Soho Theatre Archives - Page 2 of 6

52 Monologues for Young Transsexuals – Soho Theatre

6Mar

By Stewart Who?No Comments

London

52 Monologues for Young Transsexuals – Soho Theatre

Despite the apparent universal agreement that ‘culture wars’ are destructive, divisive and politically debilitating, there’s little sign of a ceasefire. In fact, the bad faith battles which raged with ugly fervour on social media have become the lingua franca of senior members of the cabinet and the UK’s Prime Minister. Vindictive conflict, which bins truth for fraudulent punches has been normalised on a global scale. Caught in the relentless crossfire, the trans community has been widely forced to retreat, for self-care and preservation. While the ‘trans agenda’ obsessively preoccupies the media, it’s rare to actually hear a trans perspective that isn’t then trounced and savaged by a ‘gender critical’ diatribe. High kicking and lip synching into this grim mise-en-scène are Laurie Ward ...

1Mar

By Eleanor HallNo Comments

London

Lucy and Friends – Soho Theatre

Dressed as a tree, Lucy McCormick takes the mic aside the tech box. She tells us that there’s a problem with the tech and that the show can’t go on. “Only joking!” she shouts. The fun has only just begun. ‘Lucy and Friends’ is an expectation-defying, fluid-splattering bonanza that leaves you gasping and giggling on repeat. It is a high camp meta-theatrical treasure. But heed the age rating and content warnings… this show is not one to see with the parents! McCormick is an outstanding performer and knows her audience well. Jokes about Arts Council funding requirements were met with bouts of laughter, as she asserted her ultimate goal: to create a community of ‘friends’ within the theatre. From here onwards, audience members were asked to represent people in her life, throw confetti wh...

13Feb

By Anisha PucadyilNo Comments

London

Self Raising – Soho Theatre

Self Raising is a moving account of the autobiographical story of Jenny Sealey, Funny, poignant, witty and intelligent. Using the memoir form she paints the significant moments, adults and photographs that have left an inedible mark on her life. The joy of being in a theatre with so many diverse patrons itself is Self Raising’s biggest achievement. Disabled members of our society do not have many venues that are accessible, productions that are sensitive or innovatively incorporate signing and live captions in their performance. When Jenny Sealey and her interpreter walk on stage encouraging the audience to continue talking, but no one does because she has our undivided attention. Jenny’s unfettered candour warmth and generosity make our curiosity and investment in her story grow with t...

30Oct

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

Boy Parts – Soho Theatre

After a huge TikTok following and cult fan group, author Eliza Clark created a fan club for women with rage. The story follows Irina, a photographer who finds art in violence and gore. She chooses her male subjects with exact images in mind, she won’t compromise her desire of ‘perfection’ up until the very last shot. Many reviews compare it to a female ‘American Psycho’ but I would argue we are exploring the endless pit of ‘The Male Gaze’ as women can never quite escape the sexualisation, the ‘pats on the head’ for their fragility- even when she shows the depth of her evil she will never be a threat. Irina is so full of rage that she’s numb. The language in the book is dirty, uncomfortable and this is what excites fans so much because it’s unusual to explore evil women this way and as you ...

10Sep

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

Strategic Love Play – Soho Theatre

Dating in this day and age seems to be getting harder and harder, what with less natural ‘bumping into someone’ and more organised ‘meet ups’ with your fingers crossed that a spark lights and then you can finally relax because you’re back on track. ‘Him’ and ‘Her’ (Archie Backhouse and Letty Thomas) find themselves in a pub with two pints and both completely willing to make it work. But it doesn’t, she makes it difficult admitting that she’s unlovable and all she asks is for him to not lie. He, confused then of course lies and says ‘you’re great’ but I think I’m going to leave. Somehow she convinces him to stay. The next hour takes us through a whole evening of deep, truthful conversation ending with a contract of what ‘this’ is. They agree to be like those old couples holding hands, compl...

Esther Manito: Hell Hath No Fury – Soho Theatre

19Aug

By Anisha PucadyilNo Comments

London

Esther Manito: Hell Hath No Fury – Soho Theatre

Kills, crushes and conquers. Esther Manito is a one-woman band crafting potions filled with laughing gas. She pulls a violin to tenderly pull strings of one’s heart and then pulls the trumpet out right the next second. Her physicality and character recreations are remarkable. The sixty minutes comedy set will have you laughing so much that you will be crying. She quips about the challenges women face in navigating life but serves it like a margarita. Shaken and not stirred and with salt. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned goes the proverb telling us about a woman who has been rejected by a man who can be ferociously angry and vindictive. Esther Manito is a woman at the top of her form, she has been able to rise in power by her astute observations placing parallelly her lived expe...

The Arc: A Trilogy of New Jewish Plays – Soho Theatre

19Aug

By Anisha PucadyilNo Comments

London

The Arc: A Trilogy of New Jewish Plays – Soho Theatre

Emanate Productions has brought to the Soho stage brand-new plays by Amy Rosenthal, Alexis Zegerman and Ryan Craig. The trilogy packs a punch by looking at the universal themes of birth, marriage and death, each adding its twist and flowing very beautifully from one to another. The production has been successful in bringing together both established and emerging Jewish artists, in an attempt to bridge the gap between experience and to provide a safe environment to foster exciting and challenging work. The first play, ‘birth’ is set at the moment a gynaecologist is confronted by his patient about his choices at her birth. birth reflects on some of techniques millennials adopt to understand and reflect on their trauma while juxtaposing it with how elders tended to dust themselves...

19Jul

By Akshay RahejaNo Comments

London

Diana – Soho Theatre

In Diana, a captivating one-person musical, Peter Smith draws inspiration from the enigmatic Diana, the blonde British icon who bared her soul on television. Smith, a renowned figure in the New York cabaret circuit, reveals their fascination with Diana, ignited by watching Martin Bashir's infamous interview. Yet, the show appears more about Smith, frequently delving into anecdotes about family, leaving us perplexed about its true focus. The lack of clarity leaves us yearning for a clearer narrative. Smith excels at crafting sensationalist one-liners, but disappointingly, do not lead anywhere substantial. Instead, it feels like a collection of shallow headlines, akin to tabloid gossip that entices but lacks depth. This alluring yet ultimately open production leaves much to be desired. ...

Adam Riches: The Beakington Town Hall Murders – Soho Theatre

14Jun

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Adam Riches: The Beakington Town Hall Murders – Soho Theatre

Adam Riches’ captivating performance in ‘The Beakington Town Hall Murders’ at Soho Theatre delivered a boisterous evening of entertainment, leaving the audience in stitches from start to finish. This highly interactive and participatory production showcased Riches’ remarkable talent for comedic storytelling, combining it with an immersive and unique “whodunit” style play. Despite the London audience being much smaller than anticipated, the intimate setting of Soho Theatre only enhanced the overall experience. With the theatre barely half-filled, an atmosphere of anticipation and exclusivity was palpable, providing an immediate connection between the performer and the audience, and with the threat from Riches that “no one is safe”, Riches was able to engage directly with spectators, draw...

Panti Bliss: If These Wigs Could Talk – Soho Theatre

1Jun

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Panti Bliss: If These Wigs Could Talk – Soho Theatre

On a warm and vibrant evening at the esteemed Soho Theatre, Panti Bliss sets down her dancing shoes and returns to walking the boards with her bold and glamourous theatre show. The “Queen of Ireland” takes centre stage in an extraordinary display of talent, wit, and unapologetic charm in the celebrated one-woman production, ‘If These Wigs Could Talk’. Having walked into an overture of toe-tapping, camp club classics, the lights dimmed, and the stage came alive with an infectious energy that immediately captivated the packed audience, setting the tone for a remarkable and personal theatrical experience. From the very beginning, Panti was effortless in her command of the stage with an undeniable presence, earned with years of experience, she exuded confidence and a mature grace missing...