A pandemic sweeps the land and the government introduces new quarantine rules – yes, that is the plot of The White Plague, not the news headlines.
‘Richly rewarding’: THE WHIP – RSC (Online review)
The legacy of Britain’s involvement in the slave trade is fascinatingly examined in the audio version of The Whip from the RSC.
‘One of the most well crafted & thoughtful of the 1990s’: BEAUTIFUL THING (Online review)
As I settled to watch Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing yesterday, I wondered whether it might also fall into the category of an historical artefact that had had its day; as it was, I was pleasantly surprised.
‘I found myself found myself working in intelligence again!’: VIPER SQUAD REMASTERED – CtrlAltRepeat (Online review)
You know you’ve been in lockdown for far too long when you reattend a show you’ve already seen and they have had time to restructure the original into a new improved version. That’s what’s happened though with CtrlAltRepeat’s online interactive problem solver now rebranded as Viper Squad Remastered. I
‘Brings some cheer to dull January days’: PRESS PLAY HERE – Theatre Royal Stratford East (Online review)
Choose your own programme with some mini delights in and around the Theatre Royal Stratford East building thanks to Press Play Here.
‘Exploring difficult topics like addiction through drama can hoist warning flags’: ROSEGOLD / GOOD ENOUGH – Online@TheSpaceUK (Online review)
Donna Kay Yarborough and Ted McGrath are to be applauded for putting their monologues Rosegold and Good Enough about coming through the rigours of addiction online.
‘Getting up close & personal is often what the style demands’: AVALANCHE / WALK OF SHAME (Online review)
Two short plays about a difficult subject, Bloom Theatre’s Avalanche and Glass Half Full’s Walk Of Shame.
‘Engaging insights into living with & exploring the nature of disability’: Unlimited Festival – Southbank Centre (Online review)
Festivals are a vital part of the theatre ecosystem, a place to try out new material, explore form and style while giving a valuable platform to all kinds of performance. These activities have been among the hardest hit during the period of closur…
‘There are some memorable songs’: PUBLIC DOMAIN – Southwark Playhouse (Online review)
Public Domain is a verbatim musical winner which lifts the lid on life online and joins an august group of productions streamed from Southwark Playhouse. Strongly recommended.
‘Consistently delivers’: THIS EVIL THING (Online review)
Michael Mears’ committed and well thought out piece This Evil Thing about a tricky subject is dealt with empathetically and entertainingly.
‘Will be just the kind of theatre magic we’ve all been waiting for’: SWINGIN’ THE DREAM – RSC (Online review)
The RSC, Young Vic and Theatre for a New Audience have a difficult but fascinating task ahead in re-creating lost work Swingin’ the Dream that honours the original while offering something new to modern audiences.
‘It’s a winning formula’: LETTERS LIVE FROM THE ARCHIVE (Online review)
There is something essentially life affirming about the whole idea of Letters Live and these documents will prove an invaluable way of connecting with others as the dark times close over us once again.
‘Things in it which were admirable’: LAZARUS (Online review)
Prominent among other commemorative David Bowie events is a three-day streaming of Lazarus, the theatre piece that he was working on towards the end of his life and which was ultimately produced to extremely mixed reviews.
‘Highly original & entertaining’: The Neighbor / The 7th Voyage Of Egon Tichy – Theater In Quarantine (Online review)
Quirky in the extreme but great fun, Theater In Quarantine takes limited space performance to a new level in The Neighbor and The 7th Voyage Of Egon Tichy.
‘Forces a rethink on things which you thought you knew’: A History Of Water In The Middle East (Online review)
Sabrina Mahfouz’s play A History Of Water In The Middle East highlights an ages old and still ongoing tale of colonialism and gives an entirely new slant to this exploration of “landscape, lies and legacies”.
‘Will invite you to reflect on this annus horribilis’: UNTIL THE FLOOD – Traverse Theatre (Online review)
Watching the powerful set of monologues Until The Flood brings back powerful memories of the shared experience which we can only hope will return soon.
Powerful set of monologues stirs reflections on one of the other big events of 2020
‘Directed with a sense of passion & integrity’: S-27 – Finborough Theatre (Online review)
The Finborough is to be congratulated for delving back and finding thought-provoking piece S-27 to release and extend its winning run of past triumphs.
‘Atmospheric & absorbing short drama’: THAT DINNER OF ’67 – BBC Radio 4
With director Stanley Kramer’s making of the groundbreaking film Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner as its subject matter, Tracy-Ann Oberman and David Spicer’s new radio drama has a compelling contemporary relevance.
20 of the things that inspired, moved, amused & delighted John Chapman in 2020
I’ve selected 20 of the things that inspired, moved, amused and delighted, which have pushed the boundaries of what it possible and continued to fly the flag for theatre in the UK.
‘Both mocks & celebrates this most British of theatrical styles’: POTTED PANTO (Online review)
Potted Panto is a quick and jolly canter through Pantoland hosted by a couple of energetic and resourceful performers.