Written and Directed by Amir Nizar ZuabiA ShiberHur, Young Vic production co-produced with the Bush Theatre and KVS Brussels, part of World Stages London★★★★ Pros: Original, engaging, thought-provoking. Cons: Bit weird and very uncomfortable in a couple of places. Our Verdict: A great venue if you’ve never been before. Go if you want to really be challenged by something. Courtesy of Spoonfed When I sat down in the auditorium and read ‘young lamb’ in the cast list I was a ...
Read More »Monthly Archives: May 2012
The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare’s Globe
Ilaaje Zid Dastiyaab HayTheatre Wallay, in association with KASHF foundation★★★ Pros: A big achievement for Pakistan’s theatre scene. Cons: Ran a bit long, especially the first half. Our Verdict: Despite it’s difficulties, a great contribution to a brilliant festival. Courtesy of Simon Annand for the Arts Desk One of the wonderful things about the Globe to Globe festival – and there are many – is that as each country brings its play to the stage, each audience reflects the culture ...
Read More »The Sunshine Boys, The Savoy Theatre
Neil SimonDirected by Thea Sharrock★★★ Pros: A rare chance to see DeVito and Griffiths on stage, and both are on great form. Cons: Doesn’t actually deliver as many laughs as other comedies on at the moment. Our Verdict: Not essential viewing, but very enjoyable. Definitely go if you’re a hardcore fan of either actors. Courtesy of Alistair Muir for the Daily Telegraph The first thought that will probably cross your mind as the curtain goes up for The Sunshine Boys ...
Read More »BABEL, Caledonian Park
A collaboration between World Stages London, WildWorks and Battersea Arts Centre. ★★ Pros: An intriguing idea and parts of it work very well. It’s nice to see that ambitious, large scale projects do still get made. Definitely makes for a unique evening, even if it’s not completely you’re thing. Cons: Mud, lots of mud. And despite tremendous effort it didn’t quite come together Our Verdict: A bold idea full of good intent, but didn’t quite hit the right note Courtesy ...
Read More »Othello, Shakespeare’s Globe
William ShakespeareRemixed by The Q Brothers★★★★★ Pros: A very strong and entertaining modernisation of a Shakespeare classic. Cons: The tragedy loses something in translation. Shakespeare’s original text is overwritten – not for purists. Our Verdict: A must-see, if nothing else to see a version of Othello quite unlike you have ever witnessed, or ever will again. Image courtesy of The Arts Desk Shakespeare’s Globe couldn’t have timed their Globe to Globe initiative any better. Coinciding with the World Shakespeare Festival, ...
Read More »REDfest, Old Red Lion Theatre
New writing festival, various writers and directors★★★★ Pros: Great idea overall, very engaging and easy to watch and some very good pieces of new writing. Cons: Risky, there are some pieces that aren’t so good, and the theatre was too full when we were there! Our Verdict: A great evening of new writing at a charming venue, well worth a trip for the final week! Courtesy of the Old Red Lion Theatre The last time we went to Islington’s favourite pub ...
Read More »Globe to Globe Festival, Shakespeare’s Globe
A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Korean, part of the Globe to Globe Festival ★★★★★ Pros: £5 yard tickets (best view in the house), eye-opener on to a whole new world of Shakespeare. Cons: I took slight offense to a member of the audience describing the performance as ‘groovy’. Our Verdict: Pick a play you know and like and then prepare to be blown away! Courtesy of Globe to Globe We Brits might not be world class at many things and ...
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