South East Archives - Page 4 of 4

The Tragedy of Dorian Gray – Brighton Fringe

4Jun

By Kiefer WilliamsNo Comments

South East

The Tragedy of Dorian Gray – Brighton Fringe

Oscar Wilde’s classic tale of moral corruption and destructive selfishness is given a refreshing and highly stylistic make over by writer/director Ross Dinwiddy. Set between the periods of the 1960’s up to the 00’s, Dinwiddy evokes a dark, visceral and almost movie noir feel to this tale of a young man who wants to remain youthful whilst his portrait disintegrates as his corrupt and ego centric personality destroys everyone and everything that lies in his path. Gray finely played here by Maximus Polling, inhibits and dominates the dark world surrounding him and the excellent use of black and white photography really gives the production an almost malevolent feel about it. Dinwiddy’s witty and razor script gives each actor the space to create a rich and dark characteri...

4Jun

By Donna M DayNo Comments

South East

Jerk – Brighton Fringe

Mudlarks Theatre’s Jerk, written by Nick Edgeworth, is the story of Ivan the Id (Nick Edgeworth), Ellen the Ego (Harley Truslove) and Simon the Superego (Ryan Harris), and their lives managing the actions of the young man whose brain they control. When they are born, it is just Ivan, on his own, in a want, point, have, world, but as they grow up Ellen appears, followed by Simon, and the messy world of puberty is explored as they grow up. Ivan quickly learns the power of emotional manipulation and how getting the things he wants releases dopamine, which is enjoyable for him, as well as Ellen and Simon. The dopamine is shown to us through flashing coloured lights and all three actors gazing in wonder and contentment. The release of dopamine is Ivan’s main goal, whereas Simon’s main goal ...

1Jun

By Chris HughesNo Comments

South East

Giles – Brighton Fringe

The advertising material for Frédéric Blanchette’s comedy, ‘Giles’, showing as part of Brighton Fringe 2021, poses the question: How well do you know your friends? The online play seeks to explore that conundrum through the lens of a zoom date night. Directed by Marianne Badrichani, it features a cast of three: Chris Campbell as Richard, Edith Vernes as Sophie and Sam Alexander as Giles. Sophie, based in Paris, and her boyfriend Richard, located in London, meet regularly face to face via the internet. Richard has invited his best friend, Giles, to one such rendezvous much to his girlfriend’s dismay. Sophie repeatedly tells Richard that she loathes Giles which he finds incomprehensible. When Giles joins the meeting, detailing his Covid related good deeds, the reason for Sophie’s antipat...

We’ll Dance on the Ash of the Apocalypse – Brighton Fringe

1Jun

By Kiefer WilliamsNo Comments

South East

We’ll Dance on the Ash of the Apocalypse – Brighton Fringe

This one act play written and directed by Melissa-Kelly Franklin is a timely piece constructed around the environment and climate change. It tells the story of a young couple played by Maite Jauregui and Danny Horn who are living through a climate apocalypse and their discovery that the woman is pregnant. They wonder if it’s right to bring their baby into this damaged world. There is an awful lot of soul searching to be had. It’s not a bad play and it really does highlight important issues about our response to the environment but the play is also very earnest, sombre, miserable and at times quite self - conscious. There is no denying Franklin’s passion but it just didn’t work for me. Unfortunately the use of slow- no physical theatre to emphasis the change in the couple’s...

31May

By Gemma PrinceNo Comments

South East

Clean: The Musical – Brighton Fringe

Based on the winner of Brighton Fringe 2019’s Best New Play, Clean: The Musical from Different Theatre explores the lives of a group of women in Brighton’s historic Roundhill area (or Laundry Hill) from the 1880s to today. The story begins in the present with Tasha (Holly Ray) sitting in her old family home which was once a laundry house after many years away living abroad. Tasha looks back on what life may have been like for women in the area throughout history. Throughout the musical, the present-day stories are interwoven with tales from the past, allowing the audience some reflective yet insightful moments. The split-screen editing of the characters shows that these women are connected in their experiences. From mental health and sexuality to women’s rights and grief, Clean e...

26May

By Angela KellyNo Comments

South East

The Preacher – Brighton Fringe

‘Philospohical’, ‘existential’ and based on the ‘Biblical book of Ecclesiasticus’ are not common descriptions you would associate with a stand up comedian but these descriptions can certainly be attributed to David ‘Dave’ Davidson in his stand up performance ‘The Preacher’, performed as part of the Brighton Fringe Festival. It’s true that many of us challenged ourselves during the various lockdowns of the past year or so but performing stand up, based on a book of the bible to no live audience was certainly up there with the strangest of challenges. Adapted by Anthony Noack and now performing on line, David ‘Dave’ Davidson was one comic who chose to carry on with stand up whether there was a live audience or not. Perhaps something a Preacher may also do in times of the Bible and spe...

12Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

South East

Peter Pan – Barn Theatre

With this one-man adaptation of the classic family tale, the Barn Theatre has another success on their hands. Equally as thrilling as it is heart-warming, this version transports the audience from normality to Neverland. All with the help of that famous, ever-youthful boy. There have been countless retellings of J.M.Barrie’s creation and everyone has their favourites. From the big screen (“Hook” coming to mind, whereas I wish I could erase “Pan” from it) to stage musicals such as “Finding Neverland”, it is obvious that the appeal for the pixie-dust sprinkled adventure has not faltered. Playing on the universal appeal for the story, the Barn team have created a play with family at its forefront. Waylon Jacobs (Hamilton) plays a travelling father who is coaxed into a bedtime story fro...