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Hampstead Theatre

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NEWS: Hampstead Theatre announces casting & extension for its production of The Dumb Waiter

In London theatre, Native, News, Plays, Press Releases, Quotes by Press Releases28th October 2020

Acclaimed stage and screen actors Alec Newman and Shane Zaza have been cast in Hampstead Theatre’s 60th anniversary production of Harold Pinter’s The Dumb Waiter which due to popular demand has been extended and will now run from 18 November 2020 until 2 January 2021.

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NEWS: We round up the response to the latest tranche of Culture Recovery Fund grants awarded by the Government

In London theatre, Native, News, Press Releases, Quotes, Regional theatre by Press Releases13th October 2020

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.

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NEWS: Hampstead Theatre reopens with 60th anniversary production of The Dumb Waiter

In London theatre, Native, News, Plays, Press Releases, Quotes by Press Releases10th October 2020

Hampstead Theatre will be reopening with a 60th anniversary production of Harold Pinter’s iconic early play The Dumb Waiter, directed by Alice Hamilton, running from 18 November to 19 December 2020.

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‘The camera captures Benedict Wong’s perfectly nuanced performance’: THE ARREST OF AI WEIWEI – Hampstead Theatre (Online review)

In London theatre, Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Aleks Sierz6th May 2020Leave a Comment

Howard Brenton’s docu-drama about the harassment of the Chinese artist is imbued with fresh urgency and relevance.

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‘The numbing brilliance of this play raises awareness of the current health crisis” TIGER COUNTRY, Hampstead Theatre (Online Review)

In London theatre, Native, Online shows, Plays, Reviews by Violet Mackintosh28th April 2020

I couldn’t think of a play more apt to raise awareness of the health crisis we now find ourselves in. Tiger Country is a blunt and beautiful portrayal of the real lives in an NHS hospital.

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Lockdown has made me realise, as much as theatre, I’ve been missing live music

In Concerts, Dance, London theatre, Opinion, Plays by Debbie Gilpin27th April 2020Leave a Comment

It feels slightly odd that my final show before the curtains came down wasn’t a play or musical – instead, it was a dance show.

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‘Watching this opened my eyes to an interesting part of British Empire history’: DRAWING THE LINE – Hampstead Theatre ★★★★ (Online review)

In Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Elaine Chapman23rd April 2020Leave a Comment

Judge Cyril Radcliffe has been ordered by the British government to go and map out the territories dividing up India as the empire begins to close down. A somewhat daunting prospect for somebody who had never been to India.

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40+ ways to get your theatre fix online during lockdown

In Features, London theatre, Musicals, Native, Online shows, Opinion, Plays by John Chapman5th April 2020Leave a Comment

Are you fed up with not being able to go out to the theatre? Don’t be. There’s a wealth of stuff to watch online. Here’s a handy list of current opportunities. OK, so it’s not quite the same as sharing the communal experience with others, but beggars, as they say…

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NEWS: Hampstead Theatre will stream series of hit productions for free

In London theatre, Native, News, Plays, Press Releases, Quotes, Video by Press Releases30th March 2020

Hampstead Theatre, in partnership with The Guardian, is going to stream a series of hit productions from its digital archive for free.

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‘Playful, poignant & raw’: I AND YOU – Hampstead Theatre (Online Review)

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Louise Penn28th March 2020Leave a Comment

Filmed in 2018, I And You by American writer Lauren Gunderson makes a welcome, limited, return to Hampstead Theatre’s Instagram.

Screencap from I And You

Maisie Williams makes a stunning stage debut in the role of Caroline, trapped within four wa…

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NEWS: Hampstead Theatre will stream its hit production of I and You starring Maisie Williams

In London theatre, Native, News, Plays, Press Releases, Quotes by Press Releases23rd March 2020

Hampstead Theatre is releasing its hit production of I and You by Lauren Gunderson on Instagram for free for a week from 23 March at 10am to 29 March at 10pm.

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Text of the Day: The Haystack

In Features, London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Quotes by Aleks Sierz11th March 2020Leave a Comment

Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.

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‘Timely & relevant drama’: THE HAYSTACK – Hampstead Theatre

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Aleks Sierz13th February 2020Leave a Comment

If neither newspapers nor intelligence services will lose sleep over the way Blyth represents them, The Haystack is insightful enough to be a contemporary state-of-the-nation parable.

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NEWS: Hampstead Theatre announces season of classics to celebrate ‘60 years of original theatre’

In London theatre, Native, News, Plays, Press Releases, Quotes, Sticky by Press Releases3rd February 2020

Hampstead Theatre has announced its spring/summer 2020 programme, Hampstead Classics, celebrating 60 years of original theatre.

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Text of the Day: The Tyler Sisters

In Features, London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Quotes by Aleks Sierz21st January 2020Leave a Comment

Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.

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Love London Love Culture presents her shows of the week

In Features, London theatre, Musicals, Native, Plays, Ticket recommendations by Emma Clarendon15th January 2020Leave a Comment

Here’s a guide to some of the shows that you might want to book tickets for in the week beginning 13 January 2020.

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REVIEW ROUND-UP: The Tyler Sisters at Hampstead Theatre

In Features, London theatre, Native, Opinion, Plays, Quotes, Reviews by Emma Clarendon10th January 2020Leave a Comment

Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews for the new play The Tyler Sisters by Alexandra Wood.

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‘It’s fascinating writing’: THE TYLER SISTERS – Hampstead Theatre

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Maryam Philpott8th January 2020Leave a Comment

In The Tyler Sisters Alexandra Wood reverses expectations of storytelling and in the process fills a notable gap in charting the experience of just being a sister day-to-day and year-to-year.

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Text of the Day: Ravens: Spassky Vs Fischer

In Features, London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Quotes by Aleks Sierz5th January 2020Leave a Comment

Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.

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‘The two central performances are compelling’: RAVENS: SPASSKY VS FISCHER – Hampstead Theatre

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Aleks Sierz10th December 2019Leave a Comment

Ravens: Spassky Vs Fischer, an intriguing documentary drama about the chess match of the century, gets bogged down in its final half hour.

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  • ‘We are transported somewhere far from Covid’: UNCLE VANYA – Harold Pinter Theatre (Screening)
  • NEWS: Hampstead Theatre announces casting & extension for its production of The Dumb Waiter
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FAF deciding on filters on post to be syndicated:

Squad Goals, Dagenham and Rainham FC

Array ( [post_title] => Squad Goals, Dagenham and Rainham FC [post_content] =>

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

So theatre. God I’ve missed this. And yes, it’s weird to have to be distanced, it’s weird to have to wear a mask, but what at the moment isn’t weird?

Squad goals is a charming celebration of girls becoming women. It takes a group of young women (and one token man) from the Dagenham and Rainham area and bring them together for a game of five-a-side football. The audience get allocated a pink or blue wrist band and that indicated which of the two teams (Dagenham or Rainham) they support.

The first half is dominated by the formation of the teams. Because I was on Team Rainham, my experience followed the show opening pair of neighbours Lexi and Mel. Lexi is football mad and very talented to boot. Mel is too nice for her own good, getting dragged into Lexi’s schemes. The two are rejected by the seemingly snooty Misha, the two form their own team to compete in front of the rumoured scout that will be attending the day’s tournament.

The first half contains most of the more interactive elements of the play. It’s not particularly immersive – more a combination of the best elements of pantomime and promenade theatre. You are taught chants to use and follow the girls around the ground as they gather their squad. As a solo, at that point getting into the chants felt a little odd, a little awkward.

The story at times felt a little thin, some of the characters could have been fleshed out a little more. But all of them were delivered with such charm and such gusto, that they won me over completely. The staging occasionally made it hard to hear the action. If you are a long way from the girls in a particular scene, you can miss quite important information and I dread to think what it would be like if it rained. Also, take a jumper. Even on a sunny day, an outdoor football stadium at night is cold, and unlike normal, there isn’t a packed crowd’s worth of body heat to help.

The sloganeering aspect of the play was well excused by the fact that the kind of feminism a group of working class, sixteen year old Essex girls (sorry Essex Women) would be spouting would definitely owe a lot more to The Spice Girls than Germaine Greer and that authenticity worked for this play where it might have felt facile in the hands of other players.

It is in the second half where the play comes to life and comes into its own. The football tournament is depicted through two long, dance sequences that burst with a ferocious, kinetic energy that absolutely fills the stadium. No longer was I shy about joining in the chants. Now I was roaring every time Rainham scored; booing the Ref when a decision went against my team. I was truly invested in these women (and one man) and their lives and their football. The second half goes by almost in a blur and the ending – not unexpected, but charmingly delivered – had me tearing up.

Squad Goals is a simple tale,  but a well delivered one. It’s young cast is packed with talent. I enjoyed myself mightily – especially during the thrilling second half. They managed to bring elements of jeopardy and to get me invested in them and the characters for whom they mattered.

Squad Goals is on until 10 October 2020 https://www.ticketsignite.com/event/3138/squad-goals

[post_excerpt] => So theatre. God I’ve missed this. And yes, it’s weird to have to be distanced, it’s weird to have to

Continue reading

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Remove Unselected:

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Rating: 4 out of 5.

So theatre. God I’ve missed this. And yes, it’s weird to have to be distanced, it’s weird to have to wear a mask, but what at the moment isn’t weird?

Squad goals is a charming celebration of girls becoming women. It takes a group of young women (and one token man) from the Dagenham and Rainham area and bring them together for a game of five-a-side football. The audience get allocated a pink or blue wrist band and that indicated which of the two teams (Dagenham or Rainham) they support.

The first half is dominated by the formation of the teams. Because I was on Team Rainham, my experience followed the show opening pair of neighbours Lexi and Mel. Lexi is football mad and very talented to boot. Mel is too nice for her own good, getting dragged into Lexi’s schemes. The two are rejected by the seemingly snooty Misha, the two form their own team to compete in front of the rumoured scout that will be attending the day’s tournament.

The first half contains most of the more interactive elements of the play. It’s not particularly immersive – more a combination of the best elements of pantomime and promenade theatre. You are taught chants to use and follow the girls around the ground as they gather their squad. As a solo, at that point getting into the chants felt a little odd, a little awkward.

The story at times felt a little thin, some of the characters could have been fleshed out a little more. But all of them were delivered with such charm and such gusto, that they won me over completely. The staging occasionally made it hard to hear the action. If you are a long way from the girls in a particular scene, you can miss quite important information and I dread to think what it would be like if it rained. Also, take a jumper. Even on a sunny day, an outdoor football stadium at night is cold, and unlike normal, there isn’t a packed crowd’s worth of body heat to help.

The sloganeering aspect of the play was well excused by the fact that the kind of feminism a group of working class, sixteen year old Essex girls (sorry Essex Women) would be spouting would definitely owe a lot more to The Spice Girls than Germaine Greer and that authenticity worked for this play where it might have felt facile in the hands of other players.

It is in the second half where the play comes to life and comes into its own. The football tournament is depicted through two long, dance sequences that burst with a ferocious, kinetic energy that absolutely fills the stadium. No longer was I shy about joining in the chants. Now I was roaring every time Rainham scored; booing the Ref when a decision went against my team. I was truly invested in these women (and one man) and their lives and their football. The second half goes by almost in a blur and the ending – not unexpected, but charmingly delivered – had me tearing up.

Squad Goals is a simple tale,  but a well delivered one. It’s young cast is packed with talent. I enjoyed myself mightily – especially during the thrilling second half. They managed to bring elements of jeopardy and to get me invested in them and the characters for whom they mattered.

Squad Goals is on until 10 October 2020 https://www.ticketsignite.com/event/3138/squad-goals

[post_excerpt] => So theatre. God I’ve missed this. And yes, it’s weird to have to be distanced, it’s weird to have to

Continue reading

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