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Monthly Archives: October 2010
Reasons to be Cheerful at #59 Theatre Royal Stratford East
Written for Whatsonstage.com With vigorous renditions of the songs of Ian Dury, an adept cast and Gaelle Mellis’ busy, bright set design, there are many reasons to be cheerful about this new musical if you’re a Blockheads fan – but … Continue reading
The Thrill of it All at the Riverside Studios
Written for Whatsonstage.com It’s difficult to judge the success of a production that aims to be bad. The Thrill of it All, a new work from the controversial group Forced Entertainment, does just that. The audience is greeted by a … Continue reading
The Last Pilgrim at #58 The White Bear
Written for Whatsonstage.com Roy Smiles’ new play about the almost-election of Robert Kennedy is an uncompromising account of the fraught relationship between politics and the press. Set on the night of his assassination, Kennedy meets with three highly opinionated journalists … Continue reading
Terror 2010: Death and Resurrection at Southwark Playhouse
Written for TheatreFix With reanimated rabbits, Chernobyl mutants and belly dancing, Terror 2010 is an odd mix that doesn’t always quite hit the mark. Comprised of four short plays interspersed with cabaret-style numbers, the evening has a varied programme. Billed … Continue reading
The Fool at #57 Cock Tavern Theatre
Is Bond’s violence vindicated? Edward Bond season As fringe theatres go, the Cock Tavern certainly bats above its weigh; for a small, slightly off-beat venue, it plays host to some fantastic work. The Fool, one of six plays in the … Continue reading
Cerebral theatre: what’s the point? A resoundingly bad theatrical experience
A Resounding Tinkle at #56 The Rosemary Branch Sometimes theatre is just bad. But what if it wants to be bad? What if it wants to turn its audience off? What do we do then? N. F. Simpson’s A Resounding … Continue reading
If you want to get ugly, get really ugly
Red Ladder Theatre Company’s Ugly at Jacksons Lane A cleverly marketed play about the effects of climate change, Red Ladder’s Ugly is currently on a small-scale tour of the country. Set in a dystopian shell of the world we know, people … Continue reading
‘A few technical hitches’: Secret Boulevard at #55 The Courtyard
How far should we let logistical errors influence our judgement of a production? Tucked away in a Hoxton side street, The Courtyard is an inviting venue comprised of one main performance space and a smaller studio theatre. Secret Boulevard, Dylan … Continue reading
Is there a place for exclusivist theatre? Black Bread and Cucumber at Jermyn Street
Written for Whatsonstage.com It’s fair to say that Caroline Blakiston’s Black Bread and Cucumber is a niche within niche theatre; it is theatre for those not only interested in Chekhov’s plays, but for those prepared to listen to a detailed … Continue reading
Burn My Heart at the New Diorama
When a new space really comes into its own It’s a tough call for new theatres to make their mark on the London scene – especially when, like the New Diorama, they’re stuck in otherwise untheatrical locations. Fledgling fringe theatres … Continue reading
The London Theatre Project 