With a new year fast approaching, it is an interesting time to reflect on small changes across the theatre landscape in 2019 that will continue to shape how UK theatre will look as it moves into a new decade.
‘Never less than compelling’: MACBETH – Chichester
It has been a long time since the West End saw a truly great Macbeth so perhaps this is a chance for Simm and Kirwan to buck the trend with impressive performances that offer a different perspective on their characters while creating a potency in their exchanges that is never less than compelling.
‘Masterful central performances are worth the admission price alone’: MACBETH – Chichester
See this production of Macbeth for those masterful central performances, they’re more than worth the price of admission, even if so much of the rest is “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing!”
‘It’s very easy to see all sorts of contemporary parallels’: Director Paul Miller on Macbeth at Chichester Festival Theatre
Chichester Festival Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s famous tragedy Macbeth, led by John Simm and Dervla Kirwan as the corrupted couple, marks a homecoming for director Paul Miller.
‘The joy is in meeting the characters’: JESUS HOPPED THE ‘A’ TRAIN – Young Vic Theatre
The joy of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train is in meeting his characters: watching them perform to each other; hearing their patois and verbal brio; exude a charisma which they know gives them power.
‘Riveting & engrossing from start to finish’: JESUS HOPPED THE ‘A’ TRAIN – Young Vic Theatre ★★★★
Originally directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman and performed by LABrynth Theatre Company, Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Olivier-nominated Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, returns to London in a striking revival directed by Kate Hewitt.
‘Moody, visceral & absorbing revival’: JESUS HOPPED THE ‘A’ TRAIN – Young Vic Theatre ★★★★
Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Stephen Adley Guirgis doesn’t pull any punches with his tough, uncompromising prison drama Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train at the Young Vic Theatre.
‘The debates are enthrallingly staged’: JESUS HOPPED THE ‘A’ TRAIN – Young Vic Theatre
This revival of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train is a layered story of two violent criminals, the system they hope can save them and the redemptive power that comes from confession.
‘Gripping from start to finish’: JESUS HOPPED THE ‘A’ TRAIN – Young Vic Theatre
Jesus Hopped The ‘A’ Train is gripping from start to finish, laced with black humour and a play that will have you questioning your reactions and beliefs.
‘Compelling exploration of guilt, goodness & godliness’: JESUS HOPPED THE ‘A’ TRAIN – Young Vic
Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train is a compelling exploration of guilt, goodness and godliness as Angel, incarcerated in New York’s infamous Rikers Island, confronts his emphatic public defender, a sadistic prison guard and a charismatic, born-again Christian serial killer.
NEWS: John Simm, Dervla Kirwan Hugh Bonneville, James Nesbitt & Sheila Hancock all feature in Chichester Festival Theatre’s new season
Chichester Festival Theatre’s Festival 2019 has been announced by artistic director Daniel Evans. It includes John Simm & Dervla Kirwan in Macbeth, Hugh Bonneville in Shadowlands & Tim Firth’s first solo musical starring James Nesbitt.
‘Reminding us of how much we stand to lose’: THE GREATEST WEALTH – The Old Vic
Paying tribute to the NHS in its 70th year, the specially-commissioned monologues of The Greatest Wealth made for a great night at the Old Vic.
NEWS: Casting for Old Vic’s series of monologues celebrating the NHS includes Art Malik, Meera Syal & Jade Anouka
The Old Vic has announced casting for The Greatest Wealth, curated by Lolita Chakrabarti and directed by Adrian Lester to celebrate 70 years of the National Health Service.
KING LEAR – Chichester ★★★★★
King Lear is the jewel in the crown of Daniel Evans’ opening year as Chichester’s Artistic Director. Ian McKellen is every inch a king in Jonathan Munby’s production that is currently playing a short, sold-out season
KING LEAR – Chichester
As I wrote when the full cast was first announced, “the world is hardly crying for more productions of King Lear, but if you’re going to put it on, you might as well go balls out on some amazing casting”.
KING LEAR – Chichester ★★★★★
Ian McKellen immediately makes the intimate space his own, the dialogue almost conversational and his Lear a warm-hearted soul with a twinkle in his eye. This is surely as good as it gets, an actor using every bit of knowledge he has acquired in a storied career to make his role feel so natural.
TICKETS: Mark’s Top Ten recommendations (21 Dec)
You’re not going to find any pantos on my top ten list this season — I’ve just not been to any at all this year, thanks to my double round of surgery for a hip replacement, then displacement.
TICKETS: Mark’s Top Ten recommendations + this week’s openings (14 Dec)
Another week of big openings ahead means I won’t be getting to everything even if I wanted to (and right now I am still trying to take it easier than I used to), let alone playing catch-up on what I missed when I was incapacitated after my recent double rounds of surgery! Here are the main openings of the week to look out for, followed by my current Top 10.
TICKETS: Mark’s Top Ten recommendations + this week’s openings (7 Dec)
What’s opening in London and beyond this week, plus my personal Top Ten of the Week including Bend it Like Beckham and The Winter’s Tale
TICKETS: Mark’s Top Ten recommendations + this week’s openings (7 Dec)
What’s opening in London and beyond this week, plus my personal Top Ten of the Week including Bend it Like Beckham and The Winter’s Tale
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