Marita Matar, Author at North West End UK

30Jun

By Marita MatarNo Comments

London

Duck – Arcola Theatre

The UK premiere of Duck is written by Maatin, directed by Imy Wyatt Corner, and performed by Omar Bynon. Ismail (Omar Bynon) whose name can’t even be pronounced by his schoolmates and teachers is a vibrant Indian teenager whose love for cricket knows no bounds. The story unfolds in the days leading up to the tragic July 7 terrorist attack that occurred in London in 2005. This devastating event led to the endorsement of Islamophobia and the unfair stigmatisation of individuals with brown skin, beards, or thick hair. Amidst this backdrop, the narrative of “Duck” presents a mundane account that immerses readers in the life of a 15-year-old Indian boy. Throughout his passionate journey in the world of cricket, he encounters subtle instances of racism and discrimination based on his name, sk...

3May

By Marita MatarNo Comments

London

Stars – Institute of Contemporary Arts

Just because I am born here doesn’t mean I am from here’ -MRS In an effort to elicit sexual arousal and understanding of bodies that are queer, Black, female, or undocumented, STARS present an Afrofuturist music play performed by Debra Michaels (MRS) and Bradley Charles (DJ Michael Manners), written by Mojisola Adebayo, an internationally acclaimed theater maker artist and Alfred Fagon award winner and directed by Gail Babb and S. Ama Wray. Huge acknowledgments to the cast, the creative team and the production who successfully made a 90-minute piece possible with the creative intervention of experimental music, digital tills, acting, animation, lighting and stage managing. The actor was accompanied by music played by the DJ in a space-like cabin who sets the tone with his trippy, univer...

JV2 Program Premiere – Lilian Bayliss Studio

7Apr

By Marita MatarNo Comments

London

JV2 Program Premiere – Lilian Bayliss Studio

Dancers from the JV2 Professional Development Diploma program presented a dance ensemble of choreographies led and devised by Vinicius Salles for the piece ‘It’s Not Unusual’ and André Rebelo for the piece ‘Mystique’, two associates of the Jasmin Vardiman Company, together with the dancer’s creative input throughout the processes. For several years, the JV2 Professional Development Program led young artists to develop multi-disciplinary skills alongside a rigorous training in technique to train artists and go forward with their careers. ‘It’s Not Unusual’ commences with the dancers entering the space, occupying it one by one with an interesting exposition of masculinity performed by a cast predominantly assigned females. One could easily pinpoint the masculinity investigated; the to...

2Apr

By Marita MatarNo Comments

London

Astoria – Jack Studio Theatre

‘There is so much we will never know’. Astoria written and directed by Tony Britten tells the story of Jura Soyfer, an Austrian political journalist and cabaret writer. His work was smuggled from Vienna and people worked hard to save it and archive it. The play is also the mouthpiece of this archive made visible in a performance. On stage we saw Jura Soyfer/Paul performed by Joshua Ginsberg, his partner Helli (Helene) Ultmann/Gwendolyn/Rosa (Olivia Benjamin,) as well as the group of actors and writers who were striving to keep the theater alive in a time where Germany is poised to annex Austria, in 1937, Jimmy Berg/Pistoletti/ The Applicant (Sam Denia), John Lehman (Taylor Danson), and Martin Miller/Hupka (Benjamin Chandler). Astoria appeared to be challenging modern ideas of a state...

Thatcher – Rite – Streatham Space Project

29Mar

By Marita MatarNo Comments

London

Thatcher – Rite – Streatham Space Project

‘What sort of country do you want?’ – Margaret Thatcher Tea, cucumber, a table and Margaret Thatcher. This is how people’s fate is decided. The performance starts with Margaret Thatcher played by Jack Boal, sitting in the middle of a table, looking at a projection screened behind her. It talks about nuclear families and gendered roles; the tone is already set. The character looked at the audience, the performance started. Thatcher – Rite written and performed by Jack Boal, directed by Lila Robirosa, revisits the political and personal legacy left by Margaret Thatcher. Verbatim and lip-syncing techniques, coupled with visuals of Margaret Thatcher herself, extracts of news and political shows, as well as written messages on the screen projection are vigorously explored by the techni...

Charlotte and Theodore – Richmond Theatre

22Mar

By Marita MatarNo Comments

London

Charlotte and Theodore – Richmond Theatre

‘Is this so bad if they see their mother succeed?’ – Charlotte In the wake of movements related to feminism, LGBTQIA+, disabled bodies, protected groups, hegemonies and systematic inherited structures, Charlotte and Theodore written by Ryan Craig, directed by Terry Johnson, performed by Kris Marshall (Theodore) and Eve Ponsonby (Charlotte) addresses the intricating and the strenuous gaps, that exist between people of different identities and age when talking about inclusivity, gender, pronouns, dilemmas of cancel culture, and dominant groups, etc. The 90 minutes long play proposes solutions, perhaps? Not in the same way Billy Wilder did in Some like it Hot but rather by following the evolution of conversation between two lovers and two professors, at different points in their lives. ...

15Mar

By Marita MatarNo Comments

London

Farm Hall – Jermyn Street Theatre

“Did you try to build a bomb? On some mornings yes, and on others, no” - Heisenberg 6th August 1945, Hiroshima was completely devastated. History witnessed the detonation of an atomic bomb by the United States. Human’s scientific capabilities and moral consciousness failed to comply with ethical quandaries. In a different part of the world, six of Germany’s prominent scientists are detained in England; the Uranverein known as the ‘Uranium Club’. Whereas the Germans were very close at possessing atomic power in a time were the Führer favoured conventional weapons, they are shocked by the news “The Americans have built an atom bomb. They have dropped it on Japan”- HAHN. An outstanding piece that brilliantly showcased the moments and discussions that followed the scourge. Based on decla...

6Mar

By Marita MatarNo Comments

London

Rat King – Vault Festival

For about an hour or so, I was shaken by a journey of strong feelings being part of an immersed setting depicting an encounter one could relate to from different perspectives. Rat Kingwritten by Bram Davidovich, directed by Mark Hilton and played by Georgina Tack (Kelly) and Jacob Wayne-O’Neill (Jacko) presents the story of a girl, Kelly, clearly from better-off family who meet Jacko -which sounds as ghetto- a man ingrained in his condition of homelessness as she was running away from home. They soon start developing a bond that goes into an uncommon story notably in uncomforting ways; the girl’s persistence to ‘fix’ Jacko and drag him into arts as well as Jacko’s obsession with her. I was amazed by the actor’s performance and the staging of the piece. Choosing to set the audience...

3Mar

By Marita MatarNo Comments

London

Barely Visible – Jacksons Lane

"How can you know you're a lesbian if you've never been with a woman?" was one of the interesting thoughts made by an audience member concerning the subjects addressed by Rowena Gander, who had us spellbound with her outstanding performance. Barely Visible is a solo performance choreographed and performed by Rowena Gander, directed by Elinor Randle, and backed by a creative team that worked with digital tills and lighting to generate the ambiance. The performance addressed lesbian identity; one that is questioned, banalized, sexualized, objectified, and fetishized. “I always wanted references to relate to” was Rowena’s answer to Elinor’s question “Why did you put on this show?”. Barely Visible problematizes people’s perception of lesbianism that stems from misogynistic and patriar...

How To Break Out of a Detention Centre – Riverside Studios

2Mar

By Marita MatarNo Comments

London

How To Break Out of a Detention Centre – Riverside Studios

“I was born in a strange century where people are taken to jail because they were born with a heart that beats for honesty and justice” – Nawal el Saadawi (Memoirs from the Women’s Prisons, 1984). It is with deep solidarity that the production paid tribute to women in detention centres in the UK, and it is with tremendous honesty that art consolidated with social causes brings justice to women in detention, choosing to sensibilise the public’s eye rather than choosing to stay silent. Allowing visibility for women suffering because of multiple systems of oppressions for a staged production is an empathetic choice by nature. How To Break Out of a Detention Center? A compelling world premiere of a female migrant led international co-production from BÉZNĂ Theatre and Romanian theatre compan...