Has theatre’s time passed? In Tim Crouch’s latest 70-minute show, Truth’s a Dog Must to Kennel, first staged at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh last year and now at Battersea Arts Centre (BAC) in south London, the nature of live performance is interrogated by this innovative and imaginative theatre-maker, with a little help from a virtual reality headset and William Shakespeare.
It’s going to be epic: What are you most looking forward to at the Globe this summer?
It seems like we’ve been made to wait an inordinately long time for this announcement, but it was definitely worth it as far as I’m concerned.
‘Very moving’: LEAR ALONE – And Tomorrow Theatre Company (Online review)
In partnership with Crisis, the And Tomorrow Theatre Company has developed a quintet of plays (Abdictation, Dissolution, Isolation, Desolation) which take Shakespeare’s King Lear as inspiration – drawing out the lines of Lear himself. This project, which places the character of the king into a modern and harsh London, is directed by Anthony Shrubsall with cinematography by Charles Teton and is called Lear Alone.
NEWS: Shakespeare’s Globe reopens outdoor theatre from 19 May 2021
Shakespeare’s Globe is preparing to reopen its outdoor theatre for socially distanced performances on 19 May 2021, provided the conditions are met for Step 3 of the Government’s roadmap. The summer season 2021 opens with Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, followed by Romeo & Juliet and Twelfth Night. The Globe Touring Ensemble will perform As You Like It, The Tempest and A …
‘It felt like we were all creating something very special together’: A fond farewell to The Show Must Go Online series
I may be woefully behind on my show write-ups, but I couldn’t not mark The Show Must Go Online coming to an end – at least until further notice.
‘Marvellously inventive & thoroughly compelling’: BLINDNESS – Donmar Warehouse
Simon Stephens and Juliet Stevenson create a perfectly beautiful and haunting installation for our times in The Blindness at the Donmar Warehouse.
10 wish-list productions for future National Theatre At Home screenings
Following on from the instant success of National Theatre At Home streaming event, it’s got me thinking about all the other wonderful NT Live screenings that I’d love to come to the small screen as part of this series. I have narrowed it down to my top 10.
‘The wisdom is in the casting’: KING LEAR – Brockley Jack Studio Theatre ★★★★
Directed by James Eley, Shakespeare’s tale of ancient Albion, King Lear, is transposed to the turbulent times of the present day.
NEWS: National Theatre leads the Evening Standard Theatre Awards with 14 nominations
The shortlist for the 64th Evening Standard Theatre Awards has been unveiled. The winners will be announced on Sunday 18 November at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
Mark Shenton views the latest week of news & openings in the West End, across the UK & in New York
News, reviews, controversies and commentary from the West End and Broadway, including the first West End job share and the re-opening of the Kiln Theatre (formerly the Tricycle).
REVIEW ROUND-UP: King Lear at the Duke of York’s Theatre
Ian McKellen reprises his role as King Lear in the West End transfer of Jonathan Munby’s production which has arrived in London following its run in Chichester. Here’s what the critics have been making of it…
‘Heroic & beautiful & serious’: KING LEAR – West End ★★★★★
For this third time in the role we are told that Ian McKellen deliberately chose to play it in the intimacy of Chichester’s Minerva last year; here in the West End a reconfiguring of the Duke of York’s maintains much of that atmosphere.
‘Once in a while, you know you’re in the presence of greatness’: KING LEAR – West End
Stand-out performances in any era are often only judged so in retrospect and modern theatre offers much that will be remembered. But once in a while, you know you’re in the presence of greatness, and Ian McKellen’s King Lear will be talked about for years to come.
What’s Debbie looking forward to in July 2018?
There are, of course, a range of new shows to choose from – both in and out of London. Pigspurt’s Daughter (by Ken Campbell’s daughter Daisy) plays at Hampstead’s Downstairs venue, Honey will be performed at The Cockpit, Boxman and Where the Hell is Bernard? both run at the Blue Elephant Theatre.
BOOK REVIEW: Antony Sher – Year Of The Mad King
If you enjoyed Antony Sher’s Lear, his Willy Loman or any of his previous books this is a must read, and if you have any interest in the inner thoughts of a performer at the top of their profession you’ll want to read this too. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to find my DVD and revisit the production…
NEWS: Ian McKellen’s latest King Lear transfers to the West End in July, TICKETS ONSALE
Chichester Festival Theatre’s critically-acclaimed production of Shakespeare’s King Lear, starring Ian McKellen, will receive a West End transfer, running at the Duke of York’s Theatre for 100 performances only from 11 July to 3 November 2018.
Mind the Blog’s best shows of 2017
Any number of shows could have been included in this post; frankly it’s ludicrous that I decided to stick with my whole top 12 idea… As I’ve seen about 90 more individual shows than last year.
Mind the Blog’s top 2017 performances
This year variety has been the thing (though I’ve still managed to stack up certain repeat attendances), so that means I’ve seen a serious amount of performers – some even two or three times!
2017 Regional theatre recap
Much of my ‘touring’ has been concentrated in Bristol and Chichester; there are a few other UK venues to add to the list, as well as some from my week in New York, of course.