Love London Love Culture’s Emma Clarendon takes a close look at what critics have had to say about Mother Goose at Hackney Empire.
‘Moves along at a cracking pace’: MOTHER GOOSE – Hackney Empire
Mother Goose at the Hackney Empire moves along at a cracking pace. Even with a short salute to the 120 years of the Hackney(wood) Empire, Mother Goose is one of the best options available this year, with fabulous costumes, a sparkling script with room for a bit of improv, and some amusing bits of slapstick.
‘Often hilarious & surprisingly moving’: AN IMPROBABLE MUSICAL – Hackney Empire
When you book tickets to a musical you would ordinarily expect to see a highly polished, carefully choreographed production where every line, step and song has been rehearsed a hundred times. Not so if you’re heading to Hackney Empire for An Improbable Musical, a show which will be improvised before your eyes.
‘An important show deservedly being shared with a wider audience’: RIOT ACT – Stream Theatre (Online review) ★★★★
This is a piece of verbatim theatre, telling three stories of queer activism from the mid-20th century to the present day; Alexis Gregory conducted interviews with Michael-Anthony Nozzi (a survivor of the Stonewall riots), Lavinia Co-op (a 70s drag artist), and Paul Burston (a 90s AIDS activist).
INTERVIEW: Rochelle Sherona on Hackney Empire’s Jack & the Beanstalk
Rochelle Sherona chatted to Love London Love Culture about starring in the Hackney Empire’s upcoming production of Jack and the Beanstalk as Jack Trot.
‘Fails to connect’: DIE WALKÜRE – Hackney Empire
I have never known Die Walküre fail to connect before, particularly in the hands of a talented team. Let’s hope this cycle gets right back on track as they progress towards a future Siegfried.
‘Honouring the profound truths of these stories’: SAFE – Hackney Empire (Online review)
Alexis Gregory’s Safe puts the stories of homeless and at-risk LGBTQ+ young people front and centre.
‘Each story is unique, real & thoughtful’: SAFE – Hackney Empire (Online review)
Safe is a verbatim play created and directed by Alexis Gregory (I reviewed his work previously in Sex/Crime). Previously performed at the Soho Theatre, this is now reimagined for the digital space.
NEWS: Nimax Theatres, the Criterion Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre & more receive awards in the Culture Recovery Fund second round
Nimax Theatres, the Criterion Theatre, Young Vic and Chichester Festival Theatre are among the 2,700 organisations being offered nearly £400 million in grants and loans as part of the CultureRecovery Fund’s second tranche of funding.
NEWS: Hackney Empire announces 2021 Christmas panto Jack & the Beanstalk
Hackney Empire today announced Jack and the Beanstalk, which was previously scheduled to open in December 2020, will now open in December 2021, marking the 22nd pantomime at the East End venue.
NEWS: We round up the response to the latest tranche of Culture Recovery Fund grants awarded by the Government
More than 1,300 arts and cultural organisations have benefited from a share of £257 million as part of a vital financial boost from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.
NEWS: Hackney Empire, Lyric Hammersmith , Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch & Theatre Royal Stratford East postpone their 2020 pantos
Hackney Empire, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and Theatre Royal Stratford East will be postponing their 2020 pantomimes by a year due to the continued uncertainty of government guidelines for restarting public performances.
‘Anything but washed out’: ALADDIN – Hackney Empire ★★★★
Writer/director Susie McKenna delivers her 20th festive production – Aladdin – with a show that captures the diversity of her London patch, yet cleverly avoids cultural appropriation and all the while managing to maintain the joyous irreverence that makes pantomime such a glorious British Christmas tradition.
‘Expect the unexpected’: Julie Yammanee makes her Hackney Empire debut in Aladdin
Julie Yammanee chatted to Love London Love Culture’s Emma Clarendon about making her Hackney Empire debut in the 20th-anniversary pantomime at the theatre.
NEWS: EastEnders’ star Tameka Empson returns to Hackney Empire for 2oth anniversary panto Aladdin
Hackney Empire has announced the return of Olivier Award-nominated actress, television star and comedian Tameka Empson (EastEnders, The Big Life, 3 Non Blondes) for its landmark 20th-anniversary pantomime from writer and director Susie McKenna this Christmas.
NEWS: Camelot, Girlfriends & A Christmas Carol all feature in London Musical Theatre Orchestra’s new season
London Musical Theatre Orchestra’s 2018 season features three musicals in concert: Lerner and Loewe’s Camelot at the London Palladium; Girlfriends, composed by Howard Goodall and starring Lucie Jones and Lauren Samuels, at Bishopsgate Institute; and the return of festive favourite A Christmas Carol at the Lyceum Theatre.
NEWS: Cedric Neal & Sharon D Clarke line up for LMTO concert version of King musical at the Hackney Empire
Hackney Empire, in co-production with London Musical Theatre Orchestra, will presents a special concert version of musical KING, marking 50 years since the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr and 30 years since the first performance of the late Martin Smith’s acclaimed show.
NEWS: Hackney Empire marks 20 years of pantomimes with a new Aladdin
Hackney Empire has announced Aladdin as its 2018 pantomime and 20th anniversary production which will arrive in true Hackney style this Christmas as the venue marks its landmark year with the classic tale.
‘A bold & daring interpretation’: HAMLET – Hackney Empire ★★★★
Paapa Essiedu’s Hamlet is likely to be remembered and talked about in years to come and Simon Godwin’s production is a beautifully accessible performance of a perfect play.
From The Country Wife to Olivier Award nominations: What to look out for in March
Lots of different things opening across the country in March. In London there are a lot of Fringe and Off West End productions coming your way.
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