London Archives - Page 105 of 150

German Cornejo’s Tango After Dark – Peacock Theatre

12Oct

By Anisha PucadyilNo Comments

London

German Cornejo’s Tango After Dark – Peacock Theatre

Tango after dark lingers on the notes of passion from the first beat. Arriving in London after a world tour, it delivers, as promised, a show of technique and unbelievable craftsmanship. The performance expresses nostalgia and melancholy, dripping with sensual passion. Produced at Peacock Theatre by Sandra Castell Garcia with a limited run until 22nd October 2022. The brilliance of nimble, trained bodies that do not tire by the non-stop dancing have one transfixed by the agility, flawlessness and rhythm. The sustained and palpable chemistry all the dancers can create on stage transports us to Buenos Aires. From a marketplace where a chase ensues, breaking into an energetic group dance to a dimly lit bar where the slowness of each poised swish and matching notes takes one's breath away. ...

11Oct

By Akshay RahejaNo Comments

London

Ruckus – Southwark Playhouse

Written and performed by Jenna Fincken, Ruckus is a single-act, one-woman performance that narrates the aging of a toxic relationship. The play brings to life the experience of being with a coercive partner and interrogates the subjectivity of consent in a relationship. There are many parallels between ‘Ruckus’ and the iconic ‘A Doll’s House’ by Henrik Ibsen. Just as Torvald creates a Doll house for Nora Helmer, in Ruckus the protagonist moves in with her partner in a beachouse that she had always dreamt of. Just as A doll’s House contemplates the fracture of this house by Nora’s departure, Ruckus explores the fracture in the architecture of a house built on shallow foundations. The protagonist continues to pity and continues to live through the thicks of her relationship. But...

11Oct

By Akshay RahejaNo Comments

London

So You’ve Found Me – Lion & Unicorn

‘So You’ve found me’ did not start on the right note. When a guy comes on stage, it feels as if he is playing with pretence, not honesty, and that such energy is not sustainable. The narrative starts with a story about a Tinder date, and one felt that this experience is merely trying to be relatable and won't feature anything profound about our collective subjective human experience. Sam Moore, the playwright, and Moah Alfred Pantano, the director, proved this early assessment wrong in every possible way. Luis Donegan Brown is incredible in the show. Solo shows have a high risk of going wrong in a beat, so the performance, script, and tempo must work together to keep the audience engaged and all of the artists seemed to be sensitive and aware of this. ‘So You’ve…’ celebrates the life of...

11Oct

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

The Doctor – Duke of York’s Theatre

Almeida Theatre's production of Robert Icke's The Doctor has now transferred to the West End. The play begins as Professor Ruth Wolff, founding member and director of the Elizabeth Institute, which undertakes groundbreaking research into Alzheimer's, is caring for a young girl in the final hours of her life. A Roman Catholic priest demands to be allowed to perform final rites to the dying girl on the grounds that her parents are Catholics. The Doctor refuses, on the grounds that the girl's religious beliefs are unknown, and the presence of the priest would disrupt what would otherwise be a peaceful death. An altercation ensues, the consequences of which have profound consequences both for the Doctor and her institution. Around this simple event Icke has written a most fascinating, engag...

10Oct

By Riana HowarthNo Comments

London

The Coral – Finborough Theatre

Collide Theatre’s adaptation of The Coral originally written by Georg Kaiser is as direct as it is puzzling. The Millionaire, cleverly represented with a red face, and a portrait covering his face in red, makes him synonymous with other powerful, rich men like Trump or Elon Musk. He sets up monthly meetings with struggling individuals, listening to their cases before donating generous amounts. Yet this is done to ease his conscience, as he still holds onto insurmountable wealth to protect him from the horror of poverty that he experienced as a child. Kaiser’s political stance soon becomes clear as the antagonistic Gentleman in Grey confronts the Millionaire, asking him to sign a treaty that ends the divide between rich and poor. Hints at a stylised, expressionistic world are conveyed on...

The Caucasian Chalk Circle – The Rose Theatre, Kingston

7Oct

By Maani WayNo Comments

London

The Caucasian Chalk Circle – The Rose Theatre, Kingston

The first major London production of Bertolt Brecht’s for 25 years, The Caucasian Chalk Circle tells the story of a young woman, Grusha (Carrie Hope Fletcher), who risks everything to save the Governor and his wife’s abandoned child, Michael (Daniel Aiden Matembe), in the midst of a bloody revolution. Years later, the child’s mother (Joanna Kirkland) demands custody of Michael and Grusha is faced before the corrupt Judge Azdak (Jonathan Slinger) who is in control of Michael’s fate. As the audience file in, they are met with the set of an industrial warehouse, forming the base of a refugee camp. Bunk beds are present on stage which become clever, prominent and multi usage props throughout the show. The actors are on stage before the show commences, intriguing the audience. Beginning i...

Are You As Nervous as I Am? – Greenwich Theatre

6Oct

By Akshay RahejaNo Comments

London

Are You As Nervous as I Am? – Greenwich Theatre

‘Are you as nervous as I am?’ Peggy asks the audience before she sings her last song of the evening. Directed by Phoebe Barran, the play looks at the life of two strong women, Peggy and Janet as they find their ways in the world into the world using music, love and compassion. The play essays the journey of two sisters- Peggy and her older sister, Janet who are forced apart by their abusive mother. The play traces the journey of the reconnection of the sisters which empowers them both in different ways. As the play unfolds, the lead character, Peggy Starr comes to accept herself as she is. Her music articulates her freedom and her experience of using her music to come to terms with her life is quite powerful. The musical subtly communicated the therapeutic superpower of musi...

The Boy With Two Hearts – National Theatre

6Oct

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

The Boy With Two Hearts – National Theatre

My second visit at the National this week tells a true story of a refugee family fleeing the Taliban after they call a death warrant on the mother, Fariba (Houda Echouafni) after speaking out in public against the violence against women. Within days, the family sell their items and flee, with the UK in mind mostly to access the NHS to save their eldest son Hussein (Ahmad Sakhi) who suffers from an undiagnosed heart condition. We journey through Moscow to Vienna to France and finally make it to the UK all through the eyes and bodies of this family and as they face every possible curb, we sit nearing the edge of our seats wanting to catch them each possible fall. Above us hang coats and jackets, layering the ceiling ranging from all sizes and ages. My eyes kept catching one of the smaller...

6Oct

By Gemma PrinceNo Comments

London

Theatre Café Diner – London

A homage to the famous Ellen’s Stardust Diner in New York City, the award-winning Theatre Café has just launched its very own theatrical dining experience in the heart of London’s West End. Like its sister venue, the Theatre Café Diner is decked out in full theatrical decor. A glittering golden sign greets customers at the door, alongside colourful photographs of all the West End favourites from Wicked to Frozen. The inside is just as impressive too, covered from head to toe in theatrical memorabilia, with images from shows and framed sheet music signed by cast members. There were theatrically themed areas dedicated to the likes of SIX, & Juliet and Cats, each area had its own unique charm and flair. Theatre fans will love the incredible attention to detail, from the iconic He...

5Oct

By Aditi DalalNo Comments

London

Dmitry – Marylebone Theatre

The son of the Tsar Ivan IV and heir to the throne has been long dead. A young man emerges in a Polish court claiming to be him, the much-revered Dmitry. Who is this man? What is his genealogy? Could he possibly be Dmitry? What does the Tsarina make of this? How much does his newlywed wife know about who he really is? What will be the fate of the current child heir to the throne be, if this man really was Dmitry? Based on the historical and religious stir this mystery caused in 16th century Russia, Peter Oswal’s Dmitry explores the personal and political conflicts around the identity of this man. Oswald boldly took on the task of completing the play after Friedrich Schiller passed away midway through writing the original manuscript. Artistic Director of Marylebone Theatre, Alexander Giffor...