Thursday, January 16

Author: Paul Downham

In Search of a White Identity – The Actors Centre
London

In Search of a White Identity – The Actors Centre

This short play, filmed at The Actors Centre in Seven Dials, is written by Cliffordkuju Henry, who also stars as Patrick. As we find this black man in a holding area in a police station together with the white Mickey (played by Drew Edwards), we know we are in complex territory. Both have been arrested for their behaviour on a march that has turned violent, and although they were childhood friends, Mickey has become a right-wing white supremacist. Both come from the same background: violent father, a mother they couldn’t protect, a deprived inner-city estate. This is explored to some extent but fails to fully address the whys and wherefores of how such an upbringing may breed extreme views in later life. Years on, their former playground has been ‘gentrified', and Mickey in partic...
Death of England: Delroy – National Theatre Live
London

Death of England: Delroy – National Theatre Live

The sequel to the play that went out earlier this year where Raef Spall played Michael, friend of Delroy. Death of England: Delroy is a new play that premiered and closed on 4th November this year and subsequently is now being streamed live on YouTube in order to give it the airing it deserves. And of course, adjusting to the social distancing measures that have rocked the foundations of theatre this year. A refreshing new play written by Clint Dyer and Roy Williams is at least getting to reach a wider audience tonight who may not be able to visit the Olivier Theatre in London or not think to watch it so there’s some positivity to be gleaned from this. The writer Dyer tells us that out of adversity, things happen, and enthuses there has been a shift in consciousness this year due ...
An American in Paris – Dominion Theatre
London

An American in Paris – Dominion Theatre

This S’wonderful, S’marvellous show was too short-lived in its West End run. The Broadway production of the musical opened in the Dominion Theatre in March 2017 to great acclaim. If you need a couple of hours to realise that although the world and the arts industry are in a terrible place currently, we’ve gotten through worse and we shall overcome this! Based on the film from 1951, starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron as Jerry Mulligan and Lise DeSan, Robert Fairchild and Leanne Cope take on the lead roles, with Haydn Oakley as Henri Baurel, David Seadon-Young as Adam Hochberg and Zoe Rainey as Milo Davenport and a strong supporting ensemble this show is bound to put a smile on anyone’s face. If you’re a fan of old school musicals, big show stopping numbers and large-scale productions, ...
Royal Court Selection Box Is Go!
NEWS

Royal Court Selection Box Is Go!

Now that Liverpool is officially in Tier Two the world is a better place. The Royal Court Christmas Show can go ahead and starts on 11th December! The new regulations mean that they can serve alcohol to your seats throughout the building so tier two means beer too! The show will be running until 30th January for as long as Liverpool remains in tier two. If they slip back into tier three then that will change so we would recommend getting your tickets for the earlier shows first. Remember, if shows are cancelled or you can't attend for any Covid related reason then you will get a full refund or replacement tickets for another show. With everybody planning their post-lockdown nights out, tickets have been going fast. More than half of the tickets have already been sold so get bookin...
Shakespeare’s Sonnets: Full Show – The Shows Must Go On
REVIEWS

Shakespeare’s Sonnets: Full Show – The Shows Must Go On

"Shakespeare's Sonnets Full Show" is The Shows Must Go On's... well the title says it all really. This show is all of Shakespeare's 154 sonnets performed to camera by an ensemble cast that includes Fiona Shaw, Sir Patrick Stewart, David Tennant, Simon Callow, Simon Russell Beale, Kim Cattrall, Dominic West and Stephen Fry. Many of the performers here are household names and all are familiar faces, some for Shakespeare, others not, and a very few for their expertise either in performing Shakespeare in the period accent or his life and times, which is always intriguing and if nothing else proof of the vast love that has brought these people together over this text. The text is not the only reason though as this show is for a cause, to raise money for The Actor's Fund as well as several...
Don’t Leave Me this Way – Voila Festival
London

Don’t Leave Me this Way – Voila Festival

‘Don’t Leave me this Way,’ by Zoo Indigo is part of Voila Festival, an annual celebration of European theatre set in the shadow of Brexit which seems a million light years away in the current climate of the pandemic. As we know theatre and the arts have been severely compromised so they are having to adapt. Their performance was pre-recorded in the Cockpit Theatre in London's Marylebone. We are encouraged to turn up the brightness of our computer screens preshow as it is a little dark due to being recorded in a theatre. I felt uncomfortable when they told us what a watch party is as most people are aware of this. Rosie and Ildiko, are the Anglo-German duo who make up Zoo Indigo and explore their heritage tonight in a two woman show alongside the talented Rob the violinist. A fantasti...
Rescheduled dates announced for Frank Skinner’s ‘Showbiz’ tour in 2021
NEWS

Rescheduled dates announced for Frank Skinner’s ‘Showbiz’ tour in 2021

At the start of 2020, Frank Skinner had been entertaining audiences at his completely sold out five-week run of Showbiz at the West End’s Garrick Theatre and was set to take his critically acclaimed show back on the road nationwide. But due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation, his rescheduled January and February 2021 dates are now being moved to June and July 2021, kicking off on 3rd June at Leicester’s De Montfort Theatre, with two performances in his hometown Birmingham at The Alexandra Theatre on 22nd and 23rd July and ending on 25th July at The Liverpool Empire.  A full list of Frank’s rescheduled dates can be found at www.frankskinnerlive.com Frank said, “I haven’t heard any proper applause since they stopped the NHS Thursdays. I’m desperate. Roll on June 3rd.” In 2019, Fran...
My Voice Was Heard But It Was Ignored
Interviews

My Voice Was Heard But It Was Ignored

Nana-Kofi Kufuor discusses his debut play My Voice Was Heard But It Was Ignored Fair play to Nana-Kofi Kufuor who has decided to take on an interrogation of black identify in modern Britain for his debut play. My Voice Was Heard But It Was Ignored began life during a year-long writing commission for Manchester based Box of Tricks. Misha Duncan-Barry is teacher Gillian who finds herself in a tricky situation with student Reece played by Jelani D’Augilar. “It sounds a bit heavy, but to me the themes are race, gender, black masculinity black femininity, toxic masculinity” says Nana-Kofi.  “It’s a two hander about a teacher and student, both black, and she sees the student stopped and searched outside of work. “He calls for her to help, and she doesn’t, so the next day with al...
Dreamgirls and Hairspray star Marisha Wallace releases her debut album
Interviews

Dreamgirls and Hairspray star Marisha Wallace releases her debut album

One of the staples of musical theatre is the rags to riches story and Marisha Wallace is living proof of that making her way from a rural farm in North Carolina to starring in the West End. Then when she was recovering from COVID-19 her home recorded version of Tomorrow went viral and Decca Records signed her to make an album.  But her first really big break came in this country after she’d just finished Something Rotten on Broadway when she was asked to understudy Effie White in the West End version of Dreamgirls. “I had five days to rehearse and go on for the role because Amber Riley had gotten pneumonia,” recalls Marisha.  “You know, usually when Effie comes out everyone goes ‘Yeah’ and my first night they go ‘oh’ as they didn’t know who I was.  I'm telling you ever...
West End Unplugged: Vol 2 – The Shows Must Go On
REVIEWS

West End Unplugged: Vol 2 – The Shows Must Go On

This is the second concert like this on the Show Must Go On YouTube channel. It features West End stars singing with a small group of musicians on acoustic instruments. This is mixed with socially distanced sofa chats between West End choreographer Anthony Van Laast, the stars and other theatre workers. There are 2 mini concerts with different acts put together to make a 90-minute session. These shows are billed as the West End’s biggest stars, which could be debated as some of the acts last appeared there at least 7 years ago. The songs are also not ones which would instantly jump to mind as popular favourites. This week’s acts are Hannah Waddingham, David Bedella, Joe Stilgoe, Richard Fleeshman, Celinde Schonemaker, Katie Brayben and Cavin Cornwall. With everything stripped bac...