London Archives - Page 33 of 111

10Oct

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

What It Means – Wilton’s Music Hall

In the realm of theatrical productions that aim to explore important historical events and their relevance to contemporary society, 'What It Means' by James Corley certainly stands out for its ambitious premise. Based on the groundbreaking 1971 article 'What It Means to Be a Homosexual' by Merle Miller, this play endeavours to shed light on the struggle for LGBTQ+ equality, a topic of paramount importance in the current climate. However, whilst the play's intentions are noble, it is, unfortunately, an absurdly and unnecessarily long production that bears a striking resemblance to a dry academic lecture rather than a traditional piece of contemporary theatre, and this ultimately leaves audiences fighting to reach the finish line. The central pillar of 'What It Means' is the (near) solo p...

8Oct

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

Othello – Riverside Studios

The features which set this production of Othello apart are its length, only 100 minutes without an interval, and the casting of three actors to play the villain Iago. A full production of the Othello text would probably run to about three and a half hours although few productions are totally uncut. So, cutting it down so severely inevitably means that a lot of the background and subtlety of Shakespeare's text is lost, although the main plotline was preserved and presented in Shakespeare's language. The casting of the three Iago's was the defining characteristic of this production. The director Sinead Rushe, had apparently explored a similar methodology with Hamlet and says in an informative interview in the programme that this was intended to underline the conflict...

6Oct

By Khushboo ShahNo Comments

London

Noises Off – Theatre Royal Haymarket

Celebrating the 40th Anniversary production of Michael Frayn’s Noises Off garners peals of laughter for nearly 2.5 hours straight! An exceptional piece of comedy, performed by a stellar cast with supreme comic timing, directed by Lindsay Posner with profound detail, this rendition successfully churns out maximum hilarity from Frayn’s brilliant writing. The play opens with Dotty (Felicity Kendal) who plays Mrs. Clackett, a housemaid for Nothing On. We are in a bright house owned by Mr and Mrs Brent (Jonathan Coy and Tamzin Outhwaite) who are seemingly holidaying in Spain. Director Llyod's (Alexander Hanson) rising frustration is probably at its lowest at this dress run at midnight as Dotty keeps messing up the “sardines”. Garry (Mathew Horne) and Brooke (Sasha F...

Hedda Gabler – Brockley Jack Studio Theatre

6Oct

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

Hedda Gabler – Brockley Jack Studio Theatre

The Fish Don't Matter theatre company have produced a pacy but flawed production of Ibsen's classic. Hedda Gabler is one of theatre's great characters often likened to a female Hamlet. A young bride returning from her overlong honeymoon already bored with her academic husband who is more interested in his research then her, is trapped in a relationship and house that she does not like. She takes out her misery on those around her and tries to rekindle relationships with previous admirers but fails to find satisfaction leading to an ultimately tragic end. The Brockley Jack playing area is not large, and the director Scott James had made it even smaller by creating an acting area demarcated by a wooden boundary containing small bunches of flowers. The result was that the cast were f...

6Oct

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

Shooting Hedda Gabler – Rose Theatre

Jeff James returns to the Rose with another fantastic re-telling of a classic- ‘Shooting Hedda Gabler’ which explores the classic story in a very twisted and modern setting, written and adapted by Nina Segal. Antonia Thomas as Hedda is flown to Oslo to film ‘Hedda Gabler’ and there she meets Henrik (Christian Rubeck) the director with high ambitions and unwavering dedication to getting what he wants out of his actors. Also, on set we meet Berta (Anna Andresen) the AD and possibly the closest character to normality for Hedda as she is pulled into a collapse of self-belief, loss of identity and shame. Henrik believes the separation between actor and character should not exist and therefore creates situations to morph Hedda’s world together: so he hires her Ex to film with her, Ejlert (Avi Na...

3Oct

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

Imposter 22 – Royal Court Theatre

This Royal Court Theatre production presented in collaboration with Access All Areas is an extraordinary production. It has been devised and is performed by a group of 6 actors with learning disabilities. It takes the form of a whodunnit. When one of the characters appears to have been murdered, the group are concerned that because of their disabilities they will be suspected by the police. They therefore resolve to coordinate their stories and to try and find out who might have committed the crime. Danny, a homeless person played by Jamael Westman, joins their group and receives instruction by them in how fit in to a learning-disabled community. An interesting inverse of the struggles which people with learning disabilities face in fitting into society. There are then various di...

3Oct

By Riana HowarthNo Comments

London

Octopolis – Hampstead Theatre

An intellectual combat merges into a confused love affair. What sounds like a common trope, lays the ground for an interesting philosophical debate, when a pet octopus called Francis is the axis around which their relationship pivots. Professor George Gray (Jemma Redgrave), a mildly eccentric, behavioural biologist shares her space with Francis who lives in a purpose-built tank. When anthropology student Harry (Ewan Miller), barges into their space, with permission from the University to carry out his own research, George’s dogma is threatened. As the two argue and bond, and argue some more, they unveil their flaws. The delivery is clinical and methodical, mirroring the scientific content of the dialogue. Both speak as if presenting their own findings to the audience, momentarily bre...

Beautiful Thing – Theatre Royal, Stratford East

26Sep

By Stewart Who?No Comments

London

Beautiful Thing – Theatre Royal, Stratford East

In 1994, when Beautiful Thing transferred from the Donmar to the Duke of York’s Theatre, I bought a pair of tickets for my sister, as a gift for her birthday. She took her boyfriend. I met them after, expecting post-show joy. To my extreme distress, undiluted homophobia spilled from both parties. The following day, her partner called me at work, threatened me with violence and spat further abuse down the phone at me. A week later, the pair of them drove me from the family home. I left, sobbing, prompting a period of homelessness and a nervous breakdown. My sister dated that man for several years. To this day, the pain of that episode causes heartbreak and family conflict. Beautiful Thing led to a Very Ugly Thing that in 2023 remains unhealed and grimly toxic. In many ways, Harvey’s bril...

Strangers in Between – Golden Goose Theatre

24Sep

By Jennifer LaishleyNo Comments

London

Strangers in Between – Golden Goose Theatre

Strangers In between is a coming-of-age story set in Australia. The story follows young Shane as he gets settled in Sydney and the play follows his struggles with coming out and self-discovery. The cast bought this play together with well-timed comedy and strong acting. Tommy Murphy's play is described as a period piece in the programme, but it still has the power to resonate with younger audiences. The play has a very clear message and really would work as a piece of theatre to teach younger audiences about sex. Photo: Peter Davies Alex Ansell does a good job of capturing Shane’s youthful naivety. He uses his innocence to create allot of comedy and did a good job with sustaining the Australian accent, even during the more emotional intense scenes. Stephen Connery Brown has exc...

23Sep

By Dave SmithNo Comments

London

The White Factory – Marylebone Theatre

At a time when war rages in Europe, a play written by Dmitry Glukhovsky and directed by Maxim Didenko - both political exiles from Russia about the things that people can be forced to do seems timely. The White Factory tells the story of the Kaufman family living in the Lodz Ghetto in Poland under Nazi occupation from 1938 onwards. The family of five are the heart of the story, husband and wife Yosef and Rivka, grandfather Ezekiel and boys Hermann and Volf. Initially in the wrong place and forced to translate, Yosef is forced to give up all he believes and take increasingly desperate action in efforts to keep his family safe. The horror that it takes to survive such a horror. Adrian Schiller is exceptional as Jewish Elder Chaim Rumkowski, appointed to run the city by the SS, forced t...