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AMERICAN IDIOT – Arts Theatre

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Caroline Hanks-FarmerLeave a Comment

Green Day’s American Idiot is a celebrated punk rock concept Album written post 911. Wild speculation about who it is making reference to was rife at the time of release. Though fiercely denied by all (even in the shows programme), as we take to our seats videos are being projected of President George Bush’ various speeches.

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Sell A Door: Theatre sector must contribute to Brexit debate

In Features, London theatre, Native, Opinion, Regional theatre, Touring by Guest BloggersLeave a Comment

As new Prime Minister Theresa May forms her Brexit government, Sell a Door founders David Hutchinson and Phillip Rowntree have outlined their concerns about how Brexit impacts them as theatre producers of national and international tours including Little Shop of Horrors, Footloose, James and the Giant Peach and Green Day’s American Idiot, now returned to London’s Arts Theatre for its second West End …

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AMERICAN IDIOT – Touring

In London theatre, Musicals, Opinion, Regional theatre, Reviews, Touring by Jonathan BazLeave a Comment

Green Day’s concept punk album explored something that teenagers around the world have been doing forever – questioning societal constructs and their own purpose in life, and feeling as though they are the only person in to experience this existential crisis. But, with a large focus on the post-2001 world, the 2004 release of American Idiot went even further, by ramping up the rage and frustration and channeling this into a highly charged and chaotic collection of thoughts and guitars.

BARBARIANS – Tooting Arts Club at Central Saint Martin’s

In London theatre, Plays, Reviews by Jonathan BazLeave a Comment

It has long been recognised that when writing about his world, Barrie Keefe’s finger is firmly on society’s pulse. With Barbarians however Keefe goes one step further, not just finding that pulse, but slicing it open in front of us, confronting his audience with those bloody, ugly realities that, skin-deep, continually surround us.
A 1970s trilogy of short plays, Barbarians follows three disaffected young men from their confused and sometimes angry adolescence into adulthood. Keefe’s deployment of irony is always a treat and the evening’s opening play, Killing Time is peppered with his trademark black humour as the teenagers, not long out of school, contemplate an evening of petty crime.

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NEWS: Nikolai Foster directs all-new Legally Blonde at Leicester Curve

In Musicals, News, Plays, Press Releases, Regional theatre, Touring by Press ReleasesLeave a Comment

Curve today announces its spring 2016 season following record-breaking ticket sales, a surge in visitor numbers to the iconic building in the heart of Leicester’s Cultural Quarter and an increase in turnover to £7.8m – Curve’s highest figure since opening in 2008. The first under new leadership team of Chief Executive Chris Stafford, Artistic Director Nikolai Foster and Commercial Director Alister de Ternant, the season includes an all-new production of the award-winning West End and Broadway smash hit musical comedy Legally Blonde, directed by Foster and opening on 14 April, with previews from 11 April and running until 14 May.

Rock operas: How much does American Idiot owe to Tommy?

In Features, London theatre, Opinion by Terri PaddockLeave a Comment

Birth-wise, more than three decades separate The Who’s Tommy and Green Day’s American Idiot, but location-wise, the distance is only three short train stops, from London’s Charing Cross to Greenwich. That is, for the next few weeks in any case. It’s a happy coincidence that these two “rock operas” based on groundbreaking “concept albums” are both […]