Rapture Theatre shoots, and scores, in Red Lion, a soccer drama by Patrick Marber that even non-sports fans will love.
Debbie Gilpin on Olivier Awards: Disappointment for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie & Hamlet
So, that just happened! Despite some small disappointments in the nominations (nothing too much, just some things felt unnecessarily overlooked), I was rather looking forward to this year’s Oliviers.
NEWS: Hamilton & The Ferryman dominate 2018 Olivier Awards shortlists, Imelda Staunton double nominated
Nominations for the Olivier Awards 2018 are announced today. The shortlists are dominated by Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical Hamilton and Jez Butterworth’s latest play The Ferryman. Headlines include: New American musical Hamilton becomes the most nominated production in Oliviers history with 13 nominations The Ferryman, currently running in the West End before transferring to Broadway, is the most nominated new play with 8 …
What were our Top 25 reviews & other blogs in November 2017?
As it’s the first of the month, we’re taking a moment to remind ourselves of the most popular contributions from our 20+ syndicate Mates bloggers from the month just closed. What were the reviews and other blogs that got readers clicking most? Any surprises? Our Top 25 Mates Blogs from November 2017 are listed below with summaries and links to read more.
How was #LoveTheatreDay 2017 for you? A day in the life of a blogger
How did you celebrate the fourth annual #LoveTheatreDay on Twitter yesterday? MyTheatreMates’ latest addition Debbie Gilpin (who runs Mind the Blog) marked the occasion online by sharing this great insight into a day in the life of theatre blogger. Do you think you could do it?
Post-show The Red Lion Q&A video: Why aren’t there more plays about sports?
There were plenty of non-football-related questions – and high praise indeed from the many non-football fans in the audience, including one woman who relishes not having to watch Match of the Day since parting with her ex-husband eight years ago.
THE RED LION – Trafalgar Studios ★★★★★
Red Lion FC is a northern, semi-professional club with an ambitious manager and not a lot of cash. When Yates (club stalwart turned kit man) discovers an incredible new talent, Jordan, manager Jimmy shows a cautious interest – but soon senses pound signs when he sees the lad play.
THE RED LION – Trafalgar Studios
Two old muckers run a semi-professional club in the Northern League – John Bowler‘s wonderfully poetic Yates, a deeply loyal ex-player with the stamp of Nobby Stiles, is the ‘kit man’ who does the players’ laundry and bungs them a tenner when they’re short.
THE RED LION – Trafalgar Studios
Those who don’t love the ‘beautiful game’ shouldn’t let this stand in the way of coming along to see this wonderfully judged production that takes audiences behind the scenes of football to show how desperation and anxiety can lead to bad decisions.
THE RED LION – Trafalgar Studios
In many ways football and the theatre are similar. Both have intervals, both provide an entertaining evening or matinee performance and it isn’t particularly original or insightful to compare Premier League and West end ticket prices.
THE RED LION – Trafalgar Studios
The tempestuous story of two ideologically opposed, minor league football men and the young player caught between them has little to do with the actual game and has a compelling, emotional narrative.
THE RED LION – Trafalgar Studios ★★★★★
The Red Lion is more than a play about football – thank god. It is terrifically well written, beautifully acted by all three men but particularly the outstanding Tompkinson, and superbly directed by Max Roberts.
What are the Top 15 hottest tickets on the site right NOW?
These are our current Top 15 Ticket Recommendations – broken down into five musicals, five plays and five ‘star attractions’ (in other words, there are famous faces in the cast) – based on both best-sellers over the past month as well as our predictions on the hottest of upcoming openings
7 shows to look out for in November: Network, Big Fish, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie & more
What are the big shows opening in November 2017? Here’s Love London Love Culture’s monthly guide to shows opening in London’s West End and Off-West End, including those led by big-name American stars Bryan Cranston, Kelsey Grammar and Christian Slater… Click on links to BUY tickets in the Mates Ticket Shop.
New post-show Q&A: Join Terri & the stars of Patrick Marber’s The Red Lion in the West End
Mates co-founder Terri Paddock will talk to the stars of Patrick Marber’s THE RED LION, “a Premiere League play about non-league football” (Gary Lineker), now receiving its West End debut, on Thursday 9 November 2017. Got any questions?
NEWS: Stephen Tompkinson stars in West End transfer of Marber’s The Red Lion
After a sell-out season in Newcastle, Live Theatre’s production of Patrick Marber’s 2015 play The Red Lion, starring Stephen Tompkinson, transfers to the West End’s Trafalgar Studios, where it runs for a limited season 1 November to 2 December 2017
Weekly Theatre Podcast: As You Like It, The Red Lion, The Importance of Being Earnest
On this week’s podcast, leading London theatre bloggers discuss views on three plays: As You Like It at Shakespeare’s Globe, The Importance of Being Earnest, starring David Suchet as Lady Bracknell, and Patrick Marber’s new play The Red Lion, starring Daniel Mays at the National, as well as the most recent London revival of Broadway musical I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.
THE RED LION – National Theatre
“This isn’t a church, it’s a ‘business!” What a sentiment for a theatre crowd to hear – or indeed anyone with an art, talent or craft within fifty paces of a cash register.
Back after nearly a decade in the dark, the writer Patrick Marber has mustered a slick three-hander. I am someone who actively takes against football. It’s a bloated beast which long trained its eye on the dosh, and has legions of devotees to do the explaining and the covering up for it. This play movingly demonstrates the dedication, and the devastation. All-consuming fandom and those riding it for every penny.