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‘Investigating the world of theatre & film creatively & inventively’: TALKING GODS FESTIVAL – Arrows & Traps (Online review)

In London theatre, Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Ian Foster11th April 2021Leave a Comment

Talking Gods sees Arrows & Traps move online with a creative hybrid of theatre and film hoiking Ancient Greek mythology into the modern age.

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Album Reviews: Amélie The Musical / Cases / After You

In Albums, Audio, London theatre, Musicals, Online shows, Opinion, Reviews by Ian Foster9th April 2021Leave a Comment

A trio of cast recording reviews covers musicals Amélie The Musical, Cases and After You – each one a winner in its own way.

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‘This is contemporary Shakespeare at its finest’: ROMEO & JULIET (National Theatre / Sky Arts)

In Films, London theatre, Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Ian Foster7th April 2021Leave a Comment

Jessie Buckley is astonishing as the National Theatre’s Romeo and Juliet makes the jump from stage to screen to extraordinary effect.

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‘Possesses an up-to-the-minute urgency’: LIVING NEWSPAPER #3 – Royal Court Theatre (Online review)

In London theatre, Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Ian Foster6th April 2021Leave a Comment

The third edition of Royal Court’s Living Newspaper moves online only, with some seriously fierce political writing this time around.

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‘Production does wonders’: ORDINARY DAYS – Pickle Productions (Online review)

In London theatre, Musicals, Online shows, Opinion, Reviews by Ian Foster3rd April 2021Leave a Comment

In Pickle Productions’ Ordinary Days a musical about human connection is given the production full of humanity it deserves.

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‘Can’t help but feel more poignant’: TRESTLE – Maltings Theatre, St Albans (Online review)

In Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Regional theatre, Reviews by Ian Foster29th March 2021Leave a Comment

Stewart Pringle’s beautiful two-hander Trestle is revived digitally and delectably by Matthew Parker for Maltings Theatre.

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‘Deliciously wry’: ADVENTUROUS – Jermyn Street Theatre (Online review)

In London theatre, Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Ian Foster22nd March 2021Leave a Comment

Ian Hallard’s debut play Adventurous finds a gently comic soul in its exploration of middle-aged online pandemic dating.

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‘A tale lifted wholesale into the 21st century’: THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (Online review)

In Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Ian Foster20th March 2021Leave a Comment

Alfred Enoch and Russell Tovey enliven a digital take on Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray.

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‘You’re left with lots to think about’: BIRDS & BEES – Theatre Centre (Online review)

In London theatre, Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Ian Foster11th March 2021Leave a Comment

Charlie Josephine’s Birds and Bees captures teenage awkwardness perfectly, in the shadow of a school sexting scandal.

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‘Intelligently nuanced & perceptive’: CRIPS WITHOUT CONSTRAINTS PART 2 – Graeae (Online theatre)

In Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Ian Foster9th March 2021Leave a Comment

Graeae’s Crips Without Constraints Part 2 shows off UK Deaf and disabled artists firing brilliantly on all creative cylinders.

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Album Reviews: Marisha Wallace – Tomorrow / Shan Ako – Brave Heart / Soviet Zion

In Albums, Audio, London theatre, Musicals, Opinion, Reviews by Ian Foster8th March 2021Leave a Comment

A trio of music reviews with Marisha Wallace’s album Tomorrow, Shan Ako’s EP Brave Heart and the original concept album of Soviet Zion.

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‘Theatre of this quality is not that typical at all’: TYPICAL – Soho Theatre (Online theatre)

In London theatre, Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Ian Foster6th March 2021Leave a Comment

Richard Blackwood excels in Ryan Calais Cameron’s searing monologue Typical, the weight of its enduring relevance painfully clear.

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‘Offers huge entertainment’: Sherlock Holmes An Online Adventure – The Case of the Hung Parliament (Online review)

In Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Ian Foster5th March 2021Leave a Comment

Taking immersive theatre online in great style, Sherlock Holmes: An Online Adventure offers huge entertainment in The Case of the Hung Parliament.

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‘The contemporary lens really sharpens the focus’: THE REGINA MONOLOGUES – Maltings Theatre (Online review)

In London theatre, Musicals, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Ian Foster3rd March 2021Leave a Comment

Before Six, there was The Regina Monologues! Maltings Theatre’s streaming debut offers an interesting set of monologues.

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‘Creatively it is a show that is firing on all cylinders’: THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE – Southwark Playhouse (Online review)

In London theatre, Musicals, Online shows, Opinion, Reviews by Ian Foster26th February 2021Leave a Comment

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice brushes up well as a classy and confident new British musical.

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‘A different, special atmosphere’: Grimm Tales for Fragile Times & Broken People – Creation Theatre (Online review)

In Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Ian Foster25th February 2021Leave a Comment

Fresh from winning an ONCOMM Award for their inventive reinvention of Wonderland in Alice – A Virtual Theme Park, Creation Theatre is continuing its exploration of the digital auditorium with their newest production Grimm Tales for Fragile Times and Broken People.

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‘There’s a real joy in hearing the 100% live vocals’: WEST END MUSICAL DRIVE-IN – Stream.Theatre (Online review)

In Concerts, London theatre, Musicals, Online shows, Opinion, Reviews by Ian Foster23rd February 2021Leave a Comment

This capture of last summer’s West End Musical Drive In delivers much of the thrill of live performance, with Shan Ako and Layton Williams in particularly fine form.

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‘Often powerfully affecting’: GOOD GRIEF (Online review)

In Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Ian Foster15th February 2021Leave a Comment

Straddling the line between theatre and film, Good Grief is a two-hander with moments of searing insight.

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’An easy informality that elevates this concert to the best kind of cabaret’: TOGETHER AGAIN – Thespie

In Concerts, London theatre, Musicals, Online shows, Opinion, Reviews by Ian Foster9th January 2021Leave a Comment

Featuring the marvellous Sophie Isaacs, Jodie Steele and T’Shan Williams, Together Again might be Thespie’s best Reunited gig yet.

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‘Fierce & fresh’: LIVING NEWSPAPER – Royal Court Theatre (Online review)

In London theatre, Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Ian Foster4th January 2021Leave a Comment

Sneaking in in the nick of time, I catch the delights of the second edition of the Royal Court’s Living Newspaper.