Sunday, November 17

London

Bounce – The Lion and Unicorn Theatre
London

Bounce – The Lion and Unicorn Theatre

We begin at the beginning - so to speak - of a motivational seminar; the lights flash, the music booms and our presenter, Jesse (Nick Robinson), is propelled onto the stage, an energised picture of confidence seemingly powered on his own self-belief. Jesse, a self-help guru and his own personal hype man, is here to tell us how we can own our own destinies by facing forward, not seeing unwanted surprises as problems and pretty much every other self-improvement trope you can think of. If that sounds flippant then that is far from my intention - in this snappy 70-minute show, writer Tom Derrington creates a caricature of self-help culture that pinpoints why so many people are caught in its thrall, and why this is so problematic. There’s a precision to Derrington’s writing that from the sta...
A Midsummer Night’s Dream – The Charterhouse
London

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – The Charterhouse

Having watched hundreds of productions, it’s hard to surprise me. But stepping into Charterhouse gardens, a small patch of green in the shadow of the Barbican towers, I found myself confused by the set up. In the corner, under some ancient trees, was a primitive looking stage reminiscent of a village fete. In front of said stage were a collection of people joyously picnicking on camping chairs and mats. The atmosphere was peaceful, happy, relaxed and easy. It was hard to believe you were in central London amidst this little gathering chowing down on wine and home-made sandwiches. It was also hard to believe the production I was about to see was to be performed by The Handlebards - cycling actors who tour across the world presenting Shakespeare. It was at that point I knew I was in fo...
Gypsy – The Mill at Sonning
London

Gypsy – The Mill at Sonning

Can one live vicariously? Can one be successful through one's child's success? How much can one change when pushed to the edge of exhaustion? Welcome to Gipsy, a classic that will make you shiver in your seat. This staging of the now classic Musical on the Mill at Sonning hits all the right spots. When going to the performance, the ticket includes a two-course dinner, about which this reviewer cannot knowledgeably comment, other than to say that it was almost as great as the main dish: the theatre part. This play written by Arthur Laurents, with music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim is entire directed and choreographed for The Mill by Joseph Pitcher, with Francis Goodhand in charge of musical arrangement, direction and keyboards, Jason Denvir in the incredibly lively Se...
Panti Bliss: If These Wigs Could Talk – Soho Theatre
London

Panti Bliss: If These Wigs Could Talk – Soho Theatre

On a warm and vibrant evening at the esteemed Soho Theatre, Panti Bliss sets down her dancing shoes and returns to walking the boards with her bold and glamourous theatre show. The “Queen of Ireland” takes centre stage in an extraordinary display of talent, wit, and unapologetic charm in the celebrated one-woman production, ‘If These Wigs Could Talk’. Having walked into an overture of toe-tapping, camp club classics, the lights dimmed, and the stage came alive with an infectious energy that immediately captivated the packed audience, setting the tone for a remarkable and personal theatrical experience. From the very beginning, Panti was effortless in her command of the stage with an undeniable presence, earned with years of experience, she exuded confidence and a mature grace missing...
30 and Out – Pleasance Theatre
London

30 and Out – Pleasance Theatre

Kit Sinclair's new work '30 and Out' chronicles the ins and outs of understanding one's gender and sexual expression, albeit not in one's teens. Based on Sinclair's honest journey, the solo show also intersperses audio recordings of interviews conducted with lesbians from diverse ages and lived realities. The show is funny, engaging and heartwarming. Kit Sinclair is such a talented artist; with her wit, charm, and an eclectic multiverse of characters, she brings to the front so many nuances of accepting oneself and allowing them to flourish as lesbian/non-binary. Following a successful sell-out Brighton Fringe run, '30 and Out' is spending this week in London at The Pleasance, ahead of concluding its mini tour at 53two in Manchester. Presented by Prentice Productions and assisted by her...
I Found My Horn – Riverside Studios
London

I Found My Horn – Riverside Studios

What mark are we leaving? What can provide for sense? Is there anything to give wings to our life? In this production of I Found My horn, based on the book by Jasper Rees, with direction by Harry Burton and performed by Jonathan Guy Lewis, the audience delves into questions of existential dimension with a kind perspective, and navigating through the difficulties of music, art, and life. The play starts in an attic overcrowded by objects, many of which are covered by old rags, as if in hiding while waiting for the action to begin. When a hatch opens on the left, letting the light come in, it is as if magic were happening, and the actor were coming from deep beneath the stage. The physical space will barely change during the piece, but we will be taken to different times and spaces, an...
The Shape of Things – Park Theatre
London

The Shape of Things – Park Theatre

My first introduction to playwright Neil LaBute’s work was Fat Pig, which premiered in London in 2008 and depicts the story of a shallow man who works in a testosterone fuelled corporate environment and falls in love, to his shame, with a plus-sized woman. There are definite parallels to be drawn between the two plays, which both feature two male and two female characters and centre around relationships, appearances and challenging ideologies and examine how far we will – or won’t – go for love. The play opens with the meet cute of Evelyn (Amber Anderson), a confident, headstrong art student and Adam (Luke Newton), a meek rather geeky English student in the art gallery where Adam works part time. As they begin dating, we see early indications of Adam’s Grease-style glow up, as directed ...
Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not To Come – Soho Theatre
London

Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not To Come – Soho Theatre

“What does it mean to be ‘brown’?” Based on the multi award-winning BBC Sounds podcast (‘Best Podcast of the Year’ at the British Podcast Awards 2020 and Asian Media Awards 2021), this production is a whirlwind of slapstick comedy, emotion and discovery. Starring Poppy Jay and Rubina Pabani, this performance is an honest and true representation of second-generation Asian women growing up in Britain. As well as exploring their many fantasies and sexpectations, these women discuss their battle with wanting to be ‘white’ and embracing their ‘brown’ culture simultaneously. Set to a backdrop of 90s and 2000s nostalgia, including poster artwork of iconic films such as Bend It Like Beckham and 10 Things I Hate About You, the audience is completely transported into the bedroom of a teenage g...
Under the Kundé Tree – Southwark Playhouse Borough
London

Under the Kundé Tree – Southwark Playhouse Borough

Important topics and neglected topics are both amongst the main raw materials that theatre brings forth to create and look at reality. In the case of Under the Kundé Tree, it is both. This play, written by Clarisse Makundul and director Ebenezer Bamgboye, takes us back to the times of the Cameroonian independence conflicts, with an interesting emphasis on the role women had during these times. Throughout the story the audience will be following Sara, played by Selina Jones, who will be having encounters with Jean, his suitor, played by Fode Simbo; Nadia, her cousin, played by Amma-Afi Osei; and his father Pa, played by Yinka Awoni. Finally, Makundul herself plays an uncredited role. The play starts with a short section of dance. Beautiful short choreographies will be seen the rest of...
Rose – Ambassadors Theatre
London

Rose – Ambassadors Theatre

"The bullet hit her in the forehead. It caught her in the middle of a thought." An 80-year-old Jewish woman sits shiva on a wooden bench and talks about her life. That, in a nutshell, is Martin Sherman's play, Rose. But that is so far from doing it justice. It is very much more in its depth and breadth. As Rose reminisces about her life, her journey to that point in time, to that bench, she wonders whether she actually believes in God, whether her recollections are correct, whether she's remembering a movie. It's clear though that these were her true experiences. From a childhood in a shtetl in Ukraine (at that time part of Russia), to joining her brother in Poland to escape the Cossacks and the pogroms, falling in love, then suffering the trauma and horror of the Warsaw Ghetto, the Naz...