OnComm nominated production Cupid’s Corner features a young, committed ensemble cast which demonstrates potential.
‘There are some memorable songs’: PUBLIC DOMAIN – Southwark Playhouse (Online review)
Public Domain is a verbatim musical winner which lifts the lid on life online and joins an august group of productions streamed from Southwark Playhouse. Strongly recommended.
‘Consistently delivers’: THIS EVIL THING (Online review)
Michael Mears’ committed and well thought out piece This Evil Thing about a tricky subject is dealt with empathetically and entertainingly.
‘Whatever your taste, there’s bound to be something to appeal’: Online@TheSpaceUK – Season 2 (Online review)
A second online season from TheSpace has an eclectic range – even if what I saw was all comedy.
‘It’s a winning formula’: LETTERS LIVE FROM THE ARCHIVE (Online review)
There is something essentially life affirming about the whole idea of Letters Live and these documents will prove an invaluable way of connecting with others as the dark times close over us once again.
‘Things in it which were admirable’: LAZARUS (Online review)
Prominent among other commemorative David Bowie events is a three-day streaming of Lazarus, the theatre piece that he was working on towards the end of his life and which was ultimately produced to extremely mixed reviews.
‘Highly original & entertaining’: The Neighbor / The 7th Voyage Of Egon Tichy – Theater In Quarantine (Online review)
Quirky in the extreme but great fun, Theater In Quarantine takes limited space performance to a new level in The Neighbor and The 7th Voyage Of Egon Tichy.
‘Forces a rethink on things which you thought you knew’: A History Of Water In The Middle East (Online review)
Sabrina Mahfouz’s play A History Of Water In The Middle East highlights an ages old and still ongoing tale of colonialism and gives an entirely new slant to this exploration of “landscape, lies and legacies”.
‘Will invite you to reflect on this annus horribilis’: UNTIL THE FLOOD – Traverse Theatre (Online review)
Watching the powerful set of monologues Until The Flood brings back powerful memories of the shared experience which we can only hope will return soon.
Powerful set of monologues stirs reflections on one of the other big events of 2020
‘Directed with a sense of passion & integrity’: S-27 – Finborough Theatre (Online review)
The Finborough is to be congratulated for delving back and finding thought-provoking piece S-27 to release and extend its winning run of past triumphs.
20 of the things that inspired, moved, amused & delighted John Chapman in 2020
I’ve selected 20 of the things that inspired, moved, amused and delighted, which have pushed the boundaries of what it possible and continued to fly the flag for theatre in the UK.
‘Better huddle up on the sofa & watch this’: THE HAUNTING OF ALICE BOWLES (Online review)
It is the modern parallels which gives The Haunting Of Alice Bowles its depth and resonance and Philip Franks and the Original Theatre Company are to be congratulated for the equivalences which they have drawn out.
‘Both mocks & celebrates this most British of theatrical styles’: POTTED PANTO (Online review)
Potted Panto is a quick and jolly canter through Pantoland hosted by a couple of energetic and resourceful performers.
‘Nice to see them letting their hair down’: ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND – Chickenshed Theatre
Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland is being freestreamed by Chickenshed, the north London youth-oriented community theatre, and is the latest in a long line of releases from them this year.
‘Age-old tales charmingly done’: A Christmas Carol / The Emperor’s New Clothes (Online review)
The latest account of the Dickens perennial favourite A Christmas Carol comes courtesy of the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield.
‘Has a haunted quality’: THE OLD HOUSE – The Actors Centre (Online review)
The Old House is a melancholy and emotionally charged play which examines a difficult subject from a new perspective.
‘Lively, funny show’: Snow White In The Seven Months Of Lockdown – Charles Court Opera (Online review)
The Charles Court Opera team, working at the King’s Head Theatre in Islington, presents Snow White In The Seven Months Of Lockdown.
‘Plenty of humour as they poke fun at some British pastimes’: DOING THE PUB QUIZ – Northern Comedy Theatre (Online review)
Northern Comedy Theatre’s Doing The Pub Quiz examines what was practically a national obsession during the first lockdown – the phenomenon of the Zoom based quiz.
‘The quality of this production shines through’: Phèdre – National Theatre (Online review)
Following news that the National Theatre has launched its much anticipated streaming service National Theatre At Home, John Chapman goes back to 2009 and NT Live’s very first live streamed production on cinema screens, Helen Mirren in Phèdre.
‘A ghostly tale which delivers so much more than its initial premise’: HAUNTING JULIA – Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough (Online review)
It is sometimes possible to get a better perspective on a play through experiencing it as a piece of audio drama rather than seeing it live on stage and I found this to be the case with Haunting Julia by Alan Ayckbourn.