London Archives - North West End UK

19Nov

By Ben PearsonNo Comments

London

Kindliness – Barons Court Theatre

Set in mythical country torn apart by war, Kindliness tells the story of a man (Malcolm) who must choose between his family and the young immigrant (Mimmi) with whom he is having an affair. Writer and producer Daniel Chaves, who also plays Malcolm, has crafted a script which attempts to tackle themes of xenophobia, racism, and tribalism. As such, Kindliness is a direct response to the many atrocities and conflicts ongoing around the world. The premise is certainly promising and, combined with Jenny Eastop’s dynamic direction, Kindliness had the ingredients to be a poignant, timely production. Indeed, when the show is firing on all cylinders, such as whenever Malcolm’s wife, Amara, delivers casual and cutting xenophobic comments, it is raw, haunting and depressingly real. Sadly, howe...

In the Shadow of Her Majesty – Brockley Jack Studio Theatre

15Nov

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

In the Shadow of Her Majesty – Brockley Jack Studio Theatre

In a cramped but comfortable North London council flat four female members of a family are preparing for Christmas. It is December 2020, when social interaction is still impacted by the effect of Covid. Within sight of the house are the overbearing walls of Pentonville prison, where the man of the house is incarcerated. The long-suffering and alcoholic mother Doreen (Alice Selwyn) and her three daughters form a fractious family unit, obsessed by football and EastEnders. The youngest daughter Jorja (Ella Harding) waits impatiently and in some distress for a long-awaited phone call on the landline from her father from inside the prison, while receiving mysterious messages on her own phone. The play, written by Lois Tallulah who also starred as oldest daughter Riley, was billed as "a t...

15Nov

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Club Life – Omnibus Theatre

Fred Deakin’s ‘Club Life’ is more than a show, it’s an intimate love letter to the transformative magic of club culture. Part autobiography, part highly immersive, participatory theatre, and part living history, this production takes audiences on an exhilarating journey through Deakin’s personal and professional evolution, from awkward teenage house party DJ to the mastermind behind some of Edinburgh’s most iconic and infamous club nights. Set against the vibrant backdrops of 1980s and 1990s Edinburgh nightlife, ‘Club Life’ combines heartfelt storytelling with a celebration of the communal power of dance. As narrator, Deakin recounts his early forays into DJing, describing how playing music at parties gave him a sense of belonging. From there, the narrative crescendos into his universit...

Distant Memories of the Near Future – Arcola Theatre

14Nov

By Dave SmithNo Comments

London

Distant Memories of the Near Future – Arcola Theatre

In the near future, love is just another commodity driven by an app called Q-pid. In fact, it’s a bit more than love, everything is commoditised. There are advertisements that it is legally mandated you listen and pay attention to, you are encouraged to report anyone you know who mutes the ad. In this future, AI dictates so much of life that those it cannot match with a partner are labelled as “undesirables”. In such a society, is there any space left for real human connection? Within this world, a lone narrator shares stories of love and connection. David Head, writer and performer, has an immediate rapport with the audience, he comes across as a natural born storyteller with a big heart, a warm smile and such a sense of humour with his wit and sarcasm sparkling across the stage. Dista...

14Nov

By Savitha VenugopalNo Comments

London

Blue Stockings – New Wimbledon Theatre

Behold, a young lady pursuing education, clamouring for the right to graduate, wanting to perform scientific experiments and debate on philosophy! Is there anything more unnatural than a ‘blue stocking’ woman who insists on going against her role in nature, which is to reproduce and care for the young? Concepts that draw snickers from the audience now, but concepts that were well believed and propagated in the 19th century. Written by Jessica Swale and directed by Natalie Romero, Blue Stockings is set in Cambridge of the 1890s. A group of women – young and old, students and teachers – are fighting for their right to earn a degree and to be educated on the same footing as the men. The female students match their male counterparts grade for grade and yet find that they are sidelined, even...

La Clique 20th Anniversary – Leicester Square Spiegeltent

14Nov

By Dave SmithNo Comments

London

La Clique 20th Anniversary – Leicester Square Spiegeltent

Celebrating 20 years since David Bates debuted La Clique at Edinburgh Fringe, the acclaimed team return to the Leicester Square Spiegeltent for an evening of cabaret, circus and high-energy entertainment. An international ensemble of performers combines to leave audiences gasping and captivated by daring acts featuring a unique blend of humour, artistry, and charisma. You might not immediately think of Leicester Square as an intimate venue, but the Spiegeltent really pulls this off nicely. Just a few rows around the performances (which are mostly in the centre of the tent and often above the audience's heads so no need to worry about tall people sitting in front of you). Each performer brings their talent but combines it with such a sense of showmanship, it’s about teasing and flirting ...

13Nov

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

Nine Sixteenths – Pleasance Theatre

Nine Sixteenths, created and starring Paula Varjack, is a dynamic play centered on Black female role models and their portrayal in the music industry. The performance is short, fast-paced, and includes a few comical moments that had the audience laughing alongside the cast. The highlights included some spirited dancing and outrageously funny lip-syncing, adding a light-hearted touch to the production. However, the play frequently broke the fourth wall, with Varjack sharing her motivations and inspirations behind the production—a choice that occasionally disrupted the flow. The central focus of the play was the cultural impact of Janet Jackson’s infamous Super Bowl moment, examining both how Jackson navigated this incident and how it reverberated across the industry, particularly for...

13Nov

By Ben PearsonNo Comments

London

MOREAU – The Drayton Arms’ Theatre

MOREAU, the debut production of Exciting Stories, is a contemporary re-telling of H.G. Wells’ horror classic The Island of Dr. Moreau which explores themes of ‘memory, therapy, identity, rebellion and ultimately, hope’. Writer and director Phil Stewart and co-writer H.S. Fernandez have crafted a compelling, evocative, and philosophically intriguing script which (for the most part) well balances abstract and challenging concepts with grounded characters. Beginning with a powerful, almost animalistic piece of physical theatre, courtesy of movement director Luca Villa, MOREAU never lets the energy drop, keeping the audience equally engaged in scenes ranging from quiet reflection to a brutal operation. This is in no doubt due to the stupendously energetic performances of the cast. Jimmy...

13Nov

By Riana HowarthNo Comments

London

Phoenix – Barons Court Theatre

Phoenix is about a journey from constriction and avoidance to inner freedom. Dressed in flowy dungarees, and big, curly blonde hair, Helen is like a children’s storybook character. There is an intention to heal, which is manifest in her radiating warmth, and inviting eyes. She sets the scene with the cosy familiarity of a night in with a friend, drawing us in with intimacy. She confesses to being a Towie addict, and this comedy takes a turn, exploring different ways people numb themselves. The lightness and humour in her stories float above uncomfortable feelings. She squishes these down, dancing away the pain, and distracting herself. She shows us snippets of her life; her relationships, growing up, and her experiences as an actor. These personal moments feel sincere and make th...

Make Good: The Post Office Scandal – Omnibus Theatre

13Nov

By Olivia CoxNo Comments

London

Make Good: The Post Office Scandal – Omnibus Theatre

By now, the whole of the UK is aware of the tragic miscarriage of justice that was the Post Office scandal, where more than 900 sub postmasters were wrongly convicted of theft, fraud, and false accounting, ruining their reputations and livelihoods in the process. This unbelievable story became more widely known after ITV broadcast the TV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office. Now, we have a musical take on the scandal in the form of Pentabus and New Perspectives’ Make Good: The Post Office Scandal, written and composed by Jeanie O’Hare and Jim Fortune. There’s a real community feel to the style of storytelling, which fits the source material nicely. We’re introduced to the show by Ed Gaughan, acting as a narrator and host in an engaging fourth wall-breaking monologue before seamlessl...