Latest Articles - Page 12 of 688

12May

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

The Wasp – Southwark Playhouse Borough

Two school acquaintances meet in the courtyard of a pub, having not seen each other for several years. Their lives have diverged: Heather, is married, childless and prosperously middle-class; Carla is pregnant with her fifth child and definitely working class. They seem to have little in common, and indeed, as their conversation develops, it is clear that they were not exactly friends at school. So why has Heather suggested this meeting? As they circle each other warily we learn more about their backgrounds, and then Heather offers Carla a very large sum of money to undertake an outrageous task for her. Carla is initially resistant, but she needs the money and it is clear that Heather, although not having been in direct contact, has learnt a lot about Carla's family situation a...

The Fastest Clock In The Universe – New Wimbledon Theatre

12May

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

The Fastest Clock In The Universe – New Wimbledon Theatre

“In a flat in East London the party preparations are under way, each detail meticulously planned, including the birthday cake and surely nothing can wrong”. “After all there is the specially chosen guest of honour and a very sharp knife”. Ridley’s play is dark, funny and extraordinarily captivating. The Fastest Clock in the Universe written by Philip Ridley in 1992 “became an early example of ‘in your face’ creative theatre” with a design to shock and unsettle audiences rather than comfort them. The story centres around a cast of five people, with interwoven nuanced lines and evolving deep meaning of life experiences, aging and opportunistic revenge. The plot centres on Cougar Glass played by Frederick Russell a man celebrating his 19th birthday ‘again, a man plagued by father time a...

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold – Sheffield Lyceum

12May

By Natalia PrucnalNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold – Sheffield Lyceum

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold brings John Le Carré’s 1963 Cold War novel to the stage, alongside plenty of carefully woven drama, deception and espionage. The Ink Factory and Second Half Productions take us on a tumultuous journey to East Germany alongside British intelligence officer Alec Leamus at the Sheffield Lyceum Theatre. The play is well adapted by David Eldridge, with a relatively digestible storyline and many witty British references sprinkled throughout the script. It felt as though there was a lot of “telling”, with little “showing”, particularly in the first act. There were several times where characters, particularly Leamas, referred to the show’s title and broke the fourth wall, clichés that surely caused a few eyerolls in the audience. Yet, the scenes featuring Leamu...

Operation Mincemeat – Alexandra Birmingham

12May

By Annette NuttallNo Comments

West Midlands

Operation Mincemeat – Alexandra Birmingham

Operation Mincemeat has been running in the West End for three years and is currently on its 18th extension. You don’t need to travel to London to see it though, audiences in Birmingham have the chance to see this tour, with many cast members who have appeared in the West End version. The slightly unappealing title of the show comes from the code name of an MI5 mission to deceive the German army and help to win the war. Not exactly ideal musical material, but somehow this show really works! There is everything you need for a cracking night out, great characters, humour, drama, perfect comedy timing, surprises, wonderful vocal performances and moments that will tug at the heart strings. All the songs are original and help to propel the story on at a rapid pace. There are a mix of styl...

The Crucible – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

12May

By Paul WilcoxNo Comments

North West

The Crucible – Altrincham Garrick Playhouse

Since becoming artistic director of Altrincham Garrick Playhouse, Joseph Meighan has steadily transformed the venue into one of the north-west’s more adventurous amateur theatres, programming work that aims beyond easy familiarity. His production of The Crucible continues that run with intelligence and confidence, offering a reading of Arthur Miller’s drama that shifts attention away from political allegory and towards the intimate failures that allow hysteria to flourish. Miller famously wrote The Crucible as a response to McCarthyism and the anti-communist paranoia of 1950s America, and productions often lean heavily into that parallel: Salem as a warning about authoritarianism, ideological persecution and the dangers of collective fear. Meighan takes a quieter approach. Rather than f...

The Wars of Patie Crichton – Duns Play Festival

7May

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

The Wars of Patie Crichton – Duns Play Festival

The HotTrod Theatre Company was commissioned by The Wilson’s Tales Project to deliver a new dramatic rendering from the bank of Scottish Borders tales which once appeared weekly in the Berwick Advertiser. They were so popular they were reprinted for a century and found favour as far away as Australia and America. These stories, some based on real events, were all the rage and a recent initiative is working to republish them all in modern-day language so as not to lose this cultural body of work. Nichol’s reworking resulted in The Wars of Patie Crichton. Writer and performer, John Nichol, fuses two tales to create a warm, homely story featuring two actors and a chair. It was greatly appreciated by the full house at the Duns Play Fest. A couple’s misunderstanding results in misery for the...

7May

By Alison BainesNo Comments

North West

Choir Of Man – Manchester Opera House

You don’t usually expect to step into a theatre and find audience members on stage, pint in hand, joining in the action — but here, that’s exactly the point. Welcome to The Jungle, a pub where everyone’s invited, the drinks flow freely, and the music is nothing short of sensational. If you’re expecting your typical night at the theatre, then you’ll be somewhat surprised and possibly disappointed – there are no deeply developed characters, awe-inspiring dance numbers or sweeping, emotionally driven plot arcs to carry you from curtain up to finale. Instead, Choir of Man trades convention for camaraderie, offering a stripped-back, high-energy celebration of music and the simple joy of a pint shared among friends. Choir Of Man feels like a curious mash-up of ‘Pitch Perfect’, a music revu...

6May

By Emma LambeNo Comments

North West

Rocky Horror Show – Liverpool Empire

Newly engaged preppy Brad and Janet are stranded after their car breaks down outside Dr Frank N Furter's mansion. They are greeted with his eccentric servants doing the time warp before meeting the sweet transvestite himself. Taking place over the course of one night, they are introduced to a world of seduction and lose their innocence. Camp, eccentric and utterly bonkers. As energetic of a night at the theatre than you’re going to get. There's a reason it's still a cult classic 50 years later. A massive part of the show if you didn't already know, is the audience involvement. Not only do the majority dress up as their favourite characters and boy do people really commit, but they sing along and shout lines at certain bits too. I'll admit, I didn't know these parts having only seen i...

Alastair Clark: On The Record at Flashback Records

3May

By Olivia CoxNo Comments

London

Alastair Clark: On The Record at Flashback Records

After working in a record shop in Liverpool for a number of years, Alastair Clark quit to pursue his dream of being a full-time comedian. With many Edinburgh Fringe stints under his belt, he’s now bringing his show On The Record to independent record shops across the country. In London, the venue is Flashback Records — a lovely establishment in the beating, chaotic heart of Shoreditch. The shop’s basement is a quirky and cosy space (especially cosy on what was a particularly warm day) and armed with a can of Jubel I felt as though I was in a music aficionado’s living room. Clark perfectly matched the intimacy of the setting with his energy; both warm yet self-deprecating, he’s an incredibly engaging performer who immediately made me feel at ease. On The Record primarily sees Clar...

May Day Rapid Response to our Times – Central Hall

3May

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

May Day Rapid Response to our Times – Central Hall

May Day traditionally heralds the arrival of spring, new buds, hope and fertility. In more recent years it is the bank holiday associated with international worker day - a celebration of solidarity, the power of the people and the value of working for the common good. Hannah Lavery and Cora Bissett did a marvelous job in creating a themed variety show of great Scottish and international talent for this rapid response to our times. Important issues were unwrapped like a selection box of bite-size entertainment which touched the funny bone, elicited tears and were always thought-provoking. Just for one night, this show drew a rapturous crowd. Live theatre is like nothing else - it is a moment in time; a flame flickering and then extinguished; a shared experience which brings hear...