I was thrilled that a new generation (myself included) could get an opportunity to see the play and experience a plethora of luscious characters that are frightened of their selves as much as they are of the war. It’s a shame, then, that Joe Hill-Gibbins’ production is rather unfocused and has left me with the impression that the play is not as good as I initially thought.
Text of the Day: Absolute Hell
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
‘Vivid characterisation & an often-striking resonance’: ABSOLUTE HELL – National Theatre
There’s little sense of an over-arching plot in Absolute Hell which may turn some off but Hill-Gibbins proves that it isn’t needed, the connective tissue that holds them together is the sticky floor of the club as much as anything.
REVIEW ROUND UP: Absolute Hell at the National Theatre
The reviews are in for the National Theatre’s production of Rodney Ackland’s Absolute Hell, directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins (playing until 16 June 2018). Here, Love London Love Culture rounds up what the critics have been saying…
‘Would be far more engaging if considerably abridged’: ABSOLUTE HELL – National Theatre ★★
Rodney Ackland’s great disappointment, his ill-timed 1952 play, The Pink Room, is given another chance at the National Theatre with its reworked and renamed production called Absolute Hell.
‘This time the show is better than the writing’: ABSOLUTE HELL – National Theatre
The cast’s good work goes a long way to saving what is hyped as a classic, but is actually not such a very good play. Absolute Hell is fun, but this time the show is better than the writing.
‘There’s not one false note in writing or performance’: ABSOLUTE HELL – National Theatre ★★★★★
It’s a great tapestry of a play: Rodney Ackland’s portrait of a Soho nightclub as WW2 ended. It is louche and honest, funny and sad, just what the National Theatre should be doing.
NEWS: Charles Edwards, Kate Fleetwood, Jonathan Slinger feature in NT’s Absolute Hell cast
The ensemble cast for the National Theatre’s forthcoming revival of Rodney Ackland’s 1952 play Absolute Hell, directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins, includes Charles Edwards, Kate Fleetwood and Jonathan Slinger.
NEWS: Dates & further cast announced for National Theatre 2018 season
Lots of updates coming from the South Bank today after the National Theatre’s press conference earlier this month when artistic director Rufus Norris unveiled programming plans for 2018. Today, further dates and casting for many of those productions are announced.
AFTER OCTOBER – Finborough Theatre
Managed to sneak into After October at the Finborough in its final week due to several people raving about it and glad I did, for it was a Christmas cracker.