Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
Mates blogger: Aleks Sierz
Aleks Sierz is one of over 45 theatre bloggers who are part of the MyTheatreMates collective. This page features Aleks's posts on MyTheatreMates. Take a look at our full list of theatre bloggers and our aggregated feed of all our Mates' posts. We’re always looking for new theatre bloggers. Could that be you? Learn about how to join us.
Aleks Sierz FRSA is a theatre critic, and author of the seminal study of new 1990s playwrights, In-Yer-Face Theatre. His other books include Rewriting the Nation, The Theatre of Martin Crimp, John Osborne’s Look Back in Anger, The Methuen Drama Guide to Contemporary British Playwrights and Modern British Playwriting. His latest book (co-authored with Lia Ghilardi) is The Time Traveller’s Guide to British Theatre. He also works as a journalist, broadcaster, and lecturer. Aleks blogs independently at www.sierz.co.uk and tweets at @alekssierz.
The latest from Aleks on MyTheatreMates
‘Oddly unengaging’: MIDNIGHT MOVIE – Royal Court Theatre
I wanted to love this Midnight Movie, but — like almost any screen experience — I couldn’t quite connect with it. Despite some disturbing passages, it feels like less than the sum of its parts.
‘You leave the theatre enriched by the experience’: THE GREATEST PLAY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD – Trafalgar Studios
Originally produced in association with Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre, director Raz Shaw’s production of The Greatest Play in the History of the World is one of the most charming and dopamine-rich shows you could ever hope to see.
Text of the Day: Touching the Void
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
‘Great stuff excellently performed’: THE ARRIVAL – Bush Theatre
Director Bijan Sheibani turns playwright in a fine two-hander about family and the crisis of masculinity in The Arrival at the Bush Theatre.
Text of the Day: #WeAreArrested
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
‘Both humorous & humane’: #WeAreArrested – Arcola Theatre
#WeAreArrested, a new RSC adaptation of Turkish editor Can Dündar’s prison memoir, is beautifully written and simply staged.
Text of the Day: Sydney & The Old Girl
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
‘Quintessential tale of survival against the odds’: TOUCHING THE VOID – West End
David Greig’s much-lauded mountaineering survival story fails to reach the dizzy heights.
Text of the Day: Little Baby Jesus
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
Text of the Day: When the Crows Visit
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
‘Compelling, piece of engaged political theatre’: TROJAN HORSE – Battersea Arts Centre & Touring
This touring production of Trojan Horse, a verbatim theatre piece about the Birmingham schools scandal, is absorbingly polemical and moving.
Text Of The Day: On Bear Ridge at Royal Court Theatre
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
‘Never really grips the guts’: GOD’S DICE – Soho Theatre
Believe in ideas? David Baddiel’s new play God’s Dice stars Alan Davies as a scientist drawn to religion.
Text of the Day: John le Carré on Englishness – and Europe
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
‘Full of feeling & rich in ideas’: THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS – Cervantes Theatre
Caridad Svich’s excellent adaptation of Isabel Allende’s 1982 modern classic The House of the Spirits is an epic and emotional evocation of South American history.
‘Flashes of fun but narrowly sadistic’: SYDNEY & THE OLD GIRL – Park Theatre
Black comedy Sydney & The Old Girl is occasionally entertaining, but much too dark and dispiriting for its own good.
Text of the Day: Botticelli in the Fire
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
‘Has enormous symbolic resonance’: ON BEAR RIDGE – Royal Court Theatre
On BearRidge, the first Ed Thomas play for 15 years, is a post-apocalyptic metaphor-fest which is tragic, lyrical and funny too.
Text of the Day: Baby Reindeer
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.