London Archives - North West End UK

15May

By Sadie PearsonNo Comments

London

1536 – Almeida Theatre

A period drama which couldn’t be more pertinent, 1536 by Ava Pickett is a triumph of feminist rage against a system which is perpetually rigged against women. The trail of Anne Boylen seen through the eyes of three anonymous women - stripping patriarchal attitudes down to bare bones, this electrifying drama exposes – with a warning claxon – the dangerously well-trodden path toward female subjugation. It is not a play to be missed. ‘History is told by victors. And for most of history, men have been the victors’ states Suzannah Lipscomb in the programme’s foreword. This is a play which inverts that narrative. In a small village near Essex, Anna (Siena Kelly). Jane (Liv Hill) and Mariella (Tanya Reynolds) gather in their seclusion of their childhood meeting place, hungry for London’s gossi...

A Small Enclosed Room with Alfie Murphy – Soho Theatre

15May

By Ralph JeffreysNo Comments

London

A Small Enclosed Room with Alfie Murphy – Soho Theatre

A Small Enclosed Room With Alfie Murphy is a unique and funny show that sometimes struggles to deliver on its strong themes and ideas. We begin as a one-man style show. Alfie confides in us about his life, telling us about his band ‘The Camden Stoners’ and the struggles he has with his more sociable, but rather shallow bandmate Jai. From the moment our other performer, Anna Constable, puts her head through the curtain (as Alfie’s ghostwriter dressed as a ghost), the show moves at lightning speed. Alfie falls out hard with Jai, travels to India to lose become a guru, and suddenly finds himself thrown into a particularly aggressive talk show interview before the fourth wall comes crashing down as Constable begins to object to all the costumes and roles, she is forced to put on in order to...

Dear Annie, I Hate You – Riverside Studios

15May

By Savitha VenugopalNo Comments

London

Dear Annie, I Hate You – Riverside Studios

Samantha Ipema takes what is perhaps the most traumatic period of her life and turns it into a dramatic telling full of comedy and poignance. To say that this play offers a peek into its creator’s brain is not hyperbole, it is a mere fact. We do get to see her brain. But more on that later. The play is directed by James Meteyard and Ipema plays herself as she tells her life story from the day she met her adoptive brother, Mica. Their childhood shenanigans, school, friends, teenage, and her love for soccer. And that’s where Annie comes into her life. Annie is the personification of the aneurysm that doctors find in Sam’s brain. She is unpredictable, explosive, and is played with chaotic energy by Eleanor House. She is Sam’s unwelcome plus-one at spring break, in school, at parties. Th...

The Comedy About Spies – Noel Coward Theatre

15May

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

The Comedy About Spies – Noel Coward Theatre

What a play, the two Henry’s, Lewis and Shieldshave ‘cracked the funny bone’ with this one. What is there not to like about Englishmen MI6, Russian KGB and American CIA agents getting it not quite right! If you enjoyed The PLAY That Goes Wrong, well this play is one for the bucket list. The Mischief Company present The Comedy About Spies, with espionage, lots of sneaking about undercover and a dash of James Bond, wonderful. The cast’s opening gambit sets the scene in 1960’London, on a mission ‘Project Midnight’ to track down documents to avert an international disaster. With an ensemble of dialogue to make you cringe and laugh out loud the agents named by letters of the alphabet start a confusing conversation: “this mission is for you no not you U” “Why” agent Y walks in “not you Y get ...

10May

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

Marie & Rosetta – Rose Theatre Kingston

The story of sister Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight is not a well-known one. Rosetta played by Beverley Knight was known as the ‘Godmother of Rock and Roll’ in the 1930’s and 40’s taking Gospel music to a whole new level. Donned with an electric guitar she moved with swing and soul influencing artists like Chuck Berry, Little Richard and well before the uprising of Elvis, Hendrix and other rock roll greats. Rosetta’s drive was to be true to herself with her music creating a fusion of her faith and soulful blues rock. Ntombizodwa Ndlovu debuts as Marie Knight a young woman married to a preacher man with two children who teams up with Rosetta to create a partnership that would prove to be more than just creating music. The women become aligned to each other’s strengths,...

9May

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

Einkvan – The Coronet Theatre

Einkvan by Jon Fosse was performed at the beautiful Coronet Theatre, a venue that perfectly blends period charm with a capacity for avant-garde staging. The ambience was evocative and well-suited to the abstract, meditative tone of the production. The performance centers around a family in emotional disarray, focusing on a son who refuses to speak or respond to his parents. Despite their desperate attempts to connect—pleading with him to talk, reminiscing about shared memories, or offering simple gestures like having a beer—he remains distant and unresponsive. His silence is both the emotional core and the great mystery of the piece. Visually, Einkvan is stunning. The entire performance unfolds behind a semi-translucent veil, rendering the actors as ghostly figures moving in slow...

The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody – Riverside Studios

6May

By Ben PearsonNo Comments

London

The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody – Riverside Studios

I am under strict instructions from a fierce Imperial Officer (last night’s host Pete Anderson) not to give too much of the show away here, so I’ll keep this simple. The Empire Strips Back is an absolute joy to watch, and whether you’re a huge Star Wars fan or you just enjoy a comically risqué night out, I highly recommend you go and see it. As the title would suggest, The Empire Strips Back pays tribute to the beloved worlds and characters of Star Wars by reimagining them through a burlesque lens. The results are simultaneously hilarious, seductive and at times jaw-droppingly impressive. Creator Russall S Beattie, producer David J Foster and London director Bec have crafted an intricate production that allows the performers to form a relationship with the audience, flirting and teasing...

Q The Music: James Bond Concert Spectacular – Fairfield Halls, Croydon

6May

By Carole GordonNo Comments

London

Q The Music: James Bond Concert Spectacular – Fairfield Halls, Croydon

Warren Ringham, a life-long massive James Bond fan and professional musician, founded Q The Music in 2004 as a unique tribute to the music of the iconic movie series. He has put together and leads a first-class 13-piece orchestra of superbly talented musicians to remind audiences of the important contribution the music of John Barry, David Arnold, Hans Zimmer and others has made to the movies. Three vocalists (Kerry Schultz, Rhiannon Porter and Matt Walker), recreate well-known Bond themes such as You Only Live Twice, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger and the Oscar-winning Skyfall. As well as the themes, Ringham interestingly includes some of the incidental music from the movies, the passages of music that don't usually get much attention outside of the films. Bond films...

6May

By Ben PearsonNo Comments

London

WEER – Soho Theatre Walthamstow

I was exhausted as I sat down in the newly opened Soho Theatre Walthamstow to watch Natalie Palamides’ WEER. It had been a long day at work and, if I’m honest, I needed a bit of a pick-me-up. Luckily, Palamides more than delivered. I am not exaggerating when I say that WEER was one of, if not the funniest plays I have ever seen. The premise is simple; Palamides’ plays both sides of a couple in turmoil. And I mean that literally. One side of her, ‘Mark’, sports a beard, wig, and stereotypically masculine clothes, whilst the other side, ‘Christina’, wears a dress. At least to start with… the number of costume changes Palamides managed to pull off was something to behold. I was amazed by how distinct Palamides’ portrayals of Mark and Christina were. They each had unique physical mannerisms...

5May

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

Romeo & Juliet – Shakespeare’s Globe

The Shakespeare Globe presents as part of the summer season. A new lively production of Romeo and Juliet, a play of young love and tragedy. This is one of Shakespeare’s controversial plays “which the age of a character is overtly stated, Juliet is just thirteen”. Romeo’s age is never mentioned but the sense is he is not much older than his Juliet played by Lola Shalam. It offers Shakespeare style, set within the wild west times of the 19th Century, yes cowboys. Don’t be fooled It has its scenes of tragedy, violence and misfortunate heartache. Set in Verona it revolves around a story of feuding families, the Montagues and the Capulet’s of which Romeo is a Montague and Juliet a Capulate. The two meet for the first time at a ‘coming out’ banquet for Juliet. Romeo with his friends Ben...