London Archives - Page 73 of 122

<strong>Noor – Southwark Playhouse</strong>

14Nov

By Aditi DalalNo Comments

London

Noor – Southwark Playhouse

A British spy of Indian Muslim heritage, Noor was an inspirational woman during World War II. Her story, with its political and moral complexities has been craftily worded by Azma Dar in this production. Dar undertook extensive research into the life of Noor over a decade ago and in 2018, Kali Theatre presented a reading of an earlier version of the play as part of its War Plays season. Now fully realised by a fabulous creative team, Noor is presented as a 105-minute play at Southwark Playhouse, outlining the values and mission of this daring woman. The play takes the audience on a journey from Noor’s aspirations as a writer to her training to become the first British woman to be a wireless operator on an international mission to her encounters in Paris, fighting for her country and for...

<strong>Ikaria – Old Red Lion Theatre</strong>

11Nov

By Anisha PucadyilNo Comments

London

Ikaria – Old Red Lion Theatre

Ikaria is a moving capture of two young people's lives in college over a semester. The play recreates for us young love and passion. However, a cloud of loneliness and sadness lurks over our lead Simon. The protagonists' choices may shock and surprise you. We share the intimacy of being in their bedroom in the University halls, but all is not revealed to us until the last scene. Playwright Philippa Lawford's debut play, IKARIA, has won one of 5 runner-up awards for the Ambassador Theatre Group Playwrights' Prize 2022, in association with Platform Presents and Time Out. Her reflections during covid on loneliness, isolation and clinging to a personal relationship in the time of crisis are present in the characters' ruminations. A close observation of the challenges and realities of living...

<strong>Pericles – Riverside Studios</strong>

11Nov

By Riana HowarthNo Comments

London

Pericles – Riverside Studios

Flute Theatre’s Pericles begins with a hushed stage as the performers sit quietly on benches facing the audience. The sombre silence borders on ritualistic as we wait for the drama to unfold. The story begins in King Antiochus' palace. When Pericles finds out about the incest within the kingdom, Antiochus sends someone to kill him. Pericles' flight starts a long voyage through which he falls in love but then endures several tragedies. Flute Theatre specialises in staging productions of Shakespeare for autistic individuals. Scenes are cleverly brought to life with impressive movement direction and choreography by Juan Sanchez Plaza. This made the play visually captivating, and the masterfully seamless transitions kept it light and dynamic. With strong physicality and emotive expre...

<strong>Evening Conversations – Soho Theatre</strong>

10Nov

By Aditi DalalNo Comments

London

Evening Conversations – Soho Theatre

A one-woman show has its own stereotypes. Sudha Bhuchar smashes them and many others. But then, some also get reinforced. Bhuchar takes the audience on a journey of her strife and struggle, anchored in conversations had with her sons. She touches upon ideas of mixed identity (for both, her and her sons), being a middle-aged Asian woman in the entertainment industry, intergenerational trauma, the socio-political climates she’s lived through and the current generation’s outlook towards the world and life. These aren’t topics unheard of but what makes it interesting is Bhchar’s performance. She is a fabulous actor, no doubt, and her 39 years of experience clearly reflects in her delivery. She effortlessly reads the room and builds an intimate connection with the audience, making them feel ...

<strong>Zombiegate – Theatre 503</strong>

10Nov

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

Zombiegate – Theatre 503

An innocent photo twists into a real horror story for two young people after taking a selfie dressed as Zombies for Halloween but fail to see the memorial flowers for a dead child behind them. The internet fights back at the morality of their decision. Sophie (Ebony Jonelle) immediately apologises, horrified that she hadn’t seen what was behind her. Being employed in a charity raising funds for terminal illness for children, she completely understands the impact of her mistake. However, Jamie (George Howard) can’t help but bite back at the trolls, questioning who and why they attack his morality when they can use 15 different profiles to indite fear into their victims, and in this case it’s Sophie who takes most of the hits. Months after, Sophie still receives daily calls, her locations re...

From Here to Eternity – Charing Cross Theatre

10Nov

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

From Here to Eternity – Charing Cross Theatre

Set on a Hawaiian island, in 1941, in the two weeks prior to the Pearl Harbour attack, ‘From Here to Eternity’, is a new revival of Tim Rice's 2013 musical. With book by Bill Oakes and Donald Rice and based on the James Jones’ novel of the same name, is the first mainstream re-working of the musical since the original West End production which came under criticism for a book and narrative that was unnecessarily complex and drawn out, and that it lacked relevance at the time it was produced. It received mixed reviews, and closed in 2014, after a run of only six and a half months. This much smaller production, offered up by the usually brilliant Aria Entertainment production team, and making maximum use of the compact Charring Cross theatre, with a re-ordering of some of the musical numbe...

<strong>Block’d Off – Camden People’s Theatre</strong>

10Nov

By Anisha PucadyilNo Comments

London

Block’d Off – Camden People’s Theatre

Bold, dynamic and unmissable. Block’d Off a brilliant addition to the curation of 'Theatre in times of crisis' autumn shows at Camden People's Theatre. The play illuminates the unspoken realities of surviving in London for the working class. The characters based on true stories, all portrayed by Camila Segal, are deeply churning. Kudos to first-time Writer and Director Kieton Saunders-Browne for some stunning stagecraft. The specificity of observations, from fixing Santander cycles to discussing the pieces of ham in their sandwich, will make you laugh. It also achieves the intricate suspension of the reality of going back and forth in time while the character's trajectories progress and intersect. We start the play with an older woman enjoying the joy of moving to music tha...

<strong>Alexandra Palace Festival of Fireworks</strong>

9Nov

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Alexandra Palace Festival of Fireworks

Billed as the “Glastonbury of Fireworks’, Alexandra Palace’s Festival of Fireworks was back with a BANG this year, to entertain a crowd of thousands, and celebrate Bonfire Night in true London style. In every way captivating, what is now a consistent part of the London Autumn events calendar did not disappoint this year. Set against unrivalled panoramic views over London, this is the hottest ticket in London on Bonfire night, and not just because of the size and ferocity of the bonfire itself! Before the mega fireworks display, general ticket holders were treated to a brilliant line up of live music and world food stalls of every possible description in the ‘StrEATlife village’, which was set up well with plenty of cover from the miserable rainy weather. For those who had purchased a...

<strong>Peter Pan’s Labyrinth – The Vaults</strong>

9Nov

By Zoё MeeresNo Comments

London

Peter Pan’s Labyrinth – The Vaults

I always think of The Vaults (situated somewhere beneath the rail lines at Waterloo) as a cool if not entirely comfortable venue. A series of tunnels, bright graffiti, neon lighting - it's edgy for sure and a hive for exciting new theatre in an unusual space. So, the set up for Peter Pan's Labyrinth surprised me, although pleasantly so. Set up cabaret style with its own bar and themed cocktails, the effect is welcoming and cosy and were it not for the lack of phone signal I could easily have forgotten where I was. While Peter Pan's Labyrinth doesn't necessarily embrace its natural setting, the production itself is edgy and fun and definitely fits The Vaults' loud, non-conformist vibe. The plot is, simply, daft - Peter Pan needs to get back to Neverland to stop Tinkerbell's wedding, ...

<strong>Strictly Ballroom The Musical – New Wimbledon Theatre</strong>

9Nov

By Maani WayNo Comments

London

Strictly Ballroom The Musical – New Wimbledon Theatre

Adapted by Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce from the 1992 film, Strictly Ballroom is the story of the rebellious Australian dancer, Scott Hastings (Kevin Clifton), who shocks the dance community and his parents by choosing to dance with newbie Fran (Maisie Smith) in the prestigious Pan Pacific Dance Final. The opening sequence is full of colour and energy, the bright sparkly costumes shining amongst Richard G Jones’ lighting design. The wings are curved, peeling back like an onion, with bright lights in each one, adding glamour and depicting a fitting dance stage. The ensemble cast are dynamic and precise, becoming the spirit and momentum of the show. The leads, Strictly Come Dancing’s Kevin Clifton and Eastenders star, Maisie Smith, had excellent chemistry which carried the show. Despi...