London Archives - Page 39 of 149

14Nov

By Savitha VenugopalNo Comments

London

Blue Stockings – New Wimbledon Theatre

Behold, a young lady pursuing education, clamouring for the right to graduate, wanting to perform scientific experiments and debate on philosophy! Is there anything more unnatural than a ‘blue stocking’ woman who insists on going against her role in nature, which is to reproduce and care for the young? Concepts that draw snickers from the audience now, but concepts that were well believed and propagated in the 19th century. Written by Jessica Swale and directed by Natalie Romero, Blue Stockings is set in Cambridge of the 1890s. A group of women – young and old, students and teachers – are fighting for their right to earn a degree and to be educated on the same footing as the men. The female students match their male counterparts grade for grade and yet find that they are sidelined, even...

La Clique 20th Anniversary – Leicester Square Spiegeltent

14Nov

By Dave SmithNo Comments

London

La Clique 20th Anniversary – Leicester Square Spiegeltent

Celebrating 20 years since David Bates debuted La Clique at Edinburgh Fringe, the acclaimed team return to the Leicester Square Spiegeltent for an evening of cabaret, circus and high-energy entertainment. An international ensemble of performers combines to leave audiences gasping and captivated by daring acts featuring a unique blend of humour, artistry, and charisma. You might not immediately think of Leicester Square as an intimate venue, but the Spiegeltent really pulls this off nicely. Just a few rows around the performances (which are mostly in the centre of the tent and often above the audience's heads so no need to worry about tall people sitting in front of you). Each performer brings their talent but combines it with such a sense of showmanship, it’s about teasing and flirting ...

13Nov

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

Nine Sixteenths – Pleasance Theatre

Nine Sixteenths, created and starring Paula Varjack, is a dynamic play centered on Black female role models and their portrayal in the music industry. The performance is short, fast-paced, and includes a few comical moments that had the audience laughing alongside the cast. The highlights included some spirited dancing and outrageously funny lip-syncing, adding a light-hearted touch to the production. However, the play frequently broke the fourth wall, with Varjack sharing her motivations and inspirations behind the production—a choice that occasionally disrupted the flow. The central focus of the play was the cultural impact of Janet Jackson’s infamous Super Bowl moment, examining both how Jackson navigated this incident and how it reverberated across the industry, particularly for...

13Nov

By Ben PearsonNo Comments

London

MOREAU – The Drayton Arms’ Theatre

MOREAU, the debut production of Exciting Stories, is a contemporary re-telling of H.G. Wells’ horror classic The Island of Dr. Moreau which explores themes of ‘memory, therapy, identity, rebellion and ultimately, hope’. Writer and director Phil Stewart and co-writer H.S. Fernandez have crafted a compelling, evocative, and philosophically intriguing script which (for the most part) well balances abstract and challenging concepts with grounded characters. Beginning with a powerful, almost animalistic piece of physical theatre, courtesy of movement director Luca Villa, MOREAU never lets the energy drop, keeping the audience equally engaged in scenes ranging from quiet reflection to a brutal operation. This is in no doubt due to the stupendously energetic performances of the cast. Jimmy...

13Nov

By Riana HowarthNo Comments

London

Phoenix – Barons Court Theatre

Phoenix is about a journey from constriction and avoidance to inner freedom. Dressed in flowy dungarees, and big, curly blonde hair, Helen is like a children’s storybook character. There is an intention to heal, which is manifest in her radiating warmth, and inviting eyes. She sets the scene with the cosy familiarity of a night in with a friend, drawing us in with intimacy. She confesses to being a Towie addict, and this comedy takes a turn, exploring different ways people numb themselves. The lightness and humour in her stories float above uncomfortable feelings. She squishes these down, dancing away the pain, and distracting herself. She shows us snippets of her life; her relationships, growing up, and her experiences as an actor. These personal moments feel sincere and make th...

Make Good: The Post Office Scandal – Omnibus Theatre

13Nov

By Olivia CoxNo Comments

London

Make Good: The Post Office Scandal – Omnibus Theatre

By now, the whole of the UK is aware of the tragic miscarriage of justice that was the Post Office scandal, where more than 900 sub postmasters were wrongly convicted of theft, fraud, and false accounting, ruining their reputations and livelihoods in the process. This unbelievable story became more widely known after ITV broadcast the TV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office. Now, we have a musical take on the scandal in the form of Pentabus and New Perspectives’ Make Good: The Post Office Scandal, written and composed by Jeanie O’Hare and Jim Fortune. There’s a real community feel to the style of storytelling, which fits the source material nicely. We’re introduced to the show by Ed Gaughan, acting as a narrator and host in an engaging fourth wall-breaking monologue before seamlessl...

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Ambassadors Theatre

9Nov

By Olivia CoxNo Comments

London

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Ambassadors Theatre

The West End has become a shining treasure trove of new musical theatre gems as of late, and a glistening diamond of a show has just been added into the mix: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. After two stints at the Southwark Playhouse in 2019 and 2023, Darren Clark and Jethro Compton’s musical has made its long-awaited West End debut at the Ambassadors Theatre. Adapted from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1922 short story of the same name, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button sets the extraordinary tale of the man who ages in reverse within a small fishing village in Cornwall. From the rebranding of the Ambassadors Theatre bar as ‘The Pickled Crab’ (the pub featured within the show) to the gentle call of seagulls heard before the performance starts, this production feels deeply and authentical...

6Nov

By Olivia CoxNo Comments

London

Tones: A Hip-Hop Opera – Brixton House

To pull off a solo show, a performer needs to possess a deeply commanding presence, superhuman confidence, and a sense of great comfort within the space that puts the audience immediately at ease. To pull off a solo show that is almost entirely rapped? That requires something truly special — and that’s exactly what Gerel Falconer, writer and performer of Tones - A Hip-Hop Opera has in abundance. In this show, Falconer plays the role of Jerome (AKA The Professor), a young Black British man navigating our society where race, class, and culture still play a huge role in our sense of belonging. Feeling not Black enough for the area he grew up in yet too Black for the rest of the world, Jerome is forced to confront the impact that assimilation has had on his identity. With his sole compan...

Murder on the Orient Express – Richmond Theatre

6Nov

By Dave SmithNo Comments

London

Murder on the Orient Express – Richmond Theatre

On the famous Orient Express in between Istanbul and Calais, a disparate group of passengers are bound together. First by the train being forced to stop in a snowdrift and then by the discovery of a dead body, murder most foul! Who among them could have wielded the knife? Straight onto the case is the world-renowned Belgian (not French!) detective Hercule Poirot who uses his ‘little grey cells’ to unravel the mystery. Yes, this is Agatha Christie’s most iconic tale, now brought to life on the stage in an adaptation by Ken Ludwig, directed by Lucy Bailey. High praise to set designer Mike Britton for the fantastic train carriage set on display. The neat trick is making the carriages breakaway into different compartments which can be moved in and out of the set to bring us to the differ...

2024 Fireworks Festival – Alexandra Palace

5Nov

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

2024 Fireworks Festival – Alexandra Palace

The 2024 Fireworks Festival at Alexandra Palace Park made a vibrant return, treating visitors to a dazzling display and a full evening of entertainment. Spanning the expansive grounds, the event featured activities and attractions spread across various areas, creating an atmosphere that was lively yet well-organized. From the outset, entering the park was a smooth experience. The event staff were attentive, efficiently managing the flow of guests and ensuring a welcoming and easy entry. Depending on your entrance, you were immediately immersed in the bustling energy of the festival. Inside the park, the variety of food trucks and bars added to the festive feel, offering an array of delicious options, including both meat and vegetarian choices. The bars were well-stocked, and the wint...