In our continuing series, our editor Lisa Martland picks out some of her Top Picks from the last week of theatre (to 17 November 2019) including Ian Foster’s delight at the arrival of Mary Poppins to its original West End home.
‘Moving & disturbing’: ON BEAR RIDGE – Royal Court Theatre
On Bear Ridge, Ed Thomas’ story of being left behind and trying to hold onto the memories that give us a sense of self, is crafted at the Royal Court Theatre with care and sensitivity.
‘Churchill’s fine writing has the cast to match’: GLASS. KILL. BLUEBEARD. IMP – Royal Court Theatre
Glass. Kill. Bluebeard. Imp creates an essential piece of new writing – edgy, haunting and disconcertingly relevant and Caryl Churchill, at the age of 81, is still the playwright for our times.
‘These two women together are absolute dynamite’: Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner – Royal Court Theatre ★★★★★
Inventive, hilarious and totally contemporary, Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner is art that above all needs to be seen by everyone.
‘Fiercely intelligent & keenly observed’: Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner – Royal Court Theatre ★★★★★
London’s theatre scene is awash with productions which offer a ‘fresh’ take on classics but Jasmine Lee-Jones’ play Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner demonstrates exactly what really ‘fresh’ theatre is – and should be.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner at Royal Court Theatre
We round up the reviews for the debut play from Jasmine Lee-Jones, Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner, now playing at the Royal Court Theatre.
‘Different to anything that is currently running at the moment’: WHITE PEARL – Royal Court Theatre
WhitePearl’s discussion around beauty standards in the eastern market compared to the western one is complex and yet, still, incredibly similar.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Salt at the Royal Court Theatre
Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews for Selina Thompson’s award winning play salt, now playing at the Royal Court Theatre.
‘Dark comedy is the tonal core of the work’: WHITE PEARL – Royal Court Theatre
White Pearl is a thematically dense play that tells a compelling story at a pace that matches the speed of social media downfall, but with nuance, tension and ferocity.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: White Pearl at the Royal Court Theatre
Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews for Anchuli Felicia King’s play White Pearl at the Royal Court Theatre.
NEWS: Royal Court Theatre announces a year of work including Caryl Churchill triple bill
Three new plays by Caryl Churchill and a first mainstage appearance by Bezhti author Gurpreeet Kaur Bhatti are among the highlights of the Royal Court Theatre’s next season, a whole year of work which spans from September 2019 to August 2020.
‘Absolutely a play for our times’: PAH-LA – Royal Court Theatre
It is a richly ironic title then. Pah-La takes aim at the social and emotional structures of patriarchal revenge, and explores a radically non-violent alternative.
‘People won’t be forgetting this in a hurry’: CYPRUS AVENUE – Royal Court Theatre
Cyprus Avenue uses shock tactics to show us the horror within, but it is a comedy with depth, perceptiveness and a touch of genius.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Inside Bitch at the Royal Court Theatre
Find out what critics had to say about Clean Break’s production of Inside Bitch, looking at the representation of women in prison…
‘Sensitive issues are broached with fearlessness’: CYPRUS AVENUE – Royal Court Theatre ★★★★
Directed by Vicky Featherstone, David Ireland’s Cyprus Avenue returns to the Royal Court Theatre after a three-year hiatus.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Superhoe at Royal Court Theatre
Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews for Nicôle Lecky’s Royal Court writing and performing debut, Superhoe.
‘Utterly compelling storytelling’: THE CANE – Royal Court Theatre
A finely tuned, rapid fire and utterly compelling 100 minutes of theatre. The Cane challenges, provokes and entertains
‘They captured my heart, engaged my mind & punched me in the gut’: In Praise of Theatre in 2018
In my round-up of theatre in 2017, I warned 2018 that it had “big shoes to fill”. Not only did 2018 not need the door to be opened, but it also didn’t even need anyone to hold its coat.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Hole at the Royal Court Theatre
Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews for the Royal Court Theatre’s production of Hole, Ellie Kendrick’s debut play.
‘Not so much one note as one emotion’: HOLE – Royal Court Theatre
Hole, by Ellie Kendrick, is a mixture of speech, song, movement and music exploring female anger through a series of stories, themes and metaphors.