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BORDERS IN A BEDROOM – Tristan Bates Theatre

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Aleks Sierz10th August 2017Leave a Comment

Directed by Celine Rosenthal, Borders in a Bedroom is a short and slender work, but the playwright shows great promise.

BECOMING MOHAMMED – Pleasance Theatre

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Laura Kressly6th May 2017Leave a Comment

Becoming Mohammed, in its story of a young white man’s conversion to Islam and the subsequent familial negotiations of his journey, not only adds to the diversity on the London fringe but reframes the stigma against white, western Christians converting to Islam, and the inherently peaceful nature of the religion.

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Text of the Day: Guards at the Taj

In Features, London theatre, Plays, Quotes by Aleks Sierz23rd April 2017Leave 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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GUARDS AT THE TAJ – Bush Theatre

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Laura Kressly18th April 2017Leave a Comment

Epitomising opposing political viewpoints, the war between practical and aesthetic, emotional versus intellectual, and the disparity between social classes, the two characters each represent huge forces clashing within a coming-of-age story and a myth of the Taj’s history.

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GUARDS AT THE TAJ – Bush Theatre

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Aleks Sierz14th April 2017Leave a Comment

For its reopening, Younis has looked across the pond for a new play. He has chosen Rajiv Joseph’s Guards at the Taj, which was first staged at the Atlantic Theatre, New York, in 2015, picking up an Obie Award along with other plaudits.

GUARDS AT THE TAJ – Bush Theatre

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Aleks Sierz13th April 2017Leave a Comment

West London new writing venue reopens with an ethically troubling play about another architectural marvel.

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GUARDS AT THE TAJ – Bush Theatre

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Aleks Sierz13th April 2017Leave a Comment

West London new writing venue reopens with an ethically troubling play about another architectural marvel.

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DON JUAN IN SOHO – West End

In Comedy, London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Aleks Sierz2nd April 2017Leave a Comment

Updating the classics is not without its pitfalls. How can a modern audience, which has a completely different set of religious beliefs, relate to a 17th-century morality tale in which the lead character behaves badly, and I mean really badly, but gets his comeuppance by being roasted in hell fire?

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THE COLLECTOR – Greenwich Theatre

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Laura Kressly23rd January 2017Leave a Comment

When the British army arrived in Northern Ireland, beleaguered Catholics came onto the streets offering them tea, biscuits and cake. How long did it take for the story to change to the one that we know today?

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OIL – Almeida Theatre

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Aleks Sierz18th October 2016Leave a Comment

New epic about mothers and daughters in the age of oil is wonderfully ambitious, but deeply unhistorical.

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GIRLS – Soho Theatre

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Aleks Sierz30th September 2016Leave a Comment

New captive drama is well-written in a symbolic vein that helps to humanise the story behind the headlines.

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Edinburgh Fringe: Who Is Tahirih?

In Edinburgh Festival, Festivals, Plays, Regional theatre, Scotland by Laura Kressly10th August 2016Leave a Comment

A woman sings behind a gauzy white curtain. We cannot see her face, but in her soaring cries we hear her passion. This is Tahirih, born in what is now Iran in the early 1800’s.

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Text of the Day: Love, Bombs and Apples

In Features, London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Quotes by Aleks Sierz26th June 2016Leave 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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Text of the Day: Cuttin’ It

In Features, London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Quotes by Aleks Sierz6th June 2016Leave 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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CUTTIN’ IT – Young Vic & touring

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews, Touring by Aleks Sierz1st June 2016Leave a Comment

A powerful account of the realities of FGM is brilliantly written and superbly staged as an urgent piece of new writing.

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ANOTHER WORLD: Losing Our Children to Islamic State – National Theatre

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Aleks Sierz17th April 2016Leave a Comment

New verbatim play about the terror state is worthy, but completely unenlightening and sadly undramatic.

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A Christmas Carol (Polka Theatre)

Array ( [post_title] => A Christmas Carol (Polka Theatre) [post_content] =>

Posted on Dec 21, 2020 by Debbie
Ian Nicholson, Polka Theatre's A Christmas Carol (9)
Ian Nicholson – Polka Theatre’s A Christmas Carol

177 years ago on Saturday, Charles Dickens’ classic novella A Christmas Carol was first published. Since then it has been a staple of the festive period, experiencing particular prominence in our recent years of austerity which have led to increased homelessness, poverty & hunger across the UK. Part of the brilliance of the story is that it can be pitched at different age groups and still provide a meaningful message; for older audiences the political elements might have as equal weighting as the idea that morality & kindness of spirit are vital in society, whereas younger readers or viewers will tend to focus on the change in Scrooge’s character. In that vein, Polka Theatre (and the creators of I Want My Hat Back) have come up with a new 15-minute version of the story that is suitable for ages 4 and up.

A storyteller is on hand with his Fantastic Cardboard Cabinet of Stories, ready to tell a Christmas tale – eventually settling on that of Mr Ebeneezer Scrooge. I’m sure you have a basic grasp of the story: the miserly money-lender is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, before further visits from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present & Future. His eyes are opened to the plight of the “surplus population” as well as the circumstances in which his employee Bob Cratchit finds himself with his family (especially his son, Tiny Tim). But has his resolution come in time?

Understandably, given the short run-time and the target audience, chunks of the story are cut or told in a more simplified fashion; if you’re after the full story you’ll need to look elsewhere (there are plenty of versions out there), but if you want to introduce yourself or children to the basic story it is absolutely perfect. It’s easy to understand, but far from patronising, with brief explanations of certain concepts where they’re needed – plus some of the ghost sections can be scary for youngsters, so this version eliminates the darker moments to ensure it is fully family friendly.

A folksy soundtrack is provided by Jim Whitcher, and the set & props are designed & made by Sam Wilde – using as much ‘Christmas rubbish’ as possible, in a bid to inspire audiences to reuse & recycle as much of their own waste as possible over the festive period. It’s highly effective, the cardboard frame placing us in the Victorian period and focusing our attention on the important elements of the show – plus the cardboard background scenery is absolutely wonderful. Ian Nicholson is an engaging storyteller, occasionally taking on the role of Scrooge, the rest of the time acting as narrator and interacting with puppet characters (the Ghost of Christmas Past definitely reminds me of The Muppet Christmas Carol).

Ian Nicholson, Polka Theatre's A Christmas Carol (1)
Ian Nicholson – Polka Theatre’s A Christmas Carol

My verdict? An inventive & compelling retelling of a Christmas classic – a great introduction to the tale of Mr Scrooge for audience members young & old!

Rating: ❄❄❄❄


Polka Theatre’s A Christmas Carol is available to stream for free from 19-27 December if you sign up to their newsletter.

Tags: A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens, Christmas, I Want My Hat Back, Ian Nicholson, Jim Whitcher, Polka Theatre, Sam Wilde, Scrooge, The Muppet Christmas Carol, theatreCategories: all posts, Christmas, quarantine, review, theatre

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Array ( [post_title] => A Christmas Carol (Polka Theatre) [post_content] => Posted on Dec 21, 2020 by Debbie Ian Nicholson – Polka Theatre’s A Christmas Carol

177 years ago on Saturday, Charles Dickens’ classic novella A Christmas Carol was first published. Since then it has been a staple of the festive period, experiencing particular prominence in our recent years of austerity which have led to increased homelessness, poverty & hunger across the UK. Part of the brilliance of the story is that it can be pitched at different age groups and still provide a meaningful message; for older audiences the political elements might have as equal weighting as the idea that morality & kindness of spirit are vital in society, whereas younger readers or viewers will tend to focus on the change in Scrooge’s character. In that vein, Polka Theatre (and the creators of I Want My Hat Back) have come up with a new 15-minute version of the story that is suitable for ages 4 and up.

A storyteller is on hand with his Fantastic Cardboard Cabinet of Stories, ready to tell a Christmas tale – eventually settling on that of Mr Ebeneezer Scrooge. I’m sure you have a basic grasp of the story: the miserly money-lender is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, before further visits from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present & Future. His eyes are opened to the plight of the “surplus population” as well as the circumstances in which his employee Bob Cratchit finds himself with his family (especially his son, Tiny Tim). But has his resolution come in time?

Understandably, given the short run-time and the target audience, chunks of the story are cut or told in a more simplified fashion; if you’re after the full story you’ll need to look elsewhere (there are plenty of versions out there), but if you want to introduce yourself or children to the basic story it is absolutely perfect. It’s easy to understand, but far from patronising, with brief explanations of certain concepts where they’re needed – plus some of the ghost sections can be scary for youngsters, so this version eliminates the darker moments to ensure it is fully family friendly.

A folksy soundtrack is provided by Jim Whitcher, and the set & props are designed & made by Sam Wilde – using as much ‘Christmas rubbish’ as possible, in a bid to inspire audiences to reuse & recycle as much of their own waste as possible over the festive period. It’s highly effective, the cardboard frame placing us in the Victorian period and focusing our attention on the important elements of the show – plus the cardboard background scenery is absolutely wonderful. Ian Nicholson is an engaging storyteller, occasionally taking on the role of Scrooge, the rest of the time acting as narrator and interacting with puppet characters (the Ghost of Christmas Past definitely reminds me of The Muppet Christmas Carol).

Ian Nicholson – Polka Theatre’s A Christmas Carol

My verdict? An inventive & compelling retelling of a Christmas classic – a great introduction to the tale of Mr Scrooge for audience members young & old!

Rating: ❄❄❄❄

Polka Theatre’s A Christmas Carol is available to stream for free from 19-27 December if you sign up to their newsletter.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aV76XDZGD3s?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-gb&autohide=2&wmode=transparent&w=560&h=315] Tags: A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens, Christmas, I Want My Hat Back, Ian Nicholson, Jim Whitcher, Polka Theatre, Sam Wilde, Scrooge, The Muppet Christmas Carol, theatreCategories: all posts, Christmas, quarantine, review, theatre

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