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.
‘Marvellously inventive & thoroughly compelling’: BLINDNESS – Donmar Warehouse
Simon Stephens and Juliet Stevenson create a perfectly beautiful and haunting installation for our times in The Blindness at the Donmar Warehouse.
’As vivid as anything you saw on stage 5 months ago’: BLINDNESS – Donmar Warehouse
Ben and Max Ringham’s work for Blindness is a masterpiece, a 70-minute performance that layers story, sound effects, music and lighting design to immerse the audience in a pandemic experience.
’An extraordinary piece of storytelling’: BLINDNESS – Donmar Warehouse ★★★★★
Blindness is adapted by Simon Stephens from a novel by José Saramago and tells the story of an epidemic in which people suddenly go blind.
NEWS: Donmar Warehouse will reopen temporarily with socially distanced sound installation featuring Juliet Stevenson
The Donmar Warehouse is to reopen temporarily from 3 to 22 August 2020 with a socially distanced sound installation – Blindness, based on the dystopian novel by Nobel-prize winning José Saramago, adapted by Simon Stephens and directed by Walter Meierjohann.
‘This is our humanity. And sheer genius’ – Andrew Scott in SEA WALL
Lockdown occasionally spawns some real delights. Like the surprise appearance of a strange creature from the profoundest depths. One of these must be Andrew Scott’s superb performance in Simon Stephens’s Sea Wall.
‘Inherently intriguing’: Nuclear War / Buried / Graceland – Old Red Lion Theatre ★★★★
This triptych of plays – Nuclear War, Buried and Graceland – is a highly enjoyable and challenging evening for its audience, provoking emotion and thought through nuanced and skilled performances
‘Compelling triptych of plays’: Nuclear War / Buried / Graceland – Old Red Lion Theatre
Nuclear War, Buried and Graceland at the Old Red Lion Theatre become a compelling triptych of plays all connected by the themes of love, loss, trauma and existence.
NEWS: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’s third tour includes a run at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
The Olivier and Tony Award-winning production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time will tour the UK and Ireland this autumn, including a limited run in London at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre.
‘People can expect some killer writing’: Anthony Cozens tells more about Graceland at the Old Red Lion Theatre
Actor Anthony Cozens is appearing in the dark comic play by the critically acclaimed writer Max Saunders-Singer which comes to the Old Red Lion Theatre next month in a triple bill alongside Simon Stephens’ Nuclear War and the harrowing Buried.
New post-show Q&A with playwright Simon Stephens: Join Terri for the Old Red Lion’s Nuclear War-led triptych
As part of her ongoing series of post-show talks, Mates founder Terri Paddock chairs an unmissable event with leading British playwright Simon Stephens following the first revival of his play Nuclear War, part of the Old Red Lion Triptych. Got any questions?
NEWS: Cast announced for Old Red Lion Triptych, including Simon Stephens’ Nuclear War
Casting has been announced for the much-anticipated Old Red Lion Triptych, which is headlined by the first revival of Simon Stephens’ 2017 one-act play Nuclear War. Time to get booking!
NEWS: Old Red Lion stages first revival of Simon Stephens’ Nuclear War as part of triptych
Simon Stephens’ 2017 one-act play Nuclear War gets its first revival in March as part of a new triple bill at London’s Old Red Lion Theatre in Islington under newly appointed artistic director Alexander Knott.
Ought To Be Clowns’ 10 favourite shows of 2019
Ought To Be Clowns barely saw 250 shows this year, quiet by his standards. And as is the way of these things, here’s a rundown of some of the productions that moved me most…
‘It’s far, far too Northern’: LIGHT FALLS – Manchester
Light Falls is too Northern. It’s far, far too Northern. The grit-spreaders have truly been out in force, and it’s excruciating to swallow so very many clichés in one dose.
Lots of writing careers in theatre
Why aren’t we telling young people about the writing and writing-related careers which drive our industry?
‘A truly remarkable, rather wonderful small gem retrieved’: COUNTRY MUSIC – Omnibus Theatre ★★★★
Marie McCarthy’s Clapham Omnibus venue never ceases to surprise. Dedicated, as befits its previous life as a library, to storytelling in all its various forms, Scott Le Crass’ revival of Simon Stephens’ Country Music is itself a revelation.
‘The scenes are allowed to breathe’: COUNTRY MUSIC – Omnibus Theatre ★★★★★
Written by Simon Stephens and directed by Scott Le Crass, Country Music examines the life of a young offender over a span of 17 years.
‘This is an actor we will surely be talking about for years to come’: COUNTRY MUSIC – Omnibus Theatre
A sensational performance from Cary Crankson anchors a powerful production of Simon Stephens’ Country Music at Clapham’s Omnibus Theatre.
‘An intricate & quietly revealing play’: COUNTRY MUSIC – Omnibus Theatre ★★★★
There is much to be gleaned from the subtlety of Country Music but it requires work and attention to seek it out.