Last year a critic described a dramatic response to the Black Lives Matter protests, to which Benedict Lombe contributed, as ‘more lecture than theatre’. The quote is projected onto the set of her debut play, Lava, at the Bush Theatre.
News, Reviews and Features
These are all of our in-house news and features as well as syndicated article excerpts from our 45+ theatre bloggers. You can also access All Our Mates' Posts in comprehensive list form and view individual author pages.
An Indecent Proposal? No, more like an invitation to Terri Paddock’s post-show Q&A discussing the new musical at Southwark Playhouse
Following the 7.30pm performance on Thursday 4 November 2021, My Theatre Mates founder Terri Paddock will be talking to the cast and creatives at Southwark Playhouse about the 21st-century perspective on Indecent Proposal and its themes. Any questions? Join us!
NEWS: Covid-enforced absences result in the cancellation of Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company’s production of The Browning Version
Due to an increasing number of Covid-enforced absences, the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company/Fiery Angel new production of Terence Rattigan’s play The Browning Version, due to play at London’s Riverside Studios from 5-29 August 2021, has had to be cancelled.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Frozen in Melbourne
While its title may match the chill of Melbourne winter, the arrival of Frozen brings welcome warmth and theatrical magic as the first major musical to debut locally since March 2020.
‘I can’t wait to see & hear the children’s reactions to the play’: Peter Glanville on Polka’s pop up show Maanika & The Wolf
The Polka Theatre’s artistic director chats to Love London Love Culture about the theatre’s pop up performance of Maanika & The Wolf.
Your chance to be in the room where it happens with creative producers of theatre
So many amazing inspiring potential entrepreneurs have been in the room at Chris Grady’s workshops, networks and CGO Institute events, but now I want to look out for a much broader ‘audience’ of people who have never come across one of my workshops or networks
‘Very funny & wickedly affectionate’: Friend (The One With Gunther) – Stream.Theatre (Online review)
Friend rushes through ten series in an hour bringing you the highlights, the lowlights, the supporting cast, the big storylines, and more. It is very funny, wickedly affectionate, and utterly 90s.
A double whammy of encore performances proves to be a pleasure
Regular readers will know that I like nothing more than seeing shows I’ve already seen and loved again… and again. As a critic, you see shows under specific circumstances — as invited by the production.
‘An interesting take on the Oscar Wilde classic’: DORIAN: A ROCK MUSICAL – Stream.Theatre (Online review)
Dorian: A Rock Musical is an interesting take on the Oscar Wilde classic, probably better suited to live & in-person shows – Bart Lambert gives an arresting performance as Dorian Gray.
‘In itself a celebration’: SOUTH PACIFIC – Chichester Festival Theatre ★★★★★
Almost the most magnificent part of Daniel Evans’ production of South Pacific is that it’s happening at all: despite the distanced glimmer of blue paper masks, Chichester affirms that big musical theatre is back with almost insane defiance:
‘It is an intoxicating world’: ANNA X – Harold Pinter Theatre ★★★★★
Anna X by Joseph Charlton is a fresh, contemporary play set in New York that explores identity and acceptance in the modern age.
NEWS: National Theatre announces further casting for The Normal Heart, Hex, East Is East & Manor
The National Theatre, returning to performances with full capacity audiences from later this month, has announced further casting details for forthcoming productions of Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart, original musical Hex, Moira Buffini’s new play Manor, and more.
‘A visual language that suggests promise’: TWO WORLDS NO FAMILY – Lion & Unicorn Theatre
The Lion and Unicorn Theatre hosts Draft99 Theatre and their production of Ben Reid’s new LGBTQ+ play Two Worlds No Family.
‘Moving collection of tender, heart-felt musical pieces’: THE RED SIDE OF THE MOON – St Paul’s Church
It was a lovely evening to be back in the beautiful gardens of St Paul’s Church in Covent Garden for The Red Side of the Moon, a new musical running as part of Iris Theatre’s summer festival.
‘Passionate, powerful & challenging’: LAVA – Bush Theatre
Benedict Lombe’s new play Lava is semi-autobiographical and full of activism and difficult moments, alongside a story railing against Kafkaesque bureaucracy.
‘Utterly joyous & joyful’: SOUTH PACIFIC – Chichester Festival Theatre
While it is sadly premature to say that the theatre is fully back from its enforced hibernation of the last 15 months that put paid entirely to last summer’s Chichester Festival Theatre season, it was a (socially distanced) delight to welcome back of my favourite regional theatres with the opening, at last, of its production of South Pacific originally planned for last year.
‘The show is definitely best enjoyed with a drink in hand’: SH!TFACED SHAKESPEARE – Leicester Square Theatre
The chaotic Sh!tFaced Shakespeare makes a tipsy Macbeth intermittently entertaining at the Leicester Square Theatre.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: The Invisible Hand at the Kiln Theatre
Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews for Indhu Rubasingham‘s revival of Ayad Akhtar’s play at the Kiln Theatre.
‘Absurd & often poignant gig’: Life: LIVE! – Battersea Arts Centre
Lucy McCormick’s show Life: LIVE! is a powerful social commentary that prompts rethinking on the expectations we have of those in the spotlight.
‘There are moments of real credible connection’: RED SKIES – Touring
Eastern Angles’ Red Skies is a great idea, much of it well performed and imagined, but if ever a play needed cutting, especially in the second half (unwisely, as long as the first or longer) this is it.