Almeida Theatre Archives - North West End UK

3Oct

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

Look Back in Anger – Almeida Theatre

Renowned as a theatrical landmark, John Osborne's 1956 play changed the face of British theatre forever with its gritty realism. For such an important play it is surprisingly infrequently performed. I have only seen it once before and had forgotten what a powerful piece of drama it is. Staged at the Almeida Theatre in repertory with 'Roots', Arnold Wesker's renowned play of the same era, it forms what they have titled 'Angry and Young' season. The most striking thing about director Atri Banerjee’s production is the dispensing of a realistic set, which was one of the hallmarks of the original production and presenting it on a bare circular stage with an outer ring revolve and an inner ring lift. The lift was used for raising the few pieces of set furniture that were needed, a table and t...

15Apr

By Zara OdetundeNo Comments

London

The Comeuppance – Almeida Theatre

The Comeuppance is the first offering of the Almeida’s 2024 season as a thought-provoking piece of theatre that will leave the audience reflecting on their own lives. The Comeuppance takes place at the pre drinks of a circle of high school friends who reunite before they attend their 20th high school reunion. Many haven’t seen each other for years and each person is at a different point in their lives, as they reconnect and share old memories and inside jokes, another presence is hovering on the outskirts. Death. Branden Jacobs-Jenkins writes a play in which the characters are exploring their perspective of mortality and maturity. They have all grown up since they have last seen each other and have started to reflect on their choices and the consequences of them, all the what ifs and...

27Aug

By Gemma PrinceNo Comments

London

A Mirror – Almeida Theatre

‘This Play is a Lie’ is the perfect way to describe Sam Holcroft’s bold new play. Directed by Jeremy Herrin, A Mirror explores censorship, free speech and what it means to be an author and artist in an Orwellian world. The foyer is decked out in pastel-hued balloons, fairy lights, and a disco ball to look like a wedding reception. Upon entering the theatre, the actors were milling around the stage like wedding guests and we are asked to stand for the bride as she makes her entrance. All the little details point to an ordinary marriage ceremony until you glance at the Order of Service placed on each chair, with a slightly sinister Oath of Allegiance on the back page. It is then revealed that the wedding is merely a cover, as soon as the uniformed guards are away, the flowers are quickly ...

The Secret Life of Bees – Almeida Theatre

22Apr

By Akshay RahejaNo Comments

London

The Secret Life of Bees – Almeida Theatre

Set in South Carolina in 1964 and tells the story of Rosaleen, who is fighting for her right to vote, and Lily, who is trying to escape her abusive father. Together, they seek refuge at a remote honeybee farm run by the Boatwright sisters. Abiona Omonua, who played Rosaleen, was the standout performer. The ensemble cast also did an excellent job, including Eleanor Worthington-Cox as Lily, Ava Brennan as June, Tarinn Callender as Neil, Madeline Charlemagne and Shekinah Mcfarlane as the daughters of Mary, Danielle Fiamanya as May, Richard James-Neale as multiple characters, Rachel John as August, Mark Meadow as T-Ray, and Noah Thomas as Zachary. While there were a few moments where the dramatic moment could be anticipated in the performer’s body, overall, the performances were strong and ...

Women, Beware the Devil – Almeida Theatre

24Feb

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Women, Beware the Devil – Almeida Theatre

‘Women, Beware the Devil’ is a brand-new play by Lulu Raczka, and directed by Rupert Goold that manages to both dazzle and confound in equal measures. It takes place in 17th century England during a time of political turmoil and witch hunts and features a cast of strange and unconventional characters. At the start of the play, the devil himself (Nathan Armarkwei-Laryea) acts as the master of ceremonies, welcoming the audience and guiding them into the intricate and somewhat confusing plotline of the De Clare family. Lady Elizabeth De Clare (Lydia Leonard) is hatching a scheme to cling on to the luxurious family home. She has schemed to arrange a marriage of convenience between her brother Edward (Leo Bill) and Katherine (Ioanna Kimbook), the wealthy daughter of a shipbuilder, in the hop...

15Jul

By Klervi GavetNo Comments

London

Patriots – Almeida Theatre

How do you make a grown Russian man sing? Give him a piano and some vodka. How do you make him cry? Take him away from the Motherland. Patriots has all the hallmarks of a good political drama. Court intrigues, outrageous backdoor deals, international conflict, even memorable, poisonous assassinations… It is after all the new play of Peter Morgan, best known for his historical hits such as Netflix’s The Crown, The Audience, or Frost/Nixon. Here Morgan examines the making of oligarchs in post-soviet Russia and the rise of one Vladimir Putin from deputy mayor of Saint Petersburg to President of the Russian Federation, all through the eyes of mathematician genius turned businessman and kingmaker, Boris Berezovsky. Directed by Almeida Artistic Director Rupert Goold, this production often ...

11Jan

By Craig HepworthNo Comments

Blogs

In The Spotlight

Hello North West End Welcome to my new weekly column here on the site, where I will talk all things theatre from local to touring, West End to Broadway and more. My name is Craig, and I am a playwright and director here in wonderful Manchester and also the co-owner of the long running theatre production company Vertigo. I am thrilled to be able to spend a little time with you each week with this column and share what's going on in the theatre world. So, with that said, I thought it might be best to bring you up to date with all that's going on around the world in theatre when it comes to everybody's least favourite party guest... Covid. It's been a dreadful two years for the theatre industry, and today we are still fighting to figure out a way to move forward in this new normal...

17Nov

By Samantha CollettNo Comments

London

Lost Origin – Hoxton Docks

Cards on the table: I am a huge fan of immersive theatre. So, when I saw immersive pioneers Factory 42 had teamed up with Almeida Theatre and Sky to create ‘Lost Origin’, I was sold. The mission? In groups of six, participants turn undercover investigators as part of Wing 7 to crack an illegal dark web marketplace. The location of the experience in Hoxton Docks sets the scene. It’s a rundown building on the fringes of East London’s trendy nightlife. Greeted by special ops, you and your group are briefed on the mission and then taken off by Marsha, a crack coder with a slightly unstable personality. The experience fuses technology, performance and incredible set design in a 60-minute journey which sees you immerse yourself in solving the mystery. The different room themes are am...

21Apr

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

REVIEWS

Hymn – Sky Arts at Almeida Theatre

Lolita Chakrabarti’s thoughtful new play ‘Hymn’ was conceived with a live audience in mind. However, Blanche McIntyre’s recent production filmed under COVID-safe, socially distanced conditions at the Almeida Theatre, initially live-streamed and then shown this weekend on Sky Arts works perfectly in communicating the relationship between two men, Gill (Adrian Lister) and Benny (Danny Sapani). The play centres only on Gill and Benny, and opens with the funeral of Gill’s Father, Gus. Gill delivers the eulogy. Benny is also at the funeral. The two men meet, not at all by chance, and even though they are from vastly different social backgrounds, with different education and different prospects, this opens a course of events that draw the two into what becomes a powerful and emotionally charg...

18Aug

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

London

Albion – Almeida Theatre

Mike Bartlett’s Albion was first performed in 2017 and this first revival from director Rupert Goold, recorded live in February 2020, features many of the original cast. Very much a country house drama and reminiscent of The Cherry Orchard, it is as much a satire as a re-enactment of middle-class England. It’s a new start for successful businesswoman Audrey Walters (Victoria Hamilton) who has upended her family from the comfort of their London home for a new start in the country home of an old and unspoilt England, and which contains extensive gardens, once the design of a celebrated gardener that she hopes to restore to their original glory with the support of husband Paul (Nicholas Rowe) although daughter Zara (Daisy Edgar-Jones) is less keen on the move away from the capital’s life a...