London Archives - Page 100 of 110

11Jul

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Magic Mike Live – Hippodrome Casino

For those of you that are familiar with the brand, the two Magic Mike films reinvigorated the art of the male strip tease that had not really been seen in the mainstream since the famous Chippendales thrust around world stages in the 80’s and 90’s. The reimagined movie concept was loosely based on the experiences of star Channing Tatum, who was an 18-year-old stripper in Tampa, Florida and now Tatum completes what he is previously billed as a “trilogy” with a live action stage show that he not only created, but also directs alongside Alison Faulk in London’s historical the Hippodrome. For 120 years the Hippodrome has pushed the boundaries of how London entertains, and Magic Mike Live is no exception. From the opening scene, as the dancers begin their first number, with hip thrusts and p...

7Jul

By Gemma PrinceNo Comments

London

Shoes to Fill – Iris Theatre

Part of the Iris Theatre’s Summer Festival at the Actor’s Church, Fair Play Production’s Shoes to Fill is a story of celebration, exploring mixed-race identity and the coming together of two different cultures. Written and performed by Tanya Bridgeman and directed by Alex Miller, the one-woman play mixes elements of spoken word, music, and multi-rolling in a lyrical journey of self-discovery and realisations. Despite the unfortunate weather that plagued the outdoor setting, Bridgeman was able to truly command attention with her high-energy performance as ‘Granddaughter’, a young woman struggling to find herself. Flitting between her Bajan grandmother’s memories of Barbados, her present inner conflict with her growing self-doubt and her Irish grandmother’s advice, Bridgeman’s performance...

Heathers the Musical – Theatre Royal Haymarket

6Jul

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Heathers the Musical – Theatre Royal Haymarket

You know when you wake up the next day singing the songs that you have seen a good musical. Those little ear worms working away overnight, doing what they do best and making sure the tunes continuously occupy our minds long into the next day and beyond. A great musical connects with its audience, involves them, allows them to care about the characters they are seeing and to become invested in what is happening to them regardless of the subject matter. THAT is exactly what ‘Heathers the Musical’ does. As a result, its high energy music, and quirky, easily memorable, witty book are fast developing a cult following. Produced by Bill Kenwright and Paul Taylor-Mills, this high-octane black-comedy rock musical, based on one of the greatest cult teen films of all time, starring Winona Ryder an...

3Jul

By Gaurav SinghNo Comments

London

Extinct – Theatre Royal Stratford East

As I walked through the exit doors of Theatre Royal Stratford East, two immediate thoughts struck me. First, a growing feeling of being overwhelmed (in a good way) by something I thought I knew but hadn’t fully grasped until just then. Second, a feeling of (self-conscious) irony that washed over me as I looked around for a recyclable bin to dispose of my complimentary-press-night beverage can. Unable to find one, I settled for a general use bin instead (I know, I know) and made my way home. Through this brief and exceedingly casual act that many of us probably undertake everyday without much thought, I was confronted by the central argument the show represents – human indifference in the face of a global extinction crisis. Extinct is a deeply gripping, hauntingly vivid call for action a...

Can You See Into a Black Hole – Iris Theatre

1Jul

By Gaurav SinghNo Comments

London

Can You See Into a Black Hole – Iris Theatre

“Can You See Into A Black Hole” is the first of a three-part series by Tom Ryalls that offers a glimpse into childhood epilepsy and youth hospitalizations told through their own personal story. Through a heart-warming personal account of their adolescent years and a combination of documentary interviews, electronic music and the only surviving film of one of their seizures, we witness the complex consequences and conditions of living with an invisible disease that could strike at any time, without warning. Presented at an outdoor setting under the Iris Theatre’s Summer Festival at the St. Paul’s Church in Covent Garden, the show is directed by Deirdre McLaughlin and performed by Dan Fitzsimons, accompanied by Christian Czornyj’ sound design. The text by Ryalls is the driving force of th...

Starting Here, Starting Now – Waterloo East

1Jul

By Carole GordonNo Comments

London

Starting Here, Starting Now – Waterloo East

Maltby and Shire's revue, Starting Here, Starting Now, was first produced at the Manhattan Theater Club in 1976, with songs accumulated from the many shows they had written, some of which were never produced. As a revue, their songs have seen much more success. There have been frequent revivals and even a Grammy nomination for the original cast recording. Each song is a cleverly crafted mini-drama on the timeless themes of love and relationships, good, bad, broken, angry, joyful, new, old, hopeful and hopeless. It's an eclectic mix of songs and styles - sometimes thrilling, sometimes funny, and occasionally baffling. "Thrilling" are the performers, Nikki Bentley, Gina Murray and Noel Sullivan, all seasoned West End stars, whose voices individually and together are the ene...

27Jun

By Gaurav SinghNo Comments

London

Staircase – Southwark Playhouse

Presented by Two's Company and Karl Sydow in association with Tilly Films Staircase is a revival of late English playwright Charles Dyer’s play from the late 60s that explores the relationship between an ageing gay couple who own a barber shop in Brixton, London. Set in a time when homosexuality was not fully decriminalized in the UK, the play shines a light on the various social pressures and anxieties suffered by gay couples who often had to resort to living an undercover life to stay clear of the law. Presented by Two’s Company, who are known for their revivals of texts from the previous century and staged at The Southwark Playhouse, this production is a striking glimpse into the lives of Charles and Harry as they struggle to get past personal differences, estranged family relationsh...

My Son’s a Queer … but what can you do? – Turbine Theatre

25Jun

By Louise PennNo Comments

London

My Son’s a Queer … but what can you do? – Turbine Theatre

Rob Madge is putting on a Disney parade. In this heart-warming show we meet the young Robert through old videos of the productions staged in their living room. An intelligent and confident child, Madge graced the West End stage in Mary Poppins, Matilda, and Les Misérables. It is clear from the obsessive attention placed on these family shows (programmes, rehearsal schedules, that they were destined to head in front of the footlights. To pinhole this show in a particular genre would be an injustice. It is a play about expression and tolerance. It is a musical, with songs which reach out to queer children anywhere, as step by step their lyrics comment on the actor’s childhood. It is a memoir, with the grown Rob looking back on their younger self, sometimes lip-synching words, always...

seven methods of killing kylie jenner – Royal Court, London

24Jun

By Gaurav SinghNo Comments

London

seven methods of killing kylie jenner – Royal Court, London

After a sold-out premiere in 2019, seven methods of killing kylie jenner returns for a limited run at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at The Royal Court. Written by Jasmine Lee-Jones and directed by Milli Bhatia, this is a stunning exploration of historical oppression and cultural appropriation through the lens of free speech, social media and identities, both lived and virtual. The title of the show alludes to a series of viral tweets posted by the handle @incognegro, run by a young Black British woman Cleo, that has caught the attention of the Twitterverse and its millions of faceless users. Confronted by online trolls and haters who are increasingly calling for her to be censored, Cleo’s only refuge is her best friend Kara whose advice only exacerbates the situation further and opens ...

Romeo & Juliet – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

24Jun

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

London

Romeo & Juliet – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

On a wonderfully sunny evening, the weather gods behaved themselves, and we were treated to one of Shakespeare’s best loved plays. Postponed from last year’s season, director Kimberley Sykes’ version has been eagerly anticipated, with its new viewpoint on this popular play, we ask – did this re-assessment pay off? The set designed by Naomi Dawson, with its backdrop of trees, helps to soften the harsh set of scaffolding, rocks, and earth. Earth is one of Sykes’ themes and can be seen as a symbol of nurturing growth, but earth also throws its arms around death which is a major part of the plotline. When Sykes re-read the play, she was struck by a reference to an earthquake that had happened in Verona eleven years earlier. At the time of the earthquake, the Nurse (E...