Friday, March 29

Tag: Matt Powell

Sad-Vents – White Bear Theatre
London

Sad-Vents – White Bear Theatre

Graphic. Gut-wrenching. Bold. Brave. Vulnerable. Vivacious. Lively. A tad too long. Sad-Vents is an avant garde show combining more traditional storytelling with pop technology, directed by Annie McKenzie. As writer-performer Eleanor Hill shares her experiences with trauma and mental illness, her real and virtual worlds collide, opening up the invitation to the audience to also engage virtually through the show’s Instagram page, @sadventsplay. Confined to a cosy set, designed by Constance Villemot, consisting of a bed, a bit of carpet and belongings strewn about, the show quickly draws the audience into not just the bedroom but also the life (and mind) of Eleanor. The technological integration led by Matt Powell is a fun experiment and adds a layer to the show. The rawness of the pe...
Is He Musical? – MP Theatricals
REVIEWS

Is He Musical? – MP Theatricals

In 2022, as much as we’d like to think we’re inclusive, there’s a lot of people who still aren’t, but to put it in perspective; compared to 90 years ago we have come a long way. Is he musical? Is the story of Laurence and Wilfred who are involved in a series of wonderful and indulgent nights across London’s west end, at the back end of 1933. However, because Laurence, Wilfred and their friends are gay, these evenings are held in secret. How long can this go on? Will they be found out? Jude Taylor’s (he/him) musical comedy takes us on a journey, not only back in time, but also a journey of emotions. We live the highs and lows with Laurence and Wilfred and experience their emotions too. The book on the whole, is good, but with a bit more work, it could be a truly great piece of theatr...
Public Domain – Vaudeville Theatre
London

Public Domain – Vaudeville Theatre

There is a fresh breeze blowing through the world of musical theatre from the general direction of Forristal and Clarke.  This very on-trend musical does not hold back in its dissection of social media, and as we emerge, bleary eyed from the latest lockdown, it is making a very relevant point. It is all too easy to reach for the smart phone, iPad or laptop to see what is going on outside your front door, when you cannot leave the house, we are sociable animals and need interaction.  Hidden, lurking behind this online socialisation is a world of capitalism, where every click is monitored, every search is logged.   With this in mind, ‘Public Domain’ attempts to give us a musical, collating the words of others, via Tweets, Instagram posts and You Tube videos.  ...