A beautifully-staged version of a classic fairytale that deserves to win new admirers.
Read More »Opera
Tosca, King’s Head Theatre – Review
Pros: There’s something very magical about seeing an opera in such a small space and immersing yourself in the music. Cons: Some theatrical tricks employed here might be better left for the big stages. This new reworking of Giacomo Puccini’s opera Tosca, by Becca Marriott and King’s Head Theatre artistic director Adam Spreadbury-Maher, is set in Paris during World War Two. Painter Marius, played on press night by Martin Lindau, has agreed to hide a Jewish man who has escaped ...
Read More »Fever Pitch the Opera, Union Chapel – Review
An enthusiastic and innovative tribute to Arsenal by local company Highbury Opera Theatre.
Read More »Persuasion, Shaw Theatre – Review
This unique operetta is a mixed bag, but there will be something here for everyone to enjoy.
Read More »The Marriage of Kim K, Arcola Theatre – Review
A mind-bending, thoroughly enjoyable romp through several centuries of music and marriage.
Read More »Vixen, The Vaults – Review
The best opera I've seen in years. Unmissable.
Read More »The Mikado, Richmond Theatre – Review
Pros: Lively, lovely and wonderfully funny. Cons: Hard to find any. No, really, it’s very good! The Mikado can be a challenging production. An opera set in Japan but written by two Caucasian Britons in 1885, which has actors running around with names like “Nanki-Poo” and “Pooh-Bah” clearly suggests an outdated and imperial approach (even if its original intention was to satirise British politics). But don’t let that daunt you when it comes to Sasha Regan’s excellent all-male interpretation at the ...
Read More »The Magic Flute, King’s Head Theatre – Review
Pros: Hilarious performances, beautiful singing and outstanding design. Cons: Without an orchestra some of Mozart’s magic is lost. Walking through a charming pub straight into a small pocket of the South American jungle isn’t how most would expect to start a night at the opera. Fortunately for us, Charles Court Opera’s production of The Magic Flute at the King’s Head Theatre refreshingly does away with rows of seats, facing a stage, overlooking an orchestra, and puts us firmly in the thick of it. Simon ...
Read More »Noh Time Like The Present, LSO St Luke’s – Review
Pros: A rare opportunity to appreciate a form of theatre which has been performed without interruption since the 14th century. Cons: As with anything out of the ordinary, this show can be quite challenging to follow, due to the lack of clear narrative elements. In the wonderful world of performing arts there is a theatrical discipline that has been kept alive from the 14th century to this day. Its name is Noh, or Nogaku, and it is a form of classical ...
Read More »Madam Butterfly, King’s Head Theatre – Review
An accessible production with some captivating performances.
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