London Archives - North West End UK

21Dec

By Maani WayNo Comments

London

Ballet Shoes – National Theatre

Based on the well-loved novel by Noel Streatfeild, Ballet Shoes is the heartwarming story of three orphans who, in twists of fate, find themselves as sisters with the unlikely but chosen surname of “Fossil”. Pauline, Petrova and Posy make a vow to put their name in the history books and make a living to support their unconventional but loving family. Before we meet the Fossils, we are told of Sylvia (Pearl Mackie), who finds herself orphaned and taken to live with her only living relative, Great Uncle Matthew (Philip Labey), or more affectionately known as “GUM”. GUM is a collector of fossils and a devoted geologist, who adventures around the world looking for the next gem. The three treasures he happens to bring home are the three orphan sisters, much to the dismay of Sylvia’s Nana (Je...

21Dec

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

Cinderella – Kings Head Theatre

I had the luxury of seeing Cinderella in Pantomime at the Kings Head Theatre in Islington. They have 2 varieties of this performance with a family showing and an adults only showing. I had the pleasure of seeing the adults only showing with different guest performances throughout their running. A standout feature of this show is the inclusion of voiceovers by none other than Dame Judi Dench and Miriam Margolyes. Their iconic voices add an extra touch of magic and prestige to an already delightful production. True to pantomime tradition, the show is packed with audience participation, cheesy jokes, and a script that keeps the laughter rolling from start to finish. As an adults-only performance, it adds an extra layer of risqué humour and cheeky innuendos, making it an unforgettable ex...

The King of Broken Things – Riverside Studios

20Dec

By Zak RosenNo Comments

London

The King of Broken Things – Riverside Studios

At the start of The King of Broken Things, we enter into a space full of lost, discarded objects. We sit. We contemplate the items around us – well loved, full of potential. A young child arrives, fleeing bullies, and then, having pushed out their cruel, overwhelming voices, shares with us what it means to be broken, what it means to mend and what possibilities exist for us when we dream, imagine and believe. The King of Broken Things, written and directed by Michael Taylor-Broderick, who collaborated on the (lovely) design with Bryan Hiles and Darren Peens, is a delightful story for the whole family. Creatively textured and built out, and ever inviting the audience to join in on the fun, whimsy, and heart, the show offers adults and children alike a window into a more joyous, mor...

20Dec

By Olivia CoxNo Comments

London

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof – Almeida Theatre

Hot off two acclaimed productions of Tennessee Williams’s Summer and Smoke and A Streetcar Named Desire, Rebecca Frecknall and the Almeida Theatre are reunited once more in her new staging of three-act play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. But can she make it a hat trick? One of Williams’s most famous plays — and reportedly his favourite — Cat on a Hot Tin Roof tackles family dysfunction, falsehoods, and the fear of death. Gathering for patriarch Big Daddy’s (Lennie James) 65th birthday, alcoholic son Brick (Kingsley Ben-Adir) and rags-to-riches wife Maggie (Daisy Edgar-Jones) confront their crumbling relationship amid a web of lies about Big Daddy’s ailing health. Having undergone recent tests, Big Daddy and Big Mama (Clare Burt) have been told he’s in the clear. It’s only his children who know ...

18Dec

By Ralph JeffreysNo Comments

London

Cyrano – Park Theatre

Cyrano at the Park Theatre is an exceptionally entertaining evening out. Virginia Gay’s reworking of Edmond Rostand’s 19th century play is transformational, turning an old, ossified tragedy into an uplifting and heartfelt exploration of queerness and love. The play follows Cyrano, who has a brilliant mind but is deeply insecure in her body. She falls for the equally intelligent Roxanne, who instead falls for the handsome yet ineloquent Yan. Unable to express her love openly, Cyrano takes to seducing Roxanne through Yan, feeding him the right words. Through this tension, Cyrano explores unrequited love, self-hatred, arrogance, and manipulation. Virigina Gay and Jessica Whitehurst flourish as Cyrano and Roxanne respectively. Their chemistry is compelling as are the barriers to their ro...

Rodney Black: Who Cares? It’s Working – Lion & Unicorn

18Dec

By Zak RosenNo Comments

London

Rodney Black: Who Cares? It’s Working – Lion & Unicorn

Most shows are interested primarily in being funny. But what happens when you try to go deeper than that? To cut beneath humour, to the blood and the violence? What happens when the line between a joke and the real-world dissolves, and collapses? These are the questions that the Full Frontal Theatre poses in its no-holds-barred production of Rodney Black: Who Cares? It’s Working. Following the story of an edgelord-misogynist comedian who doesn’t seem to believe in anything he says on stage, but whose career skyrockets as he pursues a darker routine with real world impacts, Rodney Black isn’t a pleasant show to watch, nor is it meant to be; playwright Sadie Pearson and director Hen Ryan force viewers to contend with a side of comedy that most probably don’t enjoy ruminating on, their...

14Dec

By Zak RosenNo Comments

London

Hold On To Your Butts – Arcola Theatre

Hold On To Your Butts, the frenetic, exceedingly clever work of New York-based company Recent Cutbacks, is exactly what it purports to be. Originating ten years ago with sold out performances in New York and recently transferring from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the show is (as far as I can tell, a completely faithful) shot-for-shot theatrical parody of Stephen Spielberg’s iconic tale of a dinosaur theme park that goes horribly wrong. But knowing that, and subsequently knowing the general plot (Arrival. Dinosaurs. Chaos Theory. Power Failure. Velociraptor Hijinks.) does nothing to capture the ingenuity and delight of this show. From the very beginning, when one’s eyes fall on the rickety-sparse stage, awash in a thin fog and a deep, anticipatory green lighting (courtesy of desi...

14Dec

By Zak RosenNo Comments

London

Dead Hard – Colab Tower

‘Tis the season for mulled cider, yuletide cheer, festival holiday shrubberies of various kinds, and of course, the Panto – a classic story often full of slapstick, genderbending, topical humour, a villain and a wedding. Well, what’s more classic than the iconic Christmas movie Die Hard?And what better way to tell this classical story, Panto Style, than with some extremely fierce immersive drag? That’s exactly what the Yippee Theatre has done with its inaugural show at the Colab Tower immersive theatre venue. Billed as the world’s first immersive drag panto, this show is full of stellar costumes, raucous performances, hysterical references and superb audience interaction that gets people engaged without making anything awkward or uncomfortable. Directed by Bertie Watkins, the show c...

13Dec

By Louise PennNo Comments

London

The Little Foxes – Young Vic

A rare revival for Lillian Hellman's play, set at the turn of the 20th century. With a title taken from the Bible's Song of Solomon, The Little Foxes is a family drama set in Alabama's cotton country. Regina, Ben and Oscar are siblings living closely together, a family who gained wealth and power when Oscar charmed and married Birdie, daughter of Southern aristocracy and rich plantation owners. They patronise their black servants and are driven by money. When Regina's husband Horace, sick and tired, fails o respond to a business deal, plans to gain the money with or without him. Lyndsey Turner’s production captures all the nastiness behind closed doors, particularly of the unsuccessful marriages at its heart. There are moments of both physical and emotional violence, and...

12Dec

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Beauty and the Beast – Richmond Theatre

Richmond Theatre's ‘Beauty and the Beast’ pantomime, penned by Alan McHugh and directed by Paul Robinson, offers a truly delightful seasonal treat, that combines the magic of traditional panto with the timeless tale of a cursed prince and his quest for love. This new production shines brightly with its blend of humour, heart, and magical enchantment, and whilst the pacing occasionally falters, and some routines feel a touch outdated for the modern stage, these moments are few, and do not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment, providing a perfect holiday outing for families and friends alike. The strong cast is exceptionally talented, delivering performances that are both vibrant and engaging. Each performer brings a unique energy to the stage, creating a dynamic ensemble that...