London Archives - Page 6 of 114

18Oct

By Klervi GavetNo Comments

London

1984 – Hackney Town Hall

George Orwell’s 1984 comes alive in this site-specific theatre production under the solid eye of Irish director, Jack Reardon. This immersive experience skilfully blends audience participation with the confined setting of Hackney Town Hall’s council chamber and atrium to underscore the novel’s themes of oppression and loss of individuality. The adaptation adeptly condenses the first half of Orwell’s novel, focusing on world-building and intrigue through an induction led by high-ranking Party officer O’Brien (Dominic Carter). A Big Brother rally, complete with patriotic singing, anti-sex league flyering, and party agents probing, welcomes the audience into the dystopian world where every word and movement are monitored under the ever-present eye of Big Brother. The initial slow burn a...

Come Alive! – Empress Museum, Earl’s Court

17Oct

By Samantha CollettNo Comments

London

Come Alive! – Empress Museum, Earl’s Court

As a fan of ‘The Greatest Showman’ I was excited to see ‘Come Alive!’ Simon Hammerstein’s new creation to the world: circus meets musical theatre. ‘Come Alive!’ literally explodes in a blaze of riotous colour, big vocals and circus acts from the opening beat. It is a gorgeous assault to the senses and not one for those looking for a quiet night out. The acts in the 700-seater Big Top are daring and jaw dropping. With everything from acrobatic performers defying logic with their stunts in the sky, to chewing gum torso bodies twisting and tumbling across the stage to fire eating, tight-rope walking and so much more. This is a celebration of fun and madness. From the outset, the hit songs (‘This Is Me’, ‘Rewrite the Stars’, ‘A Million Dreams’) are in abundance and the soundtrack carr...

17Oct

By Sadie PearsonNo Comments

London

Toto Kerblammo! – Unicorn Theatre

Isolation in community, courage in adversity, the bravery it takes to feel – to love. Toto Kerblammo! is a tale from a furry friend which is deeply, tenderly human. Effy, played by Peyvand Sadeghian, is struck with tragedy. Sent to live with her aunt and uncle as her mother recovers from a nervous breakdown, in a flat block which doesn’t allow dogs. Little do her aunt and uncle know, however, that the ‘no-pets-allowed’ rules haven’t been followed. Using 3D binaural audio technology, the audience wear headphones to experience Effy’s world. Felipe Pacheco as Effy’s beloved dog Toto not only takes the stage but narrates Effy’s story through the headset directly into your ears, ASMR-like at times, demanding that to appreciate it all you must “really listen”. Audio performances from Ma...

Land of the Free – Southwark Playhouse, Borough

16Oct

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

Land of the Free – Southwark Playhouse, Borough

That Abraham Lincoln was assassinated while attending a theatrical performance is fairly common knowledge. Much less is generally known about his assassin: John Wilkes Booth. Booth's life is the subject of Simple8's production at the Southwark Playhouse. Booth came from a theatrical family and was himself an actor. It was his familiarity at the Ford theatre in Washington which gave him easy access to the President's private box on the fateful night of April 15 1865. His motivation was unclear, but probably arose from anger at the defeat of the Confederacy during the Civil War, and Lincoln's subsequent decision on the abolition of slavery. These provide the background to the play. The play is highly theatrical. This is appropriate given Booth's theatrical background ...

What we talk about when we talk about Anne Frank – Marylebone Theatre

16Oct

By Savitha VenugopalNo Comments

London

What we talk about when we talk about Anne Frank – Marylebone Theatre

Two Jewish couples: one secular, the other orthodox. The first, Phil and Debbie, live in their lavish house in Florida along with their son Trevor (who, by the way, is a Pastafarian and worships the Flying Spaghetti Monster). The second, Shoshana and Yerucham, live in Israel, have a large family, and seem to live by every rule in the book. When such contrasting characters meet, there are bound to be sparks. The play is based on a 2011 short story by Nathan Englander, which he adapted for the stage incorporating the most recent developments in the Middle East. In the hands of director Patrick Marber, it grows into a magnificent creature crackling with electricity. Each character is deeply layered, and the tones are brought out beautifully through the course of the play. Debbie,...

Q the Music: The James Bond Concert Spectacular – Indigo at the 02

15Oct

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

Q the Music: The James Bond Concert Spectacular – Indigo at the 02

Q The Music: The James Bond Concert Spectacular truly lives up to its name as a remarkable tribute to the iconic music of the James Bond film series. Set against the backdrop of a live orchestra, the orchestra expertly guides the audience through the memorable soundtracks that have defined so many of these legendary Hollywood blockbusters. The orchestra itself is outstanding, effortlessly transitioning from the slow, dramatic pieces that build tension to the faster, more action-packed scores that accompany Bond’s most thrilling moments. Their versatility shone through, capturing the mood of each scene with precision. With such an extensive catalogue to choose from, it was impressive how well the orchestra covered a wide array of fan favourites. As they mentioned during the show, if your...

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 ...