Zandra Odetunde, Author at North West End UK

Limp Wrist and the Iron Fist – Brixton House Theatre

14Nov

By Zandra OdetundeNo Comments

London

Limp Wrist and the Iron Fist – Brixton House Theatre

Limp Wrist and the Iron Fist at Brixton House Theatre was nothing short of electric, a play that’s not just important but gloriously entertaining. It’s funny, heartwarming, and unflinchingly true to the lives it represents. Each character feels like a facet of what it might mean to be Black and queer today: tender, defiant, exhausted, and alive all at once. The performances are uniformly strong, but the standout is Omari, played with fierce vulnerability by Tyler Orphé-Baker. His intensity grounds the play, every glance, every silence, feels heavy with truth. There are moments that made me laugh out loud and others that seemed to have the whole room in tears. Yes, there are references to sexual assault and other sensitive topics, so go in knowing that, but they’re handled with honest...

15Sep

By Zandra OdetundeNo Comments

London

Black Power Desk – Brixton House

Theatre has rarely felt this alive, urgent, and unapologetically Black. Black Power Desk, an original musical directed by Gbolahan Obisesan, is a searing, soulful exploration of sisterhood, grief, and resistance, set against the backdrop of the covert operations of New Scotland Yard’s infamous “Black Power Desk” in 1970s London. Loosely inspired by the Mangrove Nine, the play follows two sisters, Celia (Rochelle Rose) and Dina (Veronica Carabai), as they navigate love, politics, and survival in a Britain defined by racial tension and state surveillance. The result? An electrifying blend of theatre, live music, and political storytelling that refuses to soften its edges. The entire ensemble delivers powerhouse performances, seamlessly balancing individual brilliance with collective ch...

13Jul

By Zandra OdetundeNo Comments

London

Lil.Miss.Lady – Brixton House

If early 2000s UK grime is in your bloodstream, if you grew up on pirate radio, Nokia polyphonic ringtones, and Channel U, then Lil.Miss.Lady at Brixton House should be on your watchlist. This production isn’t theatre in the conventional sense, it’s part rave, part memory lane, part cultural reckoning. Like a reload-worthy set in the middle of a sweaty basement rave, it demands your full attention. The cast aren’t just actors, they’re MCs, lyricists, hosts, ravers. Hypez (Alexander Lobo Moreno) spun with serious dexterity, blending narrative with nostalgia, and Lil.Miss.Lady (Lady Lykez) herself was magnetic: part MC, part griot, part survivor. The bars were sharp, the energy relentless. And DJ Rat (Aliaano Elali)? Deserves his flowers, no question. His ability to hype the crowd while s...

21Jun

By Zandra OdetundeNo Comments

London

One Way Out – Brixton House

One Way Out is the kind of play that doesn’t just speak, it shouts. But in the same breath, it leaves you in silence, sitting with a truth you didn’t ask for but needed to hear. Montel Douglas’s coming-of-age story doesn’t try to be subtle. It’s loud, local, and full of heart. It asks what home really means when a window breaks and your whole life shatters with it. The show opens with a physical theatre sequence that, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy, but it was done incredibly well. Tense, explosive, choreographed with purpose. The fight unfolds like a dance, and it's this moment that sets everything in motion. A broken window leads to a suspension. That suspension alerts the police. The police alert the Home Office. And just like that, someone’s life is over. That some...

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Bridge Theatre

6Jun

By Zandra OdetundeNo Comments

London

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Bridge Theatre

If A Midsummer Night’s Dream should leave you feeling as though you’ve wandered through a strange, enchanted world, unsure what was real and what was play, then this immersive production succeeds beautifully. Bold, funny, sometimes outrageous, but always intelligent, it brings Shakespeare’s classic comedy to life with an energy that is both thoroughly modern and deeply respectful of the text’s spirit. Bunny Christie’s design is a triumph, a playful yet atmospheric space in which the audience moves freely as the world of the play shifts around them. The staging, with its moving platforms and layered set-pieces, constantly reshapes your perspective. I was fortunate to experience it from within the pits, which brought an exhilarating intimacy to the action. That said, if you...

3Jun

By Zandra OdetundeNo Comments

London

Permission – Tara Theatre

Permission is protest theatre with teeth. It’s urgent, intimate, and unexpectedly funny. Set between a Heathrow immigration line and a rooftop in Karachi, it’s a story that pulses with the politics of belonging, but never forgets the bruises left behind in private. The play tackles respectability, resistance, and the slippery myth of freedom, especially when your body, your story, and your silence have been weaponised. Hanna, played with quiet ache and steel by Anisa Butt, is a Pakistani-born student trying to stake out her own version of liberation in London, far from the weight of family and the hum of Karachi’s rooftop revolution was astounding in her role. Rea Malhotra Mukhtyar delivers something magnetic — playing both Hanna’s childhood best friend Minza, and later, Anush...

6Mar

By Zandra OdetundeNo Comments

London

Macbeth – Lyric Hammersmith

Macbeth at the Lyric Hammersmith was nothing short of mesmerising. The production seamlessly wove the ancient with the avant-garde, a rare and masterful balance that honoured Shakespeare’s original while infusing it with a vibrant contemporary spirit, a feat that should undoubtedly fill the director (Richard Twyman) with pride. The performance of Lois Chimimba as Lady Macbeth was particularly unforgettable. She slipped into the role as if it were an integral thread of her being, delivering an impeccable portrayal that firmly establishes her as one of my favourite incarnations of Lady Macbeth. In a legacy filled with formidable predecessors, her interpretation shone brightly. Equally captivating was Alex Austin in the role of Macbeth. How does one infuse tragedy with moments of levity...

Liar Liar Pants on Fire – The Union Theatre

11Jan

By Zandra OdetundeNo Comments

London

Liar Liar Pants on Fire – The Union Theatre

Liar Liar Pants on Fire delivers an authentic slice-of-life experience, anchored by the remarkable debut of Hayley Schiffer. From the very first scene, Schiffer’s performance draws you in with its raw emotion and unflinching honesty, encapsulating the all too familiar feelings of a second-generation immigrant with grace and depth. Her portrayal resonates deeply, leaving audiences feeling as if they are witnessing their own lives unfold on stage. Schiffer’s acting is nothing short of extraordinary. The way she speaks about Londoners and the observations she shares about everyday spaces feel incredibly genuine. It isn’t just dialogue; it’s a depiction of reality, infused with personal touches that make the narrative so relatable. This authenticity sets her apart, and it is evident in ...

5Oct

By Zandra OdetundeNo Comments

London

Run, Rebel – Theatre Peckham

Run, Rebel is a heart-thumping tale, a visceral plunge into the complex reality of being a second-generation immigrant in the UK. It is a story that resonates with an audience familiar with the delicate balance between two worlds, especially those who have felt the penetrating gaze of watchful aunties, clutching their Lidl bags with an unspoken authority, ready to report where you've been and who you’re with. Something all too familiar. The star of the show, Jessica Kaur, who played Amber, delivered a commanding performance that truly set her apart. She infused her lines with a palpable energy, an emotional depth that made her a powerful presence on stage. She was a star, a brilliant axis around which the entire story spun. The story itself was laced with heart and grit. It spoke...

17Sep

By Zandra OdetundeNo Comments

London

Abigail’s Party – Stratford East

Mike Leigh’s 1970s portrayal of an Essex suburban Soiree, taking place of the back of a raucous teenage party "Abigail’s Party," offers a compelling and incisive examination of middle-class life. This production vividly captures the essence of suburban dynamics with both humour and social critique. Set on Richmond Road, the play deftly exposes the tensions and pretensions that define the characters’ interactions, making it a thought-provoking and entertaining experience. The performances in "Abigail’s Party" are another standout aspect of the production. Tamzin Outhwaite shines as Beverley, capturing her character’s blend of superficial charm and underlying vulnerability with remarkable precision. Outhwaite’s portrayal of Beverley is both engaging and nuanced, bringing out the character...