This brand new English version of Pierre de Marivaux’s classic comedy The Game of Love and Chance, adapted by Quentin Beroud and Jack Gamble, takes great delight in modernising this almost 300-year-old French play. There is a knowingness to the adaptation that adds yet more comic layers to the wonderfully silly piece.
‘Moving collection of tender, heart-felt musical pieces’: THE RED SIDE OF THE MOON – St Paul’s Church
It was a lovely evening to be back in the beautiful gardens of St Paul’s Church in Covent Garden for The Red Side of the Moon, a new musical running as part of Iris Theatre’s summer festival.
‘A poignant & funny piece of theatre’: STAIRCASE – Southwark Playhouse
Set in 1965, Staircase takes us back to a time when homosexuality was still criminalised in Britain. Written by Charles Dyer (who only passed away recently in January 2021 at the age of 92), this play was first performed in 1966, directed by Peter Hall for the RSC.
‘Totally absorbing’: I & THE VILLAGE – Bread & Roses Theatre ★★★★
Set in an isolated Direct Provision Centre in Ireland in 2017, I and The Village is a powerful piece of theatre, telling the story of three asylum seekers waiting to find out if they will be given permission to stay in Ireland. Jeta, Keicha and Hannah are stuck in limbo, waiting, struggling with trauma they can not directly express, all while barely existing in a state of long-term confinement and isolation.
‘Frothy, refreshing & much needed’: FANNY & STELLA – The Eagle Garden Theatre ★★★★
Fanny & Stella is a funny, bawdy, light-hearted musical that provides a very welcome distraction from the seriousness of the world.
What cancer taught me about living with uncertainty
Here I am, a freelancer with no active paid projects at the moment, and a very uncertain pipeline, and I’m feeling happy and grateful with life.
‘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.
‘It really is beautifully realised’: MEDUSA – Cockpit Theatre
By focusing on her specific story, and unravelling the sense of the universal within it, ‘Medusa’ provides a timely mirror on the world we live in.
‘Keeps you hooked from start to finish’: TELL IT SLANT – Hope Theatre
‘tell it slant’ at the Hope Theatre is a funny and engaging dark comedy that keeps you hooked from start to finish.
Best of the Blogs: Upstart Crow, The Prince Of Egypt, Macbeth & more
In our continuing series, editor Lisa Martland picks out some of her Top Picks from the last week of theatre (to 1 March 2020), ranging from Love London Love Culture’s thoughts on David Mitchell’s West End debut in the stage adaptation of TV favourite Upstart Crow at the Gielgud Theatre.
‘Brings Christopher Reid’s words to glorious life’: LOVE, LOSS & CHIANTI – Riverside Studios
Love, Loss & Chianti brings together two collected works of poetry by Christopher Reid. First up is Scatterings, a collection he wrote after the death of his wife, which brings to life his grief in heartbreaking detail.
‘The improvisation skills are phenomenal’: CROOKS 1926 – King William IV
There are puzzles, and codes to be cracked, jobs to be planned, people to be hired, revenge to be had & scores to be settled in the fun experience that is Colab Theatre’s Crooks 1926.
‘A timely reminder that we need to be kinder to each other’: NETFLIX & CHILL – Drayton Arms Theatre
All in all, Netflix & Chill is a funny yet powerful play about mental health, self image, lad culture and the importance of human connection.
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.
‘The show unfurls in Barber’s expert hands’: MUSIK – Leicester Square Theatre
Written by Jonathan Harvey and the Pet Shop Boys, Musik is a one-woman show that spins off from their 2001 musical Closer to Heaven.
‘A lot of wonderful ingredients’: FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT – Bridewell Theatre
Given the current state of the country, the battle of wits and words, vs the search for real connection with those who disagree with us, For the Sake of Argument is very topical.
Showcases incredible playwriting talent’: THE GLASS WILL SHATTER – Omnibus Theatre
There are no superfluous gimmicks in The Glass Will Shatter, this is a piece where all the creative elements come together to amplify the whole.
‘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.
‘Power to move & inspire’: THE CANARY & THE CROW – Arcola Theatre
The Canary and the Crow is full of humour and warmth and describes the challenging reality of being trained to be the “acceptable” face of Black Britain and how that impacts identify and worth.
‘A comic gem’: JEW…ish – King’s Head Theatre
The shifts in storytelling dynamics in JEW…ish at the King’s Head Theatreare fluidly brought to life, so they never jar, but continue to entertain.