In our continuing series, our editor Lisa Martland picks out some of her Top Picks from the last week of theatre (to 6 October 2019), ranging from Libby Purves’ childhood reminiscences associated with Master Harold and the Boys at the National to Abba-fest Mamma Mia! The Party and reviews of new plays The Open, Two Ladies, The Watsons and more. Enjoy.
‘A brilliant way to introduce audiences to (more) opera’: THE ELIXIR OF LOVE – King’s Head Theatre ★★★★★
This rom-com opera, The Elixir of Love is great fun and incredibly engaging – a ray of sunshine on a cold autumn evening.
The Crown Dual Q&A video: How do you tell the Queen’s life story with a cast of two?
We were all madly checking our phones for news in the bars afterwards, but while Westminster dramas were going on, at Wilton’s Music Hall this week, we were getting to glorious grip with the (affectionate) comedy potential of the monarchy with The Crown Dual.
‘This play could be excellent’: WORLD’S END – King’s Head Theatre
With a little bit of work, James Corley’s new play World’s End could be excellent, but in its current manifestation, something has missed the mark.
‘Individual scenes make for moving set pieces’: WORLD’S END – King’s Head Theatre
Part gay, coming-of-age love story and part historical snapshot, James Corley’s debut play World’s End is a detailed character study but one that isn’t quite sure what it wants to say.
WATCH: Playwright Mark Starling and actor Mateo Oxley discuss bringing new play about a gay footballer, Target Man, to the King’s Head
‘It’s a very hyper-masculine world and the conversation isn’t being had by a lot of clubs.’ How would an openly gay footballer cope in the Premier League? Mark Starling explores the idea in his new play Target Man. Starling, and star Mateo Oxley, discussed the drama with London Live. Check out the interview then book your tickets!
NEWS: Sliding Tackle bring footballing tale Target Man to King’s Head Theatre
Theatre company Sliding Tackle’s debut production, new drama Target Man, which is set in the world of Premier League football, comes to the King’s Head Theatre later this month. Time to book your tickets!
‘Every line is impeccably delivered’: MATING IN CAPTIVITY – King’s Head Theatre
There are moments that are incredibly funny in Mating In Captivity, but this isn’t a play that really digs into the knotty issues the initial set-up exposes.
‘Proves valuable & illuminating’: SOUTHERN BELLES – King’s Head Theatre
As the conclusion to a strong season of unusual Williams revivals, Southern Belles proves valuable and illuminating, concluding with an important moment of solidarity that leaves the audience with a sense of hope and the value of community to take home.
WATCH: Brexit wins the audience vote, Adam Masters is the man to beat Bojo
What happens after the #ToryLeadershipContest? Tom Salinksy and Robert Khan’s Brexit [the play] has some hysterical – and worryingly plausible – predictions. What have celebrity guests and audiences been saying? Time to get booking!
Best of the Blogs: From Brexit via Plenty to A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Amidst editor Lisa Martland’s seven Top Picks from the last week of theatre are Libby Purves’ description of her blissful time at Nicholas Hytner’s immersive production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Bridge Theatre and Aleks Sierz’s thoughts on the Kiln Theatre’s new opening, Samuel Adamson’s take on A Doll’s House in Wife.
Terri trips: The Flies at the Bunker & Brexit at the King’s Head Theatre
Two of the Featured Show campaigns I’ve been working on recently have been two plays tapping into the political unrest of our times: the return of Tom Salinsky and Robert Khan’s Brexit comedy to the King’s Head Theatre and the Exchange Theatre’s tenth-anniversary revival of Jean-Paul Sartre’s classic The Flies.
‘A polished cast expertly deliver the political satire’: BREXIT – King’s Head Theatre
Robert Khan and Tom Salinsky could have come up with a more creative title for their acclaimed political comedy Brexit – but they didn’t really need to, given that actual Brexit has been a massive satire in and of itself for some time now.
‘Splendidly sharp & biting satire’: BREXIT – King’s Head Theatre
A revival of the play Brexit at the King’s Head Theatre, Islington is very much of the moment and stirs some classic sitcom memories.
PHOTOS: Will Trump check in to see how Brexit preparations are going at the King’s Head?
Welcome or not, Donald Trump has made clear his opinions on Brexit. During this week’s State Visit, will he make time to check how Brexit preparations are going at the King’s Head Theatre? Might he even change his mind about endorsing Boris Johnson?! Sneak a peek inside rehearsals – and then get booking!
WATCH: Brexit’s Adam Masters launches his bid to be our new Prime Minister
#BorisJohnsonShouldNotBePM, as they say on Twitter. Nor should Michael Gove, Dominic Raab, Andrea Leadsom or any of the rest of them. We’re lobbying for Adam Masters, who’s just launched his bid ahead of moving into Downing Street by way of the King’s Head Theatre. Watch his back-t0-back leadership pitches to the ERG and Britain for Europe. Time to get booking for Brexit [the play]!
‘Might be the most energetic performance I’ve ever seen’: THE WORST LITTLE WAREHOUSE IN LONDON – Touring ★★★★
The Worst Little Warehouse might be the most energetic performance I’ve ever seen. I genuinely don’t know how Lala Barlow and Robbie Smith do it, pirouetting around the stage while singing, playing keyboard, actually telling the story of their year in the warehouse…
‘For good or for ill, it will define politics in this country for a generation’: Co-writer & director Tom Salinsky on Brexit [the play]
As real-life Brexit chaos continues, Brexit [the play] returns to the King’s Head Theatre for a strictly limited run from 11 June to 6 July 2019. We caught up with co-writer and director Tom Salinsky about the dramatic appeal of politics and his long-time collaboration with Robert Khan. Time to get booking!
“Very funny & touching” See what’s being said about Boomerang on Twitter
Ivana Mazza-Coates and Madeleine Shenai’s tale of ‘adulting’ and the Boomerang Generation, Boomerang, has been described by audiences as “funny”, “touching” and “fab”. Take a look at what they said then book tickets for the final performances!
FEATURED SHOW: There’s a ★★★★★ Brexit that wins the people’s vote at the King’s Head
Want a really good way “to face the Brexit situation and laugh”? Brexit [the play] is the answer. While voters may be turning away from the Tories and Labour at the ballot box because of Brexit, they’re turning towards the King’s Head Theatre at the box office as Brexit [the play] returns by popular demand. To show you why, we’ve rounded up previous review highlights.