London Archives - Page 31 of 111

8Nov

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

Phantasmagoria – Southwark Playhouse

An activist and politician meet in a forest guest house, here they partake in a closed debate ran by Jai (Antony Bunsee) who wishes to relaunch his career with his new channel following a very anticipated and most likely heated debate between the two. Activist, Mehrosh (Hussina Rama) enters anxiously as she never intended to become as admired as she is and in this has lost control of her security. The politician, Bina (Tania Rodrigues) enters with assistant Scherezade (Ulrika Krishnamurti) confident in her ability to intimidate this young woman until she’s squeezed dry of any lingering confidence she might have left. Bina’s goal is to ‘convert’ Mehrosh from activist to politician through threats to family and the promise of safe security. Mehrosh is disgusted by the fake glamour of politic...

6Nov

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Nutcracker – Tuff Nutt Jazz Club

Drew McOnie's latest choreographic endeavour, ‘Nutcracker’, is a contemporary dance show that breathes new life into the beloved festive classic. In a bold departure from tradition, McOnie's production takes audiences on a wild-spirited adventure that is as delicate and sophisticated as it is daring and mature, offering a fresh perspective on the iconic holiday ballet. This reimagining, staged at the brand-new venue, Tuff Nutt Jazz Club within London's Southbank Centre, is not only a feast for the eyes but a celebration of diversity and self-acceptance that opens the door to those who may have previously felt excluded from the magic of "The Nutcracker." One of the most striking features of McOnie's rendition is its redefined cast of characters. Clara, typically portrayed as an upper-cla...

The Time Traveller’s Wife: The Musical – Apollo Theatre

4Nov

By Maani WayNo Comments

London

The Time Traveller’s Wife: The Musical – Apollo Theatre

Based on the internationally best-selling novel, the romantically unconventional story, The Time Traveller’s Wife, opens as a new musical on the West End stage this Autumn. The story follows the life of Clare (Joanna Woodward), a talented artist and sculptor, who meets a remarkable man, Henry (David Hunter), who happens to travel through time, when she is a just a girl. Henry’s extraordinary genetic disorder allows him to pop up through the course of Clare’s life and eventually they fall in love, defying the unavoidable complications that a relationship involving time travel can bring. From the moment the show opens with a bang and strobe lighting, it is clear that the turning set and effects will be a big factor in portraying the magic of this story. Immediately the screen in front of ...

2Nov

By Aditi DalalNo Comments

London

A View from the Bridge – Rose Theatre

The Arthur Miller classic was first staged as a one act production on Broadway in 1955. This latest co-production with Headlong Theatre, Bolton Octagon, Chichester Festival Theatre and the Rose Theatre sees it in its full-length version, with the play's central themes resonating just as powerfully in today's world. Set in a working-class Italian American neighbourhood in Brooklyn, the story revolves around the complex dynamics within the Carbone family. Eddie Carbone (Jonathan Slinger) is a longshoreman who becomes increasingly obsessed with his niece, Catherine (Rachelle Diedericks). Tensions escalate when two Italian immigrants, Marco (Tommy Sim’aan) and Rodolpho (Luke Newberry), move in with the Carbone family, leading to a dramatic confrontation as Eddie's jealousy and cultural clas...

2Nov

By Stewart Who?No Comments

London

The Interview – Park Theatre

An older lady enquired if she was, ‘in the right place for Diana’. This query occurred on the pavement, outside Park Theatre, where The Interview by Jonathan Maitland is currently enjoying its world premiere. It transpired that this woman had booked tickets for the show on the same night as her 36th wedding anniversary. Her husband had been dead many decades. She then told me that from beyond the grave, he had nudged her to choose this significant date, so that she wouldn’t be home alone and grieving. Instead, she would be, ‘on a night out with Diana. He knows how much I love her.’ In many ways, that little vignette sums up the power, legacy and impact that Diana, Princess of Wales continues to hold over the nation. She stirs up sentimentality, paranormal notions and passionate fanatici...

2Nov

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

LIZZIE– Southwark Playhouse

London's Southwark Playhouse is currently playing host to a riveting and unapologetically fierce production of ‘LIZZIE’, the true crime rock punk musical. This fresh and dynamic production of the first UK staging, presented by the accomplished team at Hope Mill Theatre, is edgy, bold, and nothing short of brilliant. It brings a thrilling blend of music, drama, and history to the stage, redefining the boundaries of what a musical can be, and quite frankly goes toe-to-toe with some of the other similar historical productions that are currently playing in the West End and round the globe. Set in the backdrop of the infamous Lizzie Borden murders in Fall River, Massachusetts in 1892, ‘LIZZIE’ weaves a gripping narrative that blends fact, fiction, legend, and female sass, into an intoxicatin...

And Then There Were None – Richmond Theatre

1Nov

By Dave SmithNo Comments

London

And Then There Were None – Richmond Theatre

"And Then There Were None" is one of the best-selling novels of all time with Agatha Christie's sales surpassed only by the Bible and William Shakespeare. The inscription above the stage at Richmond Theatre which reads "To wake the soul by tender strokes of art," seems to contrast starkly with the ruthless and unforgiving nature of events in this play. Eight strangers and two servants receive invitations to stay on Soldier Island, but it quickly becomes evident that they have all been deceived, as connections to their supposed hosts, Mr. and Mrs. Owen, turn out to be shaky or false. The Owen’s never appear, and a storm isolates the group on the island, cutting them off from the mainland. The guests seem to have little in common, and they squabble with each other and with the servants. E...

1Nov

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

London

King Lear – Wyndham’s Theatre

Written in 1604, King Lear is sandwiched between Measure For Measure, Othello and Macbeth, a period in the bard’s writing dedicated to history and tragedy. 419 years later, and following many extraordinary performances, how can Kenneth Branagh and team bring something different to their production? And here is where I feel that some modern productions fall foul, the need to modernise and bring today’s razzamatazz into the equation. Call me old fashioned, call me a Shakespeare prude, but I want to see, hear, and feel the language, the small nuances that a blank stage can offer, and when I hear the words spoken, allow them to touch me, without the hinderance of external factors introduced by an over eager director wishing to put their own mark on Shakespeare’s work. S...

30Oct

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

Boy Parts – Soho Theatre

After a huge TikTok following and cult fan group, author Eliza Clark created a fan club for women with rage. The story follows Irina, a photographer who finds art in violence and gore. She chooses her male subjects with exact images in mind, she won’t compromise her desire of ‘perfection’ up until the very last shot. Many reviews compare it to a female ‘American Psycho’ but I would argue we are exploring the endless pit of ‘The Male Gaze’ as women can never quite escape the sexualisation, the ‘pats on the head’ for their fragility- even when she shows the depth of her evil she will never be a threat. Irina is so full of rage that she’s numb. The language in the book is dirty, uncomfortable and this is what excites fans so much because it’s unusual to explore evil women this way and as you ...

28Oct

By Riana HowarthNo Comments

London

Immersive 1984 – Hackney Town Hall

Fancy a break from the ghouls and gore this Halloween? 1984 immersive experience offers the chill and terror of being governed by an authoritarian state. Having devoured the book years ago, I was excited to see how the world of the book would be brought to life. Hackney County Hall's large space, with a fusion of classic and modern elements was an ideal setting for it. The split stairways and tall ceilings gave the place a ministerial authority. Party members in blue jumpsuits wore stern, mistrusting expressions and gave strict orders. For those who aren't familiar with the book, Orwell wrote it in 1949, imagining what the near future might look like. He depicts a hyper controlling government which thought-polices and scrutinises individuals. Winston, a "thought criminal" works for the ...