London Archives - Page 16 of 149

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...

Who the hell is Robert Wayne? – Etcetera Theatre

8Aug

By Kira DanielsNo Comments

London

Who the hell is Robert Wayne? – Etcetera Theatre

The Li Zhuolangly’s one-woman, one-act play packs more than a one-two punch. Following a day in the life of aspiring “Ratman” actor Lily Cheng Wangshuo, the action unfolds in a sort of Ariel’s cave of commercial treasures. Nestled amongst the Funko POP, plushies, and posters that line her bedchamber’s walls, Lily Cheng Wangshuo’s diminutive presence is entirely at odds with her super personality. A Chinese import herself, she dreams of incorporating herself into the canon of her favorite hero — a character whose mask she imagines might free her from the tokenization and objectification she faces at every turn. Zhuolangly is a bold stage presence who cuts her audience little slack in the free solo she drags us along on, forcing us to confront our better angels and unmask our egos. Who...

8Aug

By Ben PearsonNo Comments

London

Hamlet & Co – Barons Court Theatre

Anais Marchand’s, Hamlet & Co. is a modern, interactive retelling of Hamlet, which imagines Shakespeare’s tragedy in the ruthless world of modern business. We, the audience, have been invited to the wedding of Gertrude, widow of Hamlet Senior, the founder of Elsinore Tower, and Claude, Hamlet Senior’s brother and acting CEO. But when Amel, Hamlet Jr, crashes the memorial in frenzied grief over his father’s mysterious death, tensions run high, loyalties are tested, and all is to play for in the corporate ‘game’. It's certainly an interesting, ambitious, and topical idea. A modern retelling of Hamlet exploring the morality of big business, and the devastating consequences of viewing people as numbers, could have been fascinating. Unfortunately, the script falls far short. Marchand...

8Aug

By Maani WayNo Comments

London

War Horse – New Wimbledon Theatre

Based on the acclaimed novel by Michael Morpurgo, War Horse is the enchanting tale of Albert and his extraordinary horse, Joey, who, at the outbreak of the First World War is shipped to France, sold to the Cavalry, and finds himself fighting for both sides. Albert, from rural Devon whose life is his beloved horse, though not old enough to enlist, embarks on a treacherous journey to find and save Joey and bring him home. The most notable aspect of this show is the puppetry and the effortless artistry that goes into directing the animals. Joey and Topthorn are the two stars of the show, puppeteered by Rianna Ash, Chris Milford and Samuel Parker and Tom Quinn, Michael Jean-Marain and Michael Larcombe respectively. The transitions are smooth, and the horses’ movements are detailed so that e...

8Aug

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

Saving Mozart – The Other Palace

Do we really know the story of Mozart, or his genre of music from symphonies, opera. concertos to chamber music. Through his classical period from (1756-1791) his body of work continues to enchant generations, and audiences today. Twenty-Five-year-old Charli Eglinton has been moved by Mozart as a composer and has brought to the stage Saving Mozart a musicaldepicting the life span of Mozart’s, gruelling childhood rituals to his breakthrough and recognition of being an esteemed composer, to his untimely death at the age of 35yrs. What strikes you from the beginning, the stage is small, the set is carved out as a letter M, with reflecting mirrors positioned to enhance the illusion of optimal space for all the characters to dance, act creating movement from a horse’s carriage to a boarding ...

Strange Young Girls – Camden People’s Theatre

6Aug

By Gemma PrinceNo Comments

London

Strange Young Girls – Camden People’s Theatre

Written by Abby Greenhalgh and co-directed with Megan Dunlop, Bossy Boot Productions presents Strange Young Girls, a bold new play inspired by the real-life friendship between Michelle Phillips (The Mamas & The Papas) and Sue Lyon (Lolita). Winner of Best Play, Best Writing, Best Direction, and Best Actor at the Durham Drama Festival, it is a coming-of-age tale as these two characters come to terms with their changing identities, the uncertainty of their futures, and whether their friendship will last. Set in Los Angeles during the swinging sixties, the play focuses on 17-year-old Michelle (played by Grace Graham) as she prepares for her new life in San Francisco. While packing, Michelle is suddenly interrupted by the return of her 14-year-old best friend, Sue (played by ...

6Aug

By Stewart Who?No Comments

London

Echoes of Empire – Courtyard Theatre

When it comes to post-colonial mood music, Britain is in a league of its own. The symphonic sound of English Empire is often ugly tunes, tone-deaf lyrics and long broken instruments. Fellow colonial contenders such as the Dutch, Spanish or Portuguese tend to be guiltily mute about their marauding past or attempt to address their empirical history with glacial pace and limited scope. The United Kingdom can boast the biggest Empire, and possibly, the most monstrous legacy. British Empire has a habit of being viewed with a gobby pride which shouts down evidence of the brutal costs for former and current colonies. Britain continues to swerve a hard reckoning and often seeks to silence nuanced perspectives of Empire and many of the basic, but awkward facts. If the education system, media...

One Hundred and Thirty Thousand Squirrels in London (And I Want Them All To Love Me) – Canal Cafe

5Aug

By Kira DanielsNo Comments

London

One Hundred and Thirty Thousand Squirrels in London (And I Want Them All To Love Me) – Canal Cafe

Written and performed by Zoë Clayton-Kelly with a running time under an hour and no particular destination to reach in that time, One Hundred and Thirty Thousand Squirrels in London (And I Want Them All to Love Me) features surprisingly little mammalia but covers just about every other subject under the London sun. The cabaret features original tracks with names like ‘Existential Thoughts of a Freelancer’, ‘Floating Naked in a Magnesium Salt Bath with Your Mum’ and other similarly relatable tunes. Clayton-Kelly brings high-octane inanity to an incredibly varied set of specified circumstances and generalized anxieties. Clayton-Kelly is a capable performer and captures the audience’s attention with a panoply of props and a few tricks up her princess sleeves. Come join her on the...