As part of her resumed post-show talk series, Mates founder Terri Paddock will chair a discussion at Freud’s Last Session at London’s King’s Head Theatre on Tuesday 25 January 2022. Time to get booking!
‘The performers ring true throughout’: FAIR PLAY – Bush Theatre
Sophie has been running competitively since she was nine. Now on the threshold of adulthood, she’s training hard with an unwavering focused on major international competitions.
‘It’s thrilling to see working-class Bob given some agency’: CRATCHIT – Park Theatre ★★★★
Marley was dead to begin with – and what of it? There’s still work to be done, and Bob Cratchit has to bear the brunt of his remaining master’s foul moods whilst remaining industrious.
‘Surprisingly hilarious about a not-so-hilarious subject’: YELLOWFIN – Southwark Playhouse ★★★★
What would you do if all the fish suddenly vanished? It’s a question that would have sounded faintly ridiculous a few years ago, but as climate change grips the world, a mass extinction event doesn’t feel that far off.
‘A wonderful insight into how culturally diverse London is’: A PLACE FOR WE – Park Theatre
Through the decades, three families try to navigate their way through an ever-changing environment for Talawa Theatre in Archie Maddocks’ new play.
‘The cast contrast & balance each other’: SMALL CHANGE – Omnibus Theatre
Both Barrels Theatre’s revival of Peter Gill’s 1976 Small Changes looks back to postwar Cardiff through the eyes of two Catholic, working-class families.
‘Growing up in north London as a Black, gay man’: Behind the scenes of Passion Fruit at The Glory
Despite the best of intentions, working with friends doesn’t always turn out well. It can lead to crossed boundaries, arguments, and environments that make others uncomfortable.
‘It speaks to the parts of us that are hurting’: Director Georgia Harris on premiering A Rat, A Rat at the new Golden Goose Theatre
A Rat, A Rat premieres this month as one of the flagship productions at south London’s new Golden Goose Theatre. We talked to artistic director Georgia Leanne Harris about the play, leading an all-female team and launching a brand-new theatre during a pandemic.
‘Great warmth & moments of searing heartache’: JOHN & JEN – Southwark Playhouse
As much as I was looking for any excuse to return to Southwark Playhouse, it was the show that lured me back. Or to be more precise, Rachel Tucker starring in the show, musical two-hander John & Jen.
NEWS: All-female cast announced for A Rat, A Rat premiere at new Golden Goose Theatre
An all-female cast and creative team bring Chloe Yates’ electric new play A Rat, A Rat to the stage at south London’s new Golden Goose Theatre, in association with mental health theatre company Stepping Out.
NEWS: Lamda lockdown graduates launch Quackpot careers with Meet Cute
Romantic comedy sketch Meet Cute, created by two LAMDA students who graduated into a shuttered theatre industry during lockdown, gets its world premiere at London’s Etcetera Theatre as part of this month’s Camden Fringe.
‘A powerful play from an author we need to hear’: LAVA – Bush Theatre
The lava in the title of Benedict Lombe’s new, fierce, autobiographical play is anger. It flows over the stage, filling the crevasses of the set, and through Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo’s smouldering performance, which soon bursts into flame.
NEWS: Queer musical Fabulett 1933, set in Weimar Berlin, launches at Camden Fringe
Fabulett 1933, a new queer one-person musical set in Weimar Berlin, gets its postponed premiere at Camden Fringe, running at London’s Canal Cafe Theatre from 8 to 14 August 2021.
NEWS: Forgotten music hall male impersonator celebrated in Marie Lloyd Stole My Life
Forgotten music hall star Nelly Power makes her Camden Fringe debut care of Blue Fire Theatre Company in Marie Lloyd Stole My Life, running for three festival dates only.
NEWS: Camden Fringe returns with 267 shows across 21 London venues
The Camden Fringe is back this August after an enforced year off because due to Covid. The festival of theatre and comedy, which was established in 2006, runs from 2 to 29 August 2021 across 21 London venues, with 15 shows available to view online.
Are the OnComms the template for theatrical awards in ‘the new normal’?
The current circumstances mean that there are questions about whether there will even be a usual theatre awards season next winter/spring, especially as there may, ostensibly, be little to give awards for. However, one scheme has stepped blinking into the light.
‘If our pub landlord closes, where will the theatre go then?’: Artistic director Lisa Spirling on dual threats to Theatre503
‘In terms of the future, we want 503 to be resilient and it feels like our community of audience and artists believe in the necessity of an organisation such as ours. At the same time, there are no guarantees.’
‘Given the success of TED Talks, lecture-performance seems particularly suitable to on-screen viewing’: Thinking Bigly (Online review)
Between Ben Yeoh and David Finnegan, there’s an impressive array of interests, knowledge and skills. Theatre, economics and climate change are among them.
NEWS: Coronavirus pandemic – An update on theatre closures in the West End & across the country
My Theatre Mates have been collecting official announcements of theatre closures up and down the country in the Twitter thread below and will continue to add updates as they come in.
‘What a joy to be in the same room as Philip Ridley’: Rachel Bright on starring in The Beast of Blue Yonder’s premiere
Rachel Bright, best known as her role as Poppy Meadow in TV’s EastEnders, returns to the stage as part of the stellar ensemble cast for next month’s world premiere of The Beast of Blue Yonder, Philip Ridley’s new time-hopping black comedy.