London Archives - Page 102 of 114

Wonderville Magic & Illusion – Palace Theatre

3Aug

By Carole GordonNo Comments

London

Wonderville Magic & Illusion – Palace Theatre

The West End has new wizards in town. While Cambridge Circus awaits the return of Harry Potter in October, Wonderville, a new family-friendly show packed with magic and illusion, is keeping his place warm. Wonderville is a throwback to the type of vaudeville magic show of old, featuring an eclectic range of acts. Alongside the regular performers, there's also a set by a guest artiste, one of a number performing at different shows. The energetic bowtie-wearing Chris Cox, a star on both Broadway and the West End, hosts and provides the links between the acts. Cox is an excellent MC, affable and funny. He's also a brilliant mind-reader, producing some stunning moments of "How did he know that?" and gasps from the audience as he follows in the footsteps of Derren Brown, but wit...

I Could Use a Drink – Vaudeville Theatre

3Aug

By Sophie GrahamNo Comments

London

I Could Use a Drink – Vaudeville Theatre

“I Could Use a Drink”, and couldn’t we all after the year we’ve had? Originally a successful streaming event, tonight Drew Gasparini’s “I Could Use a Drink” made it’s west end debut at the Garrick Theatre, London. First released in 2013 as a contemporary Musical Theatre album, exploring a range of themes from love and heartbreak to teen pregnancy, producers Liam Gartland and Alex Conder (of Gartland Productions) transform this album to a staged production. Whilst the original album features an array of Broadway’s biggest names, this cast certainly gives a well overdue opportunity to showcase some of the young west end stars of the future. And what an exciting cast this is: Ahmed Hamad (Rent), Billy Nevers (& Juliet, Jesus Christ Superstar), Caroline Kay (Daisy, The Space Between), L...

1Aug

By Gaurav SinghNo Comments

London

Changing Destiny – Young Vic

As I enter the Main House Theatre at the Young Vic, there is a strange sense of ‘community’ that starts building up inside me. Perhaps it’s the in-the-round seating that is oddly reminiscent of being gathered around a campfire or simply, the lively atmosphere full of hushed conversations and exchanges as we return to full capacity audiences in the theatres. Tonight, The Young Vic mounts a new age retelling of a 4000-year-old poem from ancient Egyptian literature, based on the adventures of warrior king Sinuhe. Written by Ben Okri and directed by Young Vic’s artistic director Kwame Kwei-Armah, Changing Destiny is a wonderfully crafted ode to resilience, identity and belonging that not only breathes fresh life into the literature that inspired it, but also raises larger questions around the ...

31Jul

By Zoё MeeresNo Comments

London

Oleanna – Arts Theatre

Oleanna first came to the stage in 1992 in the United States and 1993 in the UK. At the time, high profile sexual harassment cases had captured the attention of the US audience in particular, and heightened sensitivities meant that the play – which explores the shifting power dynamic between a female university student and her male professor – was received as controversial. Nearly 30 years later, although our senses are maybe somewhat dulled to some of the nuances within the piece, we’re still having the same conversations and realising the full extent to which sexism in all its guises, male privilege and abuse of power have shaped and determined the world around us. We meet John and his student Carol in John’s perfectly angular, book lined office. The set is incredibly pleasing t...

31Jul

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Tommy On Top – Above The Stag Theatre

Billed as a “giddy and gloriously foul-mouthed comedy”, the storyline on ‘Tommy On Top’ is one of jeopardy and hilarious lies. Our lead character, Tommy is a closeted Hollywood heartthrob struggling to keep a lid on his love life and he is willing to go to the greatest lengths to achieve his goal, to win the award for his latest movie. After all, no “out” gay man has ever won Best Actor at the Oscars. Fortunately, Tommy isn’t an out gay man, he is very much in the closet. Unfortunately, gossip hack Kiki (Becky Sanneh) suspects he’s got a lot more in his closet than just a freshly pressed white tuxedo... The development of a perfect theatrical farce takes careful planning and structure is everything. It is vital that things happen with exact precision so as never to get lost on the au...

31Jul

By Gaurav SinghNo Comments

London

My Night With Reg – Turbine Theatre

Kevin Elyotand’s 1994 comedy ‘My Night With Reg’ is a heartwarming exploration of the lives of a group of friends set against the backdrop of a mounting AIDS crisis. Winning an Olivier Award for Best Comedy after its transfer to the West End's Criterion Theatre in its original run, this revival directed by Matt Ryan is an ambitious attempt to capture the fragile lives of the gay community in the 80s as personal insecurities and anxieties quickly gave way to a larger question about their legacy and mortality. This production by The Turbine Theatre is successful in highlighting some of these dilemmas but is unable to sustain the larger argument put forth by the playwright. The story follows the lives of 30-something men, some friends and others mere acquaintances, over a period of several...

Every Sinner Has a Future – Golden Goose Theatre

29Jul

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

London

Every Sinner Has a Future – Golden Goose Theatre

The title of the play brings to mind ‘A Woman of No Importance’ by Oscar Wilde, when Lord Illingworth declared ‘Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future’. In context Wilde’s play is vastly different, as the subjects are from a privileged society, something that is not the case with this play. Frank Scully is a 1960’s child, whose mother did the best she could for him under difficult circumstances. Scully comes from an era before ‘black lives matter’, skin colour mattered and if you didn’t fit in, you were going to find it very difficult to get on in the world. Like most young boys, Scully had dreams of what he would like to do, and when he was young his dream was to be a paperboy like the other boys. He had his chopper bike, but why wouldn’t Mr Patel...

The Two Character Play – Hampstead Theatre

27Jul

By Gaurav SinghNo Comments

London

The Two Character Play – Hampstead Theatre

After its world premiere in 1967 at the very same theatre, Tennessee William’s The Two Character Play returns to Hampstead Theatre in a spellbinding production directed by Sam Yates. When the play was originally written, its writing style was panned by critics as being “too experimental” and categorized as a marked departure from William’s earlier texts that now serve as his dramatic legacy. However, it’s this very departure from the tradition that allows the Hampstead production to shine, combining a multitude of modern-day visual storytelling techniques and a stellar performance by its cast to create a magical and moving experience. As Yates adds, the intent is to create “a theatrical event that will showcase everything that's vital about the live experience” and it succeeds in doing pre...

25Jul

By Samantha CollettNo Comments

London

Kaleidoscope – Alexandra Palace

Going to a festival during a pandemic may seem a strange choice. But if life is to get back to ‘normal’ then attending an event outside is part of the journey – plus you have to show proof you’ve been double jabbed. The difference with Kaleidoscope is in the setting of Alexandra Park. The gently sloping grounds cradling the main stage (Hilltop) mean you can watch from afar taking in the views of London as an accompaniment to the main act on stage. The awesome sound system means you don’t have to be right up front to hear the action, you can dance on your picnic blanket to your heart’s delight. And if you don’t like the main stage, there’s the bandstand or the terrace or the fringe theatre offering alternative entertainment. Short of options you are not. And talking of options, the...

The Play That Goes Wrong – Duchess Theatre

24Jul

By Gaurav SinghNo Comments

London

The Play That Goes Wrong – Duchess Theatre

The first time I’d heard about Mischief Theatre’s The Play That Goes Wrong was way back in 2015, when I was a part of my collegiate dramatics society and found the premise to be absolutely hilarious (and deeply relatable). It was only six months ago that I watched the show for the first time, managing to catch it just before the new year lockdown forced theatres to shut down once again in the UK. When I got the opportunity to watch the show again this week, this time as a press reviewer, I only had one question on my mind – I knew I was in for a hilarious evening, but would the creative team be able to replicate the same spontaneity and surprise that greeted me the first time around? These two elements are the cornerstone for physical comedy, and doing it night after night requires a delic...