London Archives - Page 3 of 149

30Nov

By Stewart Who?No Comments

London

The Grim – Southwark Playhouse

There are some of us who aren’t enthusiastic supporters of the supposed joy, goodwill and generosity which accompanies the season of Christmas. Whether this cynicism stems from resistance to consumerism, despair at an absence of spirituality or justified fear of family, one soon learns to limit such sentiments. Especially around children. This minority of Yuletide miseries tend to be cheered enormously when the usual cavalcade of schmaltz and plastic tat gives way to tales of horror or paranormal happenings. For the dark-hearted, the macabre is a comfort. With that in mind, three cheers for whoever commissioned The Grim for a run at Southwark Playhouse. First performed at Underbelly, Edinburgh Festival, the play enjoyed a sell-out season, before a critically acclaimed run at the Old Red...

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Shakespeare’s Globe

30Nov

By Dave SmithNo Comments

London

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Shakespeare’s Globe

You don’t necessarily expect a take on a A Midsummer Night’s Dream to have Pete Quince’s troupe cutting cocaine with credit cards but that’s far from the biggest change to this adaptation. Playing here now as more tragedy than comedy, Headlong adapted A Midsummer Night's Dream for its debut in the candlelight Wanamaker. Billed as a darker, more tragic version, there are still some laughs kept, perhaps some of them now more nervous laughs. There’s an undercurrent of sex and violence running throughout, sometimes uncomfortably combined. The lovers’ fallings-out in the woods, even when driven by Puck’s interference, move far away from the chaotic mischief and towards barely disguised emotional and physical abuse, playing with a hard edge to them. Sergo Vares’ Puck carries an air of male...

The Magic of Christmas – Brick Lane Music Hall

29Nov

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

The Magic of Christmas – Brick Lane Music Hall

Brick Lane Music Hall, a hidden gem situated in the heart of the docklands. Founded by Vincent Hayes MBE in1992. This resurrected church is the home of entertainment on a grandiose level. A theatre dining experience serving laughter, music hall cabaret and party time fun. When you walk in you are struck by the attention to detail to replicate early 20th century British theatre. The Magic of Christmas did not disappoint and with each costume change came a gambit of old and new classic Christmas songs and carols. From David Essex’s Winter’s Tale to I’m dreaming of a White Christmas to an amazing performance of The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl’s Fairytale of New York. A guest appearance by ‘Royal appointment’ ...

A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story – Alexandra Palace

29Nov

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story – Alexandra Palace

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story is a fresh and compelling retelling of the timeless classic we all know and love. The story follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly, work-obsessed man completely isolated from friends and family, whose life is transformed after the haunting visits from the three spirits of Christmas, Past, Present, and Yet to Come. This production captures the essence of Dickens’ moral tale while adding new layers of theatrical magic. One of the most striking aspects of this performance is its setting. Staged in the historic Alexandra Palace, the venue’s weathered walls and rustic Victorian architecture instantly transport the audience to 19th-century London. The atmospheric surroundings create a sense of being fully immersed in a bygone era, adding an authe...

29Nov

By Olivia CoxNo Comments

London

Lovers Actually – The Other Palace

A perfectly floppy-haired Hugh Grant. A “quite pretty” Keira Knightley. A child dressed up as a lobster for the school nativity. ‘Tis the season for Love Actually, of course. The Yuletide classic gets a cheeky send-up in The Other Palace’s Lovers Actually, penned by Neil Hurst and Jodie Prenger. With Alex Jackson directing, the creative trio have crafted a Christmas musical parody that’s fun, festive, and — most importantly — full of filth. Covering nearly every base when it comes to spoofing the iconic characters of Love Actually is an excellent quartet of performers: Joseph Beach, Ross Clifton, Martha Pothen, and Holly Sumpton. Photo: Pamela Raith Each of the four get to play their fair share of hilarious characters. Beach is a gun-wielding Liam Neeson, aging rockstar Billy M...

26Nov

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

Murder at Midnight – Churchill Theatre

Murder at Midnight is a new comedic murder-mystery that unfolds over the course of a chaotic New Year’s Eve, inviting the audience to watch the crime unravel in real time. Unlike a traditional “whodunnit,” this production doesn’t rely on keeping you guessing about the killer’s identity. Instead, the fun lies in discovering how everything went wrong, why it happened, and what the increasingly frantic characters will do to cover their tracks. The show stars Max Bowden as Paul, who stumbles onto the stage after a New Year’s Eve party dressed in a priest’s outfit, accompanied by Lisa, played by Iryna Poplavska. Bowden is a comic standout as an undercover cop attempting to infiltrate a drug operation while simultaneously trying to maintain his cover, and charm Lisa. His performance is full o...

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Riverside Studios

26Nov

By Carole GordonNo Comments

London

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Riverside Studios

Douglas Adams' wildly inventive intergalactic adventure has landed in West London, allowing audiences to escape Earth by hitching a ride on the Heart of Gold spaceship with its infinite improbability drive. Accompanied by all the Hitchhikers' characters, the crew try not to panic as they seek the answer to the eternal question of life, the universe and everything. This beloved sci-fi classic has been given an immersive theatre adaptation by co-creators Arvind Ethan David and Jason Ardizzone-West with a cast of energetic and multi-talented performers. Benjamin Durham's Arthur Dent has the perfect expression of a man who doesn't know what's going on while he searches for his lost love and simultaneously tries to stop his home being bulldozed. Tamara Saffir as Fenchurch is also spot-on castin...

A Fairytale for Christmas – Dominion Theatre

25Nov

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

A Fairytale for Christmas – Dominion Theatre

‘A Fairytale for Christmas’ returns with all the charm, sparkle, and heart that has made it a staple of the festive season. Blending Irish musicality with classic Christmas nostalgia, this year’s production proves why audiences return year after year. It is a warm, generous show that wears its joy proudly and delivers exactly what its title promises, wrapping tradition, talent, and musical storytelling into a glittering seasonal package. The staging places the entire concert inside McGrath’s, a pop-up Christmas bar tucked away in a corner of Central Park, instantly grounding the show in a sense of homespun nostalgia. Wooden bar stools, twinkling lights, and the gentle clutter of a well-loved local Christmas haunt create an atmosphere that feels lived-in rather than theatrical. This sett...

Jack and the Beanstalk – Lyric Hammersmith

24Nov

By Olivia CoxNo Comments

London

Jack and the Beanstalk – Lyric Hammersmith

Written by Sonia Jalalay and directed by Nicholai La Barrie, Lyric Hammersmith’s new production of Jack and the Beanstalk doesn’t totally follow the classic pantomime story. Introducing the story is the Fairy Godfather (a hilarious Jade Hackett), who explains that the people of Hammersmith are in a critical imagination deficit. With an ‘imagination meter’ framing the whole stage, our Fairy Godfather wants us to hit the top level of HEIOMGN: Huge-Epic-Imagination-OMG-Nirvana. The big problem? The ruthless, authoritarian Fleshcreep Academy. John Partridge hams it up — literally, donning a pepperoni-print suit — as the cruel Fleshcreep, instilling rules such as “no singing”, “no dancing” and “no joy” as part of his educational regime. His greatest punishment for children is sending them...

24Nov

By Stewart Who?No Comments

London

Jobsworth – Park Theatre

Cast your mind back a few years and it’s easy to recall how the concept of a ‘zero hours contract’ was presented to the public as a gift to those seeking employment. Workers could choose when to work, without the onerous restrictions of a full or part-time contract. Students, single mothers, people with caring responsibilities and even those struggling with mental health problems would be able to dip in and out of work without compromising their other concerns. That was the spin. Like many aspects of late-stage capitalism, it was sold to the nation as freedom and choice. The reality has proved to be a boon to ruthless employers and tax-dodging global corporations. Even the term ‘gig economy’ feels less like a hipster lifestyle choice and more like a fun-sounding euphemism for workplace exp...