Royal Court Archives - Page 2 of 4

15Jun

By Carole BaldockNo Comments

North West

Vernons Girls – Liverpool’s Royal Court

What could be better on a hot Summer’s night than a feel good show celebrating 50’s red hot property, the Vernon Girls? Hot – weather that is: were this horror, the hairs on your neck would be too plastered down to stand up. Horror? Well, although a cheerful, intriguing blend of music and history, it is horrific, judging by the gasps from the audience at some points. On the one hand, a bunch of talented teenagers whose dreams come true, from company choir to showbiz glamour, on the other – the iron fist, barely clad in a velvet glove, their big bosses, manipulative (the usual platitudes about being one big happy family) and exploitative, don’t see their actions as such. It’s just the way it is. And what an easy way to make lots of money, for them. When Equity points out the girls are ...

A Thong for Europe – Liverpool’s Royal Court

30Apr

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

A Thong for Europe – Liverpool’s Royal Court

One of the biggest things to happen to Liverpool is that Eurovision is coming to the city and because of this shows are popping up with the Eurovision theme. The Royal court was no exception. A Thong for Europe written by Johnathan Harvey and Directed by Stephen Fletcher. Set in Waterloo the show opens with Lulu (Lindzi Germain) giving a eulogy at her mum’s funeral Steph (Eithne Browne) who loved Eurovision. But was sadly taken to the other side by a death trap of a hanging basket. Steph came to Lulu, and requested her ashes be scattered on the Eurovision Stage. Lulu and her son Terry (Andro Cowperthwaite) opened their home so that they could get a bit of extra cash and even maybe tickets to Eurovision it's self so that they can forfill the wish of their dear mother and grandmother. Som...

22Mar

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

Black Superhero – Royal Court

Danny Lee Wynter’s debut play at the Royal Court questions queerness, open relationships and loving your idols. David (Danny Lee Wynter) is unsettled by the route of his life. An actor occasionally auditioning, occasionally sleeping around and still recovering from a traumatic event that brought his life to a halt. Living with his sister Syd, (Rochenda Sandall) he can’t help but question his motive especially when comparing himself to friend and popular superhero in a movie franchise, King (Dyllón Burnside). However, when King reveals that he and his husband have decided to try an open marriage, David is plunged into something he might not be ready for. The action in the piece is highly driven, particularly in the first act. David, who is already vulnerable, creates chaos for himself by...

<strong>Sound of the Underground – Royal Court</strong>

27Jan

By SJ RobertsNo Comments

London

Sound of the Underground – Royal Court

‘Sound of the Underground’ by Travis Alabanza [BURGERZ, Before I Step Outside [You Love Me] and co-created by Debbie Hannan [Constellations, The Panopticon] is an angry, ambivalent, and vibrant call to arms in a crisis of money, dignity, culture and community. This brilliant two act evening of radical art, comprised of some of the brightest stars in the current grass roots drag scene, presents us with these problems and the/a solution- radical art and the rejection of commodification. After a review style introduction to the show (heavily featuring the excellently crass Midgitte Bardot), we are presented with a one scene play. Informed by the traditional theatre setting and location (the salubrious Sloane Square) the curtain rises to a modern kitchen box set. The play begins: beige, ...

The Scousetrap – Liverpool’s Royal Court

29Sep

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

North West

The Scousetrap – Liverpool’s Royal Court

It’s press night for the Royal Court once again as they pack the auditorium and welcome to the stage their latest slice of comedy “Scousetrap”. This play was written by Kevin Fearon during the pandemic and has been adapted by the director Cal McCrystal (and most likely the cast!) to add their own stamp and humour. The show is set in Liverpool (of course) in 1940 when the war is in full flow. The people of Liverpool fear that the Germans are turning their attention to their beloved port and docklands. The only saving grace is that Adolf Hitler used to live in the city, but is this enough to stop the bombing? The storyline follows the city’s greatest private detective, Miss Inga Marble (Eithne Browne) in her quest to discover any German spies and indeed she has her work cut out for her...

19Jun

By Carole GordonNo Comments

London

That Is Not Who I Am – Royal Court

"Just cos it's in your imagination doesn't mean it's not real." Dave Davidson's first (and possibly last) play is a conceit, wrapped in an enigma, inside just about every conspiracy theory on social media. Set in the style of those ever-popular true crime drama documentaries, the playwright acts as narrator, but he/she is also hiding in plain sight. Undercover due to alleged Government surveillance, writer Lucy Kirkwood (Chimerica, Mosquitoes) gives actor Priyana Burford the job of setting the scene and giving voice to the various possibilities of what actually happened. It's the account of Noah and Celeste Quilter, who meet on a blind date, banter, lie to each other, get married, have a much-wanted baby and then fall down the rabbit-hole of conspiracy theories, all while in the grip of...

16Jun

By Daniel CoxNo Comments

North West

Mam! I’m Ere! – Liverpool’s Royal Court

Following its debut 10 years ago at Central Hall in Liverpool ‘Mam! I’m Ere!’ has gone from strength to strength as it found its home at Liverpool’s Royal Court. After providing one of the venues most successful runs in 2015 and still making audiences laugh in 2018, would it be able to bring the energy and audiences following the delayed 2020 run because of COVID-19? Well, Mam! I’m Ere! has arrived in 2022 and you best tell your mother that this production isn’t hiding away anytime soon (and it’s a good job). Along with the blessing of original Mamma Mia director Phyllida Lloyd, director Stephen Fletcher takes a hilarious twist on the well-loved 2008 jukebox musical. He tells the story of Sally, a young woman inviting her potential mothers to her home at a Welsh caravan site to witness ...

two Palestinians go dogging – Royal Court

19May

By Stewart Who?No Comments

London

two Palestinians go dogging – Royal Court

Shireen Abu Akleh, celebrated observer of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Al Jazeera correspondent was recently shot and killed in Jenin in the West Bank. The 51-year-old reported on every flashpoint in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem over three decades. As the Arab world reeled from her death, accusing Israeli forces of wilful assassination, her funeral became an explosive scene as Israeli officers beat mourners while they carried her casket. The circumstances around Abu Akleh death are so inflammatory, emotional and horrific that it seemed sure to ignite new grievance and escalate the conflict. In fact, after 3 days, it’s fallen off the news agenda. There are other wars to focus on. Fresh, shiny battles that aren’t as complex and divisive as the atrocitie...

Hey Bunny Get Loose – Liverpool’s Royal Court

13May

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Hey Bunny Get Loose – Liverpool’s Royal Court

A new play from the royal court theatre in the studio took place last night. Written by Wendy Dickinson, the play sees 30 something Gemma trying to write a blog. Her life has taken a bit of a downward turn. Her marriage is on ice and has unexpectedly been thrown in to caring for 3 rabbits Trent (Alexander Arnold), Mo (Salah) and Firmino. The show has occasional flashbacks in Gemma’s life that led her to this point in the present day. Her blog begins to take off and reaches the national press including the one show as people online want to know everything about her and her buns (bunnies) as well as Trent. Gemma was never one for children at least until Firmino (Robert Firmino) had a litter of bunnies. The show was full of comedy lines and indeed perfect comedy timing. But it also had a d...

5May

By Luke StephensonNo Comments

North West

Macca & Beth – Liverpool’s Royal Court

The Liverpool Royal Court Theatre took us on a trip to bonnie Scotland last night as Macca took his partner Beth to an old house up in the highlands full of secret passageways and mystery. Beth couldn’t believe her luck. Why on earth would Macca bring her to such a place, a place that had no Signal, running water or a toilet. But there was a valid reason. Macca had just been told that he was the last of the McMaccamac’s due to his Uncle McMaccamac’s death. He had to keep it a secret and pass a series of tests before he was to know what was left to him within his late uncles last will in testament. One of the tests being spending a night in the house. There were lots of weird and wonderful creatures within this house and I don’t just mean the taxidermy. Trouble was afoot in the Scottish ...