In a week where a petition to remove LGBTQ+ education from the primary school curriculum has reached the threshold for a parliamentary debate, you will struggle to find a more relevant piece of theatre than The Boys are Kissing, Zak Zarafshan’s debut play.
‘Sparky & compelling story’: MEAT – Theatre 503
Writer Gillian Greer confidently addresses nuances and problems around sex and consent in Meat at Theatre 503 and director Lucy Jane Atkinson ensures tensions consistently run high.
“Some things I thought I’d invented turned out to be true”: Anne-Sophie Marie tells us about creating interrogation tale The Ballerina
How did an off-the-cuff response to a Theatre 503 show lead to The Ballerina premiering in New York before coming to his year’s VAULT Festival. Playwright Anne-Sophie Marie explains. Read her interview then book your tickets!
‘Genuinely thrills & intrigues’: SPIDERFLY – Theatre 503
Spiderfly at Theatre 503 is that powerful combination of a beautifully written play, imaginatively produced and perfectly cast.
‘Its emotional integrity shines through the writing at every point’: OUT OF SORTS – Theatre 503
Winner of this venue’s 2018 International Playwriting Award, Out Of Sorts is a movingly-written and deeply felt drama.
FIRST LOOK: Peek into the world of three troubled women with these production images from A Tinder Trilogy
Tents, pajamas and a lot of anger – that’s what we can see in these production images from Annie Jenkins’ trio of female monologues A Tinder Trilogy, which runs at Theatre503 later this month. Take a look then book your tickets.
NEWS: Annie Jenkins brings trio of female monologues, A Tinder Trilogy, to Theatre503
Following her success of In Lipstick at The Pleasance earlier this year, playwright Annie Jenkins brings A Tinder Trilogy, a trio of female monologues, to Theatre 503 later this month. Book your tickets now!
‘Already brims with love & pride’: J’OUVERT – Theatre503
In her female-led, debut play J’ouvert, taking place over a day at Notting Hill Carnival, Yasmin Joseph pays homage to the people, young and old, that make up the event’s vibrant landscape and give it its soul.
‘An uneasy but compelling tale’: THE AMBER TRAP – Theatre503
Writer Tabitha Mortiboy has succeeded in creating a succinct little world that feels very cut off from the town that must (presumably) surround it in The Amber Trap.
Text of the Day: Wolfie
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
‘Big ideas & goals underpin the writing’: WOLFIE – Theatre503
Despite Wolfie at Theatre503 being the first play from Ross Willis and certainly not a flawless one, it demonstrates a laudable ambition and sense of scale.
‘A dark tale that positively throbs with excitement’: WOLFIE – Theatre 503
Ross Willis’ dazzle-bright debut play Wolfie is wild and wonderfully imaginative: innovative fringe theatre triumphs again.
‘A fascinating portrait of the East End today’: THERE IS A FIELD – Theatre 503
There is a Field, a new play about two East End brothers is a strongly felt account of Islamism and addiction – cracking stuff.
‘Empathetic & intelligently written’: THE ART OF GAMAN – Theatre503
Over the course of 30 scenes in 90 minutes decked with imagery and metaphors, Dipuka Guha’s intricate script for The Art of Gaman takes us through Tomomi’s journey through the decades.
Text of the Day: Caterpillar
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
‘This is a great story brilliantly told’: CATERPILLAR – Theatre503
Alison Carr’s Caterpillar, a finalist in the Theatre 503’s Playwriting Award, gets an excellent staging and will later tour to the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough.
‘A tale of an unlikely friendship’: SHADOW KINGDOMS – Theatre 503
Set in my home turf Newham, it’s nice to see the area being portrayed with a bit of heart that doesn’t revolve around violent crime. Although, Shadow Kingdoms does centre around the act of criminal damage (to the officials anyway) – graffiti art to others.
‘A finely tuned narrative, but it ends too soon’: ISAAC CAME HOME FROM THE MOUNTAIN – Theatre503
With some extra material added to the end of Isaac Came Home From the Mountain, it would widen the lens to include the wider implications of these characters’ actions and add further weight to a promising story.
‘Highlights the emotional minefield that accompanies dementia’: REARED – Theatre503 ★★★★
Written by John Fitzpatrick and directed by Sarah Davey-Hull, Reared focuses on three generations of women in the same home.
‘A very honest portrayal of family life’: REARED – Theatre 503
“You look like a fucking idiot.” There was so much love in this insult, that with all the crap this family have to deal with you knew they’d muddle through it together.