Soho Theatre Archives - Page 2 of 5

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 themselve...

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, dra...

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 missin...

Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not To Come – Soho Theatre

31May

By Maani WayNo Comments

London

Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not To Come – Soho Theatre

“What does it mean to be ‘brown’?” Based on the multi award-winning BBC Sounds podcast (‘Best Podcast of the Year’ at the British Podcast Awards 2020 and Asian Media Awards 2021), this production is a whirlwind of slapstick comedy, emotion and discovery. Starring Poppy Jay and Rubina Pabani, this performance is an honest and true representation of second-generation Asian women growing up in Britain. As well as exploring their many fantasies and sexpectations, these women discuss their battle with wanting to be ‘white’ and embracing their ‘brown’ culture simultaneously. Set to a backdrop of 90s and 2000s nostalgia, including poster artwork of iconic films such as Bend It Like Beckham and 10 Things I Hate About You, the audience is completely transported into the bedroom of a teenage ...

22Apr

By Stewart Who?No Comments

London

Splintered – Soho Theatre

‘How do you deal with coming out joyfully in a homophobic culture?’ This is the awkward question asked by Emily Aboud in her prize-winning show Splintered. In truth, same sex love isn’t overly celebrated anywhere on this melting, agitated planet. It’s geographical lottery that decides the level of homophobia one might experience should you start waving a rainbow flag. In Brunei, Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and in some northern states of Nigeria, coming out might end in state enforced death sentence. Coming out in Cheam may be easier than in Chechnya, but unicorns and glitter aren’t guaranteed. Attitudes to queerness in the Caribbean stem from a very complex tangle of elements. It’s only quite recently that there’s been an understanding that laws criminalising homosexual relat...

6Apr

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

Sap – Soho Theatre

Originally performed at Edinburgh Fringe, I was eager to know why this show was a consistent sell out during the festival. Writer, Rafaella Marcus has brought us a retelling of the Greek myth ‘Daphne’ sought after by Apollo and to escape him turns herself into a tree. Often used as a device exploring sexual assault and violence however in this story, Daphne is Bisexual who is desperately ashamed and would much rather lie than confront the people she loves. With one lie, a seed is planted and from that a dark and tragic path is laid out. Only a 70 minute piece and every second completely enchanting to watch, two actors (Jessica Clark and Rebecca Banatvala) swerve through the space like seasoned pros with every click, move and nod perfectly synchronised with the lights and sound. Moving ...

1Mar

By Gonzalo SentanaNo Comments

London

BriTANick – Soho Theatre

They tell you to laugh and you laugh. They tell you how much to laugh, and you listen. But when you try to stop laughing, that seems impossible. Welcome to BriTANick. The comedy duo of Nick Kocher and Brian McElhaney, under the direction of Alex Edelman and produced by Zach Zucker and Allegra Rosenberg, brings a thrilling series of short comedy sketches with a non-stopping rhythm and precision that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Starting with a very short slapstick sketch of an annoying spirit that decides to haunt an innocent reader, the audience will be quickly introduced into this clockwork machinery were the two actors play a version of themselves playing characters through eight sketches and some intermezzos. The deceptively simple mechanism of addressing the audience ...

22Feb

By Anisha AnantpurkarNo Comments

London

Age Is a Feeling – Soho Theatre

‘Here are twelve stories about what’s to come in your adult years’, says Haley McGee at the top of Age Is a Feeling, and for some reason, I instantly trust her. The stage is set with a tall lifeguard chair, with lit candles on a small platform underneath the seat. The chair sits in the centre of a circle marked by 12 pole-like potted flowering plants. Each plant bears a small card with a word written on it in large letters. The audience hears 6 stories, each picked by an audience member, and we are left with just a hint of what might’ve happened in the ones we don’t pick. Haley McGee, barefoot and dressed in a black blouse featuring some lace and jeans soiled by dirt, picks some cards off the plants and walks towards members of the audience seated closest to the stage. She then asks...

10Feb

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Breathless – Soho Theatre

Laura Horton's "Breathless" is a stunningly crafted and expertly performed play that explores the complexities of self-discovery and the challenges of growth. The play follows the journey of Sophie, a woman in her late-thirties, who opens up to new experiences and begins to delve into long-repressed aspects of herself. With humour and poignancy, Horton delves into the heart of Sophie's struggle as she grapples with the secret of her compulsive hoarding habits and the fear of being discovered for who or what she really is. The play is heart-warming and offers up an incredibly genuine performance by Madeleine Macmahon as Sophie. Her portrayal of the character is both hilarious and touching, capturing the confusion and vulnerability of Sophie's journey with nuance and sensitivity. The ...