London Archives - Page 106 of 150

5Oct

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

The Crucible – National Theatre

The National sets us off right into Spooky Season with the retelling of the classic tale, The Crucible directed by Lyndsey Turner. Immediately thrown into a grand atmosphere gushing rain from the ceiling and the distant flickering of two candles placed neatly on a table on stage. It’s hard not to be in awe, a feeling that only seems to expand during your experience with this show. As a very loved, famous tale (although one I’m not familiar with myself) the audience will be very sure on the story that they will be viewing, to make this individual and give it the impact that it is capable of is certainly a task: one that they handled with edge and power. We are firstly introduced to our cast in a beautifully haunting choral song, one that follows through the performance and growing only w...

Only An Octave Apart – Wilton’s Music Hall

3Oct

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Only An Octave Apart – Wilton’s Music Hall

It might sound like an unlikely coupling, a world-famous opera singer and a cabaret legend described as the “the best cabaret artist of [their] generation", but Anthony Roth Costanzo and Justin Vivian Bond really do bring the magic to the stage in their two-person show ‘Only An Octave Apart’, which is currently playing at Wilton’s Music Hall. ‘Only An Octave Apart’ is a juxtaposition of styles in every way possible, vocally, stylistically, and creatively, the pair (with direction by Zack Winokur) have created a fluid and yet genuinely sincere 90-minute musical extravaganza that is truly charming, and that burrows deep to warm the soul. For those unfamiliar with the two performers, Bond, is a pioneer of alternative live performance, a true diva, a legend, with a smoky and inviting ton...

30Sep

By Riana HowarthNo Comments

London

Brown Boys Swim – Soho Theatre

Brimming with excitement and the promise of the future, Kash and Mohsen are unwittingly each other’s lifeline during their isolating adolescence. Mohsen, the more reserved and cautious of the two plans to study at Oxford university and shies away from leaving his hometown. In spite of his banter and humorous nature, he is constantly guarded and aware of how he navigates the world as a young, Muslim man. Kash serves as his polar opposite, uninhibited and blissfully ignorant of others’ perceptions of him and even interprets them to suit himself. When a pool party is on the cards Kash, forever the optimist decides to learn how to swim, much to Mohsen's reluctance. Arguments and clashes arise as they explore tensions surrounding their friendship and their different attitudes to life. Karim ...

29Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

House of Flamenka – Peacock Theatre

Arlene Phillips' spectacular new show, co-created by flamenco star Karen Ruimy, is a feast of passion and fantasy through the medium of dance. This is a production full of heart, demonstrating skill, athleticism and physicality that is a pure joy to watch. Fusing flamenco and contemporary styles might sound odd, but it works remarkably well. Francisco Hidalgo's flamenco choreography (and his lead performance) are off-the-scale, as is the contemporary choreography of James Cousins and the performances of the entire ensemble. There's a narrative of sorts. A goddess collects these astonishingly beautiful, muscular and accomplished dancers who perform for her pleasure, in a house dripping with extravagance and wealth. The unseen gods take umbrage at this decadence and punish the House...

28Sep

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Noughts & Crosses – Richmond Theatre

‘Noughts & Crosses’, adapted for the stage by Sabrina Mahfouz for Pilot Theatre, is based on a series of young adult novels written by critically acclaimed British Author, Malorie Blackman. The series includes six novels and three novellas, all of which take place in an alternative 21st-century Britain, where the Crosses operate complete power over the Noughts, and where inequality and discrimination form the backbone of society, guiding the moral and constitutional compass. In Mahfouz’s adaptation, Sephy (Effie Ansah) is a Cross, she is dark-skinned and part of the elite class. Sephy’s people call the shots. Callum (James Arden) is a Nought, he is light-skinned and lower-class. He and his family are struggling to survive. The pair have been friends for an eternity, and whilst segre...

27Sep

By Carole GordonNo Comments

London

Ghosts on a Wire – Union Theatre

Linda Wilkinson could not have written a more topical play, confronting contemporary issues of inequality, power and class divides, the conflicts that consume society and the current energy problems. It's a story about power in all its forms, a story set in the past, all the while resonating into the future. Mary Shelley, Michael Faraday and William Blake are propelled into the late 1880s as ghosts, witnessing the results of the introduction of electricity to London. Or more specifically, to the wealthy north bank of the Thames, while the south bank coughs and splutters under the smoke, noise and detritus from the new power station. The electric company's owners convince local residents and traders that clearing swathes of workers' homes in Southwark would be progress, that ...

26Sep

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

London

SUS – Park Theatre

Writer Barrie Keeffe’s social and political drama examines unemployment, institutional racism in the Police and the use of SUS law (suspect under suspicion) which was incorporated into the 1824 Vagrancy Act. This stop and search section of the act was used extensively, particularly targeting people of colour and it allowed the Police to make the lives of their victims extremely uncomfortable. SUS is set on the eve of the 1979 election victory by Margaret Thatcher and the Conservatives, which ousted James Callaghan’s Labour from office. The two policemen on duty, Karn (Alexander Neal) and Wilby (Fergal Coghlan) both support the conservative cause, largely due to Thatcher’s support of more stringent laws to support the police in their duties. Thatcher’s speech ‘Where there ...

24Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

A Night at the Kabuki – Sadlers Wells

The description of Hideki Noda’s ‘A Night at the Kabuki’ sets the tone for the production itself. The classic tale of Romeo and Juliet, taking place at the dawn of the Samurai in late 12th Century Japan, set to the music from Queen’s A Night at the Opera. It’s chaotic, colourful and exciting – a bizarre clashing of cultures which shouldn’t work on paper but culminates in a thrilling and utterly enthralling sensory overload of an evening. Of course, it isn’t quite that simple – no giving the game away here but the audience is invited to join older and wiser star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet as they journey back to their younger selves to see if they can rewrite their own tragic love story. The production is performed with subtitles, but dialogue is used sparingly, instead favouring en...

The Wonderful World of Dissocia – Stratford East

24Sep

By Riana HowarthNo Comments

London

The Wonderful World of Dissocia – Stratford East

Anthony Nielson’s dizzyingly timeless play is given a spectacular revival. The story follows a young woman, Lisa who receives a visit from a peculiar watchmaker explaining why her wristwatch is broken. He sends her on wild goose chase to the land of Dissocia where she seeks to restore her life’s balance. She meets a plethora of colourful characters bound by a strange collective consciousness. Think of Alice in Wonderland with more wit and luridness. Neilson’s play explores dissociative disorder from the perspective of the sufferer, whilst also showing the absurdity within our social world. The set designed by Grace Smart along with Alexandra Faye-Braithwaite’s sound design combine to create the surreal feeling of a children’s TV show with brightly coloured, 2D cardboard cut outs of scen...

20Sep

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

The Snail House – Hampstead Theatre

A new play written and directed by Richard Eyre is something to look forward to. Neil Marriot an eminent paediatrician and recent scientific adviser to the government during the pandemic, think Chris Whitty or Patrick Valance, is preparing to celebrate both his birthday and his elevation to a knighthood. Unfortunately, the meticulously planned celebrations are marred by the internecine warfare between the members of his dysfunctional family and the revelation of a historic medical misjudgement with appalling consequences. There are topical themes aplenty in this piece: management of the pandemic, enduring class divisions, the incompetence of contemporary politicians, Brexit, race, the inequalities of private and public education, north/ south divisions and even referen...