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Monthly Archives: July 2013

Genesis New Writing Night, Genesis Cinema

Presented by Genesis Cinema Directed by William Walsh ★★★★ Pros: A chance to witness some early work from up-and-coming playwrights. Cons: Some plays need quite a bit of rewriting. Our Verdict: A fun night out and a chance to mingle with the actors and playwrights. Courtesy of Genesis Cinema I must admit I was a tad nervous at being given this assignment. I have been to numerous new writing evenings and quite a few have been terrible. They are often far too ...

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Treatment, Drayton Arms Theatre

Written & Directed by Raymond-Kym Suttle ★★★★ Pros: A well developed storyline that touches nerves in everyone’s lives – delivered with passion by the whole cast. Very emotionally engaging. Cons: Some may find the themes cliché and the acting soapy. It could do with a bit more balance in role distribution. Our Verdict: A tremendous collective effort that succeeds in bringing a strong message of paternal love and homophobic prejudice together. A very enjoyable night out at this Old Brompton ...

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The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) (revised), Leicester Square Theatre

William Shakespeare Adapted by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield Directed by Matt Rippy ★★★★★ Pros: Great venue, enthusiastic performances, perfectly timed comedy. These renditions of the Bard’s work will appeal to keen Shakespeare fans and the not so keen alike. Cons: None except that the queue at the bar was a bit long at the interval, but when is it not?Our Verdict: A brilliantly timed, hilarious homage to Shakespeare’s work which appeals to audiences of all ages. Courtesy of Reduced Shakespeare ...

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Skin Tight, Park Theatre

Gary Henderson Directed by Jemma Gross ★★★★ Pros: Stand out performances and well-written dialogue that really hits home. Cons: I would have liked a little more detail on the story of their family, but it’s a really minor quibble considering the packed content of the relatively short play. Our Verdict: A strong production that expertly carries you through highs, lows, laughter and tears. Credit: Andy Colbourne The Park is a newcomer to the London theatre scene: it first opened its ...

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Macbeth, Lion and Unicorn Theatre

William Shakespeare Presented by Wyrd Sisters Theatre ★★★ Pros: Beautifully performed by each and every cast member. Cons: The immense heat came close to ruining the experience. Our Verdict: A fantastic rendition of this Shakespearean classic, but bring a fan! Credit: Ciaran Cunningham I was intrigued to see this unusual version of Shakespeare’s Scottish play from the Wyrd Sisters Theatre Company. Made up of an all-female cast – aside from the three male witches – the Bard’s dark tragedy is ...

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The Ladykillers, Vaudeville Theatre

Adapted by Graham LinehamDirected by Sean Foley★★★★ Pros: The main cast are skilled in delivering slapstick comedy and have excellent comic timing. The set is also very impressive and innovative. Cons: Some people may be put off by the silly humour, which is reminiscent of The Pink Panther and Gambit. Our Verdict: Slightly chaotic but overall an enjoyable performance with some laugh out loud moments. Courtesy of Vaudeville Theatre Following a successful run at the Liverpool Playhouse in 2011 and ...

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Glasshouse, The Battersea Arts Centre

The Honest Crowd★★   Pros: It’s unique and quite funny at times. The performers show excellent composure in the face of adversity. Cons: A little repetitive in the early stages and fairly unpleasant to watch at times. Not for those who don’t like a little audience-participation. Our verdict: An interesting experiment and very well performed. The script, while simple, does its job. Fans of performance art and surrealism may enjoy it. My friends will tell you that I don’t like ...

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The Precariat, Finborough Theatre

Emily Pulham Directed by Chris Dunkley ★★★★ Pros: All of the actors are excellent, and convincing. A very minimal set is cleverly utilised to add conviction to the scenes, and the theatre has a great atmosphere. Cons: Some of the more political rants don’t always sound true to the characters who are speaking them, and feel a little preachy (although the rants are not without purpose). Our Verdict: A wonderful piece – well cast, moving, enjoyable, thought provoking and darkly ...

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In Cahoots, Hen and Chickens

Paul Raymond & Luke ManningDirected by Paul Raymond and Luke Manning★★★ Pros: Fresh, energetic and original. In Cahoots show a lot of promise and works the audience well, especially in such a small venue. Their improvisation is very strong and shows real comedic talent underneath the written material. Cons: The performance wasn’t as slick as it might have been. Whilst this added a certain organic quality to their show, they need to be careful not to let it get out ...

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