From the opening moments, Skin Tight bursts with passion and energy. The physicality of the opening sequence seduces and intrigues, creating a disarming sense of disorientation when the actors finally speak.
‘A dark premise that feels disturbingly possible’: SNOWFLAKES – Old Red Lion Theatre
I was surprised when I discovered this is Robert Boulton’s debut play as a playwright, as there is a confidence and natural dark humour I’d associate with a more experienced writer.
‘Entertaining, ambitious and educational ‘: TOKYO ROSE — Southwark Playhouse (UK Tour) ★★★★
Burnt Lemon Theatre’s Tokyo Rose shows that you don’t need a big budget to stage a compelling musical.
‘I was transported to a cave system thousands of miles away’: DECIPHERING – New Diorama Theatre
Deciphering is billed as “an inter-continental journey to the origins of human creativity” and it certainly lives up to this epic ambition.
’Would resonate with audiences nationwide’: LATELY – Lion & Unicorn Theatre ★★★★
Proforca’s Lately was definitely worth the wait, I was crying by the end. I can only hope this production has a life beyond this short London run, as it is a show that would resonate with audiences nationwide.
‘There is a realness to the story’: PRISON GAME – Pleasance Theatre
Marcus Hercules’ Prison Game is a deeply human story, showing the devastating ripple effect of that first, flawed, guilty verdict.
‘I was hooked from start to finish’: THE GOOD DAD (A LOVE STORY) – Hope Theatre ★★★★½
Written by Gail Louw, the good dad (a love story) is a compelling piece about the devastating impact sexual abuse and incest has on 3 different women. It is a masterclass in shifting perspectives that add new nuance and intrigue to what would otherwise be a horribly bleak story. Donna was sexually abused and raped from childhood by her Dad. Her twin sister Carol surely must have suspected something, why didn’t she say anything? Or did she? And her mother, well lets just say she sees Donna as the other woman. As time goes by, and Donna can see her Dad falling back into recognisable patterns, it is up to her to do something about it. Except that isn’t where we start, we start at the end and look back, with the story told from the rubble of these 3 women’s lives.
‘Plenty of funny & engaging moments’: INVISIBLE ME – New Wimbledon Theatre Studio
Bren Gosling’s new play Invisible Me focuses on the life of three people who have recently turned 60. It is refreshing to see a show that talks about sex, life and relationships for the over 60s, given our culture’s obsession with youth. There is a strong theme of reinvention that I enjoyed, as it is good to be reminded that we can adapt and shake things up at any age.
‘Warms the heart as much as it makes you laugh’: BLOWHOLE – Pleasance Theatre ★★★★
Blowhole is a hilarious and surprisingly moving solo show about life as a 20-something gay man looking for love, and the ultimate fabulous gay lifestyle.
‘Rich with characterisation & plot’: Six Serpents & a Tarantula – Hen & Chickens Theatre – Camden Fringe & Touring
Six Serpents and a Tarantula is a new play written and directed by Maryanna Clarke and presented by Old School Players.
‘Gleefully brings the comedy of the piece to life’: THE GAME OF LOVE & CHANCE – Arcola Outside ★★★★
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.