Paul Downham, Author at North West End UK

4Apr

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

REVIEWS

Romeo & Juliet – The National Theatre

Faint heart never won fair lady, so it is only right that under the direction of Simon Goodwin, the National Theatre, following in the wake of Zeffirelli’s 1968 tour de force and Luhrmann’s wonderful 1996 translation, have boldly reimagined Shakespeare’s classic tale of love to serve up a Romeo & Juliet fit for the 21st Century. Filmed over seventeen days in an empty Lyttelton Theatre, the contrast between scene and unseen spaces offers the perfect parallel for a play which whilst on the surface is a love story, at its heart is riddled with tension, twists, and turns. The Prince (an assured Adrian Lester) provides the authoritative voice of calm and reason after Tybalt (David Judge) and Benvolio (Shubham Saraf) clash before the respective heads of their families, Lord and Lady Ca...

An Elephant in the Garden – The Barn Theatre

4Apr

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REVIEWS

An Elephant in the Garden – The Barn Theatre

The Barn Theatre continue their lockdown streaming with another riveting piece of theatre. Simon Reade directs this gripping adventure story set in the harsh times of 1940’s Germany. Lizzie and her family are seeking shelter from the calamities of the Second World War... and it looks like they have to take an elephant along for the journey. It’s hard to believe that Michael Morporgo could write another great animal-integrated war tale, after the huge success of War Horse. And, even more surprisingly, this one is based on a true story. When her father is enlisted, Lizzie’s mother finds work at the local zoo where she befriends the young elephant, Marlene. When their whole town erupts in flames, the family flee to find safety, and encounter numerous shouts of “Is that an elephant?!”...

Self-taught Warda Abbasi is the new Resident Designer at Leeds Playhouse

3Apr

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Self-taught Warda Abbasi is the new Resident Designer at Leeds Playhouse

Set designer and miniature model-maker Warda Abbasi isthe new Resident Designer at Leeds Playhouse in partnership with Leeds-based theatre company tutti frutti, supported by the Weston Jerwood Creative Bursaries programme. There’s not many self-taught set designers, but Bradford-based Warda used her time in the box office at Halifax’s Square Chapel to to watch lots of theatre and horn model-making skills in her spare time. That led to a spot as Assistant Designer on tutti frutti’s Sweet Dreams about the joys of sleeping and dreaming written by Mike Kenny. When this production was developed into an audio play due to covid restrictions Warda was employed as a Craft Creator for tutti frutti’s digital Storytime project. Forty people applied for the Resident Designe...

Jack and the Beanstalk (Online) – St Helens Theatre Royal

3Apr

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REVIEWS

Jack and the Beanstalk (Online) – St Helens Theatre Royal

Once upon a time there was a theatre called the Theatre Royal in St Helens, who always delighted the people of Merseyside with a seasonal pantomime. Suddenly, a devastating pandemic stopped the Theatre Royal in their tracks. Finally, a canny production team saw a solution to their big problem… A pantomime at Easter? It always seems a little improbable because a pantomime is so quintessentially Christmas. But when reality is as crazy as ours, Jack and the Beanstalk is the much-needed slice of the ‘old normal’ we all need. And it is no mean feat. The Theatre Royal and their production team have dared to do what some regional theatres fear to risk, and it has paid off. The story follows the same old tale we all know and love; cash- strapped Jack sells off his mother’s beloved cow in ret...

2Apr

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REVIEWS

Open Mic by Rob Drummond – Soho Theatre

The concept of an Open Mic night online is brilliant. Streamed live via TicketCo from the Cabaret Space at Soho Theatre, Rob Drummond acts as compere with people participating over zoom. Excited faces beam out – some who will be taking part – others who have just turned their camera on for laughs. Me, I just watched via livestream on the TV. Like you would expect on an Open Mic, the variety is broad. From singing to spoken poetry to comedy, the quality is variable, and so are people’s internet connections. ‘Squeeze’, an original song written and played by Ian, was the highlight for me. Catchy and upbeat, it was probably the most fun thing about this show. Billed as a ‘fun night’ I would have to say ‘awkward’ was the most frequent emotion I felt. Drummond’s unstable and downbeat a...

2Apr

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REVIEWS

Now or Never – The Barn Theatre

The Barn Theatre present an ambitious ‘one-shot’ song cycle for their latest lockdown offering, Now or Never. Matthew Harvey has written a collection of songs exploring how seven characters face a potentially life changing world event. His aim was to look at individual responses to global adversity without referencing the pandemic. Whilst he has managed to do this to an extent, the spectre of COVID-19 and its long-term impact looms large over the production, as characters decide to travel more, love without reservation, embrace adventure or quit that soul-destroying job. The songs are well sung by a talented cast (with standout performances from Irvine Iqbal, Ahmed Hamad and Eloise Davies) and Creative Director Ryan Carter provides the innovative approach as the audience are...

2Apr

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REVIEWS

Flavour Text – Chronic Insanity

Flavour Text is a new interactive online theatre piece by Nottingham-based company Chronic Insanity that invites the audience to participate in an internet-wide treasure hunt on their laptops. Part of Chronic Insanity’s 12 shows in 12 months, it is directed and designed by Joe Strickland and is produced by Charlotte Holder. The show is experienced across numerous different websites, online forums and chat threads that help you uncover the truth about several people who have gone missing in and around Bermondsey in South East London. Described as “the written equivalent of a found footage film” by the creative team, this show asks you to put aside your conventional notions of “online theatre” and instead, put on your detective hat as you wade through a series of hidden clues, discreet co...

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – SHAKE Festival

1Apr

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REVIEWS

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – SHAKE Festival

For one night only, SHAKE Festival presented a confident, rehearsed reading of Shakespeare’s much beloved romantic comedy, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ starring Rebecca Hall (Titania/Hyppolita), Luisa Omielan (Bottom/Pyramus) and Dan Stevens (Oberon/Theseus). Set in a mystical woodland surrounding Athens, and loaded with a dizzying fizz of magic, love, and poetry, one of Shakespeare’s most accessible plays was brought into our homes live via Zoom and served a delightful and welcome addition to the many online productions that have graced our computers and devices during lockdown. Given that the play explores inner desire, passions, sexuality and gender, tonight’s reading maintained a somewhat traditional and straightforward delivery of the work. That said, Director, Jenny Cannon Hall ...

West End women unite for a digital retelling of hilarious hit musical Disenchanted

31Mar

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NEWS

West End women unite for a digital retelling of hilarious hit musical Disenchanted

The hilarious hit musical Disenchanted will get a showstopping West End digital revival, as leading ladies of the stage transform into the princesses we all know and love… but with a twist! Taking on these iconic heroines will be Jodie Steele as Snow White (SIX The Musical; Heathers), Sophie Isaacs as Cinderella (SIX The Musical; Heathers), Grace Mouat as Pocahontas (&Juliet; SIX The Musical), Millie O’Connell as The Little Mermaid (Be More Chill; SIX The Musical), Shanay Holmes as The Princess Who Kissed The Frog (RENT; The Bodyguard) and more. The production will be available to stream for a limited run via Stream.Theatre from Friday 9th to Sunday 11th April. Revamping the tales of ‘happily ever after’ in an empowering all-female musical romp, Disenchanted brings together a band o...

The Storm Shepherd – a new interactive, audio experience for families from All Things Considered Theatre, in partnership with Alder Hey & Unity

29Mar

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

The Storm Shepherd – a new interactive, audio experience for families from All Things Considered Theatre, in partnership with Alder Hey & Unity

• Tickets are on-sale for Unity’s first event of their 2021 Season – The Storm Shepherd by Liverpool-based All Things Considered Theatre. • The Storm Shepherd is an interactive, audio experience for families and is also the opening event in Unity’s Open Call Programme. • The Storm Shepherd is available to experience from home from Wednesday 21st – Sunday 25th April. Families who book will receive an online audio link and physical storytelling pack (pictured right) in the post. • At the same time, The Storm Shepherd will also premiere at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, allowing children who have been hospitalised the past year to momentarily escape their beds through this new, magical adventure. Tickets are now on-sale for the first event in Unity’s 2021 Season. The Storm Shepher...