gem. Set in a public toilet at what’s likely the most transient, eclectic train station in town, the stage transforms into a delightful playground for a colourful parade of modern "stock characters," sharing surprisingly intimate moments. From a clumsy germaphobe facing a grandpa with childlike incontinence, to a failed cook and a struggling office manager finding solace in a quick smoke, ballroom dancers battling stage fright, and my personal favourite, an appalling street performer whose memory and confidence are restored by a caring commuter, each character bursts with quirks and backstories. The shee...

14Feb

By Klervi GavetNo Comments

London

Ordinary Madness – Riverside Studios

“There’s a bluebird in my heart that wants to get out, but I pour whiskey on him and inhale cigarette smoke.” Bukowski’s famous poem opens Ordinary Madness, the latest literature-based production from international ensemble company Art Theatre London. Cleverly staged into a series of sleek vignettes, the production attempts to stitch together Bukowski’s short stories and poems, but something crucial fails to connect. Bukowski’s world is dirty, grim, and visceral — his words make you taste the cigarette smoke, smell the sweat, and inhale the sensual perversion of our human condition. Here, under Anya Viller’s direction, the show too often feels like a sleek Drama Center showcase of its best and brightest: too safe, too clean, too polished. The young, dynamic cast struggles to capture ...

12Feb

By Klervi GavetNo Comments

London

The Screen Test – Seven Dials Playhouse

Bebe Cave’s one-woman show The Screen Test is a bonkers, non-stop romp offering a vivid glimpse into the tragicomedic life of fictional Betsy Bittersly—a neurotic, self-absorbed actress struggling to make her mark in 1930s-40s Hollywood. In a desperate bid for stardom, Betsy bends over backwards to meet every soul-crushing demand of a man-dominated, consumer-obsessed industry, even rebranding herself (from Betsy Bittersly to the cocktail-sounding Betsy Bitters) in an effort to be instantly palatable. Writer and performer Bebe Cave takes us on a wild ride from her very first screen test to her final one. Over the course of an hour, the ever-delusional Betsy encounters — and entertains, with a big, unflinching smile — every variety of perv and power player the industry has to offer. H...

8Dec

By Klervi GavetNo Comments

London

White Christmas – The Mill at Sonning

Jonathan O’Boyle’s production of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at the Mill at Sonning offers a delightful escape into festive cheer, perfectly defying the post-lunch slump. The story follows Bob and Phil, two old army buddies and successful performers, who join forces with the charming Haynes Sisters, Betty and Judy, to save a struggling Vermont inn owned by their former General. Together, they plan a spectacular Christmas show to boost the inn’s finances, enlisting their old army division for support. It’s a classic tale of friendship, love, and the magic of the holidays. Gary Lloyd’s choreography truly stands out, featuring a fabulous tap dancing sequence that leaves the audience wanting more and the performers a bit breathless—in the best way possible. Jason Denver’s luscious set d...

7Dec

By Klervi GavetNo Comments

London

Bette and Joan – Park Theatre

Bette and Joan is a lively exploration of the rivalry between two Hollywood legends, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, set against the backdrop of the making of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?. Directed by Sue Jenkins, this production offers a humorous and sharp dissection of their frenemy dynamic, blending biting wit with illuminating glimpses into their shared struggles. Photo: Simon Annand The play thrives on the fiery chemistry between the leads - "two queen bees in one hive” battling for the same crown. Neil Gordon’s masterful set design, paired with gorgeous costumes, features opposing dressing rooms without actual mirrors. The actresses’ reflections are thus projected onto one another, cleverly underscoring how deeply intertwined their lives are. The initial exchange of barbs an...

Stranger Than the Moon – Coronet Theatre

5Dec

By Klervi GavetNo Comments

London

Stranger Than the Moon – Coronet Theatre

The Coronet Theatre’s Stranger Than the Moon offers a poetic and contemplative exploration of Bertolt Brecht’s restless mind, one of the giants of 20th-century theatre. Directed by Oliver Reese, the production dives headfirst into the fractured psyche of the German soul—seduced by its own intellectual sharpness yet shattered by the horrors and absurdities of the human race. The show opens with the haunting refrain, “I live in dark times,” establishing a tone of existential unease. From there, it weaves a musical tapestry of Brecht’s own poems, songs, biographical notes, and video, exploring themes of absurdity and survival. This reflective approach, while intellectually engaging, sometimes falters, leaning into cerebral abstraction at the expense of theatrical dynamism. Brecht’s cha...

18Oct

By Klervi GavetNo Comments

London

1984 – Hackney Town Hall

George Orwell’s 1984 comes alive in this site-specific theatre production under the solid eye of Irish director, Jack Reardon. This immersive experience skilfully blends audience participation with the confined setting of Hackney Town Hall’s council chamber and atrium to underscore the novel’s themes of oppression and loss of individuality. The adaptation adeptly condenses the first half of Orwell’s novel, focusing on world-building and intrigue through an induction led by high-ranking Party officer O’Brien (Dominic Carter). A Big Brother rally, complete with patriotic singing, anti-sex league flyering, and party agents probing, welcomes the audience into the dystopian world where every word and movement are monitored under the ever-present eye of Big Brother. The initial slow burn a...