A waft of decay: A Scent of Flowers at the Brockley Jack Studio Theatre (***)

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 →

…what? Heads Bodies Legs at Camden People’s Theatre (*)

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 →

BOOM: The Energy Show at the Science Museum (****)

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 →

Hot Tub Theatre Machine: Jacuzzi at the Almeida Festival (***)

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: Le Flop at Mimetic 2013 (**)

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 →

Filth: EastEnd Cabaret at Mimetic 2013 (***)

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 →

Mild mentalism: Peter Antoniou – Comedium at Mimetic 2013 (***)

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 →

Not nearly enough variety: Royal National Theatre of Fools at Mimetic 2013 (**)

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 →

Very much inside the box: Is art in non-traditional spaces becoming too mainstream?

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 →

Onwards, Upwards and Sideways at Mimetic 2013 (**)

Mimetic’s mantra of supporting the stranger side of performance is given a test in The Mostly Everything People’s mixed bill Onwards, Upwards and Sideways. A couple of pieces impress, but this may just have meandered too far into the strange. At Mimetic 2013. I like to think of myself as a relatively open-minded reviewer – … Continue reading →

A bit odd: Reduced to Clear Cabaret at Mimetic 2013 (****)

Mimetic 2013 celebrates the darker side of performance art and cabaret, and The Late Night Shop’s Reduced to Clear Cabaret epitomises this with their bold burlesque/clowning show that mixes traditional forms and styles with some modern twists and spice. Not every experiment succeeds, but then again, the overall effect is rather enjoyable. I’ve often found … Continue reading →

This one again? Private Lives at the Gielgud Theatre (****)

Noël Coward’s romantic-comedy-cum-relationship-drama takes a(nother) star-studded turn on the West End with Jonathan Kent at the helm and Toby Stephens and Anna Chancellor as his Elyot and Amanda, and all is as it should be – great acting, lovely design and a pleasant production. At the Gielgud Theatre. Private Lives has, quite rightly, become a … Continue reading →

Bold, original and a ripping yarn: RIP at the King’s Head Theatre (****)

Sonnie Beckett’s new musical slashes expectations by not being the grim Victorian horror thriller its Jack-the-Ripper subject matter suggests, presenting instead a song cycle on forgotten victims and analysing history earnestly and truthfully. The result is original, impressive and destined for great things. At the King’s Head Theatre. This is a country famed for its … Continue reading →

A little bit of Francophilia: A Family Affair at the Drayton Theatre (****)

Modern European writing rarely gets a chance to be imported into the London theatre scene, which makes the efforts of companies such as Exchange Theatre such a joy: their latest, A Family Affair, has survived translation from the French well, and this production has all of the elements for a pleasant repas. At the Drayton Theatre. With … Continue reading →

Stars in their eyes: Princess Mononoke at the New Diorama Theatre (****)

Yep, you read correctly: someone has tried to stage Hayao Miyazaki’s seminal 1997 film. Nope, it’s not a full-scale West End production – it’s a small, new production company out of Leamington Spa. But don’t let any of the above worry you – Whole Hog Theatre have shouldered the responsibility not to let down hordes … Continue reading →

Fizzling: Playing With Fire at the Drayton Theatre (*)

Strindberg’s one-act play Playing with Fire is performed in a brand new translation and adaptation by Anna Ostergren, who also directs at the Drayton Theatre. Sadly, Strindberg’s “comedy” is reduced to meandering torpitude here – a rather poor production, good efforts from some of the cast, but mostly just dull. On the surface, there’s little wrong with … Continue reading →

Better old: Happy New at Trafalgar Studios (***)

After a successful Off West End run (and a year and a bit later), Brendan Cowell’s Happy New “premieres” at Trafalgar Studios – but something’s been lost in transfer. Brendan Cowell’s Happy New was one of my favourite plays of last year: a clever script with the right combination of long, poetic monologues, character comedy and a … Continue reading →

Stronger than the message: Belarus Free Theatre’s Trash Cuisine at the Young Vic (*****)

I had the pleasure of seeing Belarus Free Theatre do their thing last year, so expected their new piece this year to hold few surprises: politics, nudity, angrily-shouted Belarusian, and so on. How wrong I was. At the Young Vic. Belarus Free Theatre are a rather wonderfully odd cultural behemoth – by sheer dint of … Continue reading →

Angsty poetic marvel: Even Stillness Breathes Softly Against A Brick Wall at Soho Theatre (****)

Brad Birch’s exceptionally long-titled full-length professional debut showcases an excitingly original voice – flawed, but still very striking. Add to that the professional stage debut from an equally exciting performer, and there’re two solid reasons to head down to the Soho Theatre. Take note of the name Brad Birch now: smaller pieces at Theatre503 and … Continue reading →

Perfectly complemented: Bye Bye World at Battersea Arts Centre (****)

After successful runs at various Fringe Festivals, Gehring and Ketelaars brought their critically acclaimed show Bye Bye World to Battersea Arts Centre for two nights only, as well as presenting their new scratch piece. If this piece and the snippet of their next is anything to go by, these are two performers you certainly shouldn’t miss the next time they … Continue reading →