London Archives - Page 2 of 158

Vincent in Brixton – Orange Tree Theatre

23Mar

By Kira DanielsNo Comments

London

Vincent in Brixton – Orange Tree Theatre

A young lover, a religious zealot, or a tragic genius? Vincent Van Gogh is remembered almost exclusively as one of the above. One of the founding idols in the cult of artistic misery, his legacy is not an uncomplicated one. Vincent in Brixton is, on the other hand, simply marvellous. The play itself, by Nicholas Wright is a precise and thought-provoking incision into an underexplored segment of the artist’s life. Neither obnoxiously philosophical or politically apathetic the experience of watching it unfold is not unlike a night in with good friends, good food, and decent beer. The wonder of this production however is in its masterful direction and extraordinary cast. The Orange Tree Theatre, an already intimate space, is transformed by the utterly brilliant Charlotte Henery into a func...

The Dawn of Reckoning – White Bear Theatre

21Mar

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

The Dawn of Reckoning – White Bear Theatre

Two women meet unexpectedly in the lobby bar of a small hotel in Bayswater at 3 am on a cold, foggy January morning. They recognise each other immediately: best friends at university they became estranged later as they sequentially married the same man, leaving a legacy of acrimony and guilt. They are both due to attend the reading of their former husband’s will the following day. Is this a chance meeting or has it been engineered, as they suspect, by their former husband or his agent? As they talk, initially in a spirit of confrontation and hostility, fuelled by alcohol obtained from the bar, home truths begin to spill and a degree of understanding, if not empathy, emerges between them. This is a two hander, no hotel staff appear. Ruth played by Jilly Bond hails from middle-clas...

21Mar

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

Ruth – Wilton’s Music Hall

Ruth is a powerful musical based on the life of Ruth Ellis, who in 1955 became the last woman to be executed in Britain. The show dives deeply into her life, exploring her time as a nightclub hostess, the social and class pressures she faced, and the restrictive gender roles of the era. It is both a compelling story and a thought-provoking reflection on power, morality, and the consequences of one’s actions. Hannah Traylen and Bibi Simpson both deliver phenomenal performances as Ruth, portraying her at different stages of her life. The production is framed with Ruth confined in her cell, awaiting her execution. While she waits, she recounts the story of her life, from childhood to the events that led her to this tragic moment. These reflections are brought to life through flashbacks, wi...

21Mar

By Kira DanielsNo Comments

London

Summerfolk – National Theatre

Does a vacation sound nice? Would a countryside retreat relax you? Would you be able to take your mind off of work or the news or the fact that the waitress delivering your sandwiches hates your guts? Summerfolk, an adaptation of Maxim Gorky’s 1904 Dachniki, poses all of these questions as gracefully as a studio photographer on family portrait day with a set and costumes by Peter McKintosh very much invoking that particular environment. An array of variously Russianified white chemises and linen suits stand in stark contrast to the woody green of the deconstructed dacha set that only vaguely implies era or country. Adapted by Nina and Moses Raine for a predominantly British company and directed by Robert Hastie for the English audience of the National Theatre this production is all over th...

20Mar

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

Oh, Sister Mary! – Arches Lane Theatre

Oh, Sister Mary! is a delightfully entertaining new cabaret performance that introduces audiences to the unforgettable character of Sister Mary, a spirited nun from Soho, London. The show, brought vividly to life by the exceptionally funny Tim McArthur, combines storytelling, song, and audience interaction to create a thoroughly immersive and joyous experience. From the moment Sister Mary steps onto the stage, it’s clear that this is no ordinary cabaret. Through a series of amusing anecdotes from her time as a nun, Sister Mary takes the audience on a journey filled with witty observations, cheeky innuendos, and laugh-out-loud moments. Tim McArthur’s impeccable comedic timing ensures that each story lands perfectly, drawing constant laughter from the audience. Whether recalling the quirk...

20Mar

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

YENTL – Marylebone Theatre

Yentl is synonymous with the 1983 musical featuring Barbara Streisand which told the story of a Jewish girl seeking an education, decides to disguise herself as a boy and enters an orthodox school where she falls in love with Avigdor her classmate. All is going well until Avigdor’s fiancée falls in love with Yentl. This matrix of deceit, lies and romance is crystallised in Abrahams, Hearst and Klas writingandproduction of Yentl. This play forms part of the Kadimah Yiddish Theatre’s centenary celebration and their “commitment to sharing the richness of Yiddish language and Jewish culture”. Straight from the Sidney Opera House to its premier in London. There are no surprises that this play’s hybrid dialogue is English and Yiddish which is aided by projected readable subtitles on the se...

20Mar

By Olivia CoxNo Comments

London

Welcome to Pemfort – Soho Theatre

The titular Pemfort we’re welcomed to in Sarah Power’s new play is a castle – or, arguably, a fort – nestled in a sleepy village that’s home to a host of quirky characters. The 90-minute comedy-drama zeros in on Pemfort’s quiet gift shop, in which the absence of regular customers allows the staff to focus on a new venture: Pemfort’s first ‘living history’ event. The gift shop (brought to life exquisitely by Alys Whitehead’s vivid yet lived-in set design) is run by Uma (Debra Gillett), a dreamy and motherly figure with a penchant for calling her younger staff members “poppet” or “chicken”. The rest of her team initially comprises adventurous Ria (Lydia Larson) and strait-laced Glenn (Ali Hadji-Heshmati), who is especially passionate about ensuring the upcoming event is as historically ac...

19Mar

By Charlotte MansfieldNo Comments

London

Panacea – Riverside Studios

Professor Gus Jamieson (Will Batty) is a man with Autism Spectrum Disorder and an idea for how to save humanity. His cure for infectious diseases will prevent another pandemic, provided he can get approval for the initial stages of lab trials. Written as a collaboration between microbiologist Andrew Singer and theatre-maker Christina James, this one act play explores how science and ethics interact to have real-world consequences. Opening with a Greek chorus that leaves us in no doubt how the play is going to go, we follow Gus as he navigates work, romance and his ASD in his desire to eradicate disease. Egged on by an enthusiastic student (Nina Fidderman), Gus becomes caught between the more cautious advice of those closest to him and his confidence in his own scientific abilities. ...

The Choir of Man – New Wimbledon Theatre

19Mar

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

The Choir of Man – New Wimbledon Theatre

The ‘Jungle’ Choir of Man is on its UK tour, and it started with a blast, setting Wimbledon theatre alight with enthusiasm, superb vocal arrangement and energy. This show born out of the Edinburgh fringe made its home at the Arts Theatre London. Now it’s coming to Towns across the country. Set in a pub, audience members are welcomed to the stage for pre-show drinks from the bar and here the message is clear, this is all about ‘community’. Centered around a group of nine men each with their own characteristics and inner conflicts, they take you on an immersive journey of their lives through song. Narrated beautifully by the character ‘Poet’ Oluwalonimi (Nimi) Owoyemi, he introduces the characters, and very occasionally it was difficult to hear him, possibly due to the sound at the beginning...

13Mar

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Ancient Grease – The Vaults, London

Few venues could host something as gleefully ridiculous as ‘Ancient Grease’, but The Vaults proves the perfect playground. By taking the familiar DNA of the much-beloved musical Grease and hurling it backwards in time to Mount Olympus, the production, written by Lady Aria Grey, creates a riotous, camp, and unapologetically adult parody that revels in theatrical mischief. The result is a night of theatre that feels mischievous, raunchy, and irresistibly fun. Set at the fictional Olympus Academy, the story “loosely” echoes the structure of the original Grease narrative, but with gods, goddesses and mythical chaos replacing high school antics. Zeus (Peter Camilleri) and Hera (Philippa Leadbetter) find their relationship under the watchful manipulation of the Fates whilst other Olympian...