The next in the Science Museum’s foray into theatre, X&Y‘s mathematical post-dramatic ramblings is a profound mis-step, rehashing some of the most trite of theatrical experiments to create a wholly forgettable and dull hour of lecture theatre. The principle of educational theatre is a strong one — what better way to engage with a student than … Continue reading
The Wrong Crowd’s star continues to rise with their latest evocative puppet/theatre blend Hag, which follows much in the mould of their previous hit success The Girl with the Iron Claws. The forgettable story is a shame, but the frequent flashes of brilliance still make for an entertaining experience. At the Soho Theatre. The trendy tendency towards … Continue reading
An incredibly talented group of people have come together and created the most disappointing production the Old Vic has seen in a very long time. Oh, I wasn’t looking forward to this: neither to watching nor writing about Mark Rylance’s poor attempt at Shakespeare. It’s been widely critically lambasted, with much being made of James … Continue reading
The neglected James Saunders’ West End hit A Scent of Flowers is revived lovingly at the Brockley Jack Studio Theatre, but there’s a stale whiff hanging around the text that not even Charlotte Blake’s spirited lead performance can quite cut through. James Saunders’ absurd plays were once the talk of London town, him lauded with promising playwright … Continue reading
Brad Birch’s star may be on the rise, but this lukewarm production of one of his subtler plays leaves much to be desired: prescriptive direction and design and staid acting combine to create a rather dull story of the trials and tribulations of parenting. At the White Bear Theatre Club. With plays at the Royal … Continue reading
Sean Holmes’ grand plan to reinvent British theatre falls flat at the first hurdle with this predictable result to the exciting premise that was Secret Theatre. At the Lyric Hammersmith. For those who don’t catch the latest theatre press, some background: avant-garde theatre director (and artistic director of the Lyric Hammersmith) Sean Holmes announced a new … Continue reading
Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s award-winning, critically acclaimed monologue comes to London after a hugely successful Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and it doesn’t disappoint in the slightest. At Soho Theatre. In a play acted and written by the same person, it stands to reason that she will draw most of the focus: in this case, Phoebe Waller-Bridge has long … Continue reading
Elizabeth Kuti’s three intertwined stories that merge ghost story with local myth in Suffolk are wonderfully spooky, especially in this bare bones production, but the simplicity of the script is the greatest weakness here. At the Finborough Theatre. Rural Suffolk has plenty of stories to tell, and Elizabeth Kuti’s new script mixes the archaic folk … Continue reading
Tim Price’s Edinburgh smash hit lands less resoundingly at the St. James Theatre – why is it that these 5 star Edinburgh successes don’t travel as well as one would hope? The premise of I’m With the Band is winning: part gig and part play, Tim Price’s piece examines the fracturing of the British Union … Continue reading
Fat Git Theatre first came to our attention last year, and their work since then has been consistently experimental, surreal and ambitious. Their latest, Specie, conforms to all of the above, and again it feels like they’ve bitten off slightly more than they can chew, but there’s a lot here to praise. At the New Diorama … Continue reading
Bill Buckhurst and Tooting Arts Club have once again come together, and the result is another superlative hit: Buckhurst’s wry direction and the Temple Studios setting make for a rather wonderful and modern Midsummer Night’s Dream, but my god this play is wearing on me… Last year, Bill Buckhurst and Tooting Arts Club staged the … Continue reading
Ernie Holt was just a normal man, and yet this show is the story of his life, told through bouncy, spritely physical theatre by his grandson, James Craze. The warm, affectionate retelling and excellent theatrical technique make for a delightful evening, and it’s hard not to get emotionally involved with the simple charm of James … Continue reading
A “Dadaist thriller” and “absurd comic thriller set in a sinister private hospital” was never going to be easy watching, but with so little sense around this piece and production, the result is a mish-mash of ideas and concepts that struggles to be more than just interesting. At the Camden People’s Theatre. I have a … Continue reading
The Science Museum’s latest event show transforms their IMAX cinema into a theatre space as two scientists try and explain the different forms of energy – with many an explosion and plenty of silliness! A delightful family show, this has fun for everyone, although its balance between teaching and fun isn’t perfect. Annabella and Phil, … Continue reading
The Debate Society’s work-in-progress Jacuzzi is a puzzler. It has all of the building blocks of a great play, but it isn’t – it just doesn’t connect up yet, or make enough sense, or have enough impact. Watching the four characters mosey through the chalet and jacuzzi is entertaining enough, but I’m going to need … Continue reading
Surreal comedy a la Mighty Boosh and Dr Brown is Le Flop’s forte, and this expressive and strange clown show is certainly hilarious – in places. It’s all a bit too abstract and oddball for me, and could do with something – ANYTHING – to make it all hang together. At Mimetic 2013. I’ve been reliably informed … Continue reading
EastEnd Cabaret’s combination of musical cabaret stylings and a rather unapologetically crude set list have made them rather popular (as has, arguably, the male/female character Victor/Victoria’s photogenic get-up), but there is a definite classy talent behind it all. If only there was some variance to their act… At Mimetic 2013. Cabaret has a tendency to … Continue reading
It’s not often I review magic shows, but Mimetic 2013 has all sorts… And in this case, it meant I get to indulge in my fascination with mentalism as well, and although Antoniou is not quite as confident as he could be yet, he’s on the verge of being a really big star. A solid … Continue reading
Mimetic’s mix of cabaret and theatre also features a number of old fashioned variety performances, and the Royal National Theatre of Fools certainly has some idea of what they’re doing, but this is a bit too old-school to be credible in this day and age. At Mimetic 2013. I have always found variety acts a … Continue reading
The act of displaying or performing art in spaces outside of the hallowed concert halls, theatres and galleries used to be the domain of the artistic fringe. But a lot of bigger cultural institutions are now getting in on the game – are these unusual spaces really cutting-edge any more? It’s no secret that people … Continue reading
Grubby Strugglers 