There is a song, Angles, by Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, about how nothing is as clear cut and simple as it might seem. In just three minutes and 56 seconds it speeds through four characters, all connected by one incident that has terrible consequences for all involved. Except each character sees themselves as the good guy, and views others involved as the bad one, as the one that is the cause of so many of society’s problems. Look ...
Read More »Monthly Archives: May 2019
Everything today is the same, Katzpace – Review
A smart, fresh take on a modern dystopian setting
Read More »The Talented Mr Ripley, Wilton’s Music Hall – Review
Because film is such a powerful medium it naturally becomes a reference point for any stage adaptation. The Talented Mr Ripley is a perfect example, coming twenty years after the big screen version starring Matt Damon and Jude Law. Here the four principal characters, within a self-contained plot, seem to suit the stage well. The understated grandeur of Wilton’s Music Hall also provides a natural atmosphere in which to crank up the tension. Tom Ripley (Christopher Hughes) is a small ...
Read More »Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens, Union Theatre – Review
A celebration of life, and a reminder that the fight is far from over.
Read More »Does My Bomb Look Big in This, Soho Theatre – Review
Does My Bomb Look Big in This? was born from actor Nyla Levy’s dissatisfaction with being typecast as a ‘jihadi bride’. It deals with teenager Yasmin’s (played by Levy) slow enticement into, what she thinks, is a hopeful new life for her with ISIS. There’s a meta aspect to the play, as it consciously acknowledges its theatrical form to put forward the story of Yasmin, and her best friend Aisha (Halema Hussain). The two play myriad characters, including their family ...
Read More »Beats On Pointe, Peacock Theatre – Review
If you’re into dance, the Peacock should be on your radar. It plays host to some of the most original productions around, yes. But just as importantly, it gives you an up-close-and-personal view of that all-important footwork from virtually every seat in the house. This intimate vibe works particularly well for Beats On Pointe, a groundbreaking Australian dance show on the first stop of its world tour. It’s sold as ‘an electric fusion of street dance and ballet’. But that’s ...
Read More »Interview: Playwright David Finnigan on ‘Kill Climate Deniers’
'Kill Climate Deniers' playwright David Finnigan chats about the maximalist show and the controversies it's already generated.
Read More »Othello, Brunel Museum, Rotherhithe – Review
The hierarchy between Othello (Peace Oseyenum) and the sneaky network of unfaithfuls beneath him/her (although the actors are female, the characters are still their original gender) is set up around the stairs, at the outset of the play, which wouldn’t be possible in a usual theatre. So, from the first moment, we feel the long, dark tunnel stretching out above and beneath us. This is a place of no escape, and as Othello descends the stairs, you get the feeling ...
Read More »A Love Letter to Overtures Piano Bar
Bryony Taylor heads to Overtures Piano Bar for a night of singing and interview with founder Ray Rackham.
Read More »Summer Street, Waterloo East Theatre – Review
The posters displayed around the always welcoming lobby of Waterloo East Theatre ask the questions “Love Kylie? Love the 90s? Love Soap?”. The worrying thing is I can confidently state the answer is “no” to two of these questions; as for the 90s, I have vague recollections of them, usually of being in some dark dingy venue watching long forgotten bands. So even before taking my seat I was a little concerned I was not the shows target audience. Thankfully ...
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