Michelle Knight, Author at North West End UK

8Aug

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

CATS – Regents Park Open Air Theatre

The cast of CATS have arrived in style dominating the scene with feline grace. And they’re ready to slink into the spotlight. Regent’s Park Theatre came alight with contemporary dance in a jaw dropping performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s theatrical classic, CATS. The excitement and buzz in the audience of anticipation was palpable. The set, a rustic crescent moon lit the sky with a warm glow as the smaller moon orbited with ease against the darken sky. A vision captured perfectly for a night of feline adventure and storytelling. Don’t be fooled by the simplicity here, there is so much to appreciate, and time given to lose yourself in the ‘magic’ of the music and artistry unfolding before you. The longevity of Andrew Lloyd Webbers CATS now 45yrs old is a testament to ...

1Aug

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

Tao of Glass – Sohoplace Theatre

Philip Glass born in 1937 is “celebrated as one of the most influential and prolific American composers of the 20th and 21st centuries, and he was a pioneer of musical minimalism”. His repetitive musical style is very different. Glass went on to write dozens of operas; such as Satyagraha and Akhnaten, symphonies, concertos, and chamber pieces. Tao of Glass—is the inspiring collaborative work of composer Philip Glass and writer/director Phelim McDermott This production delves deeply into the theatrical artistry of imaginative storytelling and hypnotic concert of musical theatre. With a touch of comedy and paper puppetry, beautifully performed with style and grace. Photo: Johan Persson It touches on an emotional journey through life, reflection and wonder portrayed through the eyes an...

Sinatra The Musical – The Aldwych Theatre

25Jun

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

Sinatra The Musical – The Aldwych Theatre

Sinatra The Musical comes to the West End bringing the big band sound and gritty romantic storylines. Based on the life and career of the legendary icon” Francis Albert Sinatra. Known to some as “Ol Blue Eyes”, and a man who became one of the worlds influential singers. His life a conundrum of complexity is acted out by the key players who support his rise to fame whilst spotlighting others who stood by and watched is timely demise. Portrayed as a loving family man Frank certainly was close to his children. His daughter Nancy Sinatra has supported and contributed to this production of her fathers staged biopic. The story starts from when Sinatra and Nancy young and in love are finding their feet in showbiz and in their personal relationships. Life takes on a whole new meaning when Sinat...

13Jun

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

War Horse – National Theatre

War Horse is a two hour twenty-minute spectacle of sublime animated visuals and skilful puppetry. A story that gets to the heart of the atrocities and impact of World War 1 on the men, families and the cavalry horses involved in conflict. The play introduces Joey as a foal a horse bred to become a fine racing horse who finds his way to a farm. In the mists of desperation, the family need to earn a living, Joey now needs to become a draft horse ploughing fields and supporting the family. Ted and Rose Narracott task their 16yr old son Albert to care for and train Joey to perform the enviable duties of ploughing, hauling and work as an agricultural horse. As time moved on Albert and Joey form a special bond of shared love, friendship and survival At the time of the outbreak of the first...

The Rapping Princess – Polka Theatre Wimbledon

27May

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

The Rapping Princess – Polka Theatre Wimbledon

This beautifully crafted adaptation of the book The Rapping Princess by Hannah Lees and Allen Fatimaharans’ tells the story of “Shiloh, a princess with a big love for music. But she’s got one problem, she cannot sing”. Through her dismay and her parents’ disappointment Shiloh embarks on a journey of discovery to only find that she has another hidden talent that not even she expected. With a cast of two performers, they take you on a journey of song through the genres, beat box and rap. Anu Akinseye (once on this Island, Into the woods) plays Shiloh she is joined by Grace Venus (Stalled, Sleeping Beauty) as the Queendom Storyteller, who also voices the King, the Queen, Doctor Grump, DJ Princess Kenya, and various princes. This play incorporates purposeful interaction to encourage the...

Sherlock Holmes – Regents Park Open Air Theatre

15May

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

Sherlock Holmes – Regents Park Open Air Theatre

Sherlock Holmes is back in his home place at the Regents Park Open Air Theatre from the 2nd May to the 6th June. This atmospheric theatre is a perfect backdrop for Conan Doyle’s favourite detective to come alive. And he does not disappoint. Horwood’s’ writing and Sean Holmes theatrical and high energy adaptation of Sherlock, captures the presence of this serendipitous sleuth as he and Watson unravel another mystery, under a damp lit moody sky of Victorian London. The set appears simplistic in the round but don’t be fooled as there is so much going on. The scene changes are rapid and unfolds in front of your eyes. This is a brisk moving story line and at times it was difficult to keep up with the switch in movement, characters and the unfolding plot. In some scenes the lines were deli...

The Fastest Clock In The Universe – New Wimbledon Theatre

12May

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

The Fastest Clock In The Universe – New Wimbledon Theatre

“In a flat in East London the party preparations are under way, each detail meticulously planned, including the birthday cake and surely nothing can wrong”. “After all there is the specially chosen guest of honour and a very sharp knife”. Ridley’s play is dark, funny and extraordinarily captivating. The Fastest Clock in the Universe written by Philip Ridley in 1992 “became an early example of ‘in your face’ creative theatre” with a design to shock and unsettle audiences rather than comfort them. The story centres around a cast of five people, with interwoven nuanced lines and evolving deep meaning of life experiences, aging and opportunistic revenge. The plot centres on Cougar Glass played by Frederick Russell a man celebrating his 19th birthday ‘again, a man plagued by father time a...

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Globe Theatre

2May

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Globe Theatre

A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Globe theatre arrives with a blast of high energy and a mix of theatrical prose and modern slang. Shakespeare would be bewildered to see that his most popular playful enchanting comedy has been remastered to enhance the silliness and magic of complex human relations ships. The synopsis; the play is set in a forest outside Athens, where the worlds of fairies and mortals collide. It weaves together four main storylines: The lovers Hermia and Lysander, and Helena’s Love for Demetrius a ‘cat and mouse’ affair as each pair fall under the spell of the forest royalty. In the forest we encounter Oberon the Fairy King and Titania his queen involved in an argument. To trick Titania Oberon with the use of a ‘spell’ a magic ...

Smoke + You Are Loved Panel – Omnibus Theatre

23Apr

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

Smoke + You Are Loved Panel – Omnibus Theatre

SMOKE is a savage queer comedy thriller. A play written and performed by Alex Gregory. spotlighted by the non-profitable charitable work of ‘You are loved’ YAL. Gregory invites you to witness his lonely intimate experience dealing with grief, addiction and psychosis a life dominated by his everyday thoughts and actions. His openness about his previous drug taking is divulged early on within the play and there is no reference to drugs and sexual content thereafter. The focus here is the aftermath of a life lived with pain, loneliness and misconceived biases. Alex fights with his demons and becomes activated when he ‘receives’ or ‘perceives’ an Instagram message asking “how are ru” no question mark- that is sent to his phone from his dead partner Ben. The narrative weaves its...

7Apr

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

The Authenticator – National Theatre

The Authenticator at the National Theatre is an aspirational play that seeks to question past historical slavery, in a way that raises the sensitive points of shared ownership and interpretation of the truth. Set in a country house ‘Harford’ it focusses on a time from 1756 when “the fictional Henry Harford departs England for Jamaica” where he settles and acquires his own plantation. Following the uprising to abolish slavery and the plight of colonial enslaved Jamaicans Henry returns to England and buys Harford House. Living there is his “ancestor Fen -Fenella Harford”. This dramatic short production is centred around three female characters’ whose lives are exposed as they all uncover secret references to their own inherited colonial past. It has cursive dialogue which brings about many t...