Hen & Chickens Theatre Archives

9Aug

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

London

Muse – Hen & Chickens Theatre

Many great painters have a ‘muse,’ but how does it feel to have someone obsessing about you aesthetically? Artist and muse met at an art gallery on a Friday night, Lilith (Millie Small) is a photographer and interested in art, and Lucas (Xavier Atkins) is an artist desperate for his break, and they both admire a painting. They talk, and Lucas explains that he is looking for a model that he may paint. Lilith is intrigued, but will she go along…? Of course she will! Lucas is somewhat aloof, and Lilith is intrigued by this mysterious painter. The studio is at his place, and once he begins painting, we hear that Lucas has been lined up for a prize if he creates some suitable work, hence his need for a live model, as he wanted his painting to be a masterpiec...

A Curious Demise – Hen & Chickens Theatre

9Aug

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

London

A Curious Demise – Hen & Chickens Theatre

Do you fancy yourself as a murder mystery detective? Or a writer – this Agatha Christie style show might be for you! A Curious Demise, is an improvised murder mystery, and they use their long-form improv skills to create a short play using some suggestions from the audience. As we enter the theatre, a guy with a rather dodgy moustache is brushing up and sets the tone for the show perfectly. With A Curious Demise, the show begins with a body, and the mystery is solved along the way by the cast developing the characters and the storyline naturally unfolds. But first, they must get some suggestions from the audience. Where has the body been found? - a greengrocers is suggested. The dear departed gentleman died holding something in his hand, wha...

5Aug

By Stewart Who?No Comments

London

The Lads – Hen & Chickens Theatre

‘Toxic masculinity’ continues to be a fizzing hot topic. In the past few years, it’s curdled from legitimate concern and intelligent discussion to yet another flashpoint in the culture wars. Well meaning and bad faith operators were soon questioning the term, concerned that it reinforced negative stereotypes and might be detrimental to the mental health of young men. Meanwhile, the ‘manosphere’ continues to grow and curdle. The views of provocative influencers are seeping into the mainstream due to the monetisation model of online media and the grim logic of the algorithm. Andrew Tate went from a misogynist freak on the fringe of the Internet to a global pop culture phenomenon. The reasons for that evolution might be complex, but it’s hard not to conclude that the problem is escalat...

Please don’t fall in love with me (it’s really not sexy when that happens) – Hen & Chickens Theatre

22Aug

By Ben PearsonNo Comments

London

Please don’t fall in love with me (it’s really not sexy when that happens) – Hen & Chickens Theatre

Brought to the Camden Fringe by Pinklepause Productions, Please don’t fall in love with me (it’s really not sexy when that happens) is an entertaining comedy that dives into the world of 2007 London’s most famous knicker shop: Knickers Forever. We follow the AGENT, played by the show’s writer Mollie Blue, as she takes us on a roller-coaster of creepy customers, charming clientele, and the constant craziness that comes with her chosen territory. Blue is charming in the role, the perfect host for a show which aims to be ‘silly, shocking, and ever so sexy’. At times, I found her performance a tad over-blown, but this, it turned out, was entirely intentional. We’ll get to that later. Poppy-Anne Taplin plays the AGENT’S hapless but lovable colleague BIMBO. Despite not being given much em...

Remember The Before – Hen & Chickens Theatre

23Aug

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

London

Remember The Before – Hen & Chickens Theatre

An unnamed couple try to pick over their relationship memories, but why do their memories differ? An intriguing peek into this couple’s relationship history, who have been given numbers and not names (one is played by Sarah Pearcey and two by Jed McLoughlin). Written by Jed McLoughlin and directed by Pippa Dykes, the story arc gives plenty in terms of intrigue. Jed’s character (One) buzzes, as his extrovert nature wins over his partner when they first meet, he is funny, lovable, and larger than life, whereas Sarah (Two) is more reserved, but loves his outgoing nature. The couple clearly care about each other, but it is unclear whether they have a future together, as their shared experiences don’t appear to have evolved into shared memories. It asks the ...

Chop Me Up or Let Me Go – Hen & Chickens Theatre

21Oct

By Gaurav SinghNo Comments

London

Chop Me Up or Let Me Go – Hen & Chickens Theatre

Among the things that we all have collectively experienced over the past year, one of them has to be the physical and mental limits we are pushed to in confinement (read: lockdown). This set-up is not unfamiliar to the dramatic world – being stuck in a place with nowhere to go and nothing to do – and has been aptly used as a narrative structure in this new production by the Albiston Line Theatre Company. Chop Me Up or Let Me Go is a terse two-hander written and directed by Lesley Ann Albiston that explores survival, obsession and human relations through the lens of its two characters. Thomas Reynolds, a famous actor, has been kidnapped by Astrid Barton, a researcher who swears she’s his biggest fan. Astrid’s motives for the kidnapping aren’t particularly clear but it’s evident that Thomas ...

Spells for a Broken Heart – Hen & Chickens Theatre

18Aug

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

London

Spells for a Broken Heart – Hen & Chickens Theatre

What is the worse way that someone can break up with you? If you are involved in the dating scene this is a thorny issue and one that is tackled by ‘On the Common Theatre Company’. After graduating from The BRIT School in 2019, the company have been working on writing and devising plays that feel fresh and exciting. This play is their take on modern dating with all its joys and heartbreaks. As we walk into the theatre, we are handed a very cute little booklet that accompanies the show which includes the recipes for spells that help to mend a broken heart. This is a lovely touch and something that is frequently overlooked, that clever marketing can help to keep the image of your play in your audience’s mind, even when they have left the theatre. The play revolv...

18Aug

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

London

Meat Cute – Hen & Chickens Theatre

After a successful debut at the Chiswick Playhouse, ‘Meat Cute’ returns to the stage at the Camden Fringe Festival at the Hen & Chickens Theatre. The play is written and performed by Bibi Lucille and produced by Patch Plays. Patch Plays was formed in 2020 by Anastasia Bunce and Maria Majewska who are interested in exploring issues such as the environment, and animal ethics and how theatre can throw a spotlight onto these issues. Lena is on a quest to find her perfect tinder date and she’s on her 3rd guy this week. In her quest to find that special guy she searches through tinder and decides to go on a date with Chad. Her previous date had been vegan, and she had walked out on him, but would Chad fare any better? He has taken her for dinner, and he chose a vegan starte...