Bertie Carvel as Donald Trump is magnificent. Eerily so, capturing not only the ex-President’s showmanship, the gestures and unwholesomely needy yet threatening charm, but moving beyond caricature.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: The 47th at the Old Vic Theatre
Emma Clarendon rounds up the reviews for the world premiere of Mike Bartlett’s new blank-verse future history play, The 47th, which stars Bertie Carvel as Donald Trump. It’s now running at London’s Old Vic Theatre until 28 May 2022.
NEWS: Cabaret & Spring Awakening lead 31st annual Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards
Two Almeida musical revivals – Cabaret in the West End and Spring Awakening – were the biggest winners at the 31st annual Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards, for the first time held just one week before the Olivier Awards.
‘What could be a very clinical piece can also be deeply human’: A NUMBER – Old Vic Theatre
It may be the second time in as many years that Caryl Churchill’s A Number has been performed in London, but it is a play that bears restaging, yielding greater insights every time you see it.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: A Number at the Old Vic Theatre
On LoveLondonLoveCulture, Emma Clarendon rounds up the reviews for the latest revival of Caryl Churchill’s two-hander A Number, now starring Lennie James at Paapa Essiedu at the Old Vic Theatre until 19 March 2022.
‘Caryl Churchill’s play has only gained in depth & gravitas’: A NUMBER – Old Vic Theatre
Paapa Essiedu and Lennie James deliver stunning performances in a cracking production of Caryl Churchill’s A Number at the Old Vic Theatre.
Year in review: My favourite digital shows 2021
Despite the fact that theatres were once again up and running for about half the year (varying from place to place), there was still a massive appetite for digital productions going into 2021.
‘The bell-ringing lifts this production to celestial heights’: A CHRISTMAS CAROL – Old Vic Theatre
I love Christmas. But for the past several years, I have struggled to summon the Christmas cheer that used to kick in for me the day after Thanksgiving (or, after so many years in the UK, by 1 December at the latest).
‘I was completely enthralled’: A CHRISTMAS CAROL – Old Vic Theatre ★★★★
I have always wondered why the Old Vic have chosen to bring back this production of A Christmas Carol – was it simply because the story is a classic and audiences will continue to flock to see it?
‘Disconcerting, essential stuff’: CAMP SIEGFRIED – Old Vic Theatre ★★★★
Highly recommended, but I wouldn’t bank on getting a good nights sleep afterwards. Evil in plain sight is a real chiller, and that’s exactly what Wohl is serving up here. Disconcerting, essential stuff.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Bagdad Cafe at the Old Vic Theatre
Love London Love Culture rounds up what critics have had to say about Emma Rice’s production of Bagdad Cafe now playing at the Old Vic Theatre.
‘Penhall beautifully & subtly unravels the increasing bullying behaviour’: MOOD MUSIC – Old Vic (Online review)
Covering a diverse range of issues such as passion, creativity, power and control, Mood Music has many great elements – but can feel repetitive.
NEWS: Old Vic streams 2018 production of Joe Penhall’s Mood Music in July
In addition to its experimental #OVinCamera live staging of Lungs, the Old Vic Theatre continues its free streaming of archived productions.
‘A powerful portrait of grief, love & guilt’: A MONSTER CALLS – Old Vic Theatre ★★★★★ (Online review)
There is one emotion that we all feel that can link to other types of emotions: grief. From love to anger it pushes all other emotions to the brink and this is what A Monster Calls portrays so beautifully.
NEWS: Dates announced for Old Vic ‘In Camera’ streams of Matt Smith & Claire Foy in Lungs
The Old Vic’s new artistic initiative combines a run of socially distanced performances of Duncan MacMillan’s LUNGS, starring Claire Foy and Matt Smith, and a series of rehearsed play-readings, streamed live from the iconic Old Vic stage with the empty auditorium as a backdrop.
After Matt Smith & Claire Foy in Lungs, here are 5 more plays perfect for the social distance treatment
The idea of re-performing Lungs while the actors safely socially distance got me thinking about other plays which have been performed over the past year or two that could be similarly revived.
NEWS: Old Vic livestreams Matt Smith & Claire Foy in Lungs, staged in an empty auditorium
The Old Vic’s new artistic initiative combines a run of socially distanced performances of Duncan MacMillan’s LUNGS, starring Claire Foy and Matt Smith, and a series of rehearsed play-readings, streamed live from the iconic Old Vic stage with the empty auditorium as a backdrop.
NEWS: Bristol Old Vic announces streamed shows including A Monster Calls & The Grinning Man
Bristol Old Vic has announced the first three of five titles that will be streamed on YouTube as part of the city-wide lockdown lifeline initiative Bristol Arts Channel.
NEWS: ‘Your Old Vic’ launches extensive online resources, AD Matthew Warchus warns of ‘perilous’ year ahead
The Old Vic Theatre has announced details of “Your Old Vic”, a programme of creative, fun and inspiring events, projects and content to keep the theatre connected with audiences, and audiences connected with each other. It will include streaming of video archives of productions, starting with A Monster Calls next month.
3 West End plays I’m most looking forward to when theatres reopen
Uncertainty in timetabling is likely to be with us for quite a while. However, I’m keeping my hopes alive that some of the most anticipated plays of the spring and summer season will still go ahead… at some point. Here are my top three.