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‘Gripping, emotional & heart-warming’: COME FROM AWAY – Dublin & London ★★★★

In London theatre, Musicals, Opinion, Regional theatre, Reviews, Touring by Olivia MitchellLeave a Comment

Come From Away, at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin before transferring to the West End is a story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in a time of need is truly inspirational and this intense, gripping, emotional and heart-warming production perfectly captures the generosity of the human spirit.

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JANE WENHAM, THE WITCH OF WALKERN – Arcola Theatre

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Aleks SierzLeave a Comment

The best theatre is controversial theatre, but some controversies just make you want to weep. Out of Joint theatre company has been touring Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s Jane Wenham: The Witch of Walkern (co-produced with Watford Palace Theatre and Arcola Theatre) since September last year. All was going well until the 13 October performance at Ipswich High School for Girls was cancelled by the venue “citing concerns over the play’s language”. Max Stafford-Clark, Out of Joint’s artistic director, said: “It is deeply troubling that a play which so eloquently examines witch persecutions from a feminist perspective, and looks at the way society treated and continues to treat women, is considered inappropriate for an audience of young women. The school has also said that the inclusion of swearing is inappropriate, a policy which presumably rules out much contemporary drama or fiction for study.” Indeed. But enough about the follies of our educators, what about the play?