Pros: Visual alchemy – the production design and Grand Hall setting combined to create delightful thematic echoes that enhanced the whole experience. Cons: With so much going on visually and sonically, the text felt unnecessarily wordy sometimes. At last summer’s Edinburgh Fringe, I was sad to miss Adam in its first triumphantly sold out run, but now I’m glad I had to wait. From Egypt to Glasgow, from Woman to Man – seeing this global transgender odyssey in the newly ...
Read More »Author Archives: Laura Sampson
Prom Kween, Underbelly Cowgate – Review
A riotously fun crowd-pleaser which wraps glitter and fluff around an intelligent and utterly convincing message.
Read More »Out – Underbelly @ Edinburgh Fringe – Review
Pros: Great music and sound, riveting movement, a lot of vitamin C Cons: More guidance about context before the show would have enhanced the experience. We filed into the space as two performers (one male, one female) danced beside each other to the kind of insistent Dancehall beat that tempts surreptitious chair-dancing. Both were dressed the same, in clothes that hid nothing: fishnet body stockings, matching trainers, tiny nipple shields. Naked equals. The atmosphere was intimate but inward-looking, devoid of ...
Read More »Secret Life of Humans, Pleasance Courtyard – Review
An agile, clever - but occasionally unbalanced - journey to the centre of human nature.
Read More »The Lounge, Soho Theatre – Review
A surreal, precise and joyous piece of theatre with room for more questions and more answers about the issues it addresses.
Read More »Refugee Boy, Chickenshed Theatre – Review
Pros: Some great performances and a pitch-perfect design Cons: The main storyline seemed less subtle than its tributaries I know Chickenshed Theatre for its big, glorious, all-ages Christmas shows, and for being pretty much the only thing that sweetens the bitter end of the Piccadilly line, at Cockfosters. But Chickenshed is so much more than that: it’s an industry leader in inclusive theatre, with a full professional programme of devised and scripted work, alongside a drama school, a popular cafe/bar, ...
Read More »The Fall, Acklam Village Market – Review
Pros: Gorgeous visuals, fascinating live score, welcoming atmosphere Cons: Time constraints made some episodes of the story hard to follow Tucked right at the top of Portobello Road under the Westway flyover, Acklam Village Market isn’t the easiest place to find if you’ve not been there before. But once you do, it’s worth the trek – a red iron gate opens rabbithole-like into a bustling wonderland of streetfood stalls packing up for the night, theatre-goers arriving and a warm welcome ...
Read More »Interview: Sean Michael Verey on ‘Tonight with Donny Stixx’
Actor Sean Michael Verey discusses his acclaimed performance in Philip Ridley's Tonight with Donny Stixx at The Bunker.
Read More »Quint-Essential, Peacock Theatre – Review
Pros: Striking design, beautiful dancing and a focus on building new audiences Cons: Sometimes felt more like a PR stunt than it should have done The New English Ballet Theatre is a young ‘neoclassical’ ballet company whose (admirable) mission is to create opportunities for excellence across the creative spectrum of dance. Everyone is an impeccably trained dancer. The rest of the team commit earnestly to outreach with a ‘Ballet Boot Camp’ for bloggers, music festival gigs and more. Now, Quint-Essential: ...
Read More »Rewind Forward, Sadler’s Wells Theatre – Review
An accomplished evening of new and established work by an ambitious, energetic young company.
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