Latest Articles - Page 587 of 641

Grimm Tales for Fragile Times and Broken People – Creation Theatre

25Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

REVIEWS

Grimm Tales for Fragile Times and Broken People – Creation Theatre

In these dark and twisted times, Creation Theatre present dark and twisted tales, online via zoom. Using the Brothers Grimm fairy tales as their inspiration, the five-strong cast seamlessly present a digital performance that both encapsulates the creativity of real world theatre and the wonder of online. Creation Theatre have selected some of the most gruesome fairy tales including The Juniper Tree, The Moon and Godfather Death. There’s an advisory to watch this production in the darkest of rooms (I did), and it’s important to follow this to get into the mood. This is not your average sit-back-and-watch-along show, it does require concentration to follow the different actors and the different storylines. The costumes and make up, along with the settings and backdrops, are bespo...

Leeds Playhouse announce free theatre space offer for local creatives

25Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Leeds Playhouse announce free theatre space offer for local creatives

Leeds Playhouse today has announced the use of free theatre space and guaranteed technical support for local artists in their intimate Bramall Rock Void space. The free use of the recently refurbed theatre is being offered as part of Playhouse Connect which their ongoing response to the pandemic supporting reconnection and recovery within the City. “The Playhouse is a community resource used by many different people throughout the year,” says Artistic Director James Brining. “We’re very conscious that throughout the pandemic, despite the brilliant work we have undertaken engaging with vulnerable and isolated people through our Playhouse Connect programme, apart from 5 weeks in the autumn, the building itself has been under used. “I’m delighted that we have put the safety protoc...

25Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

REVIEWS

Hotline – Tron Theatre

If you could dial a phone number to connect with a stranger across the world, what would you expect to hear? Undoubtedly an interesting conversation would ensue. Good, now imagine that world being the moon. Perhaps some boring static or some alien speak – but definitely something that tells you a little more about the blue marble you call home. HOTLINE is a new interactive audio play on the phone devised by Produced Moon, Meghan Tyler and Nima Séne, produced in association with Platform, Glasgow and supported by the Scottish Government’s Performing Arts Venue Relief Fund. Audiences dial a phone number to experience a lunar labyrinth of cosmic confessions, transgalactic tales and some workplaces woes at the world’s premier space organization. The show uses the structure of a choose your ...

25Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

Typical – Soho Theatre On Demand

Having premiered at Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2019 to sold out audiences, then transferring to Soho Theatre, ‘Typical’ has now taken on a hybrid digital form to begin an online season from the 24th February, on Soho Theatre’s On Demand platform. Created by Nouveau Riche and Soho Theatre and written by Ryan Calais Cameron whose previous work includes Rhapsody, Retrograde and Queens of Sheba co-written with Jessica Hagan; Typical is based on a true story and tells of the life of Christopher Alder played by Richard Blackwood. The play is set in the late 1990’s, and a selection of 90’s music, VHS tapes and Whigfield, help to transport us back to that era. Alder is in his mid-thirties, an ex-paratrooper, and a British Nigerian. We learn that he is divorced with two child...

22Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

OFFIES 2021

We were delighted to be able to attend this year’s Off West End Awards which were hosted online by Geoffrey Brown, Director of Off West End with a number of special guests in attendance. The awards began with an introduction by Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, welcoming everyone and joining in our hope that theatres can re-open soon. Special guests included Judi Dench, Linda Marlowe, Su Pollard, Michelle Terry, Sharon D Clarke, Samuel West, Sonia Friedman, Brian Blessed, Stephen Fry and Louise Jameson, all sending messages of congratulations and encouragement. Using the fringe streaming platform Scenesaver ( www.scenesaver.co.uk ), we were treated to a reminder of the diversity of shows that have been available to watch this year, in spite of the challenging environment. B...

Shane Richie to star in digital revival of Scaramouche Jones or the Seven White Masks

22Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Shane Richie to star in digital revival of Scaramouche Jones or the Seven White Masks

Much-loved and multi-talented stage and screen actor Shane Richie (EastEnders; The Entertainer; One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here) will take on the role of the titular tragic clown in the digital revival of Justin Butcher’s absorbing solo show, Scaramouche Jones. Filmed in a London theatre, and available to stream on Stream.Theatre from Friday 26th March to Sunday 11th April, this is the latest production from Ginger Quiff Media - the OnCom award-winning team behind the acclaimed revivals of Martin Sherman’s Rose starring Dame Maureen Lipman, and Little Wars (The Guardian and New York Times top picks) featuring Juliet Stevenson and Linda Bassett. Richie swaps the I’m A Celeb Welsh castle for the digital stage, taking on the role made famous by the late...

Strong casts announced for next three Sound Stage Productions

22Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Strong casts announced for next three Sound Stage Productions

Pitlochry Festival Theatre and The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in association with Naked Productions have announced three more strong casts for their forthcoming Sound Stage plays. Sound Stage will premiere Tennis Elbow, the new comedy from playwright and artist John Byrne, the creator of the BAFTA award-winning BBC television series Tutti Frutti, and the critically acclaimed plays The Slab Boys Trilogy. The new play, running from 30th April – 2nd May, will be Byrne’s first for 13 years, and is the follow up to his acclaimed 1977 debut play Writer’s Cramp. It’s a bittersweet comedy about the life and work of a mischievous lost artist trying to make her way in the world. Directed by Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Artistic Director Elizabeth Newman, Tennis Elbow’s exciting cast wil...

22Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

REVIEWS

Improv News Hour – The Nursery Theatre

The Nursery Theatre is a mainstay within the world of improvisation, and they have continued to perform and support their fellow performers during these very trying times. It was an absolute pleasure to be asked to come along to their ‘Improv News Hour’ to see that the craft of ‘improv’ is alive and kicking albeit it in a digital environment. Tonight, we were treated to a news show from the Nursery news team. We met Muffins Miami and Gravy Cambridge the co-anchor’s, Tikki Manila the interviewer, Cherry Cumberland the roving field reporter and Figgy Amsterdam the sports reporter. The weather report was provided by Daal Von Doncaster. After turning up at the news station wearing no trousers, Gravy Cambridge and team introduced the news item – ‘Scientists have discover...

22Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

REVIEWS

Outside – Minty Fresh Productions

A disturbing and traumatic exploration of child abuse and neglect. In this harrowing one-woman show Gabrielle MacPherson plays Willa, a traumatised young woman, who hasn’t left her home for 30 years, as her controlling and dysfunctional parents have kept her safe from the ‘bad’ outside. True to a theatre production this monologue takes place on a small messy stage with few changes in camera angle. A tannoy speaker and Dictaphone make regular interruptions and there is a projection of some of the activity on the wall. The stage has two locked doors and is strewn with papers, books and boxes. Willa flits around her personal history as though stuck in her childhood searching for “evidence”. We learn she has an unfaithful father who is a publisher and collector of old books. There are...

21Feb

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

REVIEWS

West End Musical Drive In – Live Stream

Why settle for one musical when you can watch the iconic hits from all our favourites? In the Summer of 2020, the incredible team at ‘West End Musical Brunch’ brought us ‘West End Musical Drive In’ and stunned audiences from their vehicles in the two-hour performance. Now in 2021 we are brought the recorded experience of all five concerts in the comfort of our own homes. Hosted by Shanay Holmes (co-founder of ‘West End Musical Brunch’) act one of the first concert presents us with a lineup of moving, heartfelt songs such as ‘On My Own’ from ‘Les Misérables’ performed by former Éponine Shan Ako and ‘Burn’ from ‘Hamilton’ performed by Maiya Quansah Breed. Shortly after we were introduced to the headline act Layton Williams who is known for a number of roles such as Billy Elliot in ‘Billy ...