London Archives - Page 41 of 149

The Lehman Trilogy – Gillian Lynne Theatre

11Oct

By Samantha CollettNo Comments

London

The Lehman Trilogy – Gillian Lynne Theatre

Many people only know of the Lehman Brothers name on account of their failure. The Great Financial Crash of 2008 sent economic shockwaves through the world. Why then, one may ask, would anyone want to watch a three hour play about banking? The answer: it is possibly the most epic outstanding production you will ever see, and it is about so much more than banking. The stage is a rotating glass box. The backdrop is a digital screen. There are three actors. One pianist. Several cardboard boxes. On paper it shouldn’t work, but it is the magnificence of every key element and the outstanding direction by Sam Mendes which elevates this production to something you rarely witness in the West End. The story starts with Henry Lehman (Leighton Pugh), a Jew, making his way across the sea from Bav...

11Oct

By Olivia CoxNo Comments

London

Brace Brace – Royal Court

“A plane fell out of the sky, and we happened to be on it.” That’s the fourteen-word, remarkably oversimplified synopsis of Oli Forsyth’s new play Brace Brace, brought to life in a startlingly intimate traverse staging at the Royal Court, directed by Daniel Raggett. Having introduced themselves and their whirlwind love story to the audience, newlyweds Sylvia (Anjana Vasan) and Ray (Phil Dunster) explain how their honeymoon began with life-shattering tragedy: the plane they were flying on was taken over by a hijacker (Craige Els, who also portrays a young passenger’s father and the pilot). If the unthinkable horror of believing you’re about to crash to your death from thousands of feet in the air wasn’t enough to fracture the couple, it’s the unique part they each play in the near ...

10Oct

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

Jeezus! – Brixton House

Jeezus! is an original musical directed by Laura Killeen, written and performed by Sergio Antonio, and featuring Guido Garcia Lueches alongside him. The play follows a young queer boy, played by Antonio, as he navigates the complexities of his identity and upbringing in a conservative Catholic setting. It delves into themes of faith, identity, and the societal pressures faced by the LGBTQ+ community within religious structures. Through scenes set against the backdrop of Catholic rituals and biblical chapters, the musical humorously explores how growing up in a faith-driven household affects one’s understanding of self and sexuality. The show highlights the conflict between a person’s spirituality and their struggle for acceptance, both from their community and within themselves, when th...

King Troll (The Fawn) – New Diorama Theatre

9Oct

By Louise PennNo Comments

London

King Troll (The Fawn) – New Diorama Theatre

A “dark and otherworldly thriller” by Sonali Bhattacharyya, King Troll was a finalist for the 2023 Women’s Prize for Playwriting, and now arrives on the London fringe in a production by Milli Bhatia. The topic is the experience of migrants within the UK, and the plot relies on a mystical, magic realism device, the fawn of the title. At first the story appears straightforward, as South Asian sisters Nikita (coolly efficient Zainab Hasan) and Riya (vulnerable Safiyya Ingar) deal with the latter’s application to stay in the country. Photo: Helen Murray When they decide to phone the friend of their late mother, a delightfully eccentric Shashi (Ayesha Dharker), a lifeline and possible sponsor appears to protect Riya, but at what cost? The bold physicality of Dominic Holmes’s Fawn adds ...

7Oct

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

Juno and the Paycock – Gielgud Theatre

Juno and the Paycock is widely regarded as Sean O'Caseys's theatrical masterpiece. Set during the Irish Civil War in 1922 the first act starts almost as a melodrama with " Captain" Jack Boyle( Mark Rylance) and his dissolute companion "Joxer" Daly (Paul Hilton) indulging in drunken excess and an attempting to avoid all forms of work while dodging the wrath of Juno Boyle (J.Smith-Cameron), the redoubtable female head of the household. The impoverished family’s fortunes seem to take a dramatic turn for the better when they are informed that Jack Boyle has received a large inheritance from a relative. As the second act opens, we see them in the same rundown dwelling, but now bedecked with new expensive furnishings and the family wearing new clothes for which they ha...

5Oct

By Sadie PearsonNo Comments

London

One of the Boys – Playground Theatre

One of the Boys leads it’s audience through an Indusry-esque exploration of the corporate ‘boys club’ and the women it leaves behind, but with too little nuance or introspection to make for a truly engaging watch. The play, written by Tim Edge and directed by Lydia McKinley, was a feat of endurance for its cast. Giving 85 minutes of action with no interval, all four of the cast should be praised for the great amount of work they put in to bringing this performance to life. Energy never dropped and the quality of performance was, for the most part, high. Playing the cold-career-woman turned heart-of-gold lead Eve, Miriam Grace Edwards was a stand-out within the production, bringing nuance and sensitivity to a character which could have easily been reduced to stereotype. Edwards played...

5Oct

By Khushboo ShahNo Comments

London

The Gentlemen’s Club – Soho Theatre

If you want to experience drag cabaret Bollywood style woven into a well-crafted narrative about freedom, community and possibility, The Gentlemen’s Club is the place to be! Co-presented by the National Centre of Performing Arts and Soho Theatre, London’s finest cabaret-meets-theatre venue, The Gentlemen’s Club is not only Patchwork Ensemble’s debut in the UK but also India’s first Drag King show. The Gentlemen’s Club opens with a nostalgic act by Rocky aka Shamsher (Puja Sarup) playing a tribute to the legendary Shammi Kapoor and the golden era of Hindi cinema- performed to absolute perfection. As a senior among an ensemble of drag artists (Sheena Khalid, Ratnabali Bhattacharjee, Srishti Dixit and Amey Mehta) performing at the club, Rocky is both warmly welcoming and a lightly pat...

5Oct

By Zandra OdetundeNo Comments

London

Run, Rebel – Theatre Peckham

Run, Rebel is a heart-thumping tale, a visceral plunge into the complex reality of being a second-generation immigrant in the UK. It is a story that resonates with an audience familiar with the delicate balance between two worlds, especially those who have felt the penetrating gaze of watchful aunties, clutching their Lidl bags with an unspoken authority, ready to report where you've been and who you’re with. Something all too familiar. The star of the show, Jessica Kaur, who played Amber, delivered a commanding performance that truly set her apart. She infused her lines with a palpable energy, an emotional depth that made her a powerful presence on stage. She was a star, a brilliant axis around which the entire story spun. The story itself was laced with heart and grit. It spoke...

3Oct

By Olivia CoxNo Comments

London

My Period the C*ckblock – Brixton House

Today is going to be a fantastic day, according to Bolade (Ruth Oyediran). Why? She’s discovered a pill that can delay her period, which means she’s pain-free to hit the biggest day party of the year — featuring her dream man Tion Wayne — with her best friend Jessica (Lara Grace Ilori). This is where we meet the two pals at the beginning of My Period the C*ckblock, written by Oyediran and directed by TD Moyo in this production at Brixton House. What transpires over the next hour is a remarkably well-written exploration of Black British sisterhood, female pain, and the taboos around menstruation. Oyediran’s vibrant and incisive dialogue depicts a charming and authentic portrayal of friendship — and all the entanglements it can bring. Bola and Jess are shown to have grown apart in the ...

3Oct

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

Look Back in Anger – Almeida Theatre

Renowned as a theatrical landmark, John Osborne's 1956 play changed the face of British theatre forever with its gritty realism. For such an important play it is surprisingly infrequently performed. I have only seen it once before and had forgotten what a powerful piece of drama it is. Staged at the Almeida Theatre in repertory with 'Roots', Arnold Wesker's renowned play of the same era, it forms what they have titled 'Angry and Young' season. The most striking thing about director Atri Banerjee’s production is the dispensing of a realistic set, which was one of the hallmarks of the original production and presenting it on a bare circular stage with an outer ring revolve and an inner ring lift. The lift was used for raising the few pieces of set furniture that were needed, a table and t...