As part of an ongoing series, I’ve chaired post-show talks with various Mischief Theatre casts this year, all of whom waxed lyrical about the brilliance of the company founders. Last week, I had a chance to pose questions to those original mischief-makers themselves at their brand-new comedy Groan Ups.
PHOTOS: Behind the scenes exploring gay film history in Different From the Others rehearsals
Claudio Macor’s new play Different From the Others, which runs at London’s White Bear Theatre from 29 October to 16 November 2019, tells the story behind the making of the first-ever pro-gay film, 100 years after it was released. Have the cast been making history in rehearsals? Time to get booking!
FEATURED SHOW: Last week to catch ★★★★★ ‘ingenious’ Islander musical
It’s the final week to see Musical Theatre Review award-winning and Offies-nominated new musical Islander. And, after its premiere at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, it’s racked another wave of critical raves in its London transfer to Southwark Playhouse.
FEATURED SHOW: ★★★★ reviews are in for Sarah Rutherford’s ‘refreshingly original’ The Girl Who Fell
Stage Traffic’s premiere of Sarah Rutherford’s darkly funny new play The Girl Who Fell has impressed critics for its warmth, quirkiness and offbeat sensitivity. We’ve rounded up review highlights. Time get booking!
FIRST-LOOK PHOTOS: Joseph Marcell & Christopher Fairbank in the UK premiere of Sam Shepard’s Ages of the Moon
Ahead of Mates founder Terri Paddock’s post-show Q&A tonight and next Wednesday’s press performance, we’ve got first-look photos for the posthumous UK premiere of Sam Shepard’s Ages of the Moon. Check out the full gallery – and then get booking!
Terri trips: Attending opening night of Mischief Theatre premiere Groan Ups
Ahead of my post-show Q&A tonight, I was at the Vaudeville Theatre for the official opening of the world premiere of Mischief Theatre’s new comedy Groan Ups last Thursday (10 October 2019).
FIRST LOOK: Can you dig it? There’s a hole lot going on in these production images from We Dig
They’re digging a hole for themselves… but in the most brilliant, theatrical way. Take a look at production images for Emma Frankland’s We Dig at Ovalhouse, then book your tickets!
WATCH: How to talk about disability & A Day in the Death of Joe Egg in 2019?
Mate Terri Paddock chaired a post-show discussion at the West End revival of A Day in the Death of Joe Egg with director Simon Evans and the cast.
Southall, Ladbroke Grove, Hatfield, Potters Bar: Do you remember the train crashes in The Permanent Way?
David Hare’s award-winning 2003 verbatim drama The Permanent Way, now receiving its first major revival at The Vaults, covers four major disasters that followed railway privatisation. Do you remember Southall, Ladbroke Grove, Hatfield and Potters Bar? You should. Time to get booking!
PHOTOS: What was David Hare’s thinking when writing The Permanent Way?
Do you remember what else was happening in the world in 2003? That was the year The Permanent Way premiered, ten years after The Railway Privatisation Act. It was also the year that the US, under President George Bush and supported by the UK under Prime Minister Tony Blair, invaded Iraq. What perspective could playwright David Hare offer then and now?
FIRST LOOK: Take a look at the modern setting for The Merchant of Venice with newly released production shots
Gold lame curtains, hoodies and hi-vis – we wouldn’t naturally associate them with Shakespeare, but this is the world of the new production of The Merchant of Venice, currently playing at Drayton Arms Theatre. Take a look at the production images, then book your tickets.
Terri trips: Watching Wise Children at the cinema with Emma Rice
I was disappointed not to see Emma Rice’s adaptation of Angela Carter’s much-loved final novel Wise Children last year at the Old Vic Theatre or on its extensive tour, but delighted to be given another chance to catch it last week thanks to More2Screen.
BEHIND THE SCENES: Sneak into rehearsals for the bold new production of The Merchant of Venice
Have a peek at what a modern take on Shakespeare’s drama of vengeance, commodities, appearance and reality with rehearsal images from the new production of The Merchant of Venice directed by Alex Pearson. Book your tickets now!
PHOTOS: Joseph Marcell & Christopher Fairbank rehearse Sam Shepard’s Ages of the Moon
Joseph Marcell and Christopher Fairbank play lifelong friends in the UK premiere of Sam Shepard’s acclaimed two-hander Ages of the Moon. How are they getting on so far in rehearsals? Sneak a peek at our behind-the-scenes photo gallery – and then get booking!
PHOTOS: In rehearsals with Ayesha Dharker, Bally Gill & the cast of When the Crows Visit
Less than three weeks until performances start for the world premiere of Indian dramatist Anupama Chandresekhar’s When the Crows Visit, inspired by Ibsen’s Ghosts and true events. What have Kiln Theatre artistic director Indhu Rubasingham been putting the cast through in rehearsals?
FIRST LOOK: Celebrate the start of Halloween season with stunning production images from Frankenstein
Gothic, leafless trees, towering buildings, fork lightning; the design of Rona Munro’s Frankenstein is an Halloween treat full of theatrical tricks. Take a look at these fantastic production photographs, then book your tickets!
BEHIND THE SCENES: Peek into the rehearsal room for new psychological thriller Mites
An isolated woman, a pest controller and a talking cat… but which is which? We think we’ve got one character sussed! Take a look at these candid images from the rehearsal room of new darkly comic tale Mites for a hint of what to expect from James Mannion’s latest play, then book your tickets!
FEATURED SHOW: David Hare’s The Permanent Way ‘rings as true today as ever’, ★★★★ reviews are in
Critics such as the Guardian’s Michael Billington who saw the premiere of David Hare’s modern masterpiece The Permanent Way are amongst those praising its first, timely return in a limited Off-West End season. We’ve rounded up review highlights below. Time to get booking!
FIRST LOOK: Take a peek at the new production images for Danelaw
What does a far-right enclave or a revived Viking state look like? Take a look at these production images from Danelaw to find out, then book your tickets!
The Comedy About a Bank Robbery Q&A video: How do a new cast put their stamp on a long-running show?
What fun to return to the Criterion Theatre to see a brand-new cast put their stamp on Mischief Theatre’s The Comedy About A Bank Robbery, as the first in a series of monthly post-show Q&As with the comic geniuses. Watch the full discussion.