Saturday, April 4

Tag: Niamh Cusack

Vincent in Brixton – Orange Tree Theatre
London

Vincent in Brixton – Orange Tree Theatre

A young lover, a religious zealot, or a tragic genius? Vincent Van Gogh is remembered almost exclusively as one of the above. One of the founding idols in the cult of artistic misery, his legacy is not an uncomplicated one. Vincent in Brixton is, on the other hand, simply marvellous. The play itself, by Nicholas Wright is a precise and thought-provoking incision into an underexplored segment of the artist’s life. Neither obnoxiously philosophical or politically apathetic the experience of watching it unfold is not unlike a night in with good friends, good food, and decent beer. The wonder of this production however is in its masterful direction and extraordinary cast. The Orange Tree Theatre, an already intimate space, is transformed by the utterly brilliant Charlotte Henery into a func...
The Seven Pomegranate Seeds – Rose Theatre
London

The Seven Pomegranate Seeds – Rose Theatre

Fifteen years after it was commissioned and performed as a staged reading, Colin Teevan’s contemporary amalgamation of mythical stories receives a stunning production at the Rose Theatre in Kingston. Directed and designed by Melly Still, the text brings to life the legends of female characters from Euripedes’ plays, namely Persephone, Hypsipyle, Medea, Alcestis, Phaedra, Creusa and Demeter, and situates them in the present-day UK. Each story touches upon different themes – rage, fear, vanity, obsession and more – and are tied together with a larger thread of motherhood, grief and loss. The show is backed by formidable performances by Niamh Cusack and Shannon Hayes who rely on rhythmic vocal delivery and effortless movement quality to bring out the best in Teevan’s text. Hayes’ embodimen...