Editor Lisa Martland picks out some of her Top Picks from the last week of theatre (to 13 October 2019), ranging from Aleks Sierz’s thoughts on the still very relevant A Day In The Death Of Joe Egg at the Trafalgar Studios to Libby Purves’ reaction to Mischief Theatre’s new offering Groan Ups.
Deserves to be heard: THE GOOD SCOUT – Above The Stag Theatre ★★★★
Glenn Chandler focuses on events that haven’t been spoken about for many years in The Good Scout and in the process a charismatic cast reveals an extremely interesting twist in history.
‘Brilliant performances all round’: OLD STOCK: A REFUGEE LOVE STORY – Wilton’s Music Hall ★★★★★
In Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story, playwright Hannah Moscovitch has taken the heart-wrenching story based on her paternal family and placed it into this thoughtful, entertaining and powerful theatre production.
‘Are you ready for the truth?’: AT LAST – Lion & Unicorn Theatre ★★★★
At Last, what happens when an Island puts up the barriers and withdraws from the rest of the world? Playwrights James Lewis and Alexander Knott’s new play allows a terrifying glimpse into the way an event such as that could become a reality.
‘A brilliant concept’: ROCK ‘N’ ROLL GIRLS – Edinburgh Fringe ★★★★
What on earth can be the connection between ‘Brown Sugar’ by the Rolling Stones, ‘Lola’ by The Kinks, ‘Eleanor Rigby’ by The Beatles, ‘Roxanne’ by The Police and… Monica? The five characters in Rock ‘n’ Roll Girls explain all.
‘Extremely moving performance’: THE WORDS ARE THERE – Edinburgh Fringe ★★★★
Ronan Dempsey’s one-man physical performance in The Words Are There brings to the Fringe a powerful play about a male victim of domestic violence.
‘This musical play never slows down’: SPACE JUNK A SOVIET MUSICAL – Edinburgh
If you looking for entertainment and education with some good music added in then Space Junk A Soviet Musical is worth taking an hour out of your Fringe schedule to watch.
‘Hard-hitting, tear-jerking & heartfelt’: HOW TO SAVE A LIFE – Lion & Unicorn Theatre & Edinburgh
How to Save a Life is a hard-hitting, tear-jerking and heartfelt story of love, friendship and the harsh reality of what can happen when you put off making important grown-up decisions.
‘A must-see for anyone in London over the summer’: THE FALCON’S MALTESER – The Vaults ★★★★
Director Lee Lyford has bought together a fine mixture of comedy, family fun and mystery to this adaptation of Anthony Horowitz’s The Falcon’s Malteser.
‘The gothic horror is bought to life’: PICTURES OF DORIAN GRAY – Jermyn Street Theatre ★★★★
Tom Littler has taken one of literature’s most flamboyant and controversial writers of his generation and added his own twist. The Pictures of Dorian Gary runs smoothly and I would be as bold to say Oscar Wilde would have enjoyed this version of his novel too.
‘Raw approach pays off’: HEDGEHOG – Lion & Unicorn Theatre ★★★★
Coming of age plays very often travel through similar storylines and themes. Hedgehog takes a raw approach to this epiphany.
‘Heartfelt, eye-opening & thought-provoking’: RETURN TO HACKNEY – Theatro Technis ★★★★
Any play like Return to Hackney that tackles poignant and unjust social issues with this level of conviction and sensitive understanding deserves a lot of credit.
‘Leaves you feeling uplifted’: MAMA G’S STORY TIME ROADSHOW – Lion & Unicorn Theatre & Touring ★★★★★
Welcome to the stage Mama G the fantastic Pantomime Dame one person show, all the glitz and glamour that encompasses the character are here in the fabulous storytelling show.
‘A truly moving show to see’: DREAM OF A KING – Brighton ★★★★
Christopher Tajah’s passion and delivery in his performance in Dream of a King that he has written, directed and stars in is a truly moving show to see.
‘From the sublime to the ridiculous’: DIE! DIE! DIE! OLD PEOPLE DIE! – Battersea Arts Centre ★★★★
The dark and uncomfortable path the aged couple embark on in Ridiculusmus’ Die! Die! Die! Old People Die! has a feel of The League of Gentlemen surrounding it where you expect the unexpected.
‘Truly outstanding achievement by each playwright’: FEAST FROM THE EAST – Tristan Bates Theatre ★★★★
Feast From The East highlights that there can be as much depth in a well written short play which packs in lots of detail, passion and story as can be found in a full-length play.
‘Extremely funny & entertaining’: THE CASTLE – Touring ★★★
When Old Dog Theatre’s latest production of Kafka’s The Castle meets the BBC surreal comedy A League of Gentlemen or so it seems, strange things start to play out on stage.
‘In complete awe of the company’s ability & attention to detail’: DOG WITHOUT FEATHERS – Queen Elizabeth Hall ★★★★★
Deborah Colker Dance Company presents Dog Without Feathers, an incredible piece of dance which combines music, poetry, stark cinematography and a spellbinding dance ensemble.
‘A sensitive & very moving adaptation’: THE STRANGER ON THE BRIDGE – Touring
Director Lizzie Minnion has created a sensitive and very moving adaptation of the true story of A Stranger on a Bridge.
Best of the Blogs: All My Sons, Rosmersholm, Man Of La Mancha, This Is My Family & more
As part of a new series, our editor Lisa Martland picks out seven of her Top Picks from the last week of theatre (29 April-6 May 2019), ranging from Johnny Fox’s nostalgic return to see All My Sons and Maryam Philpott’s thoughts on the much-anticipated Rosmersholm starring Tom Burke and Hayley Atwell.
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