White Bear Theatre Archives - North West End UK

The Problem with the Seventh Year – White Bear Theatre

6Nov

By Charles PipeNo Comments

London

The Problem with the Seventh Year – White Bear Theatre

In this one-man show, James McGrgory plays a mediocre medical student who is also a mediocre amateur boxer. He realises that his middling skills in both fields can be combined to make him an excellent cutman: the person responsible for patching a boxer’s wounds between rounds. (Even if you don’t know much about boxing, the play explains the sport just enough that you’ll be able to keep up.) Like a Scorsese movie, the plot meanders through various events in this character’s career as he interacts with shady characters, gets into scrapes, and scrabbles to make a decent life for himself. McGregor’s performance is enjoyably intense. The character has a certain charm and sweetness, and it’s endearing to hear him gush lovingly about boxing, but there is an unsettling aggression and anger ...

5May

By Anisha PucadyilNo Comments

London

Kunstler – White Bear Theatre

Riotous, engaging, and will keep you on the edge of your seat. Jeffrey Sweet's Kunstler is making its European Premier at The White Bear Theatre from 1st May. Prepare to be mesmerized by a remarkable performance from Broadway star Jeff McCarthy, who brings Kunstler to life with his impeccable mannerisms, sharp wit, and characteristic humour. The play, set with dialogue only between two actors on stage, masterfully brings to life a litany of American freedom Politics. Nykila Norman and Jeff McCarthy's exchanges are a dance of intellect and wit as they spar over the critical cases Kunstler took up. The dialogue adds depth and tension to the narrative, keeping the audience engaged and intrigued. It is no mean feat to bring to the stage the life of William Moses Kunstler, a prolif...

10Apr

By Klervi GavetNo Comments

London

The Retreat – White Bear Theatre

From the writer & creator of “Peep Show” & “Fresh Meat” comes a disappointing, often predictable farce on spirituality, mental health and the pressure of modern living. Monk-in-the-making Luke (Jed McLoughlin) escaped London’s City life and painful events to find inner peace at a spiritual retreat in the Scottish Highlands. His coke and sex addict of a brother, Tony (Harry Harding), comes to bring him down from his Gaelic cloud and back into carnal reality. Ensues an endless series of easy plot revelations, which sadly turns the play into a classic, yet unimaginative topping improv exercise of “Yes and…” There is little to no subtext here, nor emotional reality to hold on to. The somewhat intimate, confessional moments feel unearned. The childish blaming game gets old fast...

9Jul

By Riana HowarthNo Comments

London

Dracula’s Guest – White Bear Theatre

Brother Wolf presents this creative adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula’s Guest. The title is suitably euphemistic as it is revealed that Mr Renfield is being held against his will as Dracula continually glosses over this with a grandiose/ mocking hospitality. Dracula delves into the past, mapping out the scene to an eventual conclusion in which Renfield is forced to choose between two diabolical options. In the intimate studio space, the stage is minimal with a table, two chairs and a few props. One of which is a rotting pig’s head on a platter, a constant reminder of the grim, uneasy undercurrent. An eerie environment is instantly established as Dracula walks in with an open music box. There is a chilling atmosphere as you envision them surrounded by the gloomy walls and maze of a cas...

25Jun

By Aditi DalalNo Comments

London

Sad-Vents – White Bear Theatre

Graphic. Gut-wrenching. Bold. Brave. Vulnerable. Vivacious. Lively. A tad too long. Sad-Vents is an avant garde show combining more traditional storytelling with pop technology, directed by Annie McKenzie. As writer-performer Eleanor Hill shares her experiences with trauma and mental illness, her real and virtual worlds collide, opening up the invitation to the audience to also engage virtually through the show’s Instagram page, @sadventsplay. Confined to a cosy set, designed by Constance Villemot, consisting of a bed, a bit of carpet and belongings strewn about, the show quickly draws the audience into not just the bedroom but also the life (and mind) of Eleanor. The technological integration led by Matt Powell is a fun experiment and adds a layer to the show. The rawness of the per...