REVIEWS Archives - Page 77 of 549

STARS: An Afrofuturist Space Odyssey – Brixton House

11Jun

By Holly SewellNo Comments

London

STARS: An Afrofuturist Space Odyssey – Brixton House

STARS: An Afrofuturist Space Odyssey fulfils and surpasses every inch of its title. It’s the odyssey of one woman’s life on Earth and her need to go beyond, and encompasses everything from Monday mornings at the laundrette to primordial, ancestral spirits from the stars. It is asintimate as sex and as enormous as the cosmos. It made me feel seen, uplifted and part of something bigger than myself, and I cannot recommend it enough. When her husband dies, Mrs (Debra Michaels) decides to take matters into her own hands and have her first orgasm. She’s not sure where to start, but space travel seems as good a place as any. Woven into the first half of the play is the story of the Nommo, an ancient hermaphroditic people from a star called Sirius B, beautifully illustrated by Candice Purwin. M...

10Jun

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

Chicago – New Wimbledon Theatre

This production has Sass, Pizzazz, and whole lot of Jazz. Chicago originated from America and has become one of the most renowned musicals to hit Broadway and the West End; created by Kander and Ebb with the original choreography by the amazing Bob Fosse. The UK tour has begun, and it hit the New Wimbledon theatre with a bang. It showcases Strictly’s Jeanette Manrara as Roxie Hart like you have never seen her before. There is a cast of favourites from screen and theatre Darren Day who plays Billy Flynn and Brenda Edwards as Matron ‘Mama’ Morton. The story of Roxie Hart the devious chorus girl has its origins in the real gangster Chicago of the early 20th Century. When a junior reporter for the Chicago tribune was assigned to cover the trials of women accused of murder. So, it ...

10Jun

By Gemma PrinceNo Comments

London

Our Cosmic Dust – Park Theatre

Written and directed by Michinari Ozawa and translated by Susan Momoko Hingley, the critically acclaimed Our Cosmic Dust tells the story of Shotaro, a young boy who believes his recently deceased father has become a star. Originally a Japanese play performed in Tokyo, Our Cosmic Dust kicks off its UK premier at the Park Theatre in London. The story is an enchanting blend of puppetry, animation and acting, exploring the concept of death and what happens after we die. The play begins with Shotaro running away from his mother, Yoko (Millie Hikasa), in her desperate attempt to find him, she meets some colourful characters along the way. Hikasa does a great job of playing a grieving mother struggling to cope with her recent loss as she feels her quiet son slipping away from her. Pho...

10Jun

By Roger JacobsNo Comments

Scotland

Restless Natives – Leith Theatre

The Clown (Kyle Gardiner) and the Wolfman (Finlay McKillop) ride again, not from Wester Hailes, but tonight (and for the next two weeks, a combination of matinees and evenings) in the stunning setting of a Leith Theatre slowly – but steadily - resurrecting itself. The plot is gently turned from the original celluloid version now standing as one pillar of that mid-80’s quartet (Gregory’s Girl, Comfort & Joy, Local Hero); there’s humorous context given to the situation influencing Ronnie and Will’s decision to head to the Highlands - upon a Suzuki 125 of questionable integrity - in pursuit of rich, vulnerable tourists. As important to the original film as the script, scenery, plot and characters was Big Country’s music and it’s given a shivers-down-the-spine-pitch-perfect acknowle...

7Jun

By Codie WrightNo Comments

North West

Improv on Demand – The King’s Arms

The second show of the evening for me was Improv on Demand, another short-form game-based show, using various television show formats as a vehicle for classic games. This was a really fun take on classic games, many of which played on nostalgia to their success. We were led through the games by the captivating hosting of James Monaghan who kept the show’s pace, gathered ideas from the audience, and added in dry wit and humour between each game. He really was a very likeable and watchable host. Many of the shows were based on familiar games, interspersed by theme music (thanks to Kath Marvelle on tech), and with a well-thought-out TV twist. For example, the Alphabet Game (where each sentence had to start with the next letter of the alphabet) being the game for Sesame Street, teach...

7Jun

By Codie WrightNo Comments

North West

Ladies Who Improv – The King’s Arms

This weekend (6th - 8th June) marks the very first Greater Manchester Improv Festival, running at the Kings Arms, Salford. To open up the weekend of improv shows and workshops was the wonderful Ladies Who Improv, an all-female troupe consisting of Millie Thorne, Ieva Bockute-Losjuk, Ursy Ambrose-Simpson and Ocean Cohen. This was a short-form game-based show, which included many improv favourites such as Pillars, Four Corners and New Choice, as well as their own creation Father Tom. The group were genuinely a joy to watch and worked well together and were very quick-witted even during a game of pillars with an audience member who seemed only to have one thing on his mind… As anyone who has played the game with an audience pillar will know, a lot rests on the suggestions they give you. Fo...

7Jun

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

Miss Myrtle’s Garden – Bush Theatre

Miss Myrtle’s Garden is a powerful and moving production that delicately explores the emotional terrain of memory, love, and loss. Centered around Miss Myrtle and the people closest to her, the story subtly but poignantly addresses themes of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Without ever explicitly naming the illness, the play allows the audience to experience the disorientation, warmth, and heartbreak that come with it. Diveen Henry gives a remarkable performance as Miss Myrtle. Her portrayal is layered and deeply human—she shifts effortlessly from moments of sharp wit to bouts of confusion and vulnerability. Her relationship with her late husband Melrose is the emotional core of the play. Mensah Bediako brings grace and gentle charm to the role of Melrose, and his onstage chemistry with H...

Totally Improvised Musical – Greggs: The Great Takedown – King’s Arms, Salford

7Jun

By Brian MaddenNo Comments

North West

Totally Improvised Musical – Greggs: The Great Takedown – King’s Arms, Salford

Performed without a script and built entirely on audience suggestion, Totally Improvised Musical at the King’s Arms in Salford delivered an inventive and riotously funny 45-minute whirlwind of spontaneous storytelling, songs, and surreal humour. The night’s improvised show—brilliantly titled Greggs: The Great Takedown—centred around a dystopian northern England where the beloved high street bakery chain had collapsed, leaving the nation starved of sausage rolls, steak bakes, and purpose. What unfolded was a musical odyssey of longing, resistance, and puff pastry politics. Original numbers like the haunting The North Is Barren and the stirring anthem The Heart of England showcased the cast’s quick wit and vocal chops. Each song, conjured on the spot, was surprisingly tuneful, cleverly...

7Jun

By Helen JonesNo Comments

North West

Liz Richardson: Local – The Lowry

As the deviser, writer and performer of Local, Liz Richardson, takes the audience on a very personal trip into her own past. A forty something mum living in the Peak District, the announcement by her parents that they are putting the family home in West Cumbria up for sale, prompts a trip back and a reflection on who she was and how living there shaped her. Examining how it feels to be local and how it changes when you move away, Liz Richardson catches up with her old headmaster and a couple of friends to explore their thoughts and experiences as well. Her arrival back at the family home and being back in her childhood bedroom with its view of the hills of the Lake District, triggers memories and emotions that are normally suppressed in the practicality of everyday life, but...

Terminal 2 – Shakespeare North Playhouse

7Jun

By Stephanie WiswallNo Comments

North West

Terminal 2 – Shakespeare North Playhouse

Terminal 2, is a short play written by the very talented writer and director David Payne. It explores the very important topics of sexuality, grief, life and death, but don't be fooled into thinking you're in for a hard hitting evening, I can guarantee you'll be pleasantly surprised. Taken on a rollercoaster of emotions, this performance had me laughing and crying all the way through. Terminal 2 explores the topics in a sensitive but light hearted way which equally gives you time to soak up every emotion and leaves you thinking about what really matters. Two strong characters lead you for the entire journey. Lynda (played by Janice Fryett) was a bubbly, lovable character who exudes care, love and compassion. Fryett portrayed Lynda brilliantly with excellent comedic timing and tone, g...