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‘The play is stunningly realised’: APOLLO 13 – THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON – Original Theatre (Online review)

In Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by John Chapman16th October 2020Leave a Comment

The whole creative and production team involved in Original Theatre Company’s Apollo 13: The Dark Side Of the Moon can be rightly proud of a superb job which really pushes at the frontiers of online drama.

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‘It is the small moments that matter’: APOLLO 13 – THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON – Original Theatre (Online review)

In Features, Musicals, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Louise Penn9th October 2020Leave a Comment

While Original Theatre’s Apollo 13: The Dark Side of the Moon is largely filmed in the homes of actors, the audience is taken straight into the interior of the spacecraft as a mission which seems routine goes badly wrong.

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NEWS: Original Theatre Company’s new online commission is Apollo 13 by Torben Betts

In Native, News, Online shows, Plays, Press Releases, Quotes by Press Releases21st August 2020

Original Theatre Company, the production company behind the critically-acclaimed lockdown productions of Sebastian Faulks’ Birdsong Online and Louise Coulthard’s Watching Rosie, have announced a new commission by Torben Betts, Apollo 13: The Dark Side of The Moon.

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‘Sharper, tauter & more emotionally coherent than before’: BIRDSONG – Touring ★★★

In Opinion, Plays, Regional theatre, Reviews, Scotland, Touring by Thom Dibdin10th May 2018Leave a Comment

There is more than one large-scale depiction of World War One on stage in Edinburgh at the moment. While the juggernaut that is War Horse may cause Birdsong to be overshadowed, the returning touring production of Sebastian Faulks’ story at the King’s has much to recommend it.

‘Great sensitivity & respect’: BIRDSONG – Touring ❤❤❤❤

In Opinion, Plays, Regional theatre, Reviews, Touring by Emma Clarendon15th March 2018Leave a Comment

Birdsong is a production that is thoughtful, respectful and heartbreaking to watch – but its powerful poignancy and heartfelt performances make this a must-see show.

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Review: Star Man (online)

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Following a staged reading last year at London’s Old Red Lion Theatre, new play Star Man has made its livestream debut to raise vital funds for LGBTQ+ youth homelessness charity akt.

Written by James Cole, the play is about a troubled young man called Ben who is battling drug addition. His partner Tony and mother Dionne try in vain to help him, while friend and drag queen Kennedy forces the family to confront memories from the past. Ben’s only solace comes in the form of experiencing visions of an astronaut, providing him with the comfort he needs

Cole’s script features plenty of tension and drama to keep the audience enthralled throughout. Star Man certainly deals with some hard-hitting themes around trauma and abuse, but there are also moments of light relief to counter the particularly more heart-wrenching scenes.

The cast of six who performed in isolation all did incredibly well, especially given there was a last minute replacement, with James Cole stepping into the role of Dionne, replacing Kim Talum due to illness. Jack Matthew put in a strong performance as Ben, haunted by his past, while Harry Edwin was equally impressive as Ben’s partner Tony. Neil Summerville enchanted as Kennedy, not only with his dry put-downs but with his heartbreaking recollection of the Aids crisis. Lewis Allcock was particularly menacing as Him, a man who certainly wasn’t about to mince his words. With a staged reading like this and the actors performing in isolation it’s sometimes easy to lose track of what’s happening, but David E. Hull-Watters was on hand to provide narration throughout and set the scene well.

There were a couple of restarts on the night, and of course a zoom meeting wouldn’t be the same without a muted microphone, but it certainly didn’t detract from the performance (in fact it injected some humour into the piece when things got a bit too dark) and the actors all did incredibly well performing in this environment, especially given the last minute replacement.

Star Man is certainly a promising play which packs an emotional punch. With a strong script and an impressive cast, this is a show which is certainly deserving of a full production once theatres reopen.

Follow Star Man on Twitter at @starmantheplay

Photo credits: Actor Jack Matthew © Lumosia; writer James Cole © Jeff Moore; actor Kim Tatum © James Pemberton

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Following a staged reading last year at London’s Old Red Lion Theatre, new play Star Man has made its livestream debut to raise vital funds for LGBTQ+ youth homelessness charity akt.

Written by James Cole, the play is about a troubled young man called Ben who is battling drug addition. His partner Tony and mother Dionne try in vain to help him, while friend and drag queen Kennedy forces the family to confront memories from the past. Ben’s only solace comes in the form of experiencing visions of an astronaut, providing him with the comfort he needs

Cole’s script features plenty of tension and drama to keep the audience enthralled throughout. Star Man certainly deals with some hard-hitting themes around trauma and abuse, but there are also moments of light relief to counter the particularly more heart-wrenching scenes.

The cast of six who performed in isolation all did incredibly well, especially given there was a last minute replacement, with James Cole stepping into the role of Dionne, replacing Kim Talum due to illness. Jack Matthew put in a strong performance as Ben, haunted by his past, while Harry Edwin was equally impressive as Ben’s partner Tony. Neil Summerville enchanted as Kennedy, not only with his dry put-downs but with his heartbreaking recollection of the Aids crisis. Lewis Allcock was particularly menacing as Him, a man who certainly wasn’t about to mince his words. With a staged reading like this and the actors performing in isolation it’s sometimes easy to lose track of what’s happening, but David E. Hull-Watters was on hand to provide narration throughout and set the scene well.

There were a couple of restarts on the night, and of course a zoom meeting wouldn’t be the same without a muted microphone, but it certainly didn’t detract from the performance (in fact it injected some humour into the piece when things got a bit too dark) and the actors all did incredibly well performing in this environment, especially given the last minute replacement.

Star Man is certainly a promising play which packs an emotional punch. With a strong script and an impressive cast, this is a show which is certainly deserving of a full production once theatres reopen.

Follow Star Man on Twitter at @starmantheplay

Photo credits: Actor Jack Matthew © Lumosia; writer James Cole © Jeff Moore; actor Kim Tatum © James Pemberton

Let's block ads! (Why?)

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