The wonderfully warm surroundings of the Old Red Lion in Islington has its usual glow: flock wallpaper, chesterfield sofas, a dog sleeping on the floor and football on the telly (think I’ve just described my house in the 1970s?). A framed England rugby union shirt now adorns the wall, and a Norwich City St Georges flag hangs over the bar. Not only does it stock a range of lagers, craft beers and cider, it also houses one of the finest ...
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Anomaly, Old Red Lion Theatre – Review
Interesting and compelling debut by Warden which imagines the effects of a Harvey Weinstein type on the women closest to him - his daughters and wife
Read More »One Jewish Boy, Old Red Lion Theatre – Review
Pros: Funny dialogue, smart observations and powerful performances from two leads with natural chemistry. Cons: The lack of nuance and erratic pacing sometimes makes the play difficult to engage with, particularly during moments of revelation. Europe has a long history of antisemitism. Hatred of Jewish people has existed on the continent for centuries, and is not going away anytime soon. Last week, a survey of European Jews found that nearly a third avoid attending events due to safety fears. In Britain, ...
Read More »Frankenstein, Old Red Lion Theatre – Review
Pros: An original play with a largely female cast. Good use of props and set pieces to create the multiple locations of the play as well as nice use of puppetry. Cons: The issue of feminism wasn’t really explored despite the gender swap of the lead characters. It felt like the script could have done with an edit to make it more succinct as was a little meandering in places. Burn-Bright’s production of Frankenstein replaces the male scientist from Mary ...
Read More »The Wolves of Erin, Old Red Lion Theatre – Review
Pros: A sparky performance from the cast using physicality to strengthen a weak script. Cons: Disappointingly weak plotting, and a complete lack of suspense in a play that pitches horror as its central theme. Presented as part of the London Horror Festival, The Wolves of Erin tells a folk horror story in the vein of classic movies like Witchfinder General and The Wicker Man, two brilliant examples of the genre that naturally sets the bar very high. Curiously, the story begins in Northern ...
Read More »Hear Me Howl, Old Red Lion Theatre – Review
Pros: Alice Pitt-Carter’s energetic portrayal as she rips through a 70 minute performance with ease. Cons: A slightly uneven plot doesn’t quite deliver the pay-off that is so richly deserved. Whenever I’m handed earplugs prior to a show I feel a curious mix of fear and excitement. Fear because I’m reminded of Idol Berserker at the Barbican (which involved earplugs, plastic ponchos and cling film: believe me that’s all you need to know); but also excitement because it means I’m ...
Read More »In the Shadow of the Mountain, Old Red Lion Theatre – Review
Despite praiseworthy efforts, rather than challenging the stigma associated with this personality disorder the play only bolsters it.
Read More »Plastic, Old Red Lion Theatre – Review
This magnificent piece of storytelling comes to life in the hands of a brilliant cast, and the coming of age tale will resonate with many an audience.
Read More »The Moor, Old Red Lion Theatre – Review
An almost perfect piece of theatre, The Moor is a haunting psychological thriller that explores the blurry lines between memory, truth and fantasy.
Read More »Adventures in Theatreland: Brian’s
Brian picks runs down his pick of the year and awards the inaugural Reggies.
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