There is an urgency and an immediacy about The Canary and the Crow that will leave you thinking and questioning everything about British society long after you’ve left the theatre
‘Both difficult & comforting to watch’: FACES IN THE CROWD – Gate Theatre
Whilst the script for Faces In The Crowd demands unwavering focus and attention in order to not get lost, women’s individuality, voice and their suppression by patriarchal systems are profoundly resonant.
‘Never really catches fire’: YOU STUPID DARKNESS! – Southwark Playhouse
A new play about optimism, You Stupid Darkness! is compassionate in conception, but repetitive and frustrating in performance.
‘Far lighter than the themes of the play might suggest’: UNCLE VANYA – West End
This Uncle Vanya is more roundedly entertaining than other recent productions and while that detracts a little from the emotional undercurrents of the original, the fluidity and richness of Rickson’s production, performed by an excellent cast, ensure a satisfying Chekhovian conclusion.
‘It’s taught me to be brave’: Katie Arnstein brings her play Sticky Door to the VAULT Festival
Katie Arnstein is an award-winning writer and performer. Her latest play, Stick Door, the final part of her It’s a Girl! trilogy, will be performed at the VAULT Festival next month. I caught up with Katie to find out more.
NEWS: Cherie – My Struggle gives a Downing Street inside view from Cherie Blair’s perspective
What was Cherie Blair thinking during the New Labour years? Has her contribution to Tony Blair’s success ever been fully acknowledged? Cherie – My Struggle provides an intimate look at a remarkable woman. Time to get booking!
‘Smart & funny two hander’: SEX/CRIME – Soho Theatre
Alexis Gregory’s script for Sex/Crime takes an uncomfortable glance at our obsession with serial killers, sexual violence and 21st century homosexuality.
NEWS: Shakespeare’s Globe announces its summer season 2020
Shakespeare’s Globe’s summer season 2020 will include Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night and Antony & Cleopatra.
NEWS: Tamasha playwright Cheryl Ndione brings tale of self-discovery Apple to Vault Festival
Darkly comic tale of a woman’s journey to uncover her roots and understand who she is, Cheryl Ndione’s Apple will run at the VAULT Festival next month. Book you tickets now!
‘Delicate but delicious’: YOU STUPID DARKNESS! – Southwark Playhouse
With its focus on the small things, Sam Steiner’s play You Stupid Darkness! is a delicate but delicious thing at the Southwark Playhouse.
FEATURED SHOW: ★★★★ reviews are in for the premiere of Janice Okoh’s new history play The Gift
Janice Okoh’s “enthralling” new Black British history play The Gift has premiered to a tranche of ★★★★ reviews at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre at the start of a UK-wide tour. We’ve rounded up our selection of favourite review highlights. Time to get booking!
‘Oily Cart still put access at the heart of their work’: ALL WRAPPED UP – Touring
Oily Cart, the creators of All Wrapped Up, makes gently immersive, highly sensory performances for people under five years old, and people with complex needs.
‘Tea & manners link throughout’: THE GIFT – Belgrade Theatre & touring ★★★★
This complex play covers a vast but nourishing soup of issues that impact relationships between cultures, races and people in the modern world.
Meet the cast: Who’s who in the world premiere of Tom Stocks’ Netflix & Chill?
Who’s who in the cast of new mental health comedy Netflix & Chill? What have you seen them in before? Check out full biographies – and sneak a peek what they’ve been up to behind the scenes.
VAULT Festival: Former stripper Diane Herbert makes playwriting debut with Angels, based on her experiences
Aiming to challenge audiences’ preconceptions about strippers, new play Angels, written by former table dancer and first-time playwright Diane Herbert, premieres at this year’s VAULT Festival, running for six performances from 19 to 23 February 2020 in the Cavern at The Vaults, Leake Street.
‘Power to move & inspire’: THE CANARY & THE CROW – Arcola Theatre
The Canary and the Crow is full of humour and warmth and describes the challenging reality of being trained to be the “acceptable” face of Black Britain and how that impacts identify and worth.
FIRST LOOK: Eclipse Theatre premiere The Gift juxtaposes Victorian & modern Britain
Janice Okoh’s new Black history play The Gift juxtaposes a story from Queen Victoria’s 19th-century royal circle with the present day. Just opened at Belgrade Theatre, it now transfers to London’s Theatre Royal Stratford East as part of a UK-wide tour. Take a look at our production shots gallery – and then get booking!
NEWS: Hassan Abdulrazzak returns to Soho with The Special Relationship, a new play about transatlantic deportees
Multi-award-winning Iraqi-born playwright Hassan Abdulrazzak returns to London’s Soho Theatre, where he had a breakthrough hit in 2007 with Baghdad Wedding, now returns with his timely new play The Special Relationship. Time to get booking!
NEWS: UK’s longest-running alternative theatre company brings People Show 137 to Southwark
Ahead of a short tour, pioneering theatremakers People Show bring their latest devised creation People Show 137: God Knows How Many to London’s Southwark Playhouse for a limited season from 5 to 29 February 2020, with a press night on 7 February.
NEWS: Annawon’s Song explores the often unseen casualties of conflict at VAULT Festival
Playwright Beverley Andrews shines a light on less obvious casualties of war in new play Annawon’s Song, which runs as part of VAULT Festival next month. Book your tickets now!