London Archives - Page 16 of 150

16Aug

By Kira DanielsNo Comments

London

Back to the Moon – The Glitch

A sixty-minute fever dream that feels more like babysitting a very hyperactive child than spectating a professional theatrical performance, writer and performer Giovanna Koyama’s incomprehensible antics convince that, in the case of Back to the Moon, comprehension is majorly overrated. She is relentlessly charming and possesses an infectious confidence that lends itself to a script that is quirky more than it is coherent. Selwin Hulme-Teague’s direction is competent and occasionally creative but falls short of the spectacle demanded by Koyama’s writing and writhing. Sensational sound design by Yuri Furtado does a lot of heavy lifting where the story (or lack thereof) occasionally sags. Fortunately, the brevity of the play allows little time for minds to wander, despite the meanderin...

Brigadoon – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

14Aug

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

Brigadoon – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Set in the beautiful Scottish Highlands, Brigadoon is a timeless tale brought vividly to life in this revival. As someone who had never encountered the 1950s musical before, I found myself instantly swept into its world. From the music to the set design, everything evoked the feeling of a mid-century classic, and it was immediately clear why this story has endured for so long. The experience began before the first note. Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is tucked away behind lush gardens in its own charming enclave, complete with bars and food stalls. The space feels like a small village within the city, and the outdoor setting is perfect for a warm summer evening. The intimate layout means every seat has a clear view of the stage, adding to the sense of connection between audience and per...

Three Billion Letters – Riverside Studios

13Aug

By Carole GordonNo Comments

London

Three Billion Letters – Riverside Studios

Mimmi Bauer, Patrycja Dynowska and Michal Szpak's Three Billion Letters focuses on the impact of DNA, how everyone everywhere is inter-related since the Neanderthals and how we are still evolving. These are interesting themes which could provide the basis for a fascinating exploration of heritage and cultural identity and a reminder that we leave our DNA traces everywhere. Unfortunately, this production comes over as part TED-talk on DNA science and part experimental drama workshop. Attempts to involve the audience fall flat. Sections of the audience are moved around the auditorium, with one group deemed to be "superior" because they can taste something the "inferior" group cannot. Later, for no discernible reason, the audience is split into those who have grey hair and thos...

12Aug

By Carole GordonNo Comments

London

Wonderscape – Etcetera Theatre

Wonderscape is part of the annual Camden Fringe Festival which presents an eclectic array of performances at 40 venues around Camden. Running throughout August, the Festival showcases new talent in theatre, dance and music. Roxanne Barron is making her debut as writer and director of this piece about creativity, ambition and the destructive influence of the pursuit of fame and fortune. Finley (Conrad O'Callaghan), brilliant but manically spiralling inventor is sharing a home with Emma (El. X Speciali) and Jake (Jack Torres). Emma and Jake do not appreciate the chaos Finley brings to their lives, with his inventions strewn all over the place as he rushes around spewing ideas and thoughts like dust mites. He believes his genius will enable him to make a world-shattering inventio...

Wakaresaseya or How to End Things – Courtyard Theatre

11Aug

By Kira DanielsNo Comments

London

Wakaresaseya or How to End Things – Courtyard Theatre

Renting in London is not for the squeamish. Trying to find a place to rest your head in a city so inhospitable that its train platforms are plastered with propaganda assuring international transplants that friendship and family are just around the corner if they keep hanging on, is no mean feat. BuildingRockets, a theatrical cohort of three international artists, have created in Wakaresaseya or How to End Things a deceptively and dangerously funny stage thriller as sexy as it is sickening. Director Samuel Topper manipulates the undeveloped domain of the cramped and comfortless Courtyard Theatre into an immersive storytelling environment utilizing a potent combination of projection, light, and erotic audio to enhance the anxiety of claustrophobia common to both flat sharing and black...

11Aug

By Gemma PrinceNo Comments

London

Girl Kisser – The Lion and Unicorn

Directed by Rose Barwick and Hollie Milne and produced by Izzy Macpherson, Girl Kisser explores three stories of young queer love as they navigate early adulthood under one roof. The six-strong cast blends perfectly together from the beginning, from the artful choreography as they move between one another to their chemistry; each person brings their strengths in creating their distinct characters. The love stories are split into three pairs, each showcasing a different form of relationship; from possibly unrequited love, two lifelong friends turned lovers, to a budding new romance. Writer Emily Alice Ambrose does a beautiful job of tying the stories together, giving each pair a chance to shine and delve into their relationships, whilst bringing the group together as a reminder th...

Tales of a Jane Austen Spinster – Courtyard Theatre

10Aug

By Kira DanielsNo Comments

London

Tales of a Jane Austen Spinster – Courtyard Theatre

What’s a girl to do? When you’ve been on the shelf — the literal bookshelf, that is — for more than 200 years, this question becomes ever more pressing. Should Liliana, a neglected heroine from an unfinished scrap of Jane Austen’s writing, remain a wallflower for all eternity, awaiting the extended hand of a mysterious gentleman to pluck her from her obscure perch and carry her away to freedom and fulfillment? The play wouldn’t be very fun if she did. Fortunately for all involved, this is not the fate playwright and performer Alexandra Jorgensen has mapped out for her. Her Liliana, an earnest young woman with that blend of self-righteousness and self-consciousness that has come to characterize Austenian adaptation, is out to seize control of the narrative. Jorgensen, operating he...

Tiny Human Dramas – Rosemary Branch Theatre

10Aug

By Kira DanielsNo Comments

London

Tiny Human Dramas – Rosemary Branch Theatre

Directed and produced by Meghan Rose Donnelly, Alexandra D’onofrio, and Laura Sophie Helbig and based on long-term anthropological research from several differing sources, Tiny Human Dramas is a tryptich performance consisting of two ten-minute plays written within twenty four hours of their performance and a third twenty-minute play developed earlier and incorporating prerecorded video elements. “Whispers of a Past Life” inspired by the work of Dr Maria Kastrinou on reincarnation stories in Druze communities in Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan and featuring performers Harriet Eaton and Jack So is an uncomfortable exploration of psychosexual colonialism depicted by two able young performers. “Life for Real” inspired by the work of Dr Alexandra D’Onofrio on crossing the Mediterranean...

10Aug

By Ben PearsonNo Comments

London

Romeo and Juliet – Stratford East

This is how you do a modern retelling of a Shakespeare classic. In partnership with Sadler’s Wells, Stratford East have crafted a unique, vibrant, and exceptionally effective production that breathes new life into the timeless tragedy. Set against the East London skyline, realised through a relatively simple yet superb set, this adaptation uses music and dance to ground its events in a contemporary, familiar setting. As a result, everything felt fresh, bold and original. Despite the language, and the fame of the story, it almost felt like I was watching a brand-new play. Not a mean feat! The dances ranged from crackling whole-company numbers to gorgeous and evocative routines performed by Praeploy Pam Tomuan and Louis Donovan, who represented the inner emotional states of Juliet and Rom...

9Aug

By Ralph JeffreysNo Comments

London

Every Brilliant Thing – @sohoplace

Every Brilliant Thing is a sweet, but ultimately flawed, play about depression, suicide and trying to get on with life. Stemming originally from a monologue written by Duncan Macmillan and developed with co-author Jonny Donahoe, the play is about a child dealing with their mother’s suicidal depression by creating a list of all the brilliant things that make life worth living. As the character grows older, the list takes on new meanings as they deal with their own depression. The show is at its best when its performer, Lenny Henry, is left to do crowd work, finding lots of humour in the script and playing the room brilliantly. The text frequently calls for audience members to play key characters in our protagonist’s life: his dad, the vet who put his dog down, his first love, Sam. Hen...