REVIEWS Archives - Page 325 of 549

8May

By Riana HowarthNo Comments

London

August in England – Bush Theatre

Lenny Henry captivates in this bittersweet tale about a man whose life is turned upside down by the Windrush scandal. It is surprising to find out that this is the first play he has written as the language and events flow sinuously and the script is imbued with a strong sense of August Henderson’s character with funny, quirky details. August’s journey is an eclectic one from Kingston Jamaica to Calypso Crescent in an emphatically ghastly Peckham and then to West Brom. This no doubt reflects aspects of Henry’s own life and those he knows, having parents who emigrated to Britain from Jamaica and brought him up in Dudley. The story begins with the family’s move and then cleverly branches into August’s life, starting a zealous band-cum-rebel group called Black Fist and later launching Iq...

The Motive and the Cue – National Theatre

8May

By Khushboo ShahNo Comments

London

The Motive and the Cue – National Theatre

Celebrating Broadway’s famous actor-director duo of the 60s, The Motive and the Cue depicts the journey of Sir Arthur John Gielgud (Mark Gatiss) and Richard Burton (John Flynn) arriving at a Hamlet that is meaningful to both. And in this exciting journey, layer after layer is revealed as reflected in the brilliant set and design of the play. It is the story of two Hamlets, generations, and experiences apart, and when they face each other, one as a “classicist [director] wanting to be modern, and a modern [actor] wanting to be a classicist”, one can hear clashes between theatre v/s film, old v/s new, craft v/s showbiz. Sam Mendes exceptionally directs a stellar cast and production involving Jack Thorne’s words intermingled with excerpts from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. What truly connects the duo...

Family Tree – Everyman Theatre, Liverpool

8May

By Hannah EsnoufNo Comments

North West

Family Tree – Everyman Theatre, Liverpool

Matthew Xia has produced an outstanding serving of unremembered history. A fascinating celebration of black life, past and present, and the importance of what connects us all in the human condition. Mojisola Adebayo’ s powerful words were tackled by the cast with sensitivity and flare, and a quick mention to Aminita Francis for handling the difficult poetic language of Henrietta Lacks with nuance and verve. This is a story that spans ninety minutes but captures centuries. A performance that does not shy from cultural celebration but shares the infectious energy of Diane Alison-Mitchell’s traditional dance and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers cultural song. It will definitely make you smile. It was evident that a lot of research has been put into this production. It is a searing lesson of...

Kitty in the Lane – Brockley Jack Studio Theatre

7May

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

Kitty in the Lane – Brockley Jack Studio Theatre

Kitty is waiting in her kitchen, dressed up to go to a pageant where her competitive friend will be performing. In her isolated house, at the end of a long lane, Kitty lives with her invalid father. She is also awaiting the arrival of her sometime lover, but he never does. Kitty is played by Aine Ryan who also devised this one-hander. She narrates the story of her life on the isolated farm, where she was always dominated by her dictatorial father. It is a grim piece of theatre, describing suicide, rape, and abortion. The play is intended to be the tale of a woman imprisoned by circumstances, but as a picture of modern day Ireland it was anachronistic. The farm had tractors and CCTV in all the fields: there was clearly no shortage of money. This is not a believable picture of rural...

5May

By Louise KershawNo Comments

North West

If You Fall – HOME, Manchester

So, what happens when you lose your independence, your voice, your mind – the essence of what makes you, you? This question is answered by Ad Infinitum, a multi award winning Bristol based theatre company directed by Helena Middleton, currently settling into a run at HOME as part of a UK tour. This is a collaborative piece of devised theatre which tells the stories of Margaret and Norson. A story about care, love and the end of our lives. Using personal testimony, the company ensemble has created an imaginative, real and compassionate piece of physical theatre. We first meet Margaret at her funeral objecting that her Eulogy appears to be focused on the end of her life rather than the sum of it. She does not want to be remembered as in a care home with vascular dementia but that she w...

5May

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

Wales

Truth or Dare – Theatr Clwyd

Truth or Dare? Do you have the courage to answer the question? Can you face the outcome? Theatr Clwyd have brought us an interesting concept in the form of Truth or Dare. Truth and Dare are split over two performances, each with 5 short plays to tease and entertain. The 10 plays are written by 10 incredible writers who each bring us a little piece of joy or sadness to keep these plays fresh and interesting. The set for both events are the same, with different sized boxes and cupboards, lined up across the back with Truth or Dare written on them. These pieces are then used throughout to make set pieces, stood or lay on, things put inside, and all moved by the cast to keep the plays moving along. Set is designed by Millie Lamkin and even though simple it is very well used and doesn’t n...

5May

By Alison BainesNo Comments

North West

A Gen-Z Guide To Life – 53Two

53Two is a great little theatre venue, bar, café and overall cosy setting. Based under the iconic Manchester arches, 53Two was created by Manchester Actors' Platform, MAP, established to provide affordable, professional services for actors. In doing so, it plays home to new and emerging theatre such as this new play performed by graduating students from the Institute for Contemporary Theatre: the company ‘Groundwork’ present, A Gen-Z Guide To Life. As part of the ‘53New’, this show is at the beginning of its journey, performed in a safe and supportive space as the production starts to take shape. As stated by Groundwork at the end of their piece, they’re looking for feedback to improve and refine their performance to take forward as part of their dissertation. The short performanc...

5May

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

Dirty Corset – Shakespeare North Playhouse

They say history has a way of repeating itself. Theatres may have been temporarily closed by covid in our lifetimes but, in 1642, it was the Puritan sensibilities that prompted a 20year ban on public acting. And so tonight, we are immersed into the end of that period, in the company of Bang Tidy Theatre, whose three performers are embracing the new style of Restoration theatre, a much more vulgar and libertine style than audiences were used to. Directed by Helen Tennison, it’s a chaotic, bawdy affair, melding 21st century and Restoration language (reminding all that spectacular swearing isn’t a modern invention). We meet Neil Hasbeen (Laurie Coldwell), Mary Moralless (Chloe Darke) and Isabinda McLovealot (Susannah Scott) seemingly happy to be back on stage with their play “A Lord Nam...

5May

By Anisha AnantpurkarNo Comments

London

Bakkhai – National Youth Theatre

As I walk into the theatre, there is a table where I can avail a free glass of wine. With a glass of wine in hand, most of the audience prepares for the arrival of the God. As they (Dionysos played by Jack d’Arcy) arrive, we go silent, and they take their seat among us in a chair “reserved for God”. On stage is a cubical locker, door ajar, light pouring out. A pomegranate lies by the door- that later gets ripped like a throat. A dress, handed to Pentheus by Agave is locked in it, out of fear of Kadmos and the guards. And only Dionysos can make Pentheus realize and proclaim, “It is valid, this thing we call Daemonic”. Anne Carson, in her translator’s note, ponders: Look at Pentheustwirling around in a dress,so pleased with his girl-guisehe’s almost in tears.Are we to believethis desir...

5May

By Gill LewisNo Comments

North West

UKRLAND – Unity, Liverpool

An aesthetically outstanding performance sharing the untold stories of survival, strength and determination of ordinary women living in Ukraine. Their endurance in maintaining the idea of hope and love in the face of fear, death and hate is powerful and poignant in this mesmerising and incredible show. Following its acclaimed UK tour, this breath taking one woman show arrives in Liverpool as part of ‘A Place of Hope’, a two-week long free programme celebrating Ukraine with an incredible schedule of music, dance, movement and poetry. UKRLAND, a combination of ‘Ukraine’ and ‘land’, documents 8 stories written by Ukrainian playwrights and the unique perspectives from women experiencing the horrors of war first hand. Created by theatre makers Yurii Radionov and Shor...