Find out what critics have had to say about the world premiere of Nina Raine’s new play Bach & Sons at the Bridge Theatre.
‘It is the music of its humanity which echoes long afterwards’: BACH & SONS – Bridge Theatre ★★★★★
Bach & Sons at the Bridge Theatre is a lovely play: domestic and intellectual, dryly wise and recklessly passionate. It harmonizes the bawdy and the holy, the loving and the lyrical.
For work or pleasure? Respecting the etiquette of being a critic
Audiences go to the theatre for pleasure, not work; critics need to remember that their work is someone else’s pleasure.
‘Perfect fit for an audio production’: FOLK – BBC Lights Up Festival (Online review)
Folk by Nell Leyshon tells the true story of Cecil Sharp, the musicologist and collector of English folk music at the turn of the 20th century who was responsible for kick starting the revival of interest in traditional songs.
NEWS: The world premiere of Nina Raine’s Bach & Sons at the Bridge Theatre will star Simon Russell Beale
Simon Russell Beale will play JS Bach in the world premiere of Nina Raine’s Bach & Sons, directed by Nicholas Hytner at the Bridge Theatre from 23 June to 9 September 2021 with opening night on 29 June 2021.
‘A miniature theatrical perfection’: A CHRISTMAS CAROL – Bridge Theatre ★★★★★
A Scrooge to remember, A Christmas Carol at the Bridge Theatre is a 90-minute familiar Victoriana for today, catching and passing on both Dickens’ fury and his unquenchable jollity.
‘Sparkles with ghostly Christmas chill’: A CHRISTMAS CAROL – Bridge Theatre
Filled with a real love of Dickens’ words as well as his characters the Bridge Theatre has found a fresh and exciting way to tell the familiar tale of A Christmas Carol and give Scrooge’s redemption arc a renewed emphasis.
NEWS: Simon Russell Beale, Patsy Ferran & Eben Figueiredo will play all the roles in Bridge Theatre’s A Christmas Carol
Simon Russell Beale, Patsy Ferran and Eben Figueiredo will play all the parts and share the storytelling in a new version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, directed and devised by Nicholas Hytner at London’s Bridge Theatre.
10 wish-list productions for future National Theatre At Home screenings
Following on from the instant success of National Theatre At Home streaming event, it’s got me thinking about all the other wonderful NT Live screenings that I’d love to come to the small screen as part of this series. I have narrowed it down to my top 10.
NEWS: Olivia Colman, Simon Russell Beale, Cush Jumbo, Sheila Atim & Alfie Boe all feature in Queen’s Honours list
The performing arts have featured strongly in the latest Queen’s birthday honours, with Simon Russell Beale, Olivia Colman, Cush Jumbo, Sheila Atim, Alfie Boe and David Pountney all featuring in the list of recipients.
‘For sheer technical theatrical genius, it’s in a class of its own’: THE LEHMAN TRILOGY – West End ★★★★
Notwithstanding its flawed message, in these times of unparalleled political polarisation The Lehman Trilogy will be lapped up by eager audiences. And for sheer technical theatrical genius, the play is in a class of its own.
NEWS: Company, Come From Away & The Inheritance top the Olivier Awards 2019 nominations
Musicals Company and Come From Away top the Olivier Awards 2019 nominations with nine nods each, while The Inheritance is the most recognised play with eight nominations. The ceremony takes place on Sunday 7 April at the Royal Albert Hall, hosted by Jason Manford.
The clarity & confidence of this production makes it a must-see’: THE TRAGEDY OF KING RICHARD THE SECOND – Almeida Theatre
Joe Hill-Gibbins’ of The Tragedy of King Richard the Second is inherently divisive, and the critics have obliged but, only three days into the year, it is very hard to imagine a more exciting or compelling Shakespeare coming along in 2019.
‘Shows us what Shakespeare can be’: THE TRAGEDY OF KING RICHARD THE SECOND – Almeida Theatre
Simon Russell Beale and Leo Bill shine in Joe Hill-Gibbins’ perfectly reimagined The Tragedy of King Richard the Second at the Almeida Theatre.
‘Felt that I was trapped in a theatrical microwave oven’: THE TRAGEDY OF KING RICHARD THE SECOND – Almeida Theatre
Borrowing a technique from American long-form TV drama, The Tragedy of King Richard The Second begins in medias res. The wonderful Simon Russell Beale steps forward, ashen-faced, to deliver the “I have been studying how I may compare/This prison where I live unto the world” speech from Act 5.
‘The raucous setting reveals something new’: THE TRAGEDY OF KING RICHARD THE SECOND – Almeida Theatre ★★★★
The Tragedy of King Richard The Second is not stately, sacred, shockingly regicidal Shakespeareana. This is a brawl, a nasty coup against a hopeless king, a howl of rage at what fools, in power politics, these mortals be.
‘A distinct, innovative & raw telling’: THE TRAGEDY OF KING RICHARD THE SECOND – Almeida Theatre
Currently my favourite partnership of Simon Russell Beale and Shakespeare is at work in The Tragedy of King Richard the Second (or Richard II if you prefer, and as the person typing this I very much do) at the Almeida.
NEWS: The Lehman Trilogy transfers from the National Theatre to the West End in May 2019
The West End transfer of the National Theatre’s The Lehman Trilogy, directed by Sam Mendes, will play at the Piccadilly Theatre from 11 May 2019 for a 12-week season. Simon Russell Beale, Adam Godley and Ben Miles will reprise the roles they originated at the National.
Mark Shenton views the latest week of news, openings, non-openings & ‘absolutely remarkable” awards
News, reviews, interviews, commentary and farewells from London, New York and beyond, including The Stage Debut Awards, Sylvia at the Old Vic and regional openings in Chichester and Bristol.
NEWS: Almeida Theatre’s new season will feature the return of Simon Russell Beale, Patsy Ferran & Anne Washburn
Artistic director Rupert Goold has announced the Almeida Theatre’s new season.