OffWestEnd has announced the 89 finalists for this year’s Offies Awards 2020. In 2019, Offies assessors saw around 400 shows across Greater London and made over 400 nominations covering 189 shows at 58 venues. The 89 finalists have been selected across 28 categories, covering performances in plays and musicals, as well as design, choreography, direction, production, as well as some …
FROM DOWN UNDER: Opera Australia’s Faust in Melbourne
In a production as spectacularly staged as it is intelligently conceived, Faust is another mighty achievement from Opera Australia, demonstrating the full extent of their resources to sterling effect.
‘Still the best fun you’ll have at the opera’: THE MIKADO – London Coliseum ★★★★
Time and again, this production of The Mikado comes up fresh as paint and is the perfect antidote to dark days every bit as much now as in 1986 or when Gilbert and Sullivan wrote it in 1885.
NEWS: Four wins for Sheffield Theatres’ Life Of Pi at the UK Theatre Awards
There were wins for Sheffield Theatres’ Life Of Pi at the 2019 UK Theatre Awards, revealed at London’s Guildhall.
‘A brilliant way to introduce audiences to (more) opera’: THE ELIXIR OF LOVE – King’s Head Theatre ★★★★★
This rom-com opera, The Elixir of Love is great fun and incredibly engaging – a ray of sunshine on a cold autumn evening.
‘Unearthing something of great promise’: HOTSPUR & PIERROT LUNAIRE – Arcola Theatre ★★★
The double bill of Gillian Whitehead’s Hotspur with Schoenberg’s great Modernist Pierrot Lunaire is the first outing for innovative opera company formidAbility, which seeks to bring disabled and non-disabled professional artists together on (and off) the opera stage.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Mr Gum & the Dancing Bear at the National Theatre
Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews for Mr Gum & the Dancing Bear, Andy Stanton and Jim Fortune’s musical based on the children’s books. It continues in rep at the National Theatre until 31 August 2019.
‘Swap your immortal apple-growing sister for a ticket’: DAS RHEINGOLD – Arcola Theatre ★★★★★
The Ring Cycle is opera’s biggest box set: a sixteen-hour binge of dwarves, nymphs, dragons, gods, heroes and monsters, all suspended inside one of the greatest philosophical conundrums expressed by the human mind – and set to glorious, extraordinary music.
‘Feels remarkably outdated’: VIOLETTA – Arcola Theatre
Violetta is a reduction of Verdi’s La traviata, using only three characters: the doomed courtesan Violetta, her idealistic yet immature lover Alfredo, and – surprise! Alfredo’s mother.
Ready to launch! The 14th annual Camden Fringe opens with 300+ shows over four weeks
Today’s the day! This year’s Camden Fringe launches today. We only wish we could clone ourselves to see every show whose artists we met at the recent launch party. Check out launch photos and tweets – and then get booking!
Dancer Fernando Montano tells us how he wanted to ‘do my bit’ to combat plastic pollution with incredible fundraiser, Dance for the Sea
Columbian performer and Royal Ballet principal Fernando Montano on what moved him to create an evening of performance supporting the Marine Conservation Society, shooting incredible underwater images and an unsung hero of British theatre. Read the interview then book your tickets for Fernando Montano and Friends – Dance for the Sea.
‘A glory to behold’: THE TURN OF THE SCREW – Garsington Opera ★★★★★
An astoundingly, intense, powerful and thought-provoking piece – The Turn of the Screw (music by Benjamin Britten, libretto by Myfanwy Piper, after the story by Henry James) is making its presence known at Garsington this season and it’s a glory to behold.
‘It’s a great opportunity to try something new’: Festival co-founder Michelle Flower on 14 years of Camden Fringe
It was fourteen years ago that Michelle Flower and Zena Barrie launched the Camden Fringe festival as a summer filler at the Etcetera Theatre in London NW1. Fourteen years later, London’s annual alternative to the Edinburgh Fringe spans 300+ shows across 30 venues. We caught up with Flower to hear more. How many shows can you pack in? Time to get booking!
NEWS: Royal Ballet star hosts charity show Fernando Montano and Friends – Dance for the Sea in aid of Marine Conservation Society
Leading Latin American dance star and Royal Ballet soloist Fernando Montano will stage Fernando Montano and Friends – Dance for the Sea, an evening of music and dance, later this month to raise both awareness and funds for the Marine Conservation Society. Book your tickets now!
NEWS: 14th annual Camden Fringe runs 29 Jul-25 Aug with over 300 shows
What’s with the pigeon? Camden Fringe’s famous avian mascot this year pays tribute to British actor Olivia Colman for her Oscar-winning turn in the film The Favourite. The full programme for the 2019 festival features over 300 shows running across 30 different London venues between 29 July and 25 August 2019. How many can you squeeze in? Time to get booking!
‘Lovely to look at’: THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA – Royal Festival Hall
The most lyrical and romantic thing about Light In The Piazza is its title. That, and the luscious vintage-style 50s costumes which evoke the American idyll of Italy as captured by Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday.
‘Utterly wrapped up in this glorious production’: TOSCA – Royal Opera House ★★★★★
Jonathan Kent’s production of Tosca is a must-see and is a perfect introduction to the drama and beauty of opera.
‘It could have been a piece of theatre magic & wasn’t’: DIDO – Unicorn Theatre
Musically Dido is okay, especially Eyra Norman’s Belinda and the spirited chorales. But it could have been a piece of theatre magic, and wasn’t.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Opera Australia’s Così fan tutte in Melbourne
Intelligently conceived and handsomely staged, David McVicar’s production of Così fan tutte matches elegance and wit with the simple pleasure of Mozart’s heavenly music.
‘Misses the mark’: DIDO – Unicorn Theatre
I was brimming with excitement to see how the Unicorn Theatre would reframe Dido and Aeneas, as they’re usually so successful in fulfilling their aim to produce inspiring and invigorating work for young audiences, but the power and emotion of the score doesn’t really come across.