London Archives - Page 3 of 131

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...

14Jun

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

Steel – Park Theatre

Written by Lee Mattinson and first performed at the Theatre by the Lake in Keswick, Steel centres around two teenage boys from the depressed ex-industrial town of Workington. They are informed that one of them is unexpectedly the beneficiary of an inheritance, from a distant relative, of one mile of British rail track estimated to be worth £1 million. However, there is a catch; the original copy of the contract for the purchase of the track has to be delivered by midnight that same day. This improbable scenario sets the scene for a frantic series of encounters by the beneficiary with almost forgotten relatives, and old school friends with whom he has lost contact. This leads him to relive parts of his earlier life and re-evaluate his relationship with the Lake District and realise what is ...

14Jun

By Dave SmithNo Comments

London

…Earnest? – Richmond Theatre

Celebrating 130 years of Oscar Wilde’s masterpiece The Importance of Being Earnest, Say It Again, Sorry? offer up their own chaotic twist - part homage, part catastrophe. Oscar Wilde meets The Play That Goes Wrong - a heady blend of farce, improv, and gentle audience manipulation. ...Earnest? begins as normal: a servant considers it rude to listen to the piano, then cucumber sandwiches - but then the doorbell rings and Earnest is loudly announced… Yet now, the door stays closed and no one arrives. A quick interruption from the director fills some time while the cast of the play-within-a-play try to figure out how the show will keep going. The answer is simple: an audience member will join them on stage to stand in for the missing actor. When funny, ...Earnest? is hilariously funny. ...

14Jun

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

King of Pangea – King’s Head Theatre

King of Pangea is a new musical produced by Jerry Mitchell that takes audiences on an emotional journey through the challenges of growing up, family bonds, illness, and grief. It tells a moving story about a boy named Sam Crow, who grows up in a loving household only to face the devastating impact of cancer—not once, but twice. The musical begins with Sam watching his mother battle and survive cancer. Later, as a university student, he is confronted with a similar situation—but this time, it ends in loss. The narrative powerfully explores how grief reshapes a person's world. Sam Crow is played by Alfie Blackwell, with Tayt Joshua Silvester-Stoller portraying his younger self. Both deliver compelling performances, capturing the deep emotional struggle of processing trauma at a young a...

12Jun

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Romeo and Juliet – Wilton’s Music Hall

Flabbergast Theatre have returned to Wilton’s Music Hall, this time with a visceral reimagining of Romeo and Juliet. A thunderous, and unrelenting feat of physical theatre that carries an energy that brings something entirely fresh to Shakespeare’s tragedy. Renowned for rejecting classic Shakespeare, this latest production from Flabbergast is fiercely modern and embraces a raw, and highly expressive way of presenting the story of star-crossed lovers, injecting a whole new level of modern storytelling into the text. From the moment the audience enters the auditorium, it’s clear that something unusual, is about to unfold. The ensemble is already on stage, shifting and murmuring with an unnerving intensity. It’s difficult to tell whether they are intoxicated, possessed, or gripped by some ...

11Jun

By Ben PearsonNo Comments

London

The Ticking – Drayton Arms Theatre

Brought to the Drayton Arms Theatre by the Cellar Door Theatre Company, The Ticking explores the manic cocktail of emotions, questions and chaos that arises when 4 friends wake up after a night out with a mysterious ticking briefcase in their possession. As I’m sure you can guess, the briefcase contains a bomb. The 70 minutes that follow are just as absurd as the opening premise, and not only allow for some great moments of comedy, but also a discussion of blame, responsibility and climate change. The issue is that while these themes are undeniably important, they’re also well-trodden, and The Ticking does little to explore them from a new angle. We’re presented with a situation, a political message, and characters we’ve all seen before, which consequently makes it hard to emotionally inve...