First reviews are in for Michael Southan’s “comical, heart-warming and enlightening” debut play Kerbs. The new comedy about dating whilst disabled, co-produced by Graeae and Belgrade Theatre, is now on tour. Don’t miss!
‘Sex between two disabled people isn’t often portrayed on stage’: Michael Southan on making his playwriting debut with Kerbs
Making its premiere at the Belgrade from 26 February to 5 March 2022, laugh-out-loud new comedy Kerbs is the debut play from disabled writer Michael Southan. We recently chatted with Michael to find out more about his inspiration behind the story.
NEWS: Kerbs, a comedy about dating whilst disabled, premieres at Belgrade Theatre
Kerbs, a new comedy about dating whilst disabled, receives its world premiere this month at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, in a co-production with Graeae, the UK’s leading disabled-led theatre company. Time to get booking!
‘We’ll keep the blue gags flying here!’: PANTOLAND – London Palladium
Not for the very youngest probably, but for the rest of us over-7s and our inner child Pantoland at the London Palladium is a proper, silly, defiant showbiz shot in the arm.
NEWS: Elaine Paige joins the cast of Pantoland at The Palladium
Elaine Paige will join the cast of Pantoland at The Palladium for the three-week festive run from 12 December 2020 to 3 January 2021, which sees pantomime return to the the London Palladium for a fifth consecutive year.
NEWS: Julian Clary leads all-star cast in Pantoland at the London Palladium
This Christmas Julian Clary will lead a star-studded cast in Pantoland at The Palladium, a treasure-trove of the London Palladium panto past devised by Michael Harrison and playing from 12 December 2020 to 3 January 2021.
The diversity of diversity
Making theatre as diverse as possible is, I think, a work in progress. And progress is the operative word. I’m not advocating complacency. Of course there’s still much to be done but don’t let’s belittle the enormous amount which has already happened.
‘I hope Hamilton will influence opera around the world’: Alison Buchanan on Pegasus Opera & their new production Shaw Goes Wilde
As Pegasus Opera prepares to stage it’s latest production, Shaw Goes Wilde, at the Royal Academy of Music, Artistic Director Alison Buchanan tells us about playing a character with dominatrix tendencies and how the opera world can learn from the success of Hamilton. Read her fascinating interview, then book your tickets for the production!
NEWS: Pegasus Opera Company premieres Hagemann double bill, Shaw Goes Wilde
Two one-act operas based on works by George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde will receive their UK premieres when Pegasus Opera Company brings Shaw Goes Wilde to the Royal Academy of Music later this spring. The double bill of works composed by Philip Hagemann play a limited run from 12 to 14 April 2019 , so book your tickets now!
Calling for changes to theatrical diversity is all very well, but how can we implement it?
In beginning conversations about theatrical diversity, theatres and critics alike need to recognise that we need each other. Looking for solutions together rather than attacking might be a more constructive route.
Eight reasons to see Schism at the Park Theatre before it closes on Saturday
It is well worth making the effort to squeeze in a theatre trip this week, if you can. I’ve been raving about this show to anyone who’ll listen, now it’s your turn. If I did star ratings, I’d definitely give Schism 5 out of 5.
We need more diversity in our theatre critics
We need more representation from minority backgrounds, fewer white people, fewer middle/ upper-class reviewers, more representation from people with disabilities… If we don’t, theatre just will not change. And it must if it is going to have any kind of relevance.
‘Biggest, boldest, glitziest panto in London’: DICK WHITTINGTON – West End ★★★★
Following critical and commercial success with last year’s Cinderella, QDOS Entertainment has again invested millions to make Dick Whittington the biggest, boldest and glitziest pantomime on the London circuit with what looks like a degree of overkill, taking a sledgehammer to crush a rat perhaps.
THE LOST BOY PETER PAN – Pleasance Theatre
The Tradition versus Progress conflict sits along side the moral question of whether or not we should be perpetuating these attitudes in young children – who don’t know enough to see these problems – by continuing to tell these stories.
JOY – Theatre Royal Stratford East
Joy, in which learning disabled characters are played by trained actors with learning disabilities, is a play and a directorial choice commendably at the forefront of diversity and accessibility, but like all vanguard work with no previous models to follow, it needs further shaping and development.
INTERVIEW: Spotlight On… Actor-turned-director Kathy Burke ahead of two new productions
Kathy Burke is not a woman you’ll often see on the red carpet of a West End press night. She doesn’t enjoy the photographs and expectations that come with it, and she’d much rather see her comps go to those who are struggling to afford West End prices.
NEWS: Emma Williams reunites with Charlie Stemp for Dick Whittington, Full cast
Emma Williams reunites with her Half a Sixpence co-star Charlie Stemp this Christmas for Dick Whittington at the London Palladium, where the pantomime cast also includes Julian Clary, Elaine Paige, Nigel Havers and Gary Wilmot.
MY COUNTRY; A WORK IN PROGRESS – Touring
Unfortunately, it’s a pretty terrible piece of theatre. The primarily verbatim script is the worst of racist Brexit voters pontificating on political issues interspersed with extracts of speeches by the likes of Michael Gove, Boris, David Cameron and Nigel Farage.
NEWS: Charlie Stemp, Elaine Paige & Gary Wilmot join Dick Whittington at Palladium, TICKETS ONSALE
Fresh from Half a Sixpence, Charlie Stemp will join Elaine Paige and Gary Wilmot, along with the previously announced Julian Clary, Paul Zerdin and Nigel Havers in Dick Whittington, this year’s Christmas pantomime at the London Palladium.
THE PLAGUE – Arcola Theatre
There is an appealing simplicity to the narrative of Camus’s 1947 novel: originally set in Oran, in French Algerian, the book tells the story of a devastating infection that starts off slowly but eventually leads to social and economic crisis as the city gates are closed and its people become prisoners.
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