London Archives - Page 14 of 96

7Dec

By Maani WayNo Comments

London

The Nutcracker – Turbine Theatre

This very adult pantomime is far from the beloved ballet with the same name. Bursting with adult humour and raucous fun, this ‘anything but sweet’ version of The Nutcracker opens at the Turbine Theatre for a limited run this Christmas. Written by Joshua Coley (Elf the Musical), the show begins with our protagonist, Carly (Holly Ashman) who has gone through it this year, let’s put it that way. Her relationship ended abruptly (for better or for worse as we soon find out), her father passed away suddenly when he was caught in an outlandish collision with a Just Stop Oil protest, and her Mum is adamant about hosting her annual festive gathering in attempt to stick to the norm. With a surprise visit from her uncle, Carly receives the iconic Nutcracker doll, which soon turns out to be the...

7Dec

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

The Time Machine – Park Theatre

Produced by Original Theatre and currently playing at the Park Theatre in Finsbury Park. The Time Machine is a hilarious romp. It is based upon the pretext that the great great-grandson of HG Wells discovers several items belonging to his illustrious ancestor in a locked box in his auntie's attic. These include items such as a ticket for a Take That reunion tour featuring Robbie Williams in 2025, that “proves” that HG Wells's famous novel was not just a work of fiction but, that he actually built a Time Machine. The play takes the form of a play within a play, and the actor playing the great-great-grandson Dave Wells (Dave Hearn) with his two fellow actors, set out to verify the time travelling exploits of his famous relative. In this they seek the assistance of a wide rang...

Chriskirkpatrickmas: A BoyBand Christmas Musical – Seven Dials Playhouse

6Dec

By Carole GordonNo Comments

London

Chriskirkpatrickmas: A BoyBand Christmas Musical – Seven Dials Playhouse

Everything about Valen Shore and Alison Zatta's musical looking back at 90s boyband NSync is quirkily eccentric. Even the title is a tongue-twister! This is a show that oozes nostalgia, while offering a commentary on the meteoric rise to fame of some very young guys, and their subsequent sudden break-up. It's Christmas Eve 2009, seven years after Justin Timberlake decided to pursue a solo career and NSync was said to be "on hiatus". The band's founder Kirkpatrick (Valen Shore) waits in a queue in a Hollywood coffee shop, still recognised by fans. He wistfully sings that he used to be on MTV as he continues his long wait for Timberlake (NIcole Wyland) to call him to get the band back together for a reunion tour. Every year he meets up with the three other members of the band - Lance (Rile...

4Dec

By Jennifer LaishleyNo Comments

London

Cinderella – Lyric Hammersmith

Lyric Hammersmith’s annual panto promises endless family fun in this modern retelling of Cinderella. In this story Cinderella is a thriving business woman who isn’t quite honest about how hard life is on Instagram. Filled with recognisable songs with a cheeky panto twist, this panto is not to be missed. The Lyric Theatre runs as a Charity and offers a number of complementary tickets to local schools during the panto season and also runs a number of initiatives to support the local community theatre scene. Despite the charitable status, the lyric is still able to mount a West End level show! Tilly La Belle Yengo used fantastic vocals as Cinderella. She led the cast effortlessly, pacing the play perfectly, enjoying some comical moments of interaction with the audience. Tilly’s Cindere...

4Dec

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

A Sherlock Carol – Marylebone Theatre

Sherlock Holmes meets Scrooge in a spoof take on, a classic Dickens novel; A Christmas Carol. The staging was set and to some degree in keeping with Victorian London with Sherlock played by Ben Caplin (from Call the Midwife) whom did a Stirling job of characterising Holmes as we have grown to know him whilst emulating the essence of Ebenezer Scrooge. Misery of a character forced to see his life, past present and future through the eyes of the ghosts. However in this play Scrooge himself played by Kammy Darweish provides the reflections for Holmes as the ghost Scrooge through visitations. Showing Holmes the error of his ways and experiences of what will happen if he refuses to change, a role reversal, in the true sense. The play is intertwined with the meeting of many ghosts and H...

30Nov

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

Ikaria – Park Theatre

This play is about mental illness, although that is not immediately apparent. The setting is students' lodgings in 'Ikaria', a hall of residence. Simon, a third-year student, who has just taken a year out from his studies, has invited Mia, a first year student in her second term, back to his room. After meeting at a film club, he has offered to share some pizza vouchers. Mia, who is for some unaccountable reason strongly attracted to Simon, is clearly expecting that this invitation will lead to something more. Simon seems initially pleased at the chance to develop a relationship with Mia and although the first meeting is uncomfortable, it is followed up by others, and soon develops into a romantic relationship. Early on both parties declare their love for each other, al...

28Nov

By Khushboo ShahNo Comments

London

The Witches – National Theatre

If there was a list of children’s shows where the adults laughed perhaps more than children, The Witches would top the game. Bold, fierce, and oh, so hilarious! The Witches consumes you into its world with reverberating movement, savage one-liners, hit songs and theatrical design. Book and lyrics by Lucy Kirkwood, lyrics and music by Dave Malloy and directed by Lyndsey Turner, the play is adapted from Roald Dahl’s 1983 dark fantasy novel The Witches. It opens with a dark, mysterious animation of a terrified young person encountering a witch. The screen is surrounded by an even darker, iconic backdrop of violet and black-hued witch claws. The Witches ensemble enters with the first number, “A Note about Witches”, and transform from innocent middle-aged work...

23Nov

By Carole GordonNo Comments

London

A Christmas Carol – Old Vic

Dickens' classic tale of redemption, empathy and love remains a powerful and timely reminder of the gross discrepancies between rich and poor. Seeing the intense deprivation many Londoners were experiencing, Dickens took up his pen and created Scrooge, a character whose name has become synonymous with miserliness. First published in 1843, the message of A Christmas Carol sadly remains just as valid in 2023. Ebenezer Scrooge is a man alone whose only love is money who literally receives a wake-up call on where his life will end up if he doesn't change his ways. Berated by a harsh father who showed no love to his son, but inculcated in him a need to pursue wealth, Scrooge leaves Belle, the love of his life and a secure position with Belle's father to take up an opportunity as Marl...

22Nov

By Samantha CollettNo Comments

London

Wishmas – Bauble Factory, London

I love the spirit of Christmas. I may not have kids and be in my forties, but I love the festive cheer the season brings. It was for this reason I was so excited to be going to ‘Wishmas’. Billed as an all-age fantastical immersive Christmas experience, I was all over it. Sadly, Wishmas was not my Christmas wish. From the very start, I felt awkward: I did not have a child. This is the sort of experience where you are expected to have a child, the younger the better, because otherwise you not only feel like an imposter, but also the parents will look at you strangely. If they don’t, you will feel like they do. This is because all of the activities - and that’s a term I use loosely - have been based on the skills a three-year old would have. From spinning a giant spongy cog to placi...

16Nov

By Carole GordonNo Comments

London

SuperYou – Lyric Theatre

Katie is a young girl struggling to find her way in the world, overwhelmed by self-doubt, and feeling that her older brother, Matty, a talented comic book artist, is their mother's favourite. Mother is dealing with her own difficulties. Domestic abuse has led to the break-up of the family and frequent house moves. The mother's eventual spiral into alcoholism results in her losing job after job leaving her daughter to care and provide for her. Like her brother, Katie has a talent for art and immerses herself in drawing, in particular developing her own comic book character, Lightning Girl. With her brother's encouragement, she creates a team of superheroines who she literally brings to life. In dealing with life's problems and losses, she learns to love herself and have faith in her ...