London Archives - Page 20 of 148

25Jun

By Zak RosenNo Comments

London

54.60 Africa – Arcola Theatre

In 54.60 Africa, what begins as a funeral for a continent quickly turns into a breathless adventure as ten friends of different ages and backgrounds, all members of the diaspora in London, spurred on by their Mother Africa, seek to discover and document all those 54 countries, and all that one and a half billion people, have to offer. All in one week. All in time for Gambia’s 60th anniversary of independence. From South Africa to Tunisia, Cameroon to Seychelles, Kenya to the Republic of Congo, this show is nothing short of extraordinary. Written and directed by Femi Elufowoju jr and based on his own experiences visiting all 54 African nations before his 60th birthday, 54.60 Africa approaches the events on stage with a simultaneous vitality and thoughtfulness, deeply attentive to the hum...

21Jun

By Zandra OdetundeNo Comments

London

One Way Out – Brixton House

One Way Out is the kind of play that doesn’t just speak, it shouts. But in the same breath, it leaves you in silence, sitting with a truth you didn’t ask for but needed to hear. Montel Douglas’s coming-of-age story doesn’t try to be subtle. It’s loud, local, and full of heart. It asks what home really means when a window breaks and your whole life shatters with it. The show opens with a physical theatre sequence that, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy, but it was done incredibly well. Tense, explosive, choreographed with purpose. The fight unfolds like a dance, and it's this moment that sets everything in motion. A broken window leads to a suspension. That suspension alerts the police. The police alert the Home Office. And just like that, someone’s life is over. That some...

The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs – The Kiln Theatre

21Jun

By Anisha PucadyilNo Comments

London

The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs – The Kiln Theatre

The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs holds counsel for all of us seeking to find our queer foremothers who lived and loved despite the unjust laws of the land that aims to criminalize love. The synergistic partnership between writer Iman Qureshi and director Hannah Hauer-King will be cherished. They have managed to not only centre ‘community building’ on the stage but also brought a nuanced, intersectional perspective to the structural challenges that pose barriers to many from joining and sustaining communities. Supported by an award-winning cast, each of them brings such diversity of perspectives and emotional vulnerability to the portrayal of their roles. Fanta Barrie (Ellie) plays the butch lesbian lover on a journey of self discovery and curiosity, Georgie Henley (Ana) plays the white l...

Swallows and Armenians – Chelsea Theatre

21Jun

By Karen Morley-ChesworthNo Comments

London

Swallows and Armenians – Chelsea Theatre

The truth behind a British children’s classic is revealed with the premiere of Swallows and Armenians at the Chelsea Theatre. Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons, set in the Lake District, was an instant success when published in 1930. However, the truth behind the inspiration for the story has been suppressed until now. The actor-musician production by Karen Babayan is based on her book Swallows and Armenians, which she wrote after extensive research. An Anglo-Arminian, Babayan discovered the central characters in the book, a quintessential English family, the Walkers, were based on an Arminian family, called Altounyan. Close friends of Ransome, the family spent the summer of 1929 in Coniston with the author, sailing two boats on the lake. This new production tells the story of...

21Jun

By Savitha VenugopalNo Comments

London

Medea – The Coronet Theatre

This is Medea like you have never seen it before. Director Satoshi Miyagi takes an ancient masterpiece, tweaks it, paints it in fresh colours, and creates a jewel that dazzles. This is no mere telling of a story, it is an experience. Performed in Japanese with English subtitles, the play is set in a restaurant in Meiji era Japan. It is a time of wide-ranging changes from government policies to education systems to trade. A group of male patrons in the restaurant has decided to perform Medea. Each character will be played by two people – a male “speaker” who will deliver the lines, and a female “mover” who will act them out. The female staff of the restaurant present themselves to be picked for the roles. They appear on stage dressed in kimonos of the same shade, brown bags on their ...

20Jun

By Ralph JeffreysNo Comments

London

4.48 Psychosis – Royal Court

‘At 4.48 when depression visits, I shall hang myself to my lover’s breathing’. Sarah Kane’s 4.48 Psychosis contains many lines like the one above that simply go through you. The play is a beautiful and terrifying exploration of the pain, anguish, despair, boredom and paralysis that accompany someone thinking of killing themselves. The work has an obvious resonance because it is Kane’s last before her own suicide, but the quality of the writing is such that it would be wrong to say that this is why the play is so impactful. Kane mixes honest, brutal statements with poetic, even biblical passages; lucid descriptions of a prescription with strange lists of numbers and staccato strings of words ‘flicker, punch, slash, dab, wring, press, burn, slash’. It is a startling piece of writing, w...

Kieran Hodgson: Voice of America – Soho Theatre

20Jun

By Zak RosenNo Comments

London

Kieran Hodgson: Voice of America – Soho Theatre

Kieran Hodgson, the avowed atheist bisexual vegetarian Brahms-enthusiast, wants to be a Voice of America. He even orchestrates a US presidential campaign style entrance to the theatre, complete with standing, chanting, and a great deal of handshaking. But he doesn’t quite let us forget that there is one voice hoarding all the oxygen when it comes to speaking of, and for, the United States, and he asks some vital questions about how to relate to the country, to its hope and promise, when trapped by the totemic power of that voice. Hodgson is hilarious, with every joke pulling peals of laughter from the audience, combining clever writing and delightful impressions (minus He Who Must Not Be Named) and a surprisingly dense amount of British cultural reference with an extended riff on Hodgso...

19Jun

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

The Last Laugh – Richmond Theatre

The Last Laugh is a fast-paced and nostalgic stage show that transports audiences back in time to celebrate three of Britain’s finest comedians: Tommy Cooper, portrayed by Damian Williams; Eric Morecambe, brought to life by Bob Golding; and Bob Monkhouse, played by Simon Cartwright. From the moment the curtain rises, the energy is palpable, and what immediately stands out is how astonishingly accurate each actor is in embodying the comedian they represent. Their mastery of the mannerisms, voices, and comedic timing is so convincing that it genuinely feels like you are watching the real legends share the stage together. One of the show’s greatest strengths is how it seamlessly blends homage with humour. The script incorporates many of the comedians' iconic catchphrases and inside jokes—m...

Lovestuck: A New Comedy Musical – Stratford East Theatre

19Jun

By Olivia CoxNo Comments

London

Lovestuck: A New Comedy Musical – Stratford East Theatre

A number of new British musicals have tackled the often absurd topic of modern dating, from the delightful Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) and the gone-too-soon Why Am I So Single?. James Cooper’s Lovestuck: A New Comedy Musical tackles similar themes, such as social media desperation and dating app woes, but with one very large (and very stinky) twist: it’s based on the viral story of a girl who got stuck hanging out a window after trying to dispose of a poo she couldn’t flush at her first date’s abode. Lovestuck creatively reunites the co-creators of hit podcast My Dad Wrote a Porno, with Cooper’s writing being brought to life by director (and former co-host) Jamie Morton. If you’ve never listened to the podcast, rectify that immediately — just don’t listen while driving,...

16Jun

By Carole GordonNo Comments

London

Stereophonic – Duke of York’s

David Adjmi's extraordinary play, Stereophonic, won five Tony Awards in 2024, including the award for Best Play following its hit run on Broadway. It's not hard to see why it was so successful, with its unique style, captivating storytelling and the brilliant performances of the cast. In a recording studio in 1976, a five-piece band are on the cusp of superstardom. The up-and-coming group are in the process of recording their second album. The atmosphere is claustrophobic and chaotic, as a toxic mix of drugs, booze, exhaustion and sexual tension exacerbates divisions within the group. They write songs and bicker, row about creative conflicts and suffer emotional rifts. With two couples (one American, one British) plus the manager/drummer, trying to navigate...