The Courtyard Theatre Archives

17Aug

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Cocaine – The Courtyard Theatre

Written by Pendleton King in 1917 and relocated to the 1980s for this Camden Fringe production, ‘Cocaine’ is an intimate and affecting examination of addiction, dependency and a relationship pushed towards breaking point. Directed by Sushant Nair, this compelling two-hander succeeds through simplicity, placing its confidence almost entirely in King’s writing and two extremely strong performances. Joe, once a promising boxer, has seen his potential consumed by cocaine addiction. Alongside him is Nora, who wrestles with her love for him, her own dependency and the exhausting reality of trying to keep them both afloat. The play is not principally concerned with the sensation or spectacle of drug use, instead, it focuses on the emotional consequences, examining the ways addiction distor...

23Aug

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

London

Lavender – The Courtyard Theatre

We meet Edie (Maisy Fuggle) as she consults a psychiatrist in an effort to come to terms with the loss of a loved one. We are then taken on a journey of Edie’s life with Harvey (Patryk Wachowiak), who she meets in a coffee shop when she is venting to the barista about her coffee, which is definitely not made with coconut milk as requested. Harvey is intrigued by this fiery girl that he met in the coffee shop, and they begin dating. Harvey is a book shop assistant, and Edie works in an estate agency in a job that she complains about constantly. The couple grow closer together, meeting each other’s parents and eventually decide to move in together. The couple have their whole life ahead of them, making plans to go on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday to Australia, a...

Isn’t It Byronic – The Courtyard Theatre

23Aug

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

London

Isn’t It Byronic – The Courtyard Theatre

As if you had not guessed by the title, this is a show about Lord Byron – no not the pub (of which I am sure there are many), but the romantic poet who penned his verse in the late 18th and early 19th century. Performer Zoe Maltby is a little obsessed with Byron, and to prove it, she has made a show in reverence to him, but in allusion to his very promiscuous lifestyle, Maltby summons up the camp, drag artist within herself, to become Lord George Gordon Byron – well sometimes at least! Maltby, clearly knows her Byron, and as she explores his life and work in a chaotic, dramatic, festival of riotous fun. Audience members are harpooned with the microphone and encouraged to participate within the realms of a script, but it is Maltby’s sharing of her personal difficulties, t...

Cricket & The Freebugs – The Courtyard Theatre

27Aug

By Anisha PucadyilNo Comments

London

Cricket & The Freebugs – The Courtyard Theatre

Frisky Halfspeed Productions brings together a motley crew of bugs that make a band tiding over loneliness and alienation. Want to be your niece's favourite aunt? Head to the Courtyard theatre near Shoreditch and settle them down for this delightful musical; pair it with going to a meadow and looking for the crickets, ladybirds, dung beetles, walking stick, ants and spiders you just saw! Written and directed by Johan Ribbing, it combines soul-funk music, memorable characters and witty lines. There is something for adults and kids, being a musical that platforms diverse instruments like the saxophone, tambourine, guitar, piano, ukelele, drums and trumpet. We are taken on the transformational journey of Crickety Cricket, setting out on an adventure to find a band of his ow...