REVIEWS Archives - Page 504 of 548

Memoria – Tmesis Theatre at Albert Walker Hall at the Linacre Methodist Mission

30Jun

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Memoria – Tmesis Theatre at Albert Walker Hall at the Linacre Methodist Mission

Memoria, created by Tmesis Theatre and directed by Elinor Randle, takes us on a journey of memory and nostalgia in this immersive, physical piece set in the Albert Walker Hall at the Linacre Methodist Mission, much influenced by the many real stories of people whose lives were spent in this very building and whose accompanying voices and imagery are further represented through the physical medium of cast and ensemble, and the addition of text from David Whyte’s Consolations. These experiences are further explored by the notion that perhaps all epochs live and breath in parallel, that spaces and minds can hold imprints of all that has gone before, influencing the future. Equally, where we don’t remember, we always have our imagination, and this is where the piece spectacularly unfolds as...

String Infusion: Euphony Live – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

30Jun

By Alison BainesNo Comments

North West

String Infusion: Euphony Live – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

If you love music, then String Infusion’s Euphony Live is the show for you! The vibrant, all-female electric string group String Infusion present ‘Euphony’ – a brand new theatre experience, and what an experience it is. Filled to the brim with band classics and pop hits, this show is really one to shock you from start to finish. String Infusion, managed by founder Emma Rushworth, are an international all-female, electric-acoustic ensemble who have performed at the likes of the O2 arena, in the X-Factor studio and with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Not only did the group perform some absolute ‘bangers’, as you might say, from The Beatles and Queen medleys to club anthems, there was a tune for any music taste. Euphony Live brings together the world class musicians of String Infusi...

28Jun

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

The Ballad of Mulan – Capstone Theatre

Many of us with children know the story of Mulan from its Disney incarnations but Ross Ericson’s re-telling of this classic Chinese tale is far from fluffy. Performed by Michelle Yim, this Mulan is brought to life as the woman, warrior, and legend that she is, the real Mulan who, to save her family’s honour, disguised herself as a man and joined the Emperor’s army. We meet her ten years on, her true identity still a secret, and with one last battle to contend with, she will soon be going home. But to what exactly when younger siblings will now be fully grown adults and parents, if alive, more aged still. And who is Mulan? Yim takes us through those ten years tinged with the horrors of war that are offset by subtle moments of humour that resonate with the audience, but it is a man’s w...

28Jun

By Donna M DayNo Comments

REVIEWS

Trees: An Audio Journey – Physical Fest

Jamie Wood’s Trees: An Audio Journey combines a detailed and personal memoir of a homemade pilgrimage with a guided mindful walk and a spiritual journey of self-discovery. Recorded by Wood on a ten day walk from Coventry in Warwickshire to Treherbert in South Wales, it is recommended that you listen to the piece while taking your own walk outside and reconnecting with your own roots as Wood did. Wood’s voice is very soothing from the opening of the piece and the background noises of the recording blend beautifully with those around you. Wood encourages you to be curious and notice things you haven’t noticed before. The chorus of sounds allow you to get lost in the experience. Wood’s journey is one which his grandparents undertook when they were younger and he scatters their ashes at ...

27Jun

By Donna M DayNo Comments

REVIEWS

Vigil – Physical Fest

Mechanimal’s Vigil, created and performed by Tom Bailey, with movement direction by Philippa Hambly, is a desperate and poignant illustration of the devastating effects of climate change on animal and plant life endangered as a result of both that and other environmental concerns. Opening in a small wooded area, Bailey walks around with a glass box which he slowly fills with twigs from the ground, some of which are too big to fit into the small confines of the box, indicating from the start that what we are going to see will feel overwhelming in many ways. Moving into a plain room with a white screen, Bailey sits on his box, seemingly full of foliage, when the names of plants and animals on the red list, those at highest risk of extinction begin flashing up on the screen. Bailey watc...

Hello and Goodbye – Elysium Theatre Company

27Jun

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

REVIEWS

Hello and Goodbye – Elysium Theatre Company

As I sat down on my couch and tuned into the live streamed production of ‘Hello and Goodbye’, I was quite curious about how this would play out. A television production and theatrical production are remarkably different, so trying to do both is quite a challenge. When the lights go up, we are greeted to a shabby living room that looks like it hasn’t been cleaned in years. It’s clear that whoever lives here hasn’t got a lot of money or is extremely lazy - or perhaps both? The window netting is torn and the walls are stained. One of the first things to grab my attention is the hole in the wall that appears to be in the shape of Africa. It is soon confirmed that the play is set in South Africa in the 1960s. Set designers; Caitlin Mills and Lee Ward have done a fantastic job in capturing th...

27Jun

By Gaurav SinghNo Comments

London

Staircase – Southwark Playhouse

Presented by Two's Company and Karl Sydow in association with Tilly Films Staircase is a revival of late English playwright Charles Dyer’s play from the late 60s that explores the relationship between an ageing gay couple who own a barber shop in Brixton, London. Set in a time when homosexuality was not fully decriminalized in the UK, the play shines a light on the various social pressures and anxieties suffered by gay couples who often had to resort to living an undercover life to stay clear of the law. Presented by Two’s Company, who are known for their revivals of texts from the previous century and staged at The Southwark Playhouse, this production is a striking glimpse into the lives of Charles and Harry as they struggle to get past personal differences, estranged family relationsh...

An Evening with Professor von Goosechaser – Brighton Fringe

26Jun

By Donna M DayNo Comments

South East

An Evening with Professor von Goosechaser – Brighton Fringe

An Evening with Professor von Goosechaser, written and performed by Adam Nightingale, is a mock lecture on the complex field of monsterology, and seeks to answer the question of whether or not the supernatural creatures plaguing the seventeenth century are real, or vicious anti-Catholic propaganda spun out by the Puritans. The esteemed Professor is accompanied by Marco (Mark “el durmiente” Nightingale) a guitarist who plays in a beautiful fingerpicking style which emphasises the medieval mood of the show. Remaining comically nonplussed throughout, Marco’s bored demeanour and minimal responses emphasise the dry humour utilised throughout the piece. The show makes wry nods to today’s world, including the presence of a plague, which the Professor says has come from demons. At the openin...

My Son’s a Queer … but what can you do? – Turbine Theatre

25Jun

By Louise PennNo Comments

London

My Son’s a Queer … but what can you do? – Turbine Theatre

Rob Madge is putting on a Disney parade. In this heart-warming show we meet the young Robert through old videos of the productions staged in their living room. An intelligent and confident child, Madge graced the West End stage in Mary Poppins, Matilda, and Les Misérables. It is clear from the obsessive attention placed on these family shows (programmes, rehearsal schedules, that they were destined to head in front of the footlights. To pinhole this show in a particular genre would be an injustice. It is a play about expression and tolerance. It is a musical, with songs which reach out to queer children anywhere, as step by step their lyrics comment on the actor’s childhood. It is a memoir, with the grown Rob looking back on their younger self, sometimes lip-synching words, always...

25Jun

By Rebecca CaseyNo Comments

North West

Bow & Arrow: The Outlaws of Sherwood – The Black-E

I spent this evening in Sherwood Forest or in reality The Black E venue in central Liverpool. It was my first time at the venue and seeing this particular group, City Theatre, Rep Theatre Group. The promo promises a night of ‘adult comedy that will shock and make you laugh in equal measure’ and that is exactly what we got. Although there is area for improvement where the vocals and dancing are concerned the thing that would have me returning was certainly the comedy element! This was the groups rescheduled first show since covid, and I must say it was nice to see some live theatre, finally. They provided text to Seat bar service, it was a shame the audience had to be so spaced out and not many allowed in, but all the seats that had been laid out, were full. The show ra...