One of the knock-on effects of the current pandemic is that theatres have had to rise to the challenge of being ever more inventive in terms of form and content; Letters from The Gate Theatre follows this trend.
Mates blogger: Luca Molinari
Luca Molinari is one of over 45 theatre bloggers who are part of the MyTheatreMates collective. This page features Luca'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.
In love with the city of London (and grateful for all its opportunities), but also with theatre and music, Luca Molinari started his blog London Theatre Reviews in 2018, with the idea of sharing reviews, news and interviews in an easy and accessible way.
The latest from Luca on MyTheatreMates
‘The immersive play is a brilliantly fun evening’: SQUAD GOALS – Dagenham & Redbridge FC
Squad Goals tackles the limits opportunities women have to face while the other gender seems to have such vast chances at one of the world most successful and followed professions.
‘Most certainly has made an impact in the immersive market’: PLAY DEAD LONDON (Online review) ★★★★
Play Dead London, a company specialising in immersive murder-mysteries, first arrived on the scene in 2012 and, judging by their reviews, it has most certainly made an impact in the immersive market.
‘Vocally impressive but also visually interesting too’: GODSPELL THE CONCERT (Online review)
Raising money for three charities: Hope Mill Theatre (A Factory of Creativity CIO), Acting For Others and National AIDS Trust, Godspell looks towards a brighter future post-lockdown.
‘The perfect tonic during these uncertain times’: FANNY & STELLA – The Eagle Garden Theatre ★★★★
Glenn Chandler and Charles Miller have transformed the true story of Fanny and Stella into a musical “romp” packed with puns, comedy songs, a cavalcade of flamboyant characters, and optimism at its heart.
‘The cast is quick-witted, inexhaustible & absolutely hysterical’: Shake it Up: The Improvised Shakespeare Show – New Normal Festival ★★★★★
To see the kind of comedy gold Shake it Up: The Improvised Shakespeare Show provides in the face of adversity is a very encouraging and intrinsic inspiration.
’It is crystal clear that the cast are loving every moment’: JOSEPH & THE AMAZING ALL STAR CONCERT (Online review)
Joseph and the Amazing All Star Concert brings cast members from across the world together virtually for an all too brief sing-song that will have you dancing in your seat.
‘Captivating & thrilling piece of theatre’: PRIMROSE PATH – Mannequin Mouth (Online review) ★★★★
Primrose Path is Mannequin Mouth’s first recorded theatrical production, catered to viewers specifically to watch from their own home.
‘Plenty of genuinely moving dramatic moments’: ABOUT 500 – Vault Festival (Online review)
If men were the people expected to plan their lives around having children with any expediency, there would be no gender wage gap.
It’s a lockdown lifeline for audiences, but is online theatre any good?
Online theatre is a great way to see shows, especially in these hard times, and especially for those who cannot afford or are able to watch them live because they live further away from London.
‘There are not enough superlatives for it all’: DRIP DRIP DRIP – Pleasance Theatre ★★★★★
A simply superb production, Drip Drip Drip is flawlessly performed, powerful, righteously angry, poetic and emotionally devastating.
‘As relevant now as ever’: THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP – Soho Theatre ★★★★
The Special Relationship is a brilliant satire served with a chilling dose of real-life stories of men and women torn apart from their families and deported back to the UK from the US while serving prison sentences.
‘Immersive brilliantness’: JEKYLL & HYDE – Vault Festival ★★★★
A theatrical adventure taking in both the virtual and real world, Jekyll and Hyde at the Vaults is fantastically put together and orchestrated.
‘Fresh & fun with a lot of heart’: BE MORE CHILL – The Other Palace ★★★★
With an infectious soundtrack, bags of energy and a brilliant cast, this is a unique and entertaining production. It’s easy to see why Be More Chill is a fan favourite and long may it last.
‘Outstandingly brilliant immersive extravaganza’: CROOKS 1926 – King William IV ★★★★★
In Crooks 1926 the cast cleverly weaves in all the audience so everyone has a part to play and it all comes together brilliantly.
‘Rude, loud, chaotic & absolutely hilarious’: MUSIK – Leicester Square Theatre ★★★★★
Musik is the spin-off from the original 2001 Closer to Heaven musical collaboration from Jonathan Harvey and the Pet Shop Boys, bringing the former fictional euro diva character, Billie Trix, back in a cabaret-style show to tell her personal Zeligesque life story in biographical vignettes.
‘Hysterically hilarious from beginning to end’: THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII – King’s Head Theatre ★★★★★
Alternating historical poorly-researched lessons, German psychedelic music routines and and ill-fitted frocks, there is not a dull moment in The Six Wives of Henry VIII.
‘Encapsulates all the emotions across the board’: BLITZ! – Union Theatre ★★★★★
Blitz! encapsulates all the emotions across the board with enthusiasm exuding from all the cast keen to make you connect with all their individual stories.
‘Can’t think of a single aspect of necessary improvement’: THE JURY – Upstairs at the Gatehouse ★★★★
None of the songs are too long in The Jury and they are all well written and never bore – this is a strong new musical and won’t vanish from the stages too soon.
’A transition from screen to theatre done right’: PERSONA – Riverside Studios ★★★★★
The evocative music synergises well with the poetic narration in Persona and adds emphasis to important plot points, while also giving a sense of pressure and entrapment.