Robert Hastie once said that the director’s role is “to provide the clearest conduit between a writer and an actor”. Such an approach, effectively of getting in the way as little as possible, perfectly suits the prosaic dialogue of Peter Gill’s 2001 play The York Realist.
‘Rendered perfect’: THE YORK REALIST – Donmar Warehouse ★★★★
Peter Gill’s 2002 play, The York Realist, which won plaudits but not universal acclaim at first, is rendered in the Donmar’s intimacy by director Robert Hastie as something perfect: delicate, clear and natural as an upland brook.
‘Beautifully moving & genuinely funny’: THE YORK REALIST – Donmar Warehouse ★★★★
The York Realist at the Donmar Warehouse is a glorious show which creeps up on you slowly, naturally and beautifully. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend 130 minutes.
‘This tale of impossible love clutches at your heart’: The York Realist – Donmar Warehouse
Nothing feels rushed in Robert Hastie’s wonderful new production of The Yor Realist at the Donmar Warehouse, allowing this beautifully sad production to really touch the heart. A modern classic and a Yorkshire Brief Encounter indeed.
Looking forward: 20 fringe & regional shows to see in 2018 > #theatre2018
There are all sorts of big productions arriving in the months to come (Long Day’s Journey Into Night, the return of Amadeus, PATTI LUPONE!), but I’m using this spot to highlight some of the shows on the London fringe and around the UK (and Amsterdam…) that have piqued my interest and which I hope to get to review.
Looking forward: 20 fringe & regional shows to see in 2018 > #theatre2018
There are all sorts of big productions arriving in the months to come (Long Day’s Journey Into Night, the return of Amadeus, PATTI LUPONE!), but I’m using this spot to highlight some of the shows on the London fringe and around the UK (and Amsterdam…) that have piqued my interest and which I hope to get to review.
NEWS: Jonathan Bailey joins York Realist, Full cast announced for Donmar & Sheffield
Jonathan Bailey has been cast as John alongside, as previously announced, Ben Batt as George and Lesley Nicol as George’s mother in Robert Hastie’s major new production of Peter Gill’s 2001 play The York Realist.
Nowt so queer as folk: Recapping the National Theatre’s queer theatre season
It feels important to recognise what the NT (and the Old Vic) were trying to achieve, though. Queer Theatre looked “at how theatre has charted the LGBT+ experience through a series of rehearsed readings, exhibitions, talks and screenings” and if only one looked at lesbian women, two of the readings were written by women.
Queer Theatre at the National: Certain Young Men
Following the lives of four gay couples and told predominantly in duologues, it had the slight sense of yet another version of La Ronde as established pairings disintegrate and new ones reform.
50 years on since homosexuality decriminalised: Belonging debate, #QueerTheatre castin
Belonging is a public debate with poncy performance chaired by Scottee. Together with a committee of prominent queers he will explore where queer people sit in our society. A boozy, loose-tongued version of Question Time with less middle aged, middle class white men. Come and mouth off on the eve of London Pride.
WOYZECK – Old Vic
It’s a radical rewrite. Gone is a lot of the mystery and the poetry of the original. In their place is a contemporary, accessible version which emphasises realistic psychology (a lot of backstory detail) and social realism (a lot of childcare detail).
PHOTOS & VIDEO: Inside the rehearsal room for Woyzeck starring John Boyega
Rehearsal photos and show trailer have been released for Jack Thorne’s new version of Georg Buchner’s 1913 classic Woyzeck, in which Star Wars’ John Boyega takes the title role.
PHOTOS & VIDEO: Inside the rehearsal room for Woyzeck starring John Boyega
Rehearsal photos and show trailer have been released for Jack Thorne’s new version of Georg Buchner’s 1913 classic Woyzeck, in which Star Wars’ John Boyega takes the title role.
Saying farewell to Tim Pigott-Smith, The Report & Woyzeck
The news of Tim Pigott-Smith’s passing at the age of 70 yesterday was a terrible shock, not least because he was still in a rich creative vein – a tour of Death of a Salesman was scheduled for next month.
NEWS: Sarah Greene joins John Boyega in Woyzeck, Full cast announced
Star Wars star John Boyega will be joined in the cast of Woyzeck by Sarah Greene, Nancy Carroll, Ben Batt and Steffan Rhoddri at London’s Old Vic Theatre.
Year in Review: Ian Foster’s 12 Leading Men of the Year 2016
It’s that time of year again when I am publicly shallow in my appreciation of the men that grace our stages – and given the hit counts I get on these annual posts, you’re all just as thirsty as me! (Note from Mates: Visit Ian’s site for many more, and more revealing, pics of each – plus archive lists since 2009!)
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE – Manchester
This is a remarkably intense Streetcar and it is one that requires dedication throughout its 3 hours+ running time, Frankcom’s key conceit taking its time to play out as Peake charts Blanche DuBois’ startling decline in the New Orleans abode of her sister Stella and her virile but violent husband Stanley.
THE FUNFAIR – Home, Manchester
Manchester’s newest arts centre HOME thrust open its doors for its official HOMEwarming celebration last week. Following the merger between the Manchester’s Cornerhouse and Library Theatre Company, the first theatre production at the new venue is perhaps a fitting fusion of old and new.