Ukraine Fringe Archives - North West End UK

The Tragedy of Dorian Gray – Ukraine Fringe

3Sep

By Donna M DayNo Comments

REVIEWS

The Tragedy of Dorian Gray – Ukraine Fringe

Blue Devil Productions’ The Tragedy of Dorian Gray is an original reinterpretation of Oscar Wilde’s classic novel, which takes the hedonism and debauchery of Gray’s character, amplifies it, and spreads it across a cast of characters who are deliciously unlikeable. Written and directed by Ross Dinwiddy, this unique take on the memorable horror begins in London during the swinging sixties, and unveils a dark world of celebrity, corruption, drugs, alcohol, and scandals. The play opens during an exhibition of the work of artist, Basil Hallward (Christopher Sherwood). The cynical and vulturous Mavis Ruxton (Heather Alexander) and Harry Wotton (Kace Monney) survey the room with wry amusement analysing where the best gossip will come from. Observing the shy and socially anxious Alan Campbell (...

30Aug

By Donna M DayNo Comments

REVIEWS

Read to Me – Ukraine Fringe

Covert Firmament’s Read to Me is a criminal drama exploring how far someone would be willing to go for love. Directed and written by Dan Horrigan based on a story written by Horrigan in collaboration with Sarah Jennings, it tells the story of Rollin who has dyslexia and has recently been imprisoned at Strangeways. The piece is narrated by Rollin and shows him and two other prisoners in a voluntary talking therapy group. He is the first to share the story of how he ended up in prison and frequent asides which break the fourth wall, show the complexity of his character. History like that of the other prisoners allow the three men to bond over common ground. Flashback scenes show Rollin meeting the woman he fell in love with and reading her Tarot cards. Parallels between the languag...

The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood – Ukraine Fringe

30Aug

By Donna M DayNo Comments

REVIEWS

The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood – Ukraine Fringe

The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood, based on Atwood’s novel of the same name, is a feminist retelling of The Odyssey, from the point of view of Penelope, Odysseus’ wife and her twelve maidens. Directed by Frederique Michel, this stage interpretation of Atwood’s book takes full advantage of the traditional Greek chorus, bringing together an ensemble cast and creating a strong reflection on the well-known and celebrated myth. The play opens with haunting bells and Penelope, alone, walking onto the stage. The action takes place in Hades and Penelope is taking the opportunity to tell her side of the Odyssey story, but it is of course difficult to overwrite an established myth. Her maidens appear on the stage, with their arms tied while they laugh hysterically. Penelope begins to tell the ...

Desfazenda – Bury me out of this place – Ukraine Fringe

28Aug

By Donna M DayNo Comments

REVIEWS

Desfazenda – Bury me out of this place – Ukraine Fringe

O Bonde’s Desfazenda – Bury me out of this place, is a unique play exploring the lives of four people, 40 (Ailton Barros), 23 (Filipe Celestino), 12 (Jhonny Salaberg) and 13 (Marina Esteves), who were taken to a farm as children and enslaved. They are supervised by Zero, a foreman who is the only one who sees the priest who owns the farm. Directed by Roberta Estrela D’Alvia, and written by Lucas Moura, this original drama is both heartbreaking and horrifying, as the characters realise that the world outside the farm might not be exactly what they’ve been told it is. The play was originally performed in São Paulo and is performed in Portuguese with English subtitles. The piece opens with haunting singing and an upside-down view of the sea. We hear a mother and child discussing an animal ...

28Aug

By Donna M DayNo Comments

REVIEWS

Mary & Mietek – Ukraine Fringe

Katla Theatre’s Mary & Mietek is a dramatic, dual timeline love story, written by Maria Laumark in association with director Abi Smith, and inspired by the real-life love letters between wartime sweethearts, Mary, an English bank clerk and Mietek, a Polish soldier she met at a dance. In the play, Mary and Mietek are Ben’s (Louis Cruzat) grandparents, and he has brought their letters to the airport where he recently ex-girlfriend, Alma (Laumark) is waiting for a flight back to her home country of Denmark following the breakdown of their relationship. The play opens with Laumark stood on an empty stage holding a suitcase with Joel Marten in the background performing music he composed specifically for the show. A feeling of poignancy is created with this gentle music from the start and...

How I Met My Mother – Ukraine Fringe Online

23Aug

By Angela KellyNo Comments

REVIEWS

How I Met My Mother – Ukraine Fringe Online

Produced by RibbitRePublic Theatre and being performed for Ukraine Fringe, ‘How I Met my mother’ is a solo performance by Jonathan Paterson. Directed by Vanesa Quesnelle the show is an autobiographical narrative of one man’s experience of living with his mother who has Dementia. The story telling is on point from the opening of the show- Paterson is immediately charming, warm and engaging. Stage presence comes naturally to Paterson and the audience are captivated. His storytelling is relayed both in the present time and also in the past as he alternates between the two which works well as he relays his story with nothing held back. The show provides an insight into Paterson as a performer also through his honesty in relation to his ADHD, explaining this to the audience as he closes a do...