Arcola Theatre Archives - North West End UK

5Apr

By Eleanor HallNo Comments

London

Life with Oscar – Arcola Theatre

Life with Oscar is a tumultuous to-and-fro between the cult fever of Hollywood and its horrible shadows, all through the autobiographical perspective of Nick Cohen. We are introduced to a round table of figures, immigrant creatives familiar to Cohen gathered round to discuss the casting of Superman. Soon we are whisked from Lewisham to Los Angeles, all the way back to the dawn of the Academy. It’s not just places and times we encounter; we’re also uncovering the ‘secret formula to winning an Oscar’ alongside Cohen’s persona. We chart Cohen’s quest with a sense of irony, given the show’s semi-autobiographical nature; before our eyes, Cohen is carving out his own Hero’s Journey as a writer. Cohen glides comfortably between portraying characters and describing their actions. Ultimately, h...

When You Pass Over My Tomb – Arcola Theatre

14Feb

By Kira DanielsNo Comments

London

When You Pass Over My Tomb – Arcola Theatre

Finger-licking, or rather phalanx licking, good, When You Pass Over My Tomb by Sergio Blanco and adapted and directed by Daniel Goldman, is laden with content warnings (for assisted suicide, mentions of necrophilia, mental health, and blasphemous language) but where it might be expected to sink under the weight of its unwieldy themes, instead sails through increasingly murky waters with ease. Photo: Alex Brenner Neither linearly nor exclusively following the story of playwright Sergio Blanco himself as his fictionalized counterpart prepares to undergo assisted suicide and engages in flirtation with the convicted necrophiliac he plans to donate the majority of his body to, this three-hand play dips its toes into many different stories and traditions, including funerals, children’s ga...

9Nov

By Aditi DalalNo Comments

London

Scratches – Arcola Theatre

Self-harm and comedy don’t seem like concepts that sit quite right together; it almost feels like a toxic pair. But Aoife Kennan nails this combination, and with such panache! Kennan starts off on stage with a sex story that seems like a one-woman comedy show, only to be interrupted by her ‘best friend’ played by Zak Ghazi-Torbati. Together, the duo challenge stereotypes, take a dig at how ‘diversity and inclusion’ boxes are commonly ticked, how GPs only focus on handing out medication instead of dealing with the feelings and how they can outdo each other’s stage presence - which is a hard contest because they’re both brilliant performers! In the power packed hour, we are able to gently unpack what goes on in the brain and body of those battling with anxiety and depression, and how ...

27Aug

By Anisha PucadyilNo Comments

London

Turandot – Arcola Theatre

From the 19th of July, the Grimeborn Opera Festival returns for the sixteenth year, featuring twelve operas from across the globe. This professional production of Puccini's final opera, set in China and rooted in Central and East Asian literature, has an entire cast from the Asian diaspora. This reimagining explores the toxicity of online obsession in the face of human tragedy, as Calaf is lured into a virtual, addictive world by the imperious digital fantasy princess Turandot. Turnadot is often remembered for the famous rendition of "Nessun Dorma." by Luciano Pavarotti. When one thinks of operas, one imagines massive sets with casts of 70 plus in the chorus and an entire live orchestra. But this recreation creates a unique alchemy with intentional gaze, elegant costume and light proje...

30Jun

By Marita MatarNo Comments

London

Duck – Arcola Theatre

The UK premiere of Duck is written by Maatin, directed by Imy Wyatt Corner, and performed by Omar Bynon. Ismail (Omar Bynon) whose name can’t even be pronounced by his schoolmates and teachers is a vibrant Indian teenager whose love for cricket knows no bounds. The story unfolds in the days leading up to the tragic July 7 terrorist attack that occurred in London in 2005. This devastating event led to the endorsement of Islamophobia and the unfair stigmatisation of individuals with brown skin, beards, or thick hair. Amidst this backdrop, the narrative of “Duck” presents a mundane account that immerses readers in the life of a 15-year-old Indian boy. Throughout his passionate journey in the world of cricket, he encounters subtle instances of racism and discrimination based on his name, s...

20May

By Dave SmithNo Comments

London

Mustard – Arcola Theatre

Mustard, both written and performed by Eva O'Connor, is a one-woman show about Eva, a young Irish woman escaping the religious trappings of rural Ireland to London to study art. On a night out clubbing she meets a ‘smoking area man’, and after going back to his and discovering he is a professional cyclist, he is then known only as The Cyclist. O'Connor’s script is smart and zings, mustard being the only English ‘colonial’ item allowed in Eva’s home, lines about dipping Tayto and other moments leading to extra laughs from the knowing Irish in the audience. There are some lovely turns of phrase throughout including describing the caller id of her ex as ‘the letters and numbers that make him up’. O’Connor keeps the audience's attention throughout, a focused and measured delivery with lyri...

10Mar

By Dave SmithNo Comments

London

Under The Black Rock – Arcola Theatre

Coming up on 25 years since The Good Friday Agreement, Northern Ireland still has many issues to face and strongly entrenched divides within its community. Thankfully, it no longer sees the violence and terror of the troubles and when there is violence it is condemned by the majority, including leading figures from each side of the division. Tim Edge’s Under The Black Rock looks back at a time when that violence and terror were a daily part of life in Northern Ireland. Set in Belfast, we meet the Ryan family and follow the main role of Niamh (Evanna Lynch, known for Harry Potter, is strong in this) who follows her father into the IRA. Many of the cast play dual roles, Flora Montgomery is excellent; first as a hard-worn senior IRA figure then slipping into the role of Sandra Ryan, despe...

<strong>Dinner With Groucho – Arcola Theatre</strong>

23Nov

By Akshay RahejaNo Comments

London

Dinner With Groucho – Arcola Theatre

In 'Dinner with Groucho', Frank McGuinness tells the story of Groucho Marx and T.S. Eliot having dinner in a strange restaurant on the edge of heaven. There is a brilliant moment in the play when Shakespeare is contradicted by the host proprietor of the restaurant. ‘To Be is to not be’ she says. Life is death. All past, present and future are now, have been and will be. It seems to echo the themes of Eliot's 'The waste land'. The production is aesthetically lit by Paul Keogan with a unique combination of natural and artificial lights. Ingrid Craigie was the stand-out performer as the Proprietor. Her performance was fresh, unpredictable and seemed enigmatic -at the same time- clear. The absurdity in the play’s design shines because of the brilliant treatment by the director, Loveday ...

20Oct

By Akshay RahejaNo Comments

London

The Poltergeist – Arcola Theatre

Sasha, once a renowned child artist, is now a stationer and haunted by the artist he could never be. The Poltergeist is a play about art, family and memory. In many ways, the experience of this play felt like a good rock concert. Just as one feels the drops and hits of the distortion of an electric guitar, one is hit by the movement, switch and the strong performance by Joseph Potter who seems to be playing an overwhelming number of roles (instruments) in the play. The heavy movements of the performance resemble the sensibilities of ritual theatre made by the ingredients of the alienation of modern subjects and the rage of a failed artist. “3…2…1…” Sasha expects a response from his partner, and we wait. The performer's intensity and the rhythm of narrating the story are central ...

Barn Theatre and Arcola Theatre team up to co-produce the world premiere of A Russian Doll

20Apr

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

Barn Theatre and Arcola Theatre team up to co-produce the world premiere of A Russian Doll

The Barn Theatre in Cirencester and the Arcola Theatre in London have today announced that they will be teaming up to co-produce the world premiere of Cat Goscovitch’s new play, A Russian Doll. The play, which is based on a true story, follows twenty-something Masha as she becomes embroiled in the world of data and deceit as a member of Russia’s disinformation campaigns during the EU referendum. A Russian Doll, which will be directed by Nicolas Kent (All The President’s Men?, Another World), will run in Cirencester from 18th May – 13th June 2021*. Following the run in the Cotswolds, the production will open Arcola’s new outdoor space, Arcola Outside, in East London. The world premiere will feature design by Liz Da Costa, lighting by Sam Rowcliffe-Tanner, sound and composition by ...