Emma Clarendon rounds up the reviews for the new revival of The Memory of Water. Shelagh Stephenson’s play originally premiered at Hampstead Theatre in 1996.
‘A good story well told’: THE MEMORY OF WATER – Hampstead Theatre
I remember seeing Shelagh Stephenson’s contemporary classic at the Hampstead, when this venue was still an ageing prefab, and enjoying Terry Johnson’s racy staging,
‘The superb script is compellingly brought to life’: THE MEMORY OF WATER – Hampstead Theatre ★★★★
The three sisters in Shelagh Stephenson’s play The Memory of Water – Teresa (Lucy Black), Mary (Laura Rogers) and Catherine (Carolina Main) – have gathered at their mother’s home ahead of her funeral.
‘The great lines keep on coming’: THE MEMORY OF WATER – Hampstead Theatre ★★★★★
Libby Purves is tempted to see The Memory of Water at Hampstead Theatre again, just to feel a more solidly packed audience laughing and gasping around her. That’s how much fun it was.
‘Captures the people perfectly’: BIG BIG SKY – Hampstead Theatre
Not a lot happens, yet everything happens, as Big Big Sky’s premise is about ordinary people living ordinary lives. Under Tessa Walker’s direction – she has collaborated with Wells before – the drama is handled with dignity, clarity, and charm.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: The Two Character Play at Hampstead Theatre
Love London Love Culture rounds up what the critics have had to say about Sam Yates’ production of Tennessee Williams’ The Two Character Play at Hampstead Theatre.
‘Like watching a cross between Waiting For Godot and Noises Off’: THE TWO CHARACTER PLAY – Hampstead Theatre
The Two Character Play at London’s Hampstead Theatre was at times interesting and enjoyable and at others frustrating and perplexing.
‘Intriguing if not entirely satisfying’: THE TWO CHARACTER PLAY – Hampstead Theatre
This rare revival of The Two Character Play at Hampstead Theatre proves an interesting addition to works that reassess Tennessee Williams’ impact as a dramatist – an intellectual exercise if not an emotive one.
‘Direction & sound are faultless’: RAYA – Hampstead Theatre ★★★★
Some say that the tight, 80-minute three-hander Raya tackles too many things at once – middle aged reawakening of old liaisons, the menopause, grief, haunting, student sexual accusations, therapy, parenthood and the unwisdom of defining yourself round sex. But hey, that is adult life. Hassles do not arrive neatly separated and convenient for the dramatic unities.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: The Death of a Black Man at Hampstead Theatre
Love London Love Culture discovers what critics have had to say about the revival of Alfred Fagon’s play The Death of a Black Man at the Hampstead Theatre.
‘Fagon’s astoundingly contemporary drama feels significant’: DEATH OF A BLACK MAN – Hampstead Theatre
Alfred Fagon’s fascinating two act drama opened at the venue in 1975 and while some of its gender attitudes may have dated, so much of Death of a Black Man feels as fresh and challenging now as it did 46 years ago.
NEWS: Hampstead Theatre returns to live theatre with a production of Alfred Fagon’s The Death of a Black Man
Hampstead Theatre has announced its first live productions for 2021, beginning with Alfred Fagon’s The Death of a Black Man, running from 28 May to 10 July 2021, having originally premiered at the theatre in 1975. Dawn Walton, former artistic director of Eclipse Theatre Company, will make her Hampstead Theatre directorial debut.
NEWS: Theatres Trust supports 40 more UK theatres in final round of reopening fund grants
The Theatres Trust has awarded a further £155,265 of grants to help theatres with costs of Covid-secure reopening, including changes to the building to reduce congestion, improvements to ventilation systems and simple measures like installing hand sanitisers and screens.
‘It feels a lot like an episode of Porridge written by Beckett’: THE DUMB WAITER – Hampstead Theatre ★★★★
After nine months, we are grateful just to sit in an auditorium, but to see a production as slick, unsettling and thrilling as The Dumb Waiter is a wonderful reminder of the power of live theatre.
Love London Love Culture’s Theatre Picks for December
Love London Love Culture offers a guide to some of the shows set to open in London next month.
NEWS: Hampstead Theatre announces casting & extension for its production of The Dumb Waiter
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.
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: Hampstead Theatre reopens with 60th anniversary production of The Dumb Waiter
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.
‘The camera captures Benedict Wong’s perfectly nuanced performance’: THE ARREST OF AI WEIWEI – Hampstead Theatre (Online review)
Howard Brenton’s docu-drama about the harassment of the Chinese artist is imbued with fresh urgency and relevance.
‘The numbing brilliance of this play raises awareness of the current health crisis” TIGER COUNTRY, Hampstead Theatre (Online Review)
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.