Drayton Arms Theatre Archives - North West End UK

11Jun

By Ben PearsonNo Comments

London

The Ticking – Drayton Arms Theatre

Brought to the Drayton Arms Theatre by the Cellar Door Theatre Company, The Ticking explores the manic cocktail of emotions, questions and chaos that arises when 4 friends wake up after a night out with a mysterious ticking briefcase in their possession. As I’m sure you can guess, the briefcase contains a bomb. The 70 minutes that follow are just as absurd as the opening premise, and not only allow for some great moments of comedy, but also a discussion of blame, responsibility and climate change. The issue is that while these themes are undeniably important, they’re also well-trodden, and The Ticking does little to explore them from a new angle. We’re presented with a situation, a political message, and characters we’ve all seen before, which consequently makes it hard to emotionally inve...

This Is Not a Murder Mystery – Drayton Arms Theatre

29May

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

This Is Not a Murder Mystery – Drayton Arms Theatre

This Is Not a Murder Mystery is a sharply written and tightly directed comedy-thriller by Peter Rae, performed in the intimate upstairs theatre above the charming Drayton Arms pub. With direction by Helen Bang—who also stars as the whimsical, scene-stealing Elizabeth Treasure—this fast-paced production delivers an evening full of energy, cleverness, and an unexpected twist. Set entirely in a regional theatre’s dressing room on the opening night of a fictional murder mystery, the play cleverly blurs the lines between backstage drama and on-stage intrigue. From the moment the lights go up, we’re immersed in a chaotic, hilarious, and occasionally poignant world of ageing actresses, youthful optimism, and theatrical egos. Helen Bang, Rosalind Blessed, and Laura Morgan have an infectious ...

21May

By Savitha VenugopalNo Comments

London

The Mikado – Drayton Arms Theatre

One presumes it is no easy task to reimagine a classic from a time long gone for an audience of today. Preserving its original form could horrify modern sensibilities; washing the script in political correctness would strip it of its essence. What does one do? Forbear Theatre does a refreshing job of giving comic operetta The Mikado a new look. With a few tweaks, it dusts off the exoticism and stereotypes of the original, while preserving the wit and the tension, the topsy-turviness that the creators intended. Photo: Jon Lo Photography Deviating from the original setting of Japan, this new iteration takes place in the fantasy land of Pa’gæn, populated with woodland creatures, elves, and mages. The names are no longer Far-Eastern either. Rather, according to the director’s note, th...

12Mar

By Paul AckroydNo Comments

London

Birds of Passage – Drayton Arms Theatre

This is a new play with contemporary resonance. It takes place on the fictional Greek island of Zandros, where Emma, Bill and Sandra have been booked in to a beautiful hotel overlooking the sea. They notice a strange-looking concrete building in their sightline, which did not feature in any of the holiday company brochure pictures. It turns out to be a reception/detention centre for refugees who arrive by sea, and it's not long before they come face-to-face with the exacerbated refugee crisis, which upsets their holiday plans and changes their lives. Initially, the play is slow to get going with the characters appearing to be rather one-dimensional, and the dialogue rather stilted. However, as the plot develops it becomes more engaging, with the characters having to react to the develop...

2May

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Constellations – Drayton Arms Theatre

In the extremely intimate space of The Drayton Arms Theatre, Burnt Orange Theatre Company presents Nick Payne's ‘Constellations’ under the masterful direction and production of Rosie Thomas. The play delves into the intricate tapestry of human relationships through the stories of string theorist Marianne and beekeeper Roland, in a way that defies theatrical norms, intertwining multiple alternate narratives and exploring the complexities of love through the lens of quantum physics. Sounds complex, but through this beautiful and heartwarming production, audiences are swept into the lives of various characters as they navigate forwards, backwards and sideways, the vast expanse of human emotions, from profound love to heartbreaking loss. ‘Constellations’ is a truly exceptional piece of ...

29Apr

By Riana HowarthNo Comments

London

The Tempest – Drayton Arms Theatre

Burnt Orange Theatre Rep Company bring The Tempest to life. In the black box theatre setting, the troupe form a striking ensemble with sizzling choreography as well as impressive individual performances. Such dynamic storytelling with swift transitions made Shakespeare’s language accessible and engaging. The group was cohesive and nimble, heaving to and fro throughout like the waves and the ship, and producing surreal hissing and clicking sound collages. I loved the interpretation of Ariel, with four actors embodying the spirit. They really captured the magic and elemental nature of the play. Ioan Oosthuizen’s fraught Prospero was heavy with responsibility, and it was charming to see his lighter side and fatherly affection around his daughter. As the principal storyteller in the ...

An Absolute Farce of a Murder Mystery – Drayton Arms Theatre

3Mar

By Gonzalo SentanaNo Comments

London

An Absolute Farce of a Murder Mystery – Drayton Arms Theatre

Seeing a play taking on a very well-known genre and trying to reference it, turning it into something different, is an entertaining and educational experience, though things can turn out less interesting than expected, if the intentions are better than the implementation. This show, written by Peter Rae, and directed by Helen Bang, both doubling as actors, is an attempt at making fun of the genre of the Murder Mystery trope. While the intentions are clear from the beginning, the actual running of the show is a hot mess of overly saturated references and misplaced punchlines. The show starts with "Manning – The Butler", portrayed by Christian Ballantyne, who is cleaning some props on stage, and makes the first attempt at getting the audience to laugh, when spitting a candleholder whil...

12Feb

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Fabulett 1933 – Drayton Arms Theatre

"Fabulett 1933" at the Drayton Arms Theatre presented a thought-provoking and bold take on the impact of the rise of fascism in 1933 Germany on the queer community. Michael Trauffer, who wrote and performed the one-man musical, deserves applause for his ambition in connecting a historical piece to today's world, where many societies are moving to the right. He did a fine job in embodying Felix, the host of Berlin's “most decadent” club, with his portrayal of the flamboyant character, wearing various costumes, including black leather, big skirts, sequined caps and a whip. However, the limited time for plot development and a lack of tension throughout the piece detracted from its overall impact. The inclusion of surprising details, such as the attendance of Nazi officers at the club, of c...

30Mar

By Aditi DalalNo Comments

London

The Other – Drayton Arms Theatre

Packing boxes and walls with scribbles draw the audience into a unique house as they enter. A sentence is written on the walls. It is then spoken aloud. The rest of the show then embodies it. Delicately presented with light moments of interaction with the audience, ‘the other’ is explored in its many forms and feelings. Tracing the journey of a family, as witnessed by the walls of the house they lived in, the show explores their relationships with each other and with their home. As they seek to find a new house, we are taken down memory lane of the bitter and sweet happenings over the years. The nuanced direction of Ariella Stoian brilliantly uses everyday objects to make meaning of people and their emotional journeys. The use of chalk, in particular, is a strong motif. It can be eas...