Guinea Pigs, a new play that shines a light on Britain’s decades-long nuclear testing cover-up, written by the daughter of a test veteran, premieres next month at London’s The Space, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of Operation Hurricane, Britain’s first nuclear detonation.
‘Deeply human & beautifully performed’: AGE IS A FEELING – Soho Theatre
Hayley McGee’s monologue Age Is A Feeling at the Soho Theatre, narrating an unnamed person’s life, from age 25 through the years after the they die, hones in on key episodes that irrevocably define them and their future, as well as drawing attention to death’s inevitability. As sombre as this piece is, it also adeptly encapsulates moments of joy. As a whole, it’s deeply human and beautifully performed.
NEWS: Anita Luna follows The Diva with Full of Shit premiere at Clapham Fringe
After the success with Anita Luna THE DIVA at Clapham Fringe last year, award-winning Italian cabaret artist Anita Giovanni is back at the festival this year, debuting her new show Full of Shit, which runs for one performance only on 26 September 2022. It’s a love affair: in London, Anita found her artistic heart. Time to get booking!
‘Difficult to keep track’: MAN OF 100 FACES – Edinburgh Festival Fringe
by Laura Kressly The disaffected son of a clergyman, Sir Paul Dukes, ran away to Russia to work as a musician. While there, the Russian Revolution started and British intelligence recruited him to work as a secret agent. He was to smuggle prominent people and useful materials across the border to Finland, and otherwise do […]
‘Reclamation of trans people’s othering is joyful & fun’: SOMETHING IN THE WATER – Edinburgh Festival Fringe
In transphobic discourse, trans people are feared and consequently monstered. In these bigots’ brains, they are positioned outside the gender binary and labelled ‘not normal’. Canadian trans nonbinary theatremaker SE Grummett (they/them) first satirises what is considered normal within traditional gender roles, then creates a simple folktale where trans people as superheroes. They uses puppetry, audience interaction and live feed video projection along with monologues to both hilarious and profound effect.
‘The comedy & cultural references are spot-on’: BAD TEACHER – Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Bad Teacher is a new production from Queen of Cups, a young female-led and London-based theatre company. This one-woman play follows young teacher Evie and her particularly bad day at school, from coming in with a hangover to a hectic parent evening.
‘A compelling watch’: FREUD’S LAST SESSION – King’s Head Theatre ★★★★★
Mark St Germain’s play Freud’s Last Session at the King’s Head Theatre in Islington is a compact yet powerful play which imagines a clash of intellect and reasoning between two famous minds.
‘Experiments with its theatrical form’: CHASING HARES – Young Vic
Exploitation can take many forms and sometimes it even begins with a creative opportunity. Sonali Bhattacharyya’s lead character in new play Chasing Hares at the Young Vic takes a while to find themselves confronting a major moral dilemma but the road to it begins with storytelling, imagination and character creation.
‘Their world is tough but they get through it together’: THE DARKEST PART OF THE NIGHT – Kiln Theatre
Directed by Nancy Medina, Zodwa Nyoni’s The Darkest Part of the Night shares the experience of a young, autistic Black boy, Dwight. The play follows his diagnostic process in 1980s Leeds. Tenderly by Lee Phillips, he is a young man full of joy – he loves to dance, listen to music, and play “the adventure game” with his sister Shirley, the rules of which are never really explained.
‘Entertaining & thought-provoking family drama’: FAVOUR – Bush Theatre
Favour is another artistic success from the consistently-innovative Bush Theatre, set within a community and on subject matter rarely shown on stage. It is very well worth going out of the way to watch.
‘There’s a joyous post-pandemic vibe about this gig’: BANGERS – Soho Theatre
Bangers at the Soho Theatre has a fine buzz of the contemporary and a real sympathy for sexual confusion and other experiences such as the loss of a parent.
VIDEO: Celebrities are raving about Sally Rogers’ debut play The Still Room
Word of mouth on Sally Rogers’ debut play The Still Room is spreading fast, with celebrity fans including Alison Steadman, David Morrissey, Maxine Peake, Johnny Flynn and others. Check out these video vox pops and get booking!
‘Celebrates those who get us through the worst of times’: NO PARTICULAR ORDER – Theatre503
Children’s TV performer Fred Rogers once said: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping’.” Though horrific events drive Joel Tan’s eon-spanning play No Particular Order celebrates those who get us through the worst of times.
‘An excellent piece of deeply felt new writing’: HOUSE OF IFE – Bush Theatre
Beru Tessema’s drama House of Ife, about an Ethiopian-British family facing a tragic loss, is deeply felt and emotional and marks a good start to this venue’s 50th anniversary season.
‘Banquet waitressing is brutal’: Actor-turned writer Sally Rogers on the 1980s memories that inspired her debut play The Still Room
Remember the 1980s? Charles and Diana’s wedding? Sally Rogers does. The actor-turned-playwright draws on her own personal memories and experiences in her debut play, the 1980s-set, coming-of-age black comedy The Still Room, which premieres at London’s Park Theatre in June.
PHOTOS & VIDEO: Sneak a peek behind the scenes of The Still Room rehearsals
We’re counting down to the long-awaited world premiere of Cold Feet actor-turned-playwright Sally Rogers’ debut play The Still Room, which opens at London’s Park Theatre next month. Sneak a peek behind the scenes in the rehearsal room. Time to get booking!
NEWS: Cold Feet actor Sally Rogers’ playwriting debut The Still Room premieres in June
Cold Feet actor-turned-playwright Sally Rogers’ debut play The Still Room finally gets its world premiere in June at London’s Park Theatre, with a cast that includes her former co-star in The Bill, Chris Simmons. Time to get booking!
‘Utterly soul-nourishing’: For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy – Royal Court Theatre
Frank Ocean fills the air, and audience members tap their feet and nod their heads in time. I jokingly ask my mum if she recognises the song as I recall how I wailed and begged about 10 years ago for her to download his album onto her iPod.
FEATURED SHOW: ★★★★★ Dirty Hearts is ‘an irresistibly sparkling new comedy’. Reviews are in!
Paul Murphy’s new ‘existential comedy for the age of anxiety’ Dirty Hearts, has netted an Offies nomination and a slew of rave reviews at London’s Old Red Lion Theatre, where its limited season must end on 30 April 2022. We’ve rounded up review highlights.
‘This is an entertainment that is lit up by the excellence of its acting’: COCK – West End
Mike Bartlett’s Cock invites suggestive comments, but the main thing about the play is that it has proved to be a magnet for star casting.