In Michael Longhurst’s dreamy new London production of The Band’s Visit at the Donmar Warehouse, where everyone is close to the stage, it’s enchanting and quietly riveting. It also features, in the work of leading lady Miri Mesika, in the role that won Katrina Lenk the 2018 Outstanding Actress Tony, one of the most remarkable British stage debuts in living memory.
‘Leaves you with a fuzzy, festive feeling of joy’: THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT – Stratford-upon-Avon (RSC)
Everyone deserves a happy ending, and as we head towards the festive season, messages of hope and forgiveness start to provide us with a real sense of magic.
‘Hopeful & joyful without being sickly sweet’: THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT – Stratford-upon-Avon (RSC) ★★★★
My first time back in Stratford-upon-Avon since February 2019, and roughly three years since I’d last stepped foot in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre – and after seeing some rehearsal footage of this new show, I was excited to see what this had turned into.
Puppetry, top casting & other reasons you should see The Magician’s Elephant
The RSC’s brand-new musical, an adaptation of The Magician’s Elephant, started performances this week at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. Earlier this month, the company opened its rehearsal room doors for a sneak peek. Why should you add this show to your list of autumn treats?
‘Wonderfully brought to life’: THE FLYING LOVERS OF VITEBSK – Wise Children / Kneehigh / Bristol Old Vic (Online review) ★★★★★
It was so delightful to finally catch up with Kneehigh’s production of The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk, filmed at the Bristol Old Vic and streamed by Wise Children.
NEWS: Dates & full cast are announced for the digital tour of The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk being broadcast from Bristol Old Vic
Wise Children, Kneehigh and Bristol Old Vic have announced dates for the digital tour of Daniel Jamieson’s The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk directed by Emma Rice. The production will feature Marc Antolin (Marc Chagall) and Audrey Brisson (Bella Chagall), reprising their roles from the original staging. The production will be performed at Bristol Old Vic, and broadcast live to audience’s homes nationally and globally from 3-5 December 2020.
‘A story predicated on equality, mutual support & finding your own path’: ROMANTICS ANONYMOUS – Bristol Old Vic (Online review)
Romantics Anonymous is a story predicated on equality, mutual support and finding your own path as individuals (and as a couple) rather than waiting for someone else to come and save you from your life – implications that after years of rom coms and social messaging is subtly but usefully employed through a charmingly conceived but nonetheless carefully structured story.
‘Irresistibly charming & life affirming’: ROMANTICS ANONYMOUS – Bristol Old Vic (Online review)
Feelgood musical Romantics Anonymous at Bristol Old Vic certainly works on both the level of a light confection and something more robust for the committed chocolatophile/musicophile.
NEWS: Wise Children announces full cast of Romantics Anonymous & live socially distanced Bristol show on final night of digital tour
Wise Children, Bristol Old Vic and Plush Theatricals has announce that Emma Rice’s critically-acclaimed Romantics Anonymous will be performed live to a socially distanced audience for the final performance of their ‘digital tour’ on 27 September 2020 at Bristol Old Vic.
‘Achingly beautiful’: ROMANTICS ANONYMOUS – Bristol
For every introverted socially awkward nerd Romantics Anonymous feels like seeing your fears and secrets on stage without being mocked.
20 shows to look forward to in 2020
Looking ahead to some of 2020’s exciting shows, most with an emphasis away from the West End and instead focusing at the London Fringe and across the UK.
Cry Havoc Q&A video: How much would you sacrifice for love? Which wins when sexuality & faith clash?
At a time when our headlines are full of news about Brunei’s gay death penalty laws and religious parents protesting LGBTQ inclusion in classrooms, let alone growing Brexit and Trump-era intolerance to asylum seekers and immigrants, Cry Havoc is scarily relevant and all-too-real.
‘An examination of culture’s place in one’s identity’: CRY HAVOC – Park Theatre ★★★★
Written by Tom Coash and directed by Pamela Schermann, Cry Havoc looks at a relationship between a British man and someone from Egypt.
‘A compelling pair of lead performances’: CRY HAVOC – Park Theatre
Cry Havoc tackles a powerfully emotive subject and with James El-Sharawy and Marc Antolin, Pamela Schermann’s production finds a compelling pair of lead performances.
‘A scarily relevant play exploring the nature of cultural identity’: CRY HAVOC – Park Theatre ★★★★
“What’s your relationship with this man?” It’s a question that Nicholas has heard a lot recently, to which he still hasn’t found a satisfying answer.
‘Thoughtful, challenging & extremely well acted’: CRY HAVOC – Park Theatre
Inspired by playwright Tom Coash’s time living and teaching in Egypt, Cry Havoc explores the idea of the Western “saviour” through the ill-fated love story of Mohammed (James El-Sharawy) and Nicholas (Marc Antolin).
‘Challenging the arrogance & entitlement of Western cultures’: CRY HAVOC – Park Theatre ★★★
Tom Coash’s play is inspired by his time living in Egypt and learning of how a gay man had been arrested and tortured by police.
Debbie’s favourite male performances of 2018
Mind the Blog rounds up her favourite male performances in the theatre during 2018.
‘It’s a blast’: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre ★★★★
Meanness and greenness have often gone hand in hand at Regent’s Park – £3.50 for a tiny ice cream cone, really? – but never more so than in Maria Aberg’s confident production of Little Shop of Horrors at the Open Air Theatre.
‘Outrageously kitsch & eccentric’: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre ★★★★
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre finishes its summer season with an outrageously kitsch and eccentric production of Little Shop of Horrors that will leave you singing its infectious title song all the way home.
- Page 1 of 2
- 1
- 2