London Archives - Page 75 of 149

Charlie Jackson: Bath (WIP) – The Rose and Crown Pub

11Aug

By Anisha PucadyilNo Comments

London

Charlie Jackson: Bath (WIP) – The Rose and Crown Pub

Charlie Jackson's hour-long deliberation of taking a bath brings together clowning, improv with earnest curiosity. The Victorian pastime without any remnants of prudishness. As you enter the basement of the Rose and crown Pub, you are greeted with Victorian images of women enjoying the bath in paper mâché frames, countless rubber ducks, and several bath-associated knick-knacks. Charlie loses no time connecting with each of the audience members with his determined and warm demeanour. The joy and enthusiasm on Charlie's face as he takes you through his elaborate mind map of different aspects of setting up his bath. He goes old school with a flip sheet and sketches. Hearing his experiences, you also remember the joy you had splashing water in the tub as a child. You wonder if he will s...

11Aug

By Anisha PucadyilNo Comments

London

The Bareback Kings – The Hope Theatre

Hilarious, energetic and satirical comedy all rolled up in one. The Bareback Kings together since 2017 made up of Lynsey Bonnell, Rebecca Schuster, Juliet Morrish and Francesca Reid. Masters of their game from on point contour makeup to editing and ‘mansplaining’ they guarantee an evening of guffaws and chortles. The drag-king comedy group effortlessly saunters through improvisation, cabaret and sketch. The show begins with the Drag kings breaking out into a synchronized choreography with lip syncing to match that would make Nsync blush. The beats of the show explore themes of connection between audience members. Through the show there is a strong critique of the social assumptions, reinforcement of consent, and topical discussions about the threat of Barbie on the modern man....

Paved with Gold and Ashes – Old Red Lion Theatre

11Aug

By Khushboo ShahNo Comments

London

Paved with Gold and Ashes – Old Red Lion Theatre

Julia Thurston’s Paved with Gold and Ashes effectively captures the “American” gold-dusted dreams and hopes of five of the many immigrant garment workers employed at The Triangle Shirt Waist Factory. Based on a true story, the play heart-warmingly encapsulates their journeys, working conditions, relationships with each other and the factory in a crisp hour, all leading to the tragic fire claiming the lives of 146 garment workers in 1911. Their interactions- shuffling between each other and the audience are cleverly and cohesively crafted using movement, song and visceral storytelling with directorial support from Maria Cristina Petitti, Warren Rusher, and Stephen Smith. An intimate black box with static warm golden lights, wooden chairs and white fabric create a stri...

8Aug

By Riana HowarthNo Comments

London

Dead Souls – Etcetera Theatre

The Eno River Players bring Mikhail Bulgakov’s (author of The Master and Margarita) Dead Souls to life, with a swirling sense of adventure. The cast of three tumble through the plot in a stylistically haphazard way, presenting the 19th century Russian story. Chichikov, the protagonist, embarks on a “get rich quick” scheme, scouring the land for “dead souls”, collecting the rights to dead people. On his journey, he meets a host of strange characters that lead him from one place to another. The set is full of random props, domineered by a central painting of the Russian leader, changing with the time. The bustle as they set up between scenes was rhythmic and characterised and gave the bohemian feel of a travelling troupe, but I think using slightly fewer props would have made the spac...

Sian Hutchinson: Tick My Box – Camden Comedy Club

6Aug

By Gemma PrinceNo Comments

London

Sian Hutchinson: Tick My Box – Camden Comedy Club

Winner of the Audience Choice ‘Best Event’ award at this year’s Brighton Fringe, award winning character and sketch comedian Sian Hutchinson brings her hilarious one-woman show to Camden Fringe. After being dumped by her true love Dave, Suze is determined to get back into the dating scene with seven dates all in one night at her local pub with copious amounts of white wine to get through the evening. Sian truly channels her character Suze from the moment you stepped inside the room, handing out various sweets to audience members at the door, you felt like you were with a friend armed with snacks recounting their terrible date the night before. Once everyone was seated, she spent a few minutes chatting with the audience before starting the show. What follows is a brilliant re...

3Aug

By Stewart Who?No Comments

London

Macbeth – Shakespeare’s Globe

The Shakespeare’s Globe hit the headlines recently, when a man in a full latex gimp suit and face mask rocked up to a performance of The Comedy of Errors. It prompted a few complaints, but Globe staff shrugged off the furore and were largely worried that the rubbery punter might overheat. He was stood in front of the stage at a matinee on a warm day. Fetish enthusiasts were less visible on the night we attended Macbeth at the Globe, but one of the venue’s strengths is to render the audience as almost another actor in the proceedings. The shape and design of the Globe means that in the summer months when it is light, the full range of humanity is on show, whether that’s in the cheap ticket pit or one of the galleries. At one point, Macbeth (Max Bennet) exited the stage through the aud...

This Girl: The Cynthia Lennon Story – Upstairs at the Gatehouse

3Aug

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

This Girl: The Cynthia Lennon Story – Upstairs at the Gatehouse

The Programme description: The play is also a musical featuring original songs and music arrangements by BBC Radio Merseyside’s Frankie Connor, Billy Kinsley and Alan Crowley and depicts the emotional journey of Cynthia (CIN’s) life before, during and after Beatlemania. THIS GIRL features eight brand new songs making it a must see musical for theatre lovers of original and contemporary theatre. THIS GIRL tells a story of Cynthia Powell a shy student from Hoylake, who fell in love with a young musician called John when they met at Liverpool Art College in 1957. She became Cynthia Lennon and mother of their son Julian. This play has been created it seems to showcase their love and affection for each other, her struggles and the challenges she faced in her relationship with John Lenn...

Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors – Garrick Theatre

2Aug

By Ely KingNo Comments

London

Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors – Garrick Theatre

Keeping kids entertained over the school holidays is no easy feat, but the team at Horrible Histories are pulling out all of the stops. After the ‘Orrible ‘Opera at BBC Proms, and alongside the Terrible Thames cruise, comes Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors at The Garrick Theatre London. If you’re a fan of mayhem and murder, excitement and execution, and Terrible Tudors, this show is for you. This 70-minute production runs most mornings/afternoons throughout the holidays and promises non-stop fun for the family. As the name suggests, this production tells the stories of the Tudors with song, dance, puppets and a plethora of jokes to keep the kids entertained as they unknowingly learn British History. In a short space of time they cover various monarchs, William Shakespeare...

2Aug

By Maani WayNo Comments

London

The Crown Jewels – Garrick Theatre

The Crown Jewels has opened in London’s West End this summer for a limited run. With its star-studded cast and satirical comedy, this play is an interesting take on the monarch and the true story of Colonel Thomas Blood’s attempt to steal the Crown jewels in 1671. It is evident from the opening number that this show sets out to mock and provide the audience with humour. Carrie Hope Fletcher opens the show as the Lady of the Bedchamber to King Charles II singing a folk-like song ‘Praise Him’ which draws the audience in. However, it is later unclear whether this show is attempting to be a musical. Fletcher has an undeniable range and belt – the limited songs giving her the opportunity to showcase her impressive talent. Unfortunately, the songs throughout the show felt somewhat misplaced a...

30Jul

By Anisha PucadyilNo Comments

London

Word-Play – Royal Court

Artist – audience - resonance - reflection - WEIRD - discomfort - indifference - values - public - harm - community - responsible? – cracked - so many tiny pieces. Rabiah Hussain has made a masterpiece. Word- Play is evocative, heart-wrenching and poignant. Kudos to director Nimmo Ismail for the skilled use of light, space, and direction. Each of the actors painted with broad strokes scenes from across London. Some we have observed, some we have heard of and many that clawed into our skins and made us feel deeply. From scenes of bastions of power making guffaws to the playground to dinner-time social niceties, the drama uncovers the discomfort that often remains unexpressed in social interactions using words that give light to our unconscious biases and blind spots. Also, how we lean...