A Splinter of Ice moves away from a basic biography by mirroring its spy subjects and never allowing the audience to be quite sure which of its many faces is the real one.
‘Costello is luminous in the title role’: PRIVATE PEACEFUL – Barn Theatre, Cirencester (Online review)
A co-production from BoxLess Theatre and the Barn Theatre, and adapted from the novel by Michael Morpurgo, Private Peaceful is the story of Private Thomas Peaceful (Emily Costello, the first female performer to play the role professionally).
NEWS: The world premiere of Nina Raine’s Bach & Sons at the Bridge Theatre will star Simon Russell Beale
Simon Russell Beale will play JS Bach in the world premiere of Nina Raine’s Bach & Sons, directed by Nicholas Hytner at the Bridge Theatre from 23 June to 9 September 2021 with opening night on 29 June 2021.
‘Each story is unique, real & thoughtful’: SAFE – Hackney Empire (Online review)
Safe is a verbatim play created and directed by Alexis Gregory (I reviewed his work previously in Sex/Crime). Previously performed at the Soho Theatre, this is now reimagined for the digital space.
‘Significant piece of new theatre writing’: THE MOTHERHOOD PROJECT – BAC (Online review)
The likes of Hannah Khalil, Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, Sarah Niles and Juno Dawson deliver some excellent work in The Motherhood Project.
NEWS: Full cast is announced for immersive show Doctor Who Time Fracture
Following over 5,000 applications, a cast of 42 performers are beginning rehearsals for the immersive production Doctor Who Time Fracture, from the team behind The Great Gatsby.
‘Satirical throughout’: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST – The Dukes Lancaster (Online review)
This re-working of The Importance of Being Earnest is fun, frothy, and at a time when theatres are in the dark, provides a much-needed laugh, and laugh I did.
NEWS: Birmingham Repertory Theatre announces 50th anniversary autumn season
Artistic director Sean Foley has announced his programme for the 50th anniversary season of Birmingham Repertory Theatre in its current home on Centenary Square.
‘Identifies how so very much is at stake’: LIVING NEWSPAPER #5 – Royal Court Theatre (Online review)
The Royal Court’s Living Newspaper continues with edition #5 which feels a little less reactive to the headlines and a little more reflective on the state of the world as we find it today.
Mark Shenton’s weekly chart of forthcoming theatrical comings & goings has some new entries
This weekly column keeps track of the shows that are coming back, or are newly being announced, as theatres prepare to re-open from next month onwards. It will be updated weekly until such time as it becomes a reality, and from then on will provide a weekly update to that week’s openings and future ones.
‘A fun & imaginative concept’: The Giant Pacific Octopus Maritime School – Written on the Waves (Online review)
Taking the idea of having to adapt to a new world and transforming it into a surreal sci-fi adventure, The Giant Octopus Maritime School is a really interesting concept for the penultimate audio drama in the Written on the Waves project.
NEWS: Underbelly Festival is set to return in summer 2021 with a new London home
Underbelly Festival is set to return to London this summer with a brand new home in Cavendish Square in the heart of Central London’s Oxford Street District.
‘Leanne Best is on exceptionally good form’: HARM – BBC Lights Up Festival (Online review)
Harm by Phoebe Eclair-Powell was due to run at London’s Bush Theatre last spring but has now been remade for the small screen.
‘Economical & punchy’: SMILE – Dundee Rep (Online review)
Smile, Dundee Rep’s football-themed online offering, transfers to the screen to provide a satisfactory record of 2020’s successful play about the legendary Jim McLean.
‘Well worth a watch’: OUTSIDE – Orange Tree Theatre (Online review) ★★★★
Curated by the Orange Tree’s literary associate Guy Jones, Outside also comprises three short plays, this time stories with a theme of connection and hope.
NEWS: Details are announced for the RE:EMERGE season at the Harold Pinter Theatre
Opening Sonia Friedman Productions’ RE:EMERGE season at London’s Harold Pinter Theatre will be Amy Berryman’s Walden (22 May-12 June 2021), followed by Yasmin Joseph’s J’Ouvert (16 Jun-3 Jul) and Joseph Charlton’s Anna X (10 July-4 Aug).
‘Engrossing from the first moment’: A SPLINTER OF ICE – Original Theatre Company (Online review)
A Splinter of Ice is a ‘tell, not show’ play but it is engrossing from the first moment, and the characters feel completely believeable with their moments of resigned boredom, creaks of ageing, and acceptance of the card fate dealt them.
‘The writing rejoices in the sound of the words’: CRUISE – Stream.Theatre (Online review)
Writer/performer Jack Holden’s full on powerhouse performance in Cruise will hold you in awe for 90 minutes.
‘This adaptation is a joy to portray’: Melanie Marshall stars in a new digital production of The Importance of Being Earnest
Actress Melanie Marshall chatted to us about the upcoming digital production of The Importance of Being Earnest – co-produced by the Lawrence Batley Theatre and The Dukes.
‘Constantly surprises with the visuals it gives us’: NO FUTURE – Camden People’s Theatre (Online review)
The second commission in the Outside the Box series, No Future (written by Adam Welsh) is a multi-dimensional project bridging film, theatre and installation.