While The Beast of Blue Yonder, Philip Ridley’s new play which was due to premiere this week at Southwark Playhouse, will not be going ahead during the coronavirus crisis, audiences will have a chance to see new work by Ridley in a collection of monologues, written in response to the current pandemic and performed by the cast.
‘Does glimmer through at points’: LIPSTICK – Southwark Playhouse
The script for Lipstick is funnier and warmer than the ponderous pace of this otherwise slick production quite allows it to be.
‘What a joy to be in the same room as Philip Ridley’: Rachel Bright on starring in The Beast of Blue Yonder’s premiere
Rachel Bright, best known as her role as Poppy Meadow in TV’s EastEnders, returns to the stage as part of the stellar ensemble cast for next month’s world premiere of The Beast of Blue Yonder, Philip Ridley’s new time-hopping black comedy.
NEWS: Jade Ewan, Mirren Mack, Rachel Bright & Unique Spencer announced for cast of The Beast of Blue Yonder
Stellar ensemble casting has been announced for Philip Ridley’s new time-hopping black comedy The Beast of Blue Yonder, which receives its world premiere at London’s Southwark Playhouse next month. Time to get booking!
NEWS: Winners of the 10th anniversary Offies 2020 Awards are announced
Winners of the Offies 2020 Awards, held at Battersea Arts Centre, have been announced. It was the tenth anniversary year of the awards presented by Off West End.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: The Last Five Years at Southwark Playhouse
We round up the reviews for Jonathan O’Boyle’s production of Jason Robert Brown’s musical The Last Five Years at the Southwark Playhouse.
‘Simply exquisite musical theatre’: THE LAST FIVE YEARS – Southwark Playhouse ★★★★★
Jonathan O’Boyle’s production of The Last Five Years has to be a definitive production of this complex and unusual work.
‘This production is the real deal’: THE LAST FIVE YEARS – Southwark Playhouse
It may be almost 20 years old, but Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years feels timeless and recognisable and this bold restaging at Southwark Playhouse is a triumph.
NEWS: Philip Ridley’s new black comedy The Beast of Blue Yonder premieres at Southwark Playhouse
Philip Ridley’s new time-hopping black comedy The Beast of Blue Yonder receives its world premiere at London’s Southwark Playhouse in a strictly limited season, running from 2 April to 9 May 2020, with a press night on 7 April.
Best of the Blogs: Leopoldstadt, Far Away, Nora, People Show 137 & more
In our continuing series, editor Lisa Martland picks out some of her Top Picks from the last week of theatre (to 16 February 2020) including Maryam Philpott’s thoughts on Tom Stoppard’s new play Leopoldstadt at the Wyndham’s Theatre.
FEATURED SHOW: ★★★★ reviews are in for ‘comically absurd’ & ‘essential’ People Show 137
People Show have been leading the UK’s alternative theatre scene for more than 50 years, and their latest show, People Show 137, proves that they’ve lost none of their “essential” edge.
‘No lack of inventiveness in the evening’: PEOPLE SHOW 137 – Southwark Playhouse
The company in People Show 137 has an admirable ability to conjure moments that capture the audience’s attention and to deliver about turns that keep the audience intrigued.
‘It’s like eating curry after a lifetime of cheese sandwiches’: Bill Palmer on being part of People Show 137
Renowned alternative theatre company People Show was founded more than 50 years ago. Bill Palmer has been following their work for 35 of them and appears alongside three of the company’s stalwarts in their latest offering, People Show 137: God Knows How Many, now at Southwark Playhouse.
‘Strangely wonderful & wonderfully strange’: PEOPLE SHOW 137 – Southwark Playhouse ★★★★
Strangely wonderful and wonderfully strange. That’s the only way to sum up People Show 137. Basically, two old blokes, aided and abetted by some other old blokes, a chanteuse puppet, and the legs of three can-can dancers, are in a French café where the single croissant has been dusted, ready for sale.
Text of the Day: You Stupid Darkness!
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
‘The cast all give strong performances’: COPS – Southwark Playhouse
Beautifully evoking the late 1950s, there are lots of interesting ingredients in Cops and the successful laugh out loud moments are satisfying.
‘The intimate space brings the audience into the play’: COPS – Southwark Playhouse
With racial tensions high, Mob rule rife and the corruption inside the police force ever-present, we embark on what appears to be the downfall of a section of the Mob.
PHOTOS & VIDEO: What can you expect from People Show 137? God Knows…
More than 50 years after they were founded in a Soho basement, the UK’s longest-running alternative theatre company, People Show, bring their latest devised piece to London. What can you expect from? Check out production photos and show trailer for a taster – and then get booking!
‘Funny, haunting, moving & strangely uplifting’: YOU STUPID DARKNESS! – Southwark Playhouse ★★★★
Given everything that is going on in the world politically and environmentally You Stupid Darkness! feels like it has captured the mood, the battle to stay cheerful and hopeful when everything feels like it is falling apart.
Andrew Finnigan, Lydia Larson, Andy Rush and Jenni Maitland in You Stupid Darkne…
‘Never really catches fire’: YOU STUPID DARKNESS! – Southwark Playhouse
A new play about optimism, You Stupid Darkness! is compassionate in conception, but repetitive and frustrating in performance.