Barons Court Theatre Archives - North West End UK

8Aug

By Ben PearsonNo Comments

London

Hamlet & Co – Barons Court Theatre

Anais Marchand’s, Hamlet & Co. is a modern, interactive retelling of Hamlet, which imagines Shakespeare’s tragedy in the ruthless world of modern business. We, the audience, have been invited to the wedding of Gertrude, widow of Hamlet Senior, the founder of Elsinore Tower, and Claude, Hamlet Senior’s brother and acting CEO. But when Amel, Hamlet Jr, crashes the memorial in frenzied grief over his father’s mysterious death, tensions run high, loyalties are tested, and all is to play for in the corporate ‘game’. It's certainly an interesting, ambitious, and topical idea. A modern retelling of Hamlet exploring the morality of big business, and the devastating consequences of viewing people as numbers, could have been fascinating. Unfortunately, the script falls far short. Marchand...

Rabbie Burns’ Bottom Drawers – Barons Court Theatre

30Jul

By Louise PennNo Comments

London

Rabbie Burns’ Bottom Drawers – Barons Court Theatre

Entering the space at Barons Court Theatre for this “hands on exploration” of the bawdy works of Robert Burns, we find Christine Weir and Jeremy Claydon already in character, welcoming us into this celebration. Framed as a chatty piece between Weir (vocals, keyboard) and Claydon (vocals, percussion), we open with “My Love Is Like A Red Red Rose”, that showcases the purity of the Sckts ballad. “Charlie Is My Darling” includes us in the chorus while allowing Weir and Claydon to prove their worth as musicians working seamlessly together. It also allows a bit of discussion about Burns’s reappropriation of material for nationalistic ends. It's a cautious step to the poems and songs of sexual explitiness, but when we get there, Weir’s outwardly staid Scots housekeeper runs with it w...

4Jun

By Ben PearsonNo Comments

London

Street – Barons Court Theatre

STREET, brought to the Barons Court Theatre by ‘Mos Sans Productions’, follows Miriam and Foster. Both are homeless, neglected and ignored by anyone but each other, and have little to no hope that anything will change. Writer and director Liviu Monsted uses these two compelling characters to explore the realities of living on the street. It’s a strong, moving and effective script, that only gets stronger when Miriam and Foster are joined by Fay and Christian. These newcomers hold up a mirror to those who romanticise homelessness and the ‘freedom’ it brings. Christian, in particular, is convinced that Foster and Miriam are lucky. Lucky that they don’t have a job, lucky that they are ignored by so much of society. It’s a wonderful depiction of the ignorance and privilege of those who view a ...

Mermaids Have No Tears — Barons Court Theatre

5May

By Zak RosenNo Comments

London

Mermaids Have No Tears — Barons Court Theatre

It can be hard not to fall into despair when contemplating all the different apocalypses we face today — climate change, oligarchic billionaires, social media brain rot, rising authoritarianism, talking to your father about your gender. But Mermaids Have No Tears, written by Ellis Stump and directed by Julia Sopher, manages to take in the overwhelming chaos of life in this moment and explores it with hope, humility, and a whole lot of humour, all through the lens of the fascinating subculture of Mermaiding. Set during the 2024 and 2025 New York Mermaid Conventions and the intervening year, the play follows the intricate and mildly unhinged antics of three twenty-somethings. Fyn (played by Everleigh Brenner) is the environmental activist child of an oil tycoon trying to figure out ho...

19Nov

By Ben PearsonNo Comments

London

Kindliness – Barons Court Theatre

Set in mythical country torn apart by war, Kindliness tells the story of a man (Malcolm) who must choose between his family and the young immigrant (Mimmi) with whom he is having an affair. Writer and producer Daniel Chaves, who also plays Malcolm, has crafted a script which attempts to tackle themes of xenophobia, racism, and tribalism. As such, Kindliness is a direct response to the many atrocities and conflicts ongoing around the world. The premise is certainly promising and, combined with Jenny Eastop’s dynamic direction, Kindliness had the ingredients to be a poignant, timely production. Indeed, when the show is firing on all cylinders, such as whenever Malcolm’s wife, Amara, delivers casual and cutting xenophobic comments, it is raw, haunting and depressingly real. Sadly, howe...

13Nov

By Riana HowarthNo Comments

London

Phoenix – Barons Court Theatre

Phoenix is about a journey from constriction and avoidance to inner freedom. Dressed in flowy dungarees, and big, curly blonde hair, Helen is like a children’s storybook character. There is an intention to heal, which is manifest in her radiating warmth, and inviting eyes. She sets the scene with the cosy familiarity of a night in with a friend, drawing us in with intimacy. She confesses to being a Towie addict, and this comedy takes a turn, exploring different ways people numb themselves. The lightness and humour in her stories float above uncomfortable feelings. She squishes these down, dancing away the pain, and distracting herself. She shows us snippets of her life; her relationships, growing up, and her experiences as an actor. These personal moments feel sincere and make th...

The Nine Day Queen – Barons Court Theatre

20May

By Kira DanielsNo Comments

London

The Nine Day Queen – Barons Court Theatre

It’s said that birds of a feather flock together- until the cat comes. When danger looms does solidarity dissipate? Can you really save yourself if no one else is safe? How can women do right by each other when the world seems so determined to do us wrong? The fledgling Itchy Feet Theatre Company asks these questions and more in their new staging of The Nine Day Queen both written and directed by Jen Tucker. A youthful and bright-eyed company of four delicate but determined looking girls is anchored in this performance by Maddie White as Rita, a fifteen-year-old, whose best friend Lena (Moya Matthews) has suffered a brutal attack and is hospitalized and comatose. While Rita awaits Lena’s eventual reawakening or untimely passing, she dwells in memories of their friendship, buries herself...

2Feb

By Kira DanielsNo Comments

London

Stimmicanto – Barons Court Theatre

Do you keep more than five pictures of Paul Rudd on your laptop? Have you ever tried and failed to make small talk with your own brain? Do you find yourself giggling at peculiar street names on a regular basis? If so, consider this your sign to check out Stimmicanto, an hour of offbeat comedy full of surprises. The show, conceived and performed by comedian Paggy Gacheva, densely packs a wide-ranging slew of information into its 60-minute run time. Audiences are guided gently through its many transitions between topics, but their frequency and lack of clear directional focus prevent viewers from settling into consistent enjoyment, and the absence of an overall theme in the work at times makes it difficult to follow. The joy, or “encanto” Gacheva finds in performance is evident and...

22Jan

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

Fire Embers Ash – Barons Court Theatre

This play by Hailey Mashburn tells the little-known story of the establishment by the Soviet Union of the first all-female aviation regiment to fight against the Nazis in the Second World War. Apparently, the regiments were created by Stalin after pressure from one of the early aviators Marina Raskova, portrayed in this play by Henrietta Laursen in the role of commander. The establishment of the unit was controversial and looked down upon by many of their male colleagues. They were only allocated old and decrepit planes and had to wear ill-fitting male uniforms. Nevertheless, they distinguished themselves, and were nicknamed by the Nazis as the " Night Witches". The title which they adopted themselves with pride. To overcome the deficiencies of their equipment...

The Two Gentlemen of Verona (& Sonnet 104) – Barons Court Theatre

28Jun

By Gonzalo SentanaNo Comments

London

The Two Gentlemen of Verona (& Sonnet 104) – Barons Court Theatre

A friend betraying another friend to get their objective, and going to the farthest distance to achieve success, turning slowly into villainy. A story of morality, from Shakespeare to our days. This version of Shakespeare's work, directed by Evan L. Barker, follows its sell-out previews, and has a slightly different cast in some of the supporting roles. This is an adaptation by Barker of the well-known piece, setting into a high-school context. The roles of the two gentlemen are played by Hugo Papiernik as Valentine, and Paul Surel as Proteus. The two ladies with whom they fall in love and then fight for are Tor Leijten as Julia, and Lavinia Grippa as Sylvia. Completing the cast are Harry Rosa as Lance, Izzi McCormack-John as Lucetta/Thurio, Alun Rees as Speed/Host, Gemskii as Duke/Anto...