South East Archives - Page 2 of 5

Barefoot in the Park – Frinton Summer Theatre

19Jul

By Samantha CollettNo Comments

South East

Barefoot in the Park – Frinton Summer Theatre

When you’re in a long-term relationship it’s sometimes hard to remember why you’re with the other person. Luckily for Corrie and Paul Bratter they’re newly-weds – 6 days married and full to the brim with love for each other and life. Corrie (Olivia Bernstone) is an optimistic happy wife. Carefree and always wanting to look on the bright side of life, she’s the perfect antidote to her more uptight and anxious new husband Paul (Jamie Treacher). Over the course of four days, we watch as the twosome learn to live together and navigate the mundanities of life from their top floor apartment. Corrie’s mother, Ethel Banks (Olivia Carruthers), and their upstairs neighbour, Victor Velasco (Nathan Osgood), provide enough skits to make this period comedy work. ‘Barefoot in the Park’ is about wan...

The King’s Speech – Frinton Summer Theatre

12Jul

By Samantha CollettNo Comments

South East

The King’s Speech – Frinton Summer Theatre

Most people will know ‘The King’s Speech’ as the Oscar winning film with Colin Firth, but the writer David Seidler, originally came up with the idea as a play. As a boy, Seidler himself suffered from a stammer, and the fact King George VI also suffered a speech impediment was a source of huge creative interest. The story is mainly set in the 1930s as King George V comes to the end of his reign and his eldest son abdicates to marry the American divorcee, Wallis Simpson. Bertie (Duncan Wilkins) is thrust into the position of being crowned King George VI. The challenge being, Bertie, was rather hoping for a quieter royal life, and his debilitating stammer leaves him open to the charge of not being suitable to rule as a King. Set against the backdrop of mounting political tensions in Europe...

Warhol: Bullet Karma – Brighton Fringe Online

9May

By Donna M DayNo Comments

South East

Warhol: Bullet Karma – Brighton Fringe Online

Warhol: Bullet Karma, written and performed by Garry Roost and directed by Kenneth Hadley, is a one man show, exploring the life of Andy Warhol and Valerie Solanas’ attempt on his life. Covering his experience with art, obsession with fame and relationship with his mother, this is an original biographical drama, examining the life of an icon. Roost’s research into Warhol’s life and his passion for his subject is very clear. This is an enthusiastic piece of theatre by someone who appreciates the different aspects of the Warhol, celebrating the creativity and world-changing aspects of his life, while not shying away from his insecurities and the things he did which hurt the people around him. There are elements of the piece which are tragically relevant to today’s world, such as Warhol...

Audrey’s Art Club – Brighton Fringe Online

9May

By Donna M DayNo Comments

South East

Audrey’s Art Club – Brighton Fringe Online

Audrey’s Art Club, from Lita Doolan Productions, is a multi-media collection of snippets from the life of Audrey (Lita Doolan) and her relationship with Violet. Written and performed by Doolan, this original piece of theatre is a love story and also explores themes of isolation, loss and the often desperate need to be wanted. The piece opens with a close up of a black and white Tarot Moon card, followed by several images of urban decay. Poetry is recited by Doolan as a voiceover and the poignant verse with themes of longing alludes to the sadness at the core of Audrey’s romance with Violet. We see the city streets from Audrey’s point of view, as she walks about town. We then hear her side of a phone call about a job she is applying for. Doolan makes Audrey’s eagerness to get the job ...

The Importance of Being Earnest – Cambridge Arts Theatre

26Sep

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

South East

The Importance of Being Earnest – Cambridge Arts Theatre

The challenge of Oscar Wilde is not in the words but ensuring the performance does them justice. There were no such fears with director Denzel Westley-Sanderson’s laugh-out loud production which delights from the off. As butler Lane (Valentine Hanson) prepares tea at the London home of dandy Algernon Moncrief (Abiola Owokoniran), the delicately balanced glasses cleverly hint at the challenges to come when his friend John Worthing (Justice Ritchie) arrives, explaining that when he tires of life in the country looking after his teenage ward, he escapes to enjoy the high life of the city under the guise of seeing his wayward brother, ‘Ernest’. Algernon, in turn, regales him with his exploits of escaping the city in reverse fashion. Algernon’s aunt, Lady Bracknell (Daniel Jacob), arrives wi...

Jesus Christ Superstar – Frinton Summer Theatre

1Sep

By Samantha CollettNo Comments

South East

Jesus Christ Superstar – Frinton Summer Theatre

It’s astonishing to think Jesus Christ Superstar first hit the stage 50 years ago when you watch Clive Brill’s reimagining of this iconic rock opera by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Packed to the gills with creative ingenuity this is a show worthy of any London stage and to find it in a tent in Frinton-on-Sea is mind-blowing. Opening with Jesus being portrayed as a vain cult-leader, Tim Rogers is the role to perfection with his handsome looks and aloof swagger. Enter Judas (Hugh Maynard) who’s set to bring Jesus down by betraying him to Caiaphas (Jad Habchi). Unfortunately for Jesus, despite the deep love and care from Mary (Rebecca Birch), and his followers, Judas in a delicate kiss, betrays Jesus to his enemies and seals his death with his lips. Despite being a small theatre, t...

Home, I’m Darling – Frinton Summer Theatre

3Aug

By Samantha CollettNo Comments

South East

Home, I’m Darling – Frinton Summer Theatre

‘I’m disgracefully happy,’ said Johnny, grinning like a cheesy dad from the ads. But it was a lie. And so, begins the plot of ‘Home, I’m Darling’, Laura Wade’s new dark comedy about relationships. Judy (Sarah Lambie) takes voluntary redundancy to live the life of her dreams – to become a 1950s housewife and look after her husband and their home. But this isn’t your ordinary ‘playing at a role’, Judy wants the full-on immersive experience. Their house is a shrine to the 1950s (replete with original fridge) and the set and costume design are a wonder to behold (I very much enjoyed Judy’s copious outfits). Judy is the perfect housewife any man could wish for. Set today, but looking back to yesteryear, opens a whole can of nostalgia and gives voice to the role of women in the home and...

A Bunch of Amateurs – Frinton Summer Theatre

27Jul

By Samantha CollettNo Comments

South East

A Bunch of Amateurs – Frinton Summer Theatre

In a world where everything is so complicated and heavy with subtext, there’s something to be said of a play that offers light hearted relief. ‘A Bunch of Amateurs’ by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman is a disarmingly simple comedy ripe for community theatres and a summer where we all need a bit of a lift. Fading Hollywood star Jefferson Steele (Nigel Barber) has been duped by his agent to thinking he’s taking a gig at the infamous birthplace of Shakespeare. Only when he arrives from the USA, he discovers he’s playing the lead role of King Lear at a tiny Suffolk village called Stratford-upon-nowhere with a bunch of am dram characters trying to save their village theatre from developers – while Jefferson is trying to save his career. Dorothy the director/ driver/ fool/ insert multiple roles...

Ghosts of the Titanic – Frinton Summer Theatre

20Jul

By Samantha CollettNo Comments

South East

Ghosts of the Titanic – Frinton Summer Theatre

What do you do when the ‘unsinkable’ sinks? The Titanic sank 110 years ago, but ‘Ghosts of the Titanic’ presents conflicting theories as to why the ship sank and who may have benefited, making this a relevant modern day psychological drama. Emma Hinton (Alex Constantinidi) is an English girl who has travelled to America to find out the truth of why the Titanic sunk. She has a key reason to know - her fiancé was playing in the band and lost his life on that fateful journey. Enter Molloy (William Meredith) an alleged journalist and his newspaper boss, Swanson (Hilary Tones), and you have a tale fit for any decent conspiracy theorist. What is fascinating is the weaving of facts within a fictional play. I did not know, for example, that J P Morgan of American banking fame, was the owner ...

Ladies in Lavender – Frinton Summer Theatre

13Jul

By Samantha CollettNo Comments

South East

Ladies in Lavender – Frinton Summer Theatre

To any newbie visiting Frinton Summer Theatre for the first time there are some particularly quaint English traditions that will mark out this experience as something different to the norm. The first being the national anthem is played before the performance commences (and you must stand). The second is the raffle after the interval where a lucky ticket holder can win anything from a bottle of gin to a gift voucher. Frinton Summer Theatre is now in its 81st year and started the season with ‘Ladies in Lavender’, a play adapted from a star-studded 2004 film, which was originally based on a 1908 short story by William J Locke. With such a heritage you may wonder if over 100 years later the message has got confused, but I’m pleased to report the themes of love, loss, desire and jealousy are...